The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-13
AFFAIRS N CENTRAL AMERICA.


San JUAN AND sALINAa BAY.
His Excellency the President Of the Republic Of
Costa Rica has caused the following decree 20 DO
published:-
JUAN RAPHAEL MORA, President. &c.
Whereas-A contract has been entered into be-
tween the government Of the Republic Of Costa Rica
and William p Kirkland, William B. Gearing, and
their associates concluded and ratified in this CITY
Of San joss on the 25th Of February, 1854 the said
contract being a. follows, to wit:
Joaquin Bernardo Cslvo, Minister Of State in the
Department Of the Interior and Of Foreign Relations
fully authorized BY the government Of the Republic,
in consideration ct the sum Of 800 OO0 which the
national treasury is to receive, and in expectation Of
the benefits which will accrue to this Eepublic, Of
the one part, and the Senior William P. Kirkland in
his own name and as representative Of william B.
Geering and his associates citizens Of the United
States of North America, of the other part, have
concluded on this day the following contract
Article L The government of Costa Rica con-
cedes to William P. Kirkland. William B. Geering.
and their associates the exclusive privilege Of nayi
eating, by steam otherwise. the rivers San Juan
and Colorado, and that part of the Lake Of Nicar-
aqua that belongs to the said republic Of Costa Rca
and also to the limits Of the river Sapos within the
jurisdiction of said Republic, with the view Of estab
lisbiDg line of transit, for the term of twenty
>, ars which win commence to run on the day that
Il Congress of the republic shall raty and approve
Of this contract, the same being done by lcgislar
tive decree, which shall incorporate the above men
toned William p. Kirkland, William B. Geering,
and his associates, into copartnership, company,
called " The Costa Rca Transit Company"
Art. 2. The Costa RIGA Transit Company are
n1 t. pay to s o. ns IL
thousar dollars in money, a. follows to wit:-Fve
thousand dollars within ninety days after the com
pany has received the ratification Of the decree
five thousand dollars on the same day in the next
year; and FIVE thousand dollars each succeeding
year, until the whole amount is paid up.
Art. 3. The government comedies to the said COM
pany the right and exclusive privilege Of construct
ing at its expense, railroad, or any other kind
Of road from Salinas bay to the river Sapoa or lake
Nicaragua, provided it be within the limits and u
risdiction of the said republic Of Costa Rca-giying
road during the term Of twenty years from the date
OF the said decree when the same is ratified and ap
proved by Congress-
Art. 4. The government, moreover, comedies to
yards each side Of Salinas bay, at such point a
the company may deem ft, for its own use and exclu
sve dominion; but the government reserves to itself
the right Of retaining certain parts Of the said land
to erect thereon q custom house, warehouses, and
such other public buildings a. may be found neces
eary to establish there.
Art. 8. Under the restrictions imposed in the pre-
ceding article the government comedies to the said
company other portions of land In the different
points hereinafter mentioned, to wit:-a mile Of
land, or thousand square yards, at the end Of the
projected road on the river Sapoa or Lake Nicara
qua; the same quantity at the point known as RAN
dales del Castillo the island situated at the mouth
Of the River Colorado, the limits Of which are bound
ed on one side by the said River Colorado, and on
the other by branch Of the same river, called the
Aqua Dulce; and lastly that peninsula Of land stu
d or in 0Tf If Imam do
under the different names Of Punta de Castillo, Pun
ia de San Juan, or Punta de Arenas, whose bound
aries will run from thence to point called
Of land washed on either side BY the river
and port of San JUAN and the area Of which Il forty
anGn-anas, or little more, the said company
teing permitted to retain, against any other claim
Whatsoever, and for its own and benefit all and
each of the said portions Of land conceded by these
preeents.
Art. q. The government moreover comedies to the
Transit Company the right and authority to con-
struct, at its own expense, such piers, wharyes,
dykes, trenches bastioDs bridges canals, and other
constructions or excavations, as may be deemed me-
cessary by the said company to facilitate the work
OF concluding the said transit ronie, provided al
ways that such constructions and excavations do
not impede or obstruct in any manner the internal
commerce OF the republic.
Art. T. The government moreover comedies to the
said company the right ane authority to use, free
from all taxes or duties such timber in the wild
lands OF The republic, and such stone, lime, any
other materials that the said company may require
for the construction Of the works necessary to the
C mpletion Of the present undertaking.
Art. 6. The government lastly comedies to the
said company the favor Of permitting all the ships
and vessels employed by it, or belonging to it, while
occupied in carrying out the construction Of this
transit, 10 lead and unload and freely to 60 in and
out Of all the ports, rivers, and streams which may
be Oh the line or In the neighborho0d of the route
Of transit and to the free from all duty or
tax Of port or anchorage: it being also understood
Hlc&< 49,
ssting of goods, barks, ships, and other property
required in the construction Of the transit, well
as other articles, necessary in their way, such as
materials to construct workmen's tools, machines,
instruments, chains anchors, cOrdage, cables, tar
canvas, spirits Of turpentine oil, hemp, coal, etc.
etc. and also moveables necessary for use in ships
and barks, be all free of duty and leyies Of any
nature whatever.
ferty and goods necessary useful to the parties
constructing the said transit route coming from any
foreign port at peace with this republic shall be
held free and exempt from every duty and impost
end every other restriction or detention that might
otherwise be imposed by the government.
Art. TO- The employees and workmen Of the
said company are free and exempt from all service,
civil or military; but in order to obtain this privi-
lege, it is necessary that the said employees or
workmen shall have been in the service OF the said
company for a period Of at least thirty DAYS.
Art. H. The said Transit Company, in consd-
Grafton Of the privileges and fayors thus granted,
promises that the products OF the country and the
commerce Of the republic, which pass by the
transit route in its own ships steamboats,, shall
pay only seven per cent Of tba. which will be paid
ON foreign fruits or produce.
Art. II. The company also promises and obliges
itself vigorously TO comply with the stipulation that
The road Of whatever material constructed; for the
purposes Of this transit route within the limits of
the republic, shall become the property Of the Cos
Ia ican nation at the expiration Of the said term
Of twenty years.
Art 49, The said company further binds itself to
receive on board and conduct in its ships the dpo
matte agents, employees and officials OF the said re-
public, TO whatever place they may wish to go on
Inc direct line Of the transit route without charging
any sum for themselves or their baggage; and the
said company also promises to carry free in time Of
war officers, troops and muniments OF war to such
places of destination along the said route may be
nee essary under existing circumstances.
Art 10. II, unfortunately, the present dispute
pending between Costa RIGA and the State OF Nicar.
aqua, in relation to their boundaries and tue