UCRL-ID-126133 a Isthmus of Tehuantepec R. A. Miles DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsi- bility for the accuracy. completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its usc would not infringe privately owned rights. Refer- ence herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark manufacturer. or otherwise does not neccssarily constitute or imply its endorsement, rccom- mendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect thosc of the United States Government or any agency thereof. This is an informal report intended primarily for internal or limited external distribution. The opinions and conclusions stated are those of the author and may or may not be those of the Laboratory. Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-ENG-48. DISCLAIMER Portions of this document mybe illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. 25 March 1958 DECLASSIFICATION STAMP ON RWER / MJ3MORANDUM TO8 Distribution FROM : Robert A. Miles SUBjECTt Revised Ke?ort - Isthmus of Tehuantepec Enclosed for yotir information and retention is one copy of a preliminary report on the Isthus of Tehuantepec as a location for a non-military application of nuclear devices. This report is a revised and combined version of txo previous repoh, one by Cliff Bacigalupi and Fred Marren, and one by Robe& Miles, both dated 2L February 1958. It is requested that the two previous reports be destroyed. Tnis report is intended to provide preliminary information to personnel within the Laboratory and will he used as a base or starting point by the Non-i%litary Applications Study Comittee in developing a final report. Enclosure Distribution: G. h'. Johnson <---cz H. d, Keller A. V. Shelton C. E. VLolet E. Brown C . Bacigalupi,':.' . 3arren PIaj . Gen, H :ath S andia F . Wondolows ki R. Miles File Is THME OF I'EIIUAMTEPEC IN VES FICA TION $3 for OPERATION PLOleGHARE Prepared by$ Clifford PI. dacigalupi Robert A. files Fred J. ;.jamen Test Operations UCRL, Livermore March 25, 1958 I. History of the Trans -Is tdan Canal at Tehuan tepec- -- - - - - - --- - -- - - - ---- Page 1 I1 . 111. Purpose and Usefulness Of a Canal Across The Isthmus of Tehuantepec----Page 8 Iv. V. VI. VI11 . IX. X. XI. Chart #3 - Comparative size of als -------Page 40 PART I HISTORY OF "HE WS-ISTKMLW CANAL The idea f communication b tween the Pacific and Atlanti oc eans ross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is as old as the Spanish conquest of Mexico when Spin was one of the world's great imperialist powers. Cortes was the first to forsee the enomus strategic advantages such communication would give the Spanish crown for control of the high seas and aafety from pira.t;e raids upon Spanish shipping. However, Cortes succeeded only in building a road across the isthmus. After independence from Spain had been won, Mexico sent two exploring parties to survey the isthmus and weigh the feasibility of a canal. "hey came back with nearly identical reports suggesting a water route from the Gulf of Campeche to the head of the Coatzaeoalcos river, and from there by land to Tehuantepec aild the Pacific, New revolutions flared, and nothing more was heard of the project. A later survey party and exploration group headed by Jose de Garay was granted a concession by the Mexican government; to survey the isthmus and make' a proposal on a water-way comecting the two oceans. After nearly two years &ray sold his concession to &gland, who in turn sold it to the United States. Since the Mexican government had Just lost considerable amounts of land to the United SWtes in the southwest, the U. S. party was told to leave, and nothing more was accomplished. fered in which a to Ship8, be a small railway was built piecemeal by different concessionaires and later on it was improved adextended. It was formally inaugurated in 1907, at a total coat of over ~40,000,000. Most of this money ended up in the pockets of London and Hew York bankers, and corrupt railway and government officials. 4 CmzJ.>J!% 24: 5 f P' _"__ This long hassle1-1 played a,n important part in a canal being built at Pam, although the Isthmus of Tehuantepec was preferred. Since the early l9OOs many people have proposed the trans-continental cana3, but either revolutions, war, or political upheaval have prevented any positive action. The rickegy Tehuantepec Railway of today is a sad ending for the many ambitious projects and attempts made during four hundred years to establish a communication between the oceans. Since the end of World War I1 there have been other proposals for building a canal at Tehuantepec by both the United States Navy and the Corps of Army Engineers. The Corps of Engineers recently completed a survey of the area to study the feasibility of such a canal. