The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-14

1EWH FROM NEW GRANADA.
l OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES - fs.f
The Hsxsan-Cass Convention In tIAs Senate
| Its Virtual Osfsas.
| Tie pews from New 6rAnads = dAasd - Panama ana
AspiIwal on The An Of Nay. . t
Mr.. jose kavoslino HartAsdo haA bssn nominated 0r
Governor Of the STATE Of PasanA rf
The Attorney Gene, al Of PAama bed refused 70 obey
federal order to prosecute Gsv Fabrss for derecou Of
| duty In the affair d April 10, lss&
DUN AsPISwALL ConnnsroNDENCS.
ApnwALL, N. G, March Is, 1858.
| Aspinseau, ~ Temperature, Climate, Health, Lo-
cation, Population, Stores Hotss, &C. Municipal
Government 7hxatioW- TIE Weren-Amsrican
Influence Ceinage--St Steamers and Sailing Pack
ms-P Postal Arrangements, &c, ~
You, in New York are clad In overcoats and furs,
warming your shins at blazing fire, with the Their
mometer probably at or below zero; while here,
sitting at desk with coat, vest and neck tie of,
windows and doors all open, refreshing breeze
sweeping over the reverberating ocean - 1t dashes
along the coral beach, am sweating over my epis-
tolsry labors. This is said to be the pleasantest
time Of year at AspinwalL Il is called the dry sea-
son, and lasts from December till May, the easterly
trade winds cooling the heated atmosphere, and
making a residence here just now health restoring
and pleasing. There is no epidemic sickness on the
island; some touches of the indigenous fever.
shaking recoNscSRns Of homo into the minds Of
American residents. But IL IL q great mistake to
suppose that Aspnwall 10 the most unhealthy place
on the Isthmus, and very hot People are as well
off here as on any other part of the Atlantic
coast of Central America; and with the
exception Of the universal Isthmus fever and the
enervatiDg influence Of this climate, from what
hear and see Aspinwau Ia Q more healthy place to
live 10 than any other on this side OF the lsthmus
have a. vet visited. There 10 excellent hospital
provided by the railroad company for the use Of
their employees. and on inquiry from the resident
physician was fully satisfied there IL but the usual
American average amount Of sickness among the
residents. s.~,~- AWH& WKa ~sa
Take from Aspinwall the rslroad, and in the elo-
quen, language OF Nose its"no whar" The town owes
is origin and existence to this extraordinary under
taking. Ten years ago all abomt here was morass,
covered over with impeDetrable underbrush and
psrasitical laced trees. The company own Mama
nilla island which Is about one mile square, and
lease tie different p!ats on which the stores houses
and huts nj the nhabtants stand They refuse TO sell
any part of II in fee and this, together with the high
monthly rent charged il said by the people OF the
town TO operate unfavorsbly on its growth and pros
Aspinwal contains about eighteen hundred In
habitaDts fifteen hundred OF whom are natives and
Jamaica negroes, Americans and EuroPea ~ making
up the difference. tt latter either in the en-
poymept of the railroad and steamship company or
Attendants in or propriet0rs of the various stores
These consist OF Yankee notions and dry goods whole
sale produce and commission houses groceries grog
geres and GsEdas, with number Of restaurants and
hotels. Among the latter is the Howard House, the
largest and best in the town, at which good accom-
modations with fair charges may be depended on
The usual price Of board Is three dollars day. or
''I Provis;cus and house rent are high in Aspinwa
az may be seen by the followinR:-An ordinary one
story house or store rents for $3.50 year; two story
timber of which the habitations and warehouses
composed does not last five or six years. In
sequence of the corroding Influence OF the climate
insects, &C. The buildings have diIapidated, mil
dewed and ricketty appearance, and some portions
especially where the negroes reside cannot be
txcelled by the filth, squal1ne@ and grovelling
character Of the residents even In the most unsca
vengered part Of the Five Points The price Of out
ter IL 35c. beef l5c., brown sugar l5 white sugar
20, -four sl2 per Dbl, hogs lard 26c., ham ESQ.,,
eggs SOC. dozen, chickens ST. turkeys 81, potatoes
l5c a H., onions l6c. ID. milk l0c: quart,
or ' loo ID. The wages q Iaborers average ieom
81 to 81 so day; mechanics, from So TO 81. Ofthe
former the natives and negroes afford full supply.
The latter, unless employed by the railroad steam
packet companies, have not even chance Of exist
ence
The trade Of A.pinwaII ~ inp.--.-r and A,.e-..
| can influence Ia making considerable Improvement
In The commercial babits and customs Of the people.
There ia an opening 10 this place for substantial
American commission house; but not for mechanics
| or enterprisng traders OF any kind:
The town IL governed by an Alcalde appointed by
| the New Granada government, who takes cognsauce
of all criminal business after his own fashion, gene
rally fnng both parties, and sees To the collection
and payment OF the taxes &C Inere ax le ee
on cattle the taxpay er being kept In complete gno
rance II the disbursement. Taxes are levied more In
an arbitrary than equal manner; successful CONNER
A-s... In. sxnrf IN In
| tempo habits of the people ADD the indoent cha
racter Of the natives The government never thinks
il gets enough-it Is always after the lions share;
and it is sufficient to know you are doing well to
merit the special consideration OF the tax commits
| sioner. How the Panama Railroad Company ma.
| nages to make any profit apart from the grab all
| policy pursued by De New Granadisn government,
Is mystery or the 900 .hite residents, there are
| making residence here almost uncomfortable. The
colortd women, superadded ~ their lazy and filthy
habits possess all the characteristics of the negro
| race fiat nose thick lips, DC.
No press. no schooIhouse, missionary church,
library and club formed by the railway employees,
some 800 wooden houses Of all sizes and chancters,
besides the commodious wharves, warehouses ofccs
and buildings OF the American steamship and Pana-
| ma Railroad companies, constitute Aspinwal While
the black and mixed population increases, the white
| does not increase; and however American CONNER
cal influence may benefit those among the natives,
&C.. who are engaged In trade, there 10 Too great an
| amount OF native and imported Ignorance lazness
and filth TO he affected by the leaven which all %
anxiousy desire should work out the social, indus
| trial and political regeneration Of this land.
A SOU, aking clarionet cracked flute or sque sking
fiddle every night, and even day, gathers together
| the yotaries Of Terpsichore, Bacchus and Venus,
who, lost 70 al self respect blason forth their buff
! fconery and debauchesy, moro encouraged than
frownei .uon by public opinion. Lolling, s4uattlng
Icing iabbering az every corner are Jamaica negroes,
| who, II not employed BY the rairosd, make common
cause with the dirty natives, and are the ready tools
of those in power 70 take vengeance on American
| indnstry. While the United States government n
iusty stretching ts protection over the Nicaragua
| Transit route u not this one equally deserving OF
| their consideration Over ten millions OF American
capital is employed here. and independent Of the