The New York herald., 1866-02-27

causes the sitting Of the harbor Of Grey
town and OF the river san JUAN II was closed up this
year. As late March last thousand Ave hundred
passengers-men, women and children-crossed by this
~ a az I s", o. hat
that Of this large number suffered IRON fever Is
wonderful proof of the saubr,y OF the climate.
PORTS.
Then the grand question OF ports for after ALL
the existence Of good and safe ermn is OF the first
for upon close examination of the coast about thirty
miles north of Or ytown, found the neglected and
imreriectly known bay enclosed within Monkey Point
the very thing in Of and which, to give II
locus s'andi named after my ship, Gorgon Bay" On
the Pacific side there was no necessity for any examna
ton nasmuch as the port Of Realejo which had been
surveyed by order OF the British adm rally years
before was everything that could be desired in the shape
OF harbor Thus with good port on each side of the
country and the intervening land, in all probability
offering no serious obstacle the construction OF rail-
way, was, from the very inception Of the idea
JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR
In 1850 made my first journey into the interior for
the double purpose or improving acquaintance with
the topography and Of informing our minister penpo
tentiary Of my discoveries and projected transit But
dorsc my opinion as to the necessity Of route
gained nothing, therefore, by my journey, except
than sufficient to convince me that the right
track After this journey circumstances prevented tho
active prosecution OF my plans until my return to Eng
devote myself to the development OF my transit
project
TRYING THE FRENCH KMPRRoR
In the rst place, threw together all tho information
had been enabled TO collect embodying my views and
experience in book called the "Gate Of the Pacincn
and then having introduced the subject to the public
ana finding had nothing to hope from my govern
ment determined TO sec tho Emperor OF the French
and try TO enlist his interest and cooperation
with the atterng reception from his Majesty who
accepted my book and encouraged me to perscvere.
found him thoroughly well informed the most
minute detail concerning Nicaragua and you
the cross-e examination l underwent trile. His
Majesty did not content himself with words but aided
me in the manner | desired, namely, by putting In
communication with the great capitalists of France,
through Monsieur Emile Perrere, TO whom the Duke do
BGssano was ordered TO communicate his MaJesty's
wishes
UNSUCCESSFUL ExproRIro EXPEDITION
In March, 1868 went to Nicaragua, accompanied by
staff of civil eng gneers TO make scientific exainina-
tion of the nature of the country. road cut
through the dense primeval forests fully confirming
the cntlrc paccability of the projected route; but
although physical difficulty presented ITSELF there
was an abundance of obs acles OF political nature
found Nicaragua at war with San Salvador and more
over in revolution that II was quite out of the ques
tou attempting 10 obtain the necessary concession IRON
the government in the then state OF anarchy and
fusion of the country In this expedition We had
very pretty tito adventures land and water;
and though doubt description of forest life, varied
by visits from tigers, snakes and the fierce wild lsOgs,
monkey feasts, and few episodes of Nicaragran
fare, during which was twce taken prisoner, would be
Interesting to you yet tne on this OCCASION regret TO
say, will permit enter upon these particulars.
Fihding that nothing further was to bo done in Mica
January, returned with my expedition to England.
full account of our operations read before The Geo.
graphical and Mathematical sections of the British AS
sociaton, at Newcastle in August Of that year.
CONCESSION OBTAINED.
In the following October started for Nicaragua,
this time quite alone l succeeded In making very
explorations of the country and when Congress
met in February 1854 bill was passed through both
chambers and approved by the government granting
concession to build the aroads over the route pro-
posed.
Unfortunately, however had some very smart op-
ponents in tho shape OF certain citizens Of the United
the transit for themselves The effort though
most enegetcay madc. proved aboriive; but they
seeded in sadly mutilatng my bin.
