Educated under the best instructors of Europe, James distinguished himself at King’s College in London where he studied civil engineering. Being an ardent lover of his native country, he determined mastering the science to make his professional career there. He constructed a portion of the Biltmore and Ohio railroad, and was then made engineer-in-chief of the Rochester and Syracuse railroad. He was the first to suggest the idea of a ship railway across the Isthmus of Panama, and he had made a plan for it which was approved. Had he lived it would, without a doubt, have been carried through, as he had powerful friends to support it. Great hopes were entertained for him, for it was acknowledged by men whose talents made them able to judge that his powers were those of a man of genius; but to the disappointment of their expectations, he contracted a fever from marshes which he was surveying. His parents, in the hope of arresting the progress of his disorder, had determined to embark with him on a voyage to a milder climate. He died the day when he was to have sailed for Havana.
Educated under the best instructors of Europe, James distinguished himself at King’s College in London where he studied civil engineering. Being an ardent lover of his native country, he determined mastering the science to make his professional career there. He constructed a portion of the Biltmore and Ohio railroad, and was then made engineer-in-chief of the Rochester and Syracuse railroad. He was the first to suggest the idea of a ship railway across the Isthmus of Panama, and he had made a plan for it which was approved. Had he lived it would, without a doubt, have been carried through, as he had powerful friends to support it. Great hopes were entertained for him, for it was acknowledged by men whose talents made them able to judge that his powers were those of a man of genius; but to the disappointment of their expectations, he contracted a fever from marshes which he was surveying. His parents, in the hope of arresting the progress of his disorder, had determined to embark with him on a voyage to a milder climate. He died the day when he was to have sailed for Havana.
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