170 



The Isthmus of Tehuaniepec. 



work in 1870, but only formally broke ground in January, 

 without doing more. The company is now trying to raise 

 the money to commence the work. The course as pro- 

 posed is as follows: 



From Minatitlan, at the mouth of Coazucolcos, on the 

 Atlantic, to Suchil, at the commencement of the moun- 

 tains, a distance of sixty miles, keeping the road about 

 three feet above the general level of the country overflowed 

 in the wet season. The river Taltepec is crossed here at a 

 level of one hundred and ninety-five feet above tide water. 

 From Suchil the course is through the highlands about fifty 

 miles, with a maximum grade of sixty feet to the mile. The 

 whole length of this proposed road is one hundred and sixty- 

 two miles. Its cost, with moving stock, is estimated at nine 

 millions of dollars. It will have great advantage over the 

 Panama rail road because the country is more healthy, and 

 the distance is shortened fifteen hundred miles between 

 New York and San Francisco. For sailing vessels the 

 saving of time is still greater, because they would not be 

 compelled to cross the belt of calms always found near the 

 equator. 



When we consider the great difficulties of constructing 

 the Panama rail road, its cost of $8,000,000, and one thou- 

 sand human lives, we are surprised that this isthmus of 

 Tehuantepec was not chosen in preference to Darien. The 

 difference, in time, for steamers, is eight days, and, for sail- 

 ing vessels, much more. 



The course of the proposed ship canal is near that of the 

 rail road. The chief difficulty in its construction will be the 

 necessity of bringing all water for lockage and evaporation 

 from a distance of about thirty miles. 



The greatest elevation will be about six hundred and 

 forty-five feet, which is nearly twice that of the Erie canal. 

 Its length will be about one hundred and forty-five miles. 

 The proposed cost is $30,000,000. 



