The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-21

less than half surface presented
and Of half the of water is carried
away by evaporation.
DRANAGE-plAs OF An AxEaIcax OFFICER ADOPTED.
TO add TO the imminence OF the danger lakes Xaocan
and San Crstova lie within Ave miles Of Lake Texcuco
These lakes are united have outls and seven or
eight fee, higher than Lake Toxcuco from which San
Cr.ttoval the lower lake. is separated only by
dyke or levee. Should this dyke give way
water This dyke is being raised three four feet by
building upon Its top small evee about three feet wide
which, should the waters Of San Crstova against it,
The Spanish engineers. when FIRST the encroachments
were made upon Lake Texcoco, foresaw tho evils that
must ensue, and provided against them by running a
canal from the lake, through Lake San Crstova tho
mountains, twenty or twenty-five miles distant. A
drained the waters OF tho lakes into The valleys
beyond. This tunnel finally became choked up,
and remained thus closed during many years.
The subject Of draining the valley frequently at
tracted the attention Of tho Mexican government,
and during the time that the Americans occupied the cap
ita the ministry induced Captain NJ L. Smith OF the sap
pers and miners-of which company General Mcclellan
was second lieuienantto make survey, and propose
measures for that purpose. The survey o. Captain
Smith was accurate, and the plan he proposed
to reopen the old canal and clear out the tunnel by
making a complete cut through the mountain, which
would be easier safer and permanent than to re-
open the tunnel Last fall surveys made by French
engineers and one OF the propositions they advanced,
ana which was partially carried Into effect TO again
overflow the lands reclaimed from the lake. and thus to
keep down the waters by eyaporationthe natural
. The Emperor finally adopted the plan OF Captain
smith, and decree accordingly issued the 2sh
MT to provide means to carry il into effect The taxes
felt by ali classes, although the benefits win be
spondingly great II will be seen that Yankee engineer
ing Is called upon in the last extremity 10 the imp
rial capital from ruin, for proposition has been scri
ousy entertained 70 remove II to more favorable
location
During the wet season the rain pours down with
suddenness and violence unknown elsewhere. in a few
hours swelling the smallest rills into wide rivers, rem
derng them mpassabe for the time The streets Of this
city, having very little drainage, soon overflow much 10
the discontinue Of pedestrians Last season, Gcucral
Price, Governor Harris and several other Confederate
officers dining at a restaurant In this city, the rain
suddenly bHgan to fall The dinner party made them.
selves quite merry the matter, expecting the
shower soon to pass over; but hours passed and
the rain continued without inermission. Presently
the sidewalk was overfowcd and tho water found
its way into the restaurant, where II continued
to rise. Chairs and tables we're at once appro-
priated 70 new use. In ons corner was seen the
round table, while his rss-d-vis Governor Harris,
carefully balancing himself upon the back OF decidedly
rckctty chair and the Of the Confcds disposed
Of to the best advantage upon other articles OF furniture
Here they remained cegiatng upon the fallen fortunes
stability Of the Mex,can climate until the storm sub.
sided How tn get to thcir hotel was the next question
There were no canoes TO be and carriages would not
venture out In such times Al length the General set,
tcd the knotty point by taking on his boots
and divesting himself of his neither garments; his
ample was followed by his comrades and, carefully roll
ing their boots and clothing the party sailed forth
odd Pap taxing the lead. Such a procession
before In the streets OF Mexico and the
tune OF the party would hardly have been considered
Ia mode in New York. however, they had dry brooches
to wear by this aquatic feat
NATIVES ENrEsoR--RRprcToN ExrEssrs.
The Emperor leaves no measure untricd 10 conciste
the Mexican people and to attach them To him rather
through love and respect than through fear The grounds
at Chapntepec thrown TO the public and every
Sunday thousands Of all classes throng the woods
the fs EmpeGos private S sc' " 'H 1ss Em
peror and Empress mingle with the crowd ss
only ndi1 ATOMS TO a stran.er OF the presence
OF their Naicstics is the undlsgnscd wonder
wherever they Co. All the Minister rug coanclI @ sq State
and nearly the entire Cabinet are hezicans Ncxicans
only or MEXICAN citizens can get oicc under govern.
