538 THE PANAMA KOUTE FOR A SHIP CANAL. 



point, was made the Atlantic port in 1597 for this isthmian line of 

 transit. The harbor of Porto Bello is excellent, and the location was 

 more healthful, although Porto Bello itself was subsequently aban- 

 doned, laroely on account of its unhealthfidness. 



As early as 1534, or soon after that date, boats l)egan to pass up 

 and down the Chagres River between Cruces and its mouth on the 

 Caribbean shore, and thence along the coast to Nombre de Dios and 

 subset [uently to Porto Bello. The importance of the commerce which 

 sprang up across the isthmus and in connection with this isthmian 

 route is well set forth in the last paragraph on page ""IS of the Report 

 of the Isthmian Canal Commission: 



The commerce of the isthmus increased during the century and 

 Panama Ix'came a place of great mercantile importance, with a protit- 

 able trade extending to the Spice Islands and the Asiatic coast. It was 

 at the height of its prosperity in 15^5, and was called with good reason 

 the tollgate between western Europe and eastern Asia. Meanwhile 

 the commerce whose tolls only brought such benefits to Panama, 

 enriched Spain, and her people were generously rewarded for the aid 

 given by Ferdinand and Isalxdla in the effort to open a direct route 

 westward to Cathay, not\\ithstanding the disadvantages of the isthmian 

 transit. 



This conmiercial prosperity suggested to those interested in it, and 

 soon after its beginning, the possil)ility of a ship canal to connect the 

 waters of the two oceans. It is stated even that Charles V direct'ed 

 that a survey should be made for the purpose of determining the feasi- 

 bility of such a work as early as 1520. "The governor, Pascual Anda- 

 goya, reported that such a work was impracticable and that no king, 

 however powerful he might be, was capable of forming a junction of 

 the two seas or of furnishing the means of carrying out such an 

 undertaking." 



From that time on the city of Panama increased in WH^alth and popu- 

 lation in consequence of its commercial importance. Trade was estab- 

 lished with the west coast of South America and with the ports on the 

 Pacitic coast of Central America. In spite of the fact that it was made 

 l)y the Spaniards a fortress second in strength in America only to ohi 

 Cartagena, it was sacked and burned by Morgan's buccaneers in leb- 

 ruar}', 1671. The new city, that is, the present city, was founded in 

 1678, it not being considered advisable to rebuild on the old site. 



The project of a canal on this route was kept alive for more than 

 three centuries by agitation sometimes active and sometimes appar- 

 ently dying out for long periods, until there was organized in Paris, 

 in 1S7(), a company entitled "Societe Civile Internationale du C'anal 

 Interoceanique," with Gen. Etienne Tin-r as president, for the purpose 

 of making surveys and explorations for a ship canal between the two 

 oceans on this route. 



The work on the isthmus for this company was prosecuted imder 

 the direction of Lieut. L. N. B. Wyse, a French naval officer, and he 



