Page:Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican, Vol 2.djvu/132

willing and even anxious to labor at the very low price of 37½ cents per day, in the most healthy climate of the country.

"From this point of highest elevation, the route followed, reduces the distance to the city of Mexico to 37 leagues—making the whole distance from Vera Cruz to the capital not more than 73 leagues.

"It must be borne in mind, that in making the following estimate, we have taken into consideration the extreme low rate of wages in the country, as compared with the wages of the journeymen laborers in the United States; and this alone must make an immense difference in cost of works of the kind executed in Mexico, whenever we base our estimates upon the costs of similar works in England or in our own country.

 

ESTIMATE OF COST.

Section.	Leagues.		Dollars.
1st.	3	Grading from Vera Cruz to the foot of the small ridge of the Molino de Ricato, over a sandy soil, easy to excavate and transport superstructure,	125,000
2d.	2	Whole cost of the two leagues, from the last point to the river San Juan, nearly level ground, including superstructure and a stone bridge across this river,	95,000
3d.	12	Twelve leagues from the river San Juan to Boca del Monte,	450,000
4th.	6½	Six and a half leagues from Boca del Monte to the Barranca of Chichiquila—superstructure,	275,000
5th.	6½	Six and a half leagues across the Barranca of Chichiquila. This section is the most difficult and costly part of the road, and will cost over $300,000 per mile—say, superstructure,	2,500,000
6th.	4	The next four leagues to the valley of St. Andres,	245,000
7th.	34½	From the foot of the Sierra Madre, through the northern part of the valley of St. Andres, crossing the road from Perote to Puebla, near the village of Poctarus to San Cristoval,	1,300,000
8th.	4	Four leagues from San Cristoval to the city of Mexico,	270,000
		Locomotives and cars,	550,000
			——————
		Whole cost of the road,	5,810,000
		P. O. HÉBERT,
		Lieut. Col. 14th Infantry"