INTRODUCTION.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 1st, 1898.

In the following pages of the General Report of the Intercontinental Railway Commission, it is not intended to offer an elaborate presentation of the fruits of the surveys and explorations of the three technical parties sent into Central and South America, nor a classic description of the topographic features involved, for the reason that the volumes devoted to the labors of these parties give in much detail accounts of their respective field operations. The report of Corps No. 1 will be found in Volume I, Part II; that of Corps No. 2 in Volume II; and that of Corps No. 3 in Volume III; but in order that those who do not wish to go into particulars may obtain a general conception of the work performed by the Commission, it has been deemed advisable to give, in a terse style, an outline of the surveys effected and the results attained. Railroad men and others especially interested in efforts of the character indicated, will naturally consult the reports of the chief engineers, wherein will be found, it is believed, most of the information to be reasonably expected from a preliminary survey.

The general summary to be found in Volume I, Part I, will be preceded by an historical sketch of the steps taken on this hemisphere for the purpose of establishing closer relations between its several nations, together with a résumé of the legislation proposed and adopted by the Congress of the United States for the same purpose, resulting in the convocation of the International American Conference and the formation of the Intercontinental Railway Commission. A synopsis of the proceedings of the full Commission, while in session, and later, of the transactions of its Executive Committee, is also submitted. In addition, the Secretary has prepared brief statements concerning the resources of the countries whose trade would naturally be affected by the advent of a through line, and has brought up to date his notes upon railroads built and projected. Succinct descriptions of the topography will enable the reader to more fully appreciate the engineering difficulties to be surmounted.

It should be distinctly borne in mind that the aim of the Commission was not to make a final location, nor even a definitive preliminary, but simply to ascertain the practicability or feasibility of constructing a trunk-line through the countries examined; consequently the line indicated for a railroad is only an approximate trace of a possible line; and although the estimates of cost were made with varying degrees of accuracy and thoroughness, they also should be considered merely approximate. Independently of the object in view, the Commission had at its disposal neither the funds nor the time to make an exhaustive exploration of the vast territory under consideration, nor to send its parties over certain portions of the general route that subsequent events indicated might have been examined in preference to those actually surveyed. The fact that the work performed was of the character of a railway reconnaissance is especially true when reference is made to the operations of Corps Nos. 2 and 3, and particularly so for that portion of the route followed in southern Costa Rica and the Isthmus of Panamá where rapid progress was necessary and where improvised methods were employed in order to cover the ground within the time available. The character of the studies will be found more fully set forth in Chapter V of this report.

CHAPTER I.

INCEPTION OF THE COMMISSION.

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FORMATION OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL RAILWAY COMMISSION.

The desirability of establishing more intimate relations between the several countries of the Western Hemisphere, has from time to time, during the past 70 years, occupied the attention of some of the greatest statesmen, not only of the United States of America, but of the other republics of this continent.

As far back as 1821, Simón Bolívar, Executive of Colombia, suggested the idea of forming a close connection between the Spanish colonies of Central and South America. He aspired to the establishment of certain fixed principles for securing the preservation of peace between the nations of America, and the concurrence of all in the defence of their common cause, each contributing thereto upon the basis of its population.

THE CONGRESS AT PANAMÁ.

In 1825, we find President John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, his Secretary of State, considering the question of sending delegates to the Congress of American states to be held in Panamá, and although such delegates were finally authorized by legislative action, after considerable opposition, they arrived on the Isthmus too late for participation in the deliberations of the Congress, which, having discussed the questions of independence, peace and security, had already adjourned.

THE CONGRESS OF 1847 AT LIMA.

The failure of the several governments represented to adopt the recommendations of the Congress at Panamá did not prevent further efforts being made by the nations of America with a view to unifying their interests and promoting the common safety and welfare. In 1831, 1838, 1839, and in 1840, invitations for a conference were extended by Mexico; but it was not until 1847 that success crowned these efforts, and the republics of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, New Granada and Perú

met at Lima for the purpose of, "Maintaining their independence, sovereignty, dignity, and territorial integrity, and of entering into such other compacts as might be conducive to promote their common welfare." The results of the labors of this Congress, according to Señor Torres Caicedo, were a treaty of confederation, another of commerce and navigation, a consular convention, and a postal treaty. The consular convention was approved by the Government of New Granada, but all the other treaties failed of ratification.

THE CONGRESS AT SANTIAGO.

The three republics of Chile, Ecuador, and Perú, entered into a treaty of league and confederation, at the city of Santiago, in 1856, for the purpose of, "Cementing upon substantial foundations the union which exists between them, as members of the great American family, which are bound together by the ties of a common origin, similar institutions, and many other signs of fraternity, and rendering the relations between them and their citizens closer by removing obstacles and restrictions, and promoting moral and material progress, as well as giving further guarantees of their independence and territorial integrity." This compact, however, never crystallized into law, but on the other hand, was subject to much criticism by the Government in whose territory it had originated.

THE CONGRESS OF 1864 AT LIMA.

Early in 1864, the Government of Perú issued formal invitations to all the Spanish nations of America to join in a conference, and accordingly, in November of the same year, the sessions began at Lima; Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Perú, Argentina and Venezuela being represented. Among others, the following were stated as the points for discussion:

"To declare that the American nations represented in this congress form one single family, bound together by like principles and identical interests to maintain their independence, their autonomic rights, and their national existence. "To negotiate an international treaty to facilitate epistolary correspondence, etc., etc.

"To bind the governments, in consideration of the union established, to furnish each other all the statistical data which shall afford a perfect idea of their wealth, population, natural and artificial means at their command to defend each other in common.

"To dictate all the measures and accept all the principles which shall lead to the settlement of all boundary disputes.

"To irrevocably abolish war, superseding it by arbitration, as the only means of compromising all misunderstandings and causes for disagreement between any of the South American republics.

"To remove all the pretexts which serve as a foundation for treason to the American cause."

The sessions of this Congress were held in secret, and the results of its labors were not made known to the world.

THE CONGRESS AT MONTEVIDEO.

After unsuccessful efforts to meet in conference at Panamá in 1881, originating with Colombia, and at Washington in 1882, upon the invitation of the Hon. James G. Blaine, then Secretary of State, the "South American Congress" held sessions at Montevideo from August 25th, 1888, to February 18th, 1889, political and commercial relations not being considered, the Congress being composed of jurists, and the interests involved pertaining almost exclusively to the southern half of the American continent.