Spanish surveys of Tehuantepec and Nicaragua 1771 and 1779 Von Humboldt's residence in Central America 1799-1804 Panama declares its independence and joins New Granada 1822 Overtures made by Central America to United States for canal 1825 Goethe's prophecies 1827 Dutch canal concession from Nicaraguan Government 1829 abandoned 1830 British Honduras annexed by Great Britain 1835 United States Treaty with New Granada 1846 Clayton-Bulwer Treaty 1850 Panama Railway opened to traffic 1855 Dickinson-Ayon Treaty between United States and Nicaragua 1868 President Grant recommends canal under United States control 1869 Appoints Interoceanic Canal Commission 1869 Suez Canal opened 1869 La Societe Civile Internationale du Canal Interoceanique founded 1876 Grant's Commission reports in favour of Nicaraguan route 1876 The De Lesseps Company formed 1878 Company starts work 1881 Bankruptcy of French company 1889 New Panama Company formed 1889 Construction work at Nicaragua 1890-3 Ferdinand de Lesseps died 1894 Hay-Pauncefote Treaty 1901 Spooner Act 1902 Panama revolts from Colombia 1903 Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty 1904 American occupation of Isthmus begins 1904 Completion of canal 1914 Formal opening 1915 THE PANAMA CANAL. CHAPTER I. THE SECRET OF THE STRAIT.