106 RAILWAY FROM VERA CRUZ TO THE CITY OF MEXICO. 



willing and even anxious to labor at the very low price of 37g cents per day, in the 

 most healthy climate of the country. 



" From this point of highest elevation, the route followed, reduces the distance 

 to the city of Mexico to 37 leagues — making the whole distance from Vera Cruz to 

 the capital not more than 73 leagues. 



" It must be borne in mind, that in making the following estimate, we have taken 

 into consideration the extreme low rate of wages in the country, as compared with 

 the wages of the journeymen laborers in the United States ; and this alone must 

 make an immense difference in cost of works of the kind executed in Mexico, 

 whenever we base our estimates upon the costs of similar works in England or in 

 our own country. 



ESTIMATE OF COST. 



Section. Leagues. Dollars. 



1st. 3 Grading from Vera Cruz to the foot of the small ridge of 



the Molino de Ricato, over a sandy soil, easy to exca- 

 vate and transport superstructure, .... 125,000 



2d. 2 Whole cost of the two leagues, from the last point to the 



river San Juan, nearly level ground, including super- 

 structure and a stone bridge across this river, . 95,000 



3d. 12 Twelve leagues from the river San Juan to Boca del 



Monte, 450,000 



4th. 6| Six and a half leagues from Boca del Monte to the Bar- 

 ranca of Chichiquila — superstructure, . . . 275,000 



5th 6| Six and a half leagues across the Barranca of Chichiquila. 



This section is the most difficult and costly part of the 

 road, and will cost over $300,000 per mile — say, super- 

 structure, 2,500,000 



6th. 4 The next four leagues to the valley of St. Andres, . 245,000 



7th. 34£ From the foot of the Sierra Madre, through the northern 

 part of the valley of St. Andres, crossing the road from 

 Perote to Puebla, near the village of Poctarus to San 

 Cristoval, 1,300,000 



8th. 4 Four leagues from San Cristoval to the city of Mexico, 270,000 

 Locomotives and cars 550,000 



Whole cost of the road, 5,810,000 



P. O. HEBERT, 

 Lieut. Col. 14th Infantry." 



