Panama in 1855

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ...villages on the banks of the river Chagres, was about cent per pound. After the emigration to California commenced the price rose to from 20 to 40 cents per pound, and decreased as the number of mules increased, to from 15 to 18 cents per pound, until the railroad was opened to the Summit, alias Culebra, when it decreased to from 9 to 7 cents. The present rates of freight by the railroad, the merchants of the South Pacific will not pay while they can obtain freight round the Horn from Europe, at from $15 to $18 per tun, except it be for costly goods such as silks, fine muslins, jewelry, &c. The freight on merchandise by the steamers from Southampton, is £6 ($30) per tun, measurement, to Colon; and to Guayaquil T 130 SALE OF RAILROAD. from Panama, by steamer, $22 per tun, measurement; to Payta from Panama, by steamer, $15 per tun, measurement; to Callao from Panama, by steamer, $18 per tun, measurement; to Valparaiso from Panama, by steamer, $25 per tun, measurement; to San Franiisco, $80 for expresses, and $100 for other merchandise, per tun, measurement. The specie consisting generally of coined silver, and silver in bars, brought by the English steamers, from the South Pacific coast, is not conveyed across the Isthmus by the railroad, owing to the charge by this conveyance being per cent, while it can be sent from Panama on mules to Cruces or Gorgona, and from thence down the river in barges or canoes, to Chagres for less than per cent." The following extract from the terms of contract with the Government of New Granada will show to what extent the large capital, say eight millions, is endangered, apart from insufficient revenue, as an investment in the Panama road: "At the expiration of twenty years, counted from the...