Presidents of the Panama Railroad Company, 1849-1916

The Early Presidents of the Panama Railroad Company, is about a portion of the untold history of the Panama Railroad Company, from 1849 through 1916, as revealed through its early presidents. This is the first comprehensive and contemporary roster about this little appreciated group of American railroad executives. It was pieced together from countless bits of information as if one were constructing a stained glass window or a mosaic with various colors added to enrich its content and to enhance its design. Previously, this has been an area of research ignored by historians. But, discovered were many fascinating revelationsbeyond expectation-about the Wall Street manipulations and the questionable involvements of these presidents, especially during the Park, Sage, Simmons, and Stockwell terms of office. The author selected the Ludlow through Goethals presidencies, from 1849 to 1916, as this group represented the most controversial, fascinating, and incredible personages 7 concerned with the incorporation, construction, organization, and management of the Panama Railroad Company. He found that after 1916, the daring, dynamism, and vision, coupled with the non-adventurous involvements, of the politically appointed presidents of the Panama Railroad Company was mediocre by comparison. What follows is not a complete chronicle of the Panama Railroad Company. But, through this profusely illustrated Monograph its history has been broadened and elevated to a new and higher dimension-becoming even more absorbing and intriguing when focused in the light of the activities of its early presidents.