[Rarebooks] FA: 1852 Panama Isthmus Railroad Report w/litho plates

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

<http://tinyurl.com/nlnlx>

“THE ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC: BEING THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY FOR A RAILROAD 
TO CONNECT THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS, made by the Scientific 
Commission under the direction of Major J. G. Barnard, U. S. Engineers"

By Major J.G. Barnard, edited by J.T. Williams. Published by D. Appleton & 
Company:1852

In 1850 Major John Gross Barnard, a distinguished military engineer who 
served in the Mexican war as a surveyor and constructor of defenses, was 
selected as chief engineer by the Tehuantepec Railroad Company of New 
Orleans for a railroad survey of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico. The 
resulting report, compiled in this volume and edited by J. T. Williams, was 
the first full topographical account of the isthmus. The report is divided 
into two sections. Part I consists of the engineering reports, the 
hydrographical reports, a survey of Pacific ports and a general summary. 
Part II is a detailed study of the local geology and mineralogy, the 
climate, vegetable productions, animals, inhabitants, towns, and productive 
industry, etc.

As promised in the preface “All parts of the work are illustrated with 
sketches of the natural scenery of the Isthmus. These are faithful 
representations, and give a better idea of the country than any written 
detailed description.” The illustrations consist of 13 charming three color 
lithographic plates drawn by J. Müller & J.Mc.L. Murphy and lithographed by 
Saroney and Major.  Also included is a fold out world map showing 
inter-oceanic routes and a pull out diagram of thermal curves.

Unfortunately for the Tehuantepec Railroad Company, the political situation 
in Mexico deteriorated and the Mexicans decided to build a trans-isthmus 
railroad themselves.

Oh well.

This is a nice copy of this important work, recently rebound in new marbled 
boards and cloth with a leather spine label.

We also have books on Americana, gardens, Victorian fashion, & more-
<http://tinyurl.com/nlnlx>

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