The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-22

IN money Awarded 10 Nos and II Of Detroit, ~ before
STAYED. ~
Svsepstakes Trial -FEa Pyiss-Cash $3.50. Awarded
70 Nep,one, No. ], of Yps'lanti $3.50. -
Sound Prise-cash 500. Liberty, No 8, Of Jackson.
Eleven prizes were distributed among the DIRE compa.
MES four Of which were BY Detroit engines; ana N
inc settlement a between Nos and IL cash engine vas
The management OF so large an euterprise in such
small town called forth all the energies Of the Off ers,
ana 70 whom too much praise given for
cesetu manner In which carried out, no accident
happening 70 mar the pleasure Of the Wait
Inc next tournsment will be held at Battle Creek In
accordance with the rule which requires the winning
the st prize 70 hold in their city the next year fol-
loving
Tho Nicaragua Transit Route-Its Present
Condition and Proswscts.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
The charter Of the American Atlantic and Pacific Ship
Canal Company has not been revoked cancelled by the
government OF Nicaragua there legislation or execu
tive decree to the contrary In existence
The original charters Of lS49 1850 for the pur
pose Of making canal railroad and water communi-
cation across the Athmus OF Nicaragua The Obligation OF
tne charter was primarily 10 build q canal; but II the
building Of canal should prove impraccable then tue
company were to build railroad, and by OF that
and water communication establish connection between
the tao oceans
III true that legislative Decree dated 24ta Of March
ast, did abolish the which the company made
IN Juno, 1857, commonly called the oStsobns conracto
put ~ the aeboas contract in no way cancelled the
primary charters, but merely amended them 10 par
ucuP, while reiterated their existence, follows that
whatever may be the fate Of tho Sebons contract the
primary charters intact ike wise Ia the act OF in
corporation 9th company.
Tho preamble and principal enactng clause Of the Seb
bins contract run as follows
Convention made between tho republic Of Nicaragua,
through its Envoy Extraordinary and Miaister Plenipo-
Tertiary appointed for the United States Of America and
the American Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal
Whereas, the supreme government OF Nicaragua did,
on tho 9th day Of August, ls4o through their comns
soners, the Icentiatas Hermenegdo peda and Gregg
rio Juarez, enter into and sgu . contract With the
American Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company which
said contract ratified by the Congress Of the repabc
Of Nicaragua on the 221 day OF September, lsa9, and
afterwards amended the 9th day Of March, 1850,
which amendments were ratified and confirmed by the
Congress Of the said republic and by Of tbs sa
preme Director, dated the 18th day Of April, 1850;
And whereas, BY article OF the said contract the d.
meDsons Of the ship canal to be constructed By the
aforesaid company are defined and fixed;
And whereas, 1t has been ascertained aud determined
by careful and thorough examinations male by comps
tent engineers tina. OF the Dimensions in
by the aforesaid article cannot be constructed be-
Of want Of water Of sufficient depth the Lake
And wher cas- by article 80 OF said contract the said
company are required to const.uc aud establish q rail-
ROAD and water COMMUNICATION between tue ocesns
should the construction Of the SAID Canal become mpo5
eibe. for reasons or causes therein named;
And whereas, is desirable tnat q railroad aud
communication should DO estaosned as speedily pos.
sbe ON terms TO bota the republic ana
The following amendments aud additions to the asore.
said contract have been mutually agreed by
tween the state and the comp ny:-
Article che obligation 10 construct the canal the
~
canal the compsny shall establish territory
the State, between ths two oceans, by
Of this contract by the proper authorities OF Nicaragua
which commuBicit uy water and railroad shat
primary contract aforesaid. subject ali the terms aud
ccDdone, regulations and Restrictions therein uamed
CepS sofAr The be changet, modified and
penseo by this Che part OF the NUM-
by water shall be the river San Juan and LAKE.
Of auquA and the railroad shall be constructed from
the ssid lake TO The Pacific Osean
1ht convention conferred rights privileges
tbs oany Do,hpR be than spec ID
nspuer IN which existing lsi9 1885, and
ve,r formal are BY the repuo-
lie Of Nicaragua and the oany Whistler tue govern.
OF Ncsr justified 10 repeating this S.epblns
contract without having submit ed the question de
cision If birators needs 10 discussed All
that have at present TO show that in repeating
CONTRACT the company 10 in prec se,y the condon
though The ssebb,ns bad never been made
The object and intent Of the Seboins Ok
and setie tho fact With Nicaragua that toe canal sross
the ethmus was impractcabla ana that IN lieu thereof
the company should proceed 70 establish the rsroa aud
water communication stipulated for orgina con.
tract. u wae not deemed prudent 70 leave open
question ouLot which difficulties with Nicaragua might
arise 1t future TIM" Tho compaoys eogiaetrs
mactcabIe, but it was very essential 70 toe
compsnys inerssts that Nicaragua should adopt thar
opinion lksSiee 10 tho above named S.eebips Goa
tract this 10 amply staten ard sckno sieoged
After The StcobDs contract had been sgued and before
any action could be taken by the comoaoy 10 pu. me
supper advned the government OF Nicaragu4 that
they were prepared 10 make the canal under highest
patronage and With abup lance Of money for 'he
taking Central America was flooded with news OF The
many millions AZ the commsnu Of H. Felix Belly. Mica.
ties Of the Canal Company Increased pro ortoa as
French lluence the ascendant The govern
Of N,csrsgua If 1t bad been willing, could no. control the
popular tide in favor Of the 1elly schsms, and IL
u Q matter OF history now that contra vas signsd
by the executive chiefs Of Ncaragus and Costa RIGA
Mr. Belly and bis associates on condon Of tner building
canal Tor khps Of the largest burden scros Nicaragua
Thus An AmcIican company declared the canal TO bs
impraccability, but Frer CD company for ward
END tsid no eucn thing aod they we're prepared 10
demonstrate IL BY tho tat Of buiidingh.
Believing in the prom Of None. Belly, the govern
ment ef Nicaragua considered eeh entrapped by tns
American company into deduction which false, and
thai her national interests had been sacrificed
for term Of eighty I've years
much 10 suppose that any governments people
would allow itself to DO cramed and conned for many
years and the national deveiopement obsTucted
queIce Of charter founded deduction Of the inorac
tcabiy OF work wbloh competent authority 10 tnsm)
been wiser sd mole ward Nc.,asus
bad sken the poAtion that Mr. Sebbns' contract mad
b. based upon assumption and mad called
upcn the company 10 cancel IT, II not credtaoo to
the Of Nicaragua to ntepose obstacles
operations Of the company under its CHARTER ende,
bins contract the ground of non compliance With s
promises rbe company obviously cuntendiDg
against oregone conclusion in the mind OF tho govern
mert Ct Mica, aqua
Uncer such circumstances the true policy of the
pany wss allow Mr. Belly his way and TO leave
the justification Of tho opinion Of its engineers time.
None Bey's contract Was signed In May, 1868, but
ratification by the Legislature Of Nicaragua deferred
TIL this year. and IN order 10 prepare the way for
that ratification il necessary TO remove from
the etatute book of the republic that oDnorous
declaration contained in the Stebbins convention
OF June, 1857, and II was accordingly done by
Legislative decree the Path Of March or the present
year, in tie following Words
"rhe Stebbins Company not having fuled its engage
epts Nicaragua declares the contract made with said
company the 18th Of june 1857 the expan atoms