rnent and Mex can servants aonL arr now cmpoyd at
the palace and about the perse.s or the Msestes
But all this coaxiug and couring Mexican popularity will
wholly fail n Its object although the Emperor and En-
press possess great personal popularity and that under
no circumstance would their pcr.ons DO danger espe
cally from the poorer clases SIN their rsjcsfcs
such, are hated by twothirs Of the Mexicans
and .othing that they do while they roa their 20
Ihe Emperor Il a man OF noble impulses and has the
good Of his people st heart HIS ambition is 10 make
Mexico power upon the Western continent second only
to the United stat g. and 10 leave behind him the
OF human benefactor but, unfortunately for chat am
btop hs the rmness necessary 10 his position
Hundreds Of Instances be citd of his Kind.
ness Of heart and where be has made personal sacr-
ices in order 10 relieve the distressed One OF these
Gently came under the notice ~ the American Consul
and the 70 ts fully authenticated. someiime since
Colonel Roas, liberal chief captured Mexican, the
The manned for life presented himself 70 the Con
sui, who OF course could not interfere In the matter
Emperor, who Immediately gave him nve thousand dol
lars from h's own private purse
spendihn.t II not restrained lie delights In nne
palaces elegant gardens fancy horses and has already
expended large sums upon his iavorise hobbies In
Mexico The castle and grounds M chapult~pcc
bang remode.ied at great crpcnse, aud the imperial
residence OF cuernavara Is being renud in syIo
"a accord sifh the imperial taste. The palace IN TITS
city h. also undergoing great changes and improve
i0eDtsL which, when completoJ will altogether alter
the character OF the bnI!dng The public pursc, bow
ever would no, stand all these strsn.-t suddenly col
ascd and Che works upon all The palaces aai gardens
have been suspended The work upon the public roads
been dIrtu he last rfte4u
years, but upon which thousands Of aborers have
Gently been EN-. employed has been TOPPED and alme
meni lies Idle. No more subs cs for opening roads
oalding telegraph lines &c will he pad for a long
,al, have suspended operations The srctss,
extends the royal household tbe Emperor having
OF every unnecessary expense But whether this
sustaining ths public credit enabling Maxi 10
weather the financial storm that has gAbered around
nnaneer than has yes been found in MrIeo 70 cres,e
national credit either al home abroad. and every do
partmen, 1.-THE sosornment VIII reanIet be remodeed
upon more comprehensive and liberal basis before
Mexico can expect 70 bcccme prosperous. wealthy ari
great
sArpuLr.s's yxrys-ul
TIE report of the Tntendsntc of the Civil list Just
pub ished throws light upen the Empercrs expenses,
and places bis Majesty In fsvcrxbe position be-
fore the peopIa when Naxlmsn Was called 10 MEXICO
the Regency nyed The amouat 10 be- allowed him o.
~ 500 ooo-,he given y,nrb,dc IN Is22
fhi. nciudss ths Emp.rors salary r-vairs of pubic
bnldnss. furnishing palaces salaries q Ministers and
ws.n Il. .DS Ioy. = tho !. ss s.
No decent quarters hsd be-n provided fr "
rss nasss & had been S-sS '1s public .a,ss.
hthy beyond description and ALMOST sntsciy de-t-
iu,e Of nrnitare AMER the arrival Of The Empssor .
huriedy prepared for him. and bed placed
n II, but their Msjesss resolved b. sysnd the night
chapuliepeo Here matters wer. found 70 be- " pc~-i
bie In . ssili condition. wsdows he'd bssn de-
moiisbed doors thrown down, Nth covered the noorr
and not an article cf furniture bad bsn @f a the
tie. TIE Emperor and Empress obliged 10 speai
their hrt night IN their capital upon the ros
not even . bed having been furnished them
In repairing the palsre and castle and reurnishing
them the Emperor has already spent ts5l ss In add
uen " this he has spent large IN sfornibs the city
erecting statues 20 distlngu shed Mex cans and
aging Mesicza ART and Industry.
With dsutersstsdnew unexpected In him, the Em.
parof deierfDined ~ materially reduce the so~ed
b. IN by the sovernmes, and accordingly, The 10Th
nt adrrsred the following lett Minister de Hs
oiendo by which win ts his Majesty wil In future
receive but $500 co for his own siafy and 20 the
governmsnt machine at lhs capital.
MT DpAR MfNKrun and lxruxD oy rfyft