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Appendix No. 4.
ISLANDS NEAR PANAMA,
of the sandy bay, it would not be sufficient protection for a slip or gridiron. The beach, howeve is a fine sandy one, with but little fresh water on the island. There are two small springs about 500 yards inland, near the centre of the bay, and another on the north part; but I am told that only one gives any water in the dry season, and then only sufficient water for the few people who may be on the island.
6. The bay betweed Ileano and Perico, which I have had marked as Plan No. 4, is, no doubt, of great importance. In the first place, it commands the greater part of the anchorage immediately off the town of Panamá. The 3-fathom soundings run considerably closer into the bay than marked in the charts. Sandy bottom, with mud outside; well protected; the only drawback being that there is barely sufficient fresh water on either island, or on Flamenco, for the inhabitants or workmen employed. The whole group, Ileano, Perico, Culebra, and Flamenco, belong to the American Pacific Steam-ship Company. Upon Ileano their workshops have been erected ever since 1856, the same having been transported from Taboga. Their fresh water they get entirely from Taboga Island, in tank-vessels, which are generally towed over by a small steam-tug, they having another steam-tug for bringing their passengers from the railway at Panamá to their steamers, which always anchor in the Bay of Ileano and Perico. Flamenco Island, even if offered to our Government by them, would be of no use as a depôt, for a swell sets in round both sides at times, although the Bay of Heano and Perico is quite quiet.
7. Gonzales Island, one of the Pearl Group, and which I have had marked as Plan No. 5, if not for the distance from Panamá, is, I look upon, as suited in every way; but, unfortunately, it is 38 miles from the anchorage, or 40 miles from the town of Panamá, which is a very great drawback, for here, at Taboga, although 8 miles from the town of Panamá, we have daily communication by boat, and have in sight the town, although not in signal distance. The anchorage of Gonzales, which is on the north side of the island, is good, and capable of holding any quantity of ships. The island is from 3 to 4 miles in length, and 2 in breadth. Trapichi Point, or Island, is very similar to the Morro here, being attached to Gonzales by an isthmus, dry at low-water spring tides. There are 3 fathoms at the north-west side, close alongside, with a sandy bay on either side of it, the fresh water being in the bay west of Trapichi, the other bay being the largest and best situated. In September last, when I was there in Her Majesty's ship under my command, we had 29 tons of fresh water along- side in two hours from the time of the boat leaving the ship. From its being so thickly wooded, I could not trace the stream far inland, but am given to understand that there is water the whole year round. We saw no one on the island during the three days we were there.
8. The whole island belonged then to a Mr. Alexander Chemisard. There was no appearance of anything being cleared away, or of any one residing there, not even a single house, whereas Taboga Island belongs to very many parties, many houses and a large village on it. I return herewith the chart of Panamá Bay.
I have, &c. (Signed)
NICHOLAS VANSITTART, Captain.
[Inquiry was hereupon made (February 20, 1858) of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company as to whether they would be willing to dispose of a part or the whole of their coaling-establish- ment at Taboga to the Admiralty. The Company replied (February 24, 1858) that they had no inten- tion of disposing of the property in question, but that they would place their establishment at the disposal of the Admiralty to any extent that might be required.]
Sir,
Inclosure 4 in No. 137.
(C.) Commander-in-chief, Pacific (Rear-Admiral the Hon. A. A. Cochrane), to Admiralty.
"Repulse," at Acapulco, September 15, 1874.
I HAVE the honour to state, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that when at Panamá I made inquiries as to the cost of receiving, stacking, and shipping coals, and of the cost of hiring ground abutting on the Panamá Railway and contiguous to the sea, at Colon and Panamá.
2. It appears that the Panamá Railway Company do not place their coals under sheds, and consider that their coals diminish in value about 13 per cent. in eighteen months, the upper surface of course becoming soonest perished.
3. The Pacific Company would be willing, either at Colon or Panamá, to lease a piece of their land abutting on their railway for 3 dollars per annum, and to grant as much land backward from the rails as could reasonably be desired, say 30 or 40 yards. It might appear at first as if there would be an advantage in taking a small frontage, but the cost of transporting the coals from the rear would far exceed the rental of a reasonable frontage, say about that of three coal trucks, or 40 yards.
4. The arrangement of receiving, putting into trucks, discharging, stacking, loading, railing, and putting into lighters would be as follows:-
(a.) If the collier discharged cargo at Colon, it would be into the Pacific Railway Company's trucks.
(6.) If the Admiralty leased a piece of land at Colon (such land being about 500 yards from pier), the use of trucks and the cost of putting such coal on pier immediately contiguous to rail would be 60 c. per ton.
(c.) To send coals to Panamá, Railway Company charge 4 dol. 30 c. per ton.
(d.) To place coals alongside ships at Panamá, 2 dol. 50 c.
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