New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-02
NICARAGUA AS A COTTON FIELD.
IrTTIR FROM TIE AMERICAN MINISTER IN
NICARAGUA.

! LITTER FROM TIE AMERICAN MINISTER II
NICARAGUA.
/ The offer Of the Nicaraguan Government 10 grau
land, In that country for the culture OF cotton, hal
! been published. The AiJ0Ay EreHiag Joarnoi o.
! Tbur,dav has letter from Nr. Dickinson the Amer
lean Minister in Nicaragua, setting forth the naturs
advantages Of the country for the production Of an
excellent ouaty Of cotton. We copy his letter:
"LEoy, July 8, 1861
q" According 10 proDlise I win give you brieI
description u portion Of Nicaragua, end shall con.
tent myself with plain narrative OF facts "a ! ind
them believing the simple truth to be iar preferable
10 the most beautiful overwrought picture though
ceiyed by the most vivid imagination, and drawn by
the hand Of master workman.
"Tbe soil il good beyond description fox the growth
Of cotton indigo, aud most tropical plants, beside
corn (which grows wherever IL has ninety days OF hot
sun without froet). Two and sometimes three crops
of corn are grown on the same ground in a single
wear without much care; and where the corn is now
rpenng cotton is designed to DO planted the last OF
this the nrst part Of next month The orepart Of
September is the proper time TO plant cotton here
Il will mature in time 70 be gathered In the dry
sop | em satisfied from what have learned by
inquiry and observation, that cotton ran be gro'cR TO
work at the establishment of Messr. Russell & Ftz-
GERALD in Chuandega, cleaning what regarded 40 an
excellent quality Of cotton. They are Americans who
intend planting hundred acres themselves this
IN. l
wanted for planting. North Americans can labor here
And teach tie Inhabitants how TO cultivate the soil and
raise cotton enough TO supply the United States
and most Of the rest of the world without slave
labor / very much doubt whether there can be
found upon the face Of the globe soil and climate
combined which sre better adapted to lite growth than
the soil and climate OF Nicaragua. All That 10 lacking
Il 40 or 50 American families from tho Free States
sufficient number 20 settle III each district TO give lie
and enterprise % the native families. These families
should have their mechanics and implements with
them 10 fashion and direct the trade and Industry of
tho country and create and call forth additional
sties comforts and Injuries which the people do not
now possess, bot which once introduced they would
not do without This people wants to be aroused and
stimulated 70 action. They live here honestly with
lees labor than anywhere else the face of the earth
Whoever Is content with enough 10 eat and drink can
DO abundanly supplied from tue fruits which grow
wild throughout the country, and Tree the air
he brsathes Bat man wants aud Is entitled to some
thing more
few hundred or thousand honest, intelligent working
m, could do moro benefit themselves and the native
inhabitants than here where there is no more for
worthless, drinking, idle yRgabonds, who are always
attending TO everybody business but their own, than
in any other decent, respectable country. There is,
however much to DO done 10 make 1t ready Tor grow
ing cotton or anything ese ON large scale; for not
more than onehundredh part OF the country cult
ysted and some Of it is the most dense forest ever
saw thou h not the heaviest for clearing The timber
il not usually tall, though some Of it is very large
Iheuudergrowth is in places thick with vines and
annual plants that bird can scarcely pass through it,
Land is exceedingly cheap and there is sufficient ma
hogany cedar, and Brszlwood in the forests 20 pay
for clearing, at prices they must always command.
The Government is In the main good and is admins.
tered with tho most rigid economy; taxes sccord-
ingly light. have no wheat growing in the
country though understand there are some portions
where il is grown to advantage Nor have seen po.
tAtoes or any kind Of American grass, or thstes or
mullen, or many other plants which do not believe
will ever grow here Grass cam undoubtedly, be cu-
tiva,ed TO some extent Ia fact the soil win produce
anything which can be grown in such climate " y
Your devoted fiend A. b. DICKINSON