The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-03

senial requisites in the shape Of Mills roads, ear
risges, etc., etc. He thinks the oxen of the coun
try may be obtained in sufficient numbers to do Ill
the necessary hauling Of materials. But there is
yet consideration Of vastly more Importance, viz
labor. Mr.. Chids apprehends that it would be no.
cefsary to rely chiefly on foreigners. He says that
although the laboring population Of the country,
when under compulsory circumstances, are
ipg much fatigue, in Their ordinary svoea,
tions they are tardy, and irregular in their
labor. An exception is, however, made in favor Of
class of boatmen employed on the river, some 400
cal labor and exposure to the elements scarcely
equaled in any country, endured by them with no
psrceptibe prejudice, but apparently with advan-
tsge. to their health. These men sleep en- narrow
plank across their boats, with other protection
than single blanket yet there is probably in the
world no class Of mon Of more athletic FORMS and
notwithstanding their Indifferent attention to the
conditions Of health, more capable of hard service
30 far ~ can be gathered from Mr. Childs' obser-
vations, it seems that he would rely chiefly on
foreign labor for the construction Of the proposed
work.
he to think it not unlikely that foreigners
already accustomed to hard labor, may, when
thoroughly acclimated, and under no unnecessary
exposure, be capable Of q fair amount Of labor in
this country, although not as great an amount as in
higher ATTITUDES He states that of the party en-
gagged in the survey west Of the lake nine were
unaccustomed to the climate. After few months,
aslight fever, followed By ague, prevented Some Of
the number from continued daily exercise but
being in all cases under the control of medicine. it
was Of short duration During seven months, in this
interrupted daily prosecution Of the survey. Upon
the San Juan river, the surveying party consisted
of twelve persons, exclusive Of native citizens. The
survey occupied six and half months, from March
health, and no individual was prevented BY indispo.
sition, beyond day or two, from full service. OF
those engaged rs axemen in clearing the line, two
were northern men, whose daily exercise exceeded
that usual to men in canal work. without detriment
to health or constitution"
SoI-From San Juan harbor to whore the pre-
posed canal would strike the river the soil is vege-
table mould, coarse sand, and sandy loan. Along
the river it is Of Q more mixed character, clay and
loan predominating in the valleys, and gravelly
clay, with detached stones, on the hills. West Of
the lake. the central portion of the summit is prin-
cipaly clay the remainder, together with the sell
through the valley to Brito, has very nearly uni
form and equal intermixture of clay, sand, and
gravel The surface soil is generally fine, and con-
tains enough of vegetable mould to render it capa
bic Of great production.
Food. Among the staple articles Of food that
would, during the construction of the canal be most
required for consumption, may be named maize,
plantains, and beans OF the former and latter two
crops are annually raised on the same ground. aud
the supply Of plantains is constant. Besides these
are bananas, oranges, lemons, pineapples, COCOA
nuts, squashes, melons, tomatoes, and other garden
vegetables. Mr.. Childs, while considering these
sources Of supply in food is nevertheless Of opinion
that salt meat and flour would have to be brought,
in large quantities, from abroad. Fresh beef pork,
and poultry, are abundant in the country.
CLIMATE, sALUBRIrY, ETC.
Amongst the most interesting documents pub
Gshed in connection with the report of Mr. Childs,
is letter from W. J. Lovejoy, MD, on the eli
mate, &c., of Nicaragua. His observations seem
to have been made chiefly in the district near
Rivas, on the line Of the survey, which il notori-
ousy and for obvious reasons, the least salubrous
part Of the State, excepting probably the valley of
the San Juan. he observes, that the limited mum.
Der Of foreigners resident in the country renders it
difficult to say, from actual observation, what is, OF
would be- the effect Of the climate on aboring for
eigners Nevertheless, as the amount Of malaria,
which in hot regions is the prsdomnasing cause Of
disease, is dependant on the essential conditions Of
heat and moisture, modified by prevailing winds,
So, he ventures some deductions from the meteor.
ology OF the country. He presents . most inter
esting thermometricAl table for one year, from
September, 1850, to September 1851. During that
period the lowest mark of the thermometer was
6S degrees, and the highest 81 degrees Of Farenhet.
The results Of the table are given here with