No. 105.
Mr. Logan
to Mr. Evarts.
Guatemala City, June 30, 1880. (Received July 29.)
Sir: A concession was granted by the Government of Guatemala, in April, 1877, to William Nanne and his representatives for the construction of a railroad from the port of San Jose on the Pacific, to the village of Escuintla, about half way from the port to Guatemala City, the capital.
The first arrangement of Nanne for the necessary funds wherewith to construct the road was with English capitalists. The arrangement failing, a company was organized in California called the Guatemala Central Railroad Company/’ into which Col. Luis Schlesinger, an American citizen resident in Central America, was subsequently admitted. Being a gentleman of large pecuniary resources, and of extensive business credit in Europe, as well as one of great energy and character, he and Mr. Nanne have become the leading spirits of the enterprise.
Had it not been for the unfortunate accident to the Panama railroad in November last, whereby the business of the North and South Pacific coasts has been so greatly deranged, the Guatemala railroad would have been completed three months since.
In face of this accident, however, whereby the rails and entire stock of the road were detained upon the Isthmus for so long a period, the road has been completed just as the rainy season is beginning in this part of the country.
The “official opening” was celebrated upon the 18th instant, with great state and enthusiasm. President Barrios with his Cabinet, the members of the Supreme Court, officers of the Assembly, military officials, and the diplomatic corps were present upon the occasion, and took part in the ceremonies. To lend additional interest to the event President Barrios had arranged a visit from President Zaldivar, of Salvador, and President Soto, of Honduras, at the same time, and the unusual [Page 119] occurrence of three of the five Central American Presidents meeting in the same country and sleeping under the same roof was witnessed.
The occasion was a very gay one. The little city of Escuintla was full to overflowing with visitors. The streets were draped with flags and streamers; arches were erected at every corner and appropriate mottoes greeted the spectators upon every side; beautiful flowers were clustered in bunches, twined in wreaths, and filled the air with perfume. As the first train of cars, bearing the noted company of officials, moved out of the station at Escuintla, the scene was most animated. The engines were beautifully decorated with flowers, and what to an American was the most inspiring of all, they were covered all over with, the flags of the United States, whose sons have again led the way in the march of civilization, fairly waking to life again the “pale sleepers” of the ancient Quiché Kingdom by the shrill whistle of the modern locomotive. As the train moved off cannons boomed, rockets sped into the air; bands of music played; the crowd surged; huzzahs went up; handkerchiefs waved.
At San José magnificent breakfasts were prepared; wine flowed and eloquence followed the current. The new era was hailed, and the first railroad of Guatemala was baptized with unrestrained enthusiasm, myself a quiet observer of the scene. I could not but feel the compliment, to my country as speaker after speaker dwelt upon the greatness and the energy of its citizens; and one speaker declared that he desired the union of Central America under the protection of their great sister republic of the Forth, and the sentiment was vociferously cheered.
* * * * * * *
The party returned to Escuintla on the 20th instant, and from there to Guatemala, the visiting Presidents intending to remain as guests of President Barrios for three or four weeks. One of them, however, President Zaldivar, has since been called suddenly home by the sickness of his wife.
I was quite surprised to find the road-bed so good. Indeed, as a new road, I have never seen a better in our own country. It runs as smoothly as a road with two years’ work of ballasting and leveling upon it. The gauge is 39 inches, the rails of steel, the sleepers of the California redwood, and the rolling stock entirely adapted to the requirements. As a business enterprise it must be a great success. It will form the sole artery by which all of the exports and imports of Guatemala must leave and reach the country. Economical in construction, it runs through a district of level land which must render it capable of being kept up at a very little expense.
To add to the certainty of its financial success, however, the Government guarantees 12 per cent, interest upon a nominal capital of $1,000,000, greatly more than its real cost.
Since the opening of the railroad, the desire has been widespread to extend it at once to Guatemala, a distance of about 40 miles, when there would be direct communication by rail between this capital and the sea-board—a thing most devoutly to be wished by any one having to travel the present road. I am of the belief that the American company, under Schlesinger & Nanne, will obtain a concession for the extension to Guatemala, equally as liberal as, if not more so than, their concession for the road they have just completed. Another company, composed of native capitalists, is bidding for the concession; but the prestige of successfully completing the first section is with the American company, and it seems altogether probable that it will be awarded the concession.
I have, &c.,