118 THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



this volume. Since then the work has been going 

 on under the immediate charge of George M. Totten, 

 Esq., as chief engineer, and with an energy of pur- 

 pose which characterizes the operations of business 

 men, who know what they are doing, and are confi- 

 dent in the result. 



To convey a general idea of the magnitude and 

 character of this enterprise, it is but necessary to 

 state that, up to the present time, (Dec. 1st., 1851,) 

 the Company has sent out fifty-eight vessels freighted 

 with stores, materials, &c, exclusive of those engaged 

 to take the iron from England direct, and that 2019 

 men have been employed on the work, under en- 

 gagements varying from three to twelve months 

 each, besides about 1000 natives, mostly from Car- 

 thagena and its vicinity."* 



The first thing to be done was to clear a por- 

 tion of the island of its encumbered vegetation, 

 and erect dwellings for the officers and men. It was 

 here that the first blow was struck in the commence- 

 ment of this great work, and from this spot the 

 sound of the axe went forth in the forests to tell the 

 natives that Los Americanos had come to hew out a 

 path for the iron horse, that they might reach with 

 greater speed their possessions still farther distant 

 on the Pacific; fecilitate their commercial inter- 

 course with the inhabitants of the celestial empire; 

 and bring the far-off colonies of Australia nearer to 

 their father-land. 



* For further details of the road, and of its progress from time to 

 time, see appendix. 



