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Intercontinental Railway Commission Reports of Surveys and Explorations, Volume II: Ecuador and Peru
From 1895, the second (of five) volumes produced by this American government commission, which sought to build a railway lineconnecting North and South America over a course of 10,000 miles from New York to Buenos Aires. Although there were extensive studies, surveys, and plans developed over the course of the 1890s, the project never received the funding and political backing needed to make it a reality.
What makes this volume truly special is that it belonged to Andrew Summers Rowan, who was a member of the survey corps. It is boldly signed by him on the blank fourth page.
Rowan was immortalized by Elbert Hubbard in the author's hugely popular essay, "A Message to Garcia". Hubbard described the soldier's heroic trek though the mountains of Cuba to successfully deliver a vital message from President McKinley, who was seeking the rebel general's help at the outset of the Spanish-American War. Hubbard so lionized the messenger's achievement that Rowan became one of the most famous men in America and remained a celebrity to the end of his days.
Rowan's signature is extremely rare, making this book a unique collector's item.
The book is well-preserved for its 130+ years. The covers show minor handling, including chipping to the paper spine label and a small bruise at one corner; the binding is firm, and the text has only minor signs of age or use. Very scarce in any condition.
This is a substantial volume, over 9" X 11", 326 pages plus more than 40 illustration plates and maps. The text is printed in both English and Spanish. The portrait of Rowan does not appear in the book.
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