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec lies between the Bay of' Campeche on the north and the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the south. The major port city on the north shore is Puerto Nexico, or Coatzacoalcos, which was once a great port, but is now reduced to a fishing town at which only stray ships call. The rail terminal, like the docks, has seen better days. Puerto Mexico lies approxi- mately 890 miles southwest of Hew Orleans, and is the port of entry for ship going into the Coatzacoalcos river which winds it*sway for twenty-two miles to Minatit%an. Minatitlan is the only properous city on the Gulf side of b the isthmus because it is the site of one of Mexico's largest oil refineries, and supplies Mexico with a large partion of her oil and petroleum. The country between Puerto Mexico and Ninatitlan is low and rolling, and heavily vegetated along the rivers. The dense jungle which bisects the isthmus starts just a few miles inland. The Jungle is classed as a tropical rain forest, and extends into the mountains. It is extremely dense adfill of giant trees hung with creepers, ragged palms, great taro leaves, and covered with wild morning-glory. There are areas of large bamboo forests, naking travel through the jungle very difficult. Occasionally the bHeached skeletons of great silk-cotton trees rise above the dense level of the jungle and provide a sunny perch for large black vultures. The floor of the jungle is fairly free of dense vegetation, but is crawling with a myriad of insects, lizards, and 2 s1212kes. Many rare and exotic birds live in the trees, and screech at people P -a, who invade the& dense refuge. Monkeys are also abundant, and delight in performing their acrob high in the trees. <$j) The eastern s on of thls -le Is me of the Jaguar, which is both feared and worshiped by the aatives living in ear jungle. In addition pic, i $' to theP aguar, the jungle contains many oceuot, and wild cats. Beczuse of the abundance of game, these jungle killers seldom attack man. Other wild game includes tapir, a species of wild boar, deer, rebbits, and fox, but the natives have not put these animal skins to any par'ticular use. The lakes along the Atlantic slope are infested with alligators sild the jungle and dry Pacific slopes both contain Yne deadly rattle-snake and coral-snake. The jungle also hosts swarms of bees which busy themselves with maicing wax and honey. The lakes and rivers contain an amazing variety and abundance of fish, and the tortoise shell found near Illorro on the Pacific coast is un- r surpassed. There is also an abundant supply of pheasant, wild turkey, pjtridge, quail, wild pigeon, and ducks. On the high Atlantic slopes in the mountains a smll area is plagued with vmpfre bats, which have proven to be a menance both men and to ----.. livestock. !&e'guam,Y a giant lizard, inhabits both the northern and southern portions of the isthmus, and is eaten by the natives who consider it a delicacy. The southern gutma is a brown and tan color, while his brother in the jungles to the northj4) is green. The people of the isthmus differ in their appearance and customs from one area to another. Tae Pacific plains are inhabited by several groups old!ndians, c Oy4-d T the BOSt ?3AU&am .t being the Huave and Zapotecs. Some dndian tribes live in the mountains and seldom, if ever, communicate with others, a& ere for the mbst part self-sufficient. Host of the hdians in the northern part of the isthmus live in the aungle, a.nd hunt md farm, and sometimes catch fish for their living. The area of lagoons on the Pacific shore is one of the most inhospitable areas in which human beings can suhsfst, cmmL3Mngof treeless and unprotected sand be that by four months of cold, biting north \ sandstorms, four months of scorching drought, and four molzths of floods. It is infested wlth ants, fleas, mosquitos, and can pro6uce very little food. The people that inha'oit this region are chiefly of the Huave tribe, and live largely on fish, turtle eggs, and what little they can grov in their desolate soil.