TIs coNcEs FINDS FAVOR
In june 1864, was at home again, but soon found
that tho concession did not meet with favor In the eyes
OF capitalists and that II must DO improved before
company could be formed THIS involved another jour-
ney to Nicaragua the fourth upon which started in
November Of the year. In the me, however
and a powerful means of drawing attention the
country, brought the mineral riches Of the Chontaes
under OF friends the result of which
the formation or company, with the object of
porng tho aurderous and argenti crous veins Of the
district
was accompanied in this journey (lS84-5) bv amnng
engineer Of ability and wel-known artist. Upon my
arrival in Nicaragua caused road to be cut into
forest and tho nature OF the country to be mnutey
examined. Altogether, this expedition, from which re-
turned in May last has proved by far the most important
OF all
TERMS on SECOND CONCESSION
In spite OF some opposition IN passing my bill
through Congress- my concession has boen greatly
proved, aud ~ now, perhaps, liberal and favorable
could be wished The term Is ninety years. and
hd millions OF land oeded
e cf port on ot the ie ali of which land is situ
aed in the three rich mineral districts OF Chonae Maa
ga pa and Legova, half million in Bcs
thus there extensive land each side Of tho
line in ale naio squares one for the government the
the railroad company, and all through the
greater part OF the line Both nal portsare free
ports and Is especially stipulated that the government
shall have no sort OF control over tho working and
management Of the transit.
mtuSEss MINING DISTRICTS.
An examination Of the gold ana silver district OF
Chon ales proved beyond dispute immense value:
and have already launched company tine Chonlaes
Gold and silver Mining Company, hmtedl work the
Mines which company has commenced operations under
the favorable auspices the full capital be ng sub
scribod at once; indeed thousands of shares have
been applied tor above the number required, In his
place ought perhaps TO give you soino idea OF the
Ncara uan gold ana silver helds no doubt they
destined 70 make tsure IN supplying tho precious
mo ais to the world. AT present the country
surrounding the mines IS covered with dense forest
that roads have 10 Do cut TO the veins which the ndans
dscOvcr before they can be worked. This Is
why energetic steps for the Development OF tho
mines have not been taken by the The odes are
large and strong, many OF them forty In
breadth The quartz at surface Is iriablc but becomes
more compact aud produces visible gold rs the
depth Increases Tho pceP.st niue YET worked Is two
hundred und twentyiv below the summit OF tho hill
From one sample in which gold visible OBJ
tained Us or 40 dw OF gold and 2S IL grs OF silver
per ion and from los. oz. OF ore by SIMPLY washing
aud amalagain2, two arg4peces gold were produced
equni 10 300 the ton. When 4 tell you that the
81 John del Rey mines Of Brazil only average after
many years working, u OF gold per aud yet pay
magnificent dividends, think you will admit that tho
Nicaguan mnes hold out strong hopes for tho future
OTHER DkcoyEIIsI
closer examination OF the proposed line between the
Atlantic and the Lake Of Nicaraugua disclosed several
important facts SUCH as easier grade than had
found In 1861 Large groves OF India rubber trees an
abundance OF cedar and mahogany, besides other vaua
able products abound the line of my cutting and
hear, by late adyices from Nicaragua that some people
have been prospecting on my road found, in
the language Of miners, broad strong vein OF gold
right across IL
PROPOSED LIME
must now give you some idea Of the line OF
have ultimately decided on for te railroad and will
beg your attention TO the map The course which my
transit will take u as ioows-S'artug IRON Gorgon Bay
the Atlantic latitude IL 20 NORTH the will traverse
the intervening land as far as Lake Nicaragua In the
vicinity OF Mguclito then skirt the shores OF that
lake the river Tpitapa and finally reach the IA
cihc the harbor Of Realeo total distance two hun
drcd and twenty-five miles. On the completion Of the
section from Monkey Point, the Atlantic 10 Lake
Nicaragua and also that from Reaejo, the Pacific 10
Granada both OF which would be commenced and com
peted simultaneously, connection might be made be-
tween the Atlantic and Pachc by running steamers now
the lake that inland from San Migueto to
the CITY o Granada distance OF ninety miles The con