Venezuela, and thus embracing the
Isthmus) commissions J. A. Lloyd to survey the Isthmus with a view to a
rail-and-water route across. Lloyd recommends a canal from Limon Bay
to the Chagres River (as now), the river route as far on as possible,
and a railroad thence to the Pacific coast.

1835-1841--The United States further debates the subject of a ship
canal across the Isthmus or up through Nicaragua. Commissioners report
in favor of the Nicaragua route.

1838--A French company obtains from New Granada a concession to open a
route by land or water across the Isthmus. Although many surveys are
made, and a canal from Limon Bay to the vicinity of Panama is mapped
out, no actual construction work is done.

1847--The Republic of New Granada grants the right to a French
syndicate to build a railroad across the Isthmus. The right expired in
1848.

1848--Spurred on by the acquisition of California, the United States
secures from New Granada the right of passage across the Isthmus.

1849--The United States secures from Nicaragua the right to construct
communication of any sort between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific
Ocean.

1840--The American, Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company, headed by
Cornelius Vanderbilt, is formed, to build across Nicaragua. The
company makes fresh surveys of value, but does no construction work,
and in 1856 its concession is recalled by Nicaragua.

1849--The Panama Railroad Company is formed by John Lloyd Stevens,
William Henry Aspinwall and Henry Chauncy of New York, to build across
the Isthmus. Work is started.

1855--After tremendous labor in the jungles and swamps, and the loss of
thousands of lives, the railroad is finished. On January 27, 1855, the
first locomotive crosses from ocean to ocean. Reconstructed to conform
to the canal, the railroad is in operation to-day.

1866--The United States Senate requests the Secretary of the Navy to
supply it with all available information upon the feasibility of a
canal across the Isthmus.

1867--Nineteen canal and seven railroad projects for the Isthmus region
are submitted in the report to the Senate. The report recommends that
a route be found through Panama.

1869--President Grant recommends to Congress the building of an
American canal across the Isthmus. Resolutions are adopted.

1872--An Interoceanic Canal Commission authorized by Congress begins
various surveys throughout the Isthmus country. Its final report
(1876) u