The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-17


wreck Having failed to meet their liabilities their
creditors. after many months OF litigation, have
court. The price obtained hardly covered one
lourtn OF the company's debts. The government is
among tue unpaid creditors for an amount OF over
81, wv IN gold The government has had nothing
To do with the lawsuits brought against the COM
Pany, ana even has thus far omitted to commence
.neir acnon. IL Is reported that they have appointed
lawyer 10 do 80, but he declined the appointment,
and no other has been named for the service. The
government seems TO have taken particular pains to
proceed with the utmost circumspection and deli
cacy. AS there is no Attorney General In
Nicarauga the government has submitted all
matters having reference to the Transit Com
pany 70 Three prominent lawyers for their
opinion. This has not been made public, but
tains, among others, the following particulars:--
First-The company has forfeited its franchises for
non-mlnlment. Second-Nicaragua Is entitled to
Element and to the recovery or damages. Third
The case shall be decided according the laws OF
Nicaragua Ho ana by the Nicaraguan courts Of com
merce. Notwithstanding to the laws OF this coun-
Try tne lhdividua members OF q cofapdstid CONAN
dss,a "a lolnt stock company are to certain
extent Responsible for the Liabilities OF the
corporation Fifth-Accordng to tho estab-
lished rules OF private International law the
decision Of . Ncaraguan court is entitled
70 execution IN the United States as all foreign
Judgments are SO entitled. The government has re-
ceved Official Information to the effect that there
erty. Great satisfaction is Expressed here at the
failure OF the Central American Transit Company.
II Ii py some believed that the leading men OF the
board nave been acting under o secret understand
Ing with the Panama Company to keep this route In
bad condon, 30 AZ not to injure the latters inter-
ests by the competition; others ascribe the COM
pany's failure 70 unntentl0nal mismanagement, and
all concur IN declaring II an insunerablc nuisance
and an obstacle to the establishment Of a
ment OF the country. Old residents i 'I here
state that this same company, under different
names or titles has obtained from this government
since Ae4S not less than six transit contracts or COM
promises, and that the company has never fulfilled
one yet IL Is BY no means strange then. that the
COMPANY , snoo,d DC SO unpopular a. really Is
Inc merchants sufier much Inconvenience from the
want OF postal treaty between this country and the
united states. Nicaragua has such q treaty with
England and the result is that communication with
that more distant nation very regular and convent
ent; while with the United States It is expensive and
uncertain. package OF letters periodicals which
from London would cost but twenty five cents, from
New York cost not less tnan dollar and they are
glad Il they get Is safe Both the carriage and tho
charge seem to be entirely arbitrary The trade be-
tween the two republics IL very much affected by
such condition OF affairs The latter fact Ia In part
United states on coffee ana several other articles
which are the main productions OF Nicaragua, while
the latter charges correspondingly high duties on
several articles which otherwise could be imported
from the United States. Thus especial convention
with reference to these two subjects s great desd
eratum. The American Minister here, instead Of
meddng With transit and other speculatlonG, should
attend to It,
The general treaty OF navigation and commerce
States is The result OF President Guzmans strong
sympathies for the American republic aud Of his
decision to have 1t negotiated during his administra
ton. Even before his appointment TO his present
station he frequently depored that Nicaragua should
not have treaty with the great republic OF the
same Continent while she had COMMERCIAL postal and
other treaties with most OF the European Powers.
This government has decided TO suppress
the legation at Washington lat New York
rather) IL has done no g0oa TO the country and II
has done sometimes mischief, especially in transit
affairs. IL Is estimated that the moneys paid to that
legation during the last eight years would he more
than sufficient to build good road between Granada
and Leon, through this capital OF the republic, q
work OF immense utility to tue country. Nicaragua
has no disputes with the United States and none
expected. The government, therefore, can afford
to spare such expenditure, which has proved
useless. With the United States the case ii
sens ade the Question ss
the existence In Nicaragua OF large American inter
ess renders 1t proper and necessary for the presence
this country express their hope that as thu
newly elected President Of the United States comes
into ONCE competent person viii be sent here :,
the American interests here not So and they wei
deserve the services OF an able and respectable dpo
matist. Though unfortunately we have not in thu
United States they have In other countries diplo
matte training or career our government will not inc
It difficult to select competent man to send here
The remark has often been made that the salary &C
corded Is not sucient remuneration for thu services
OF first class man. The objection could be removed
by accrediting one minister to all the i've Contra
American States. Thus larger salary could be as
signed without further burden to the nation. Com
munIcation and travel between these republics arr
both safe and convenient, and surely fully cONpe
tent representative would do more good than Ave
otherwise. The nv0 legations cost nc present over
cost our treasury during the two last Presidential
terms over S60,000i Cm bono? This subject calls
for the attention OF our government and Congress.
Your influential journal would confer On important
service to American commerce and to American In
terests generally in Central America by procuring
healthy reforms In this matter.
m w n mi 70 NJ fha 1ata
Central American Transit Company have established
regular line between the port OF San Juan del Norte
other places the lake. Thus far, it is said they
are doing good business. They manage their line
with sagacity. and are winning the confidence and
always complained that the steamboats, could not
earn their running expenses. have been assured
that tue present owners feel sanguIne OF making
$4,000 net profit this year from the trade Of the
country only They expect to open the transit route
next year. They have In their hands already not only
the steamboats,, but also the houses wharves, road
and almost all other property and material OF the
late company IL is really incomprehenslble how
that company permitted all their valuable property
to be sold for liabilities which, had IL acted with any
thing ike sagacity or common sense, II could
have settled on favorable terms, thus saving its pro-
perry and grant.
Great anxiety Is felt here about the gentlemen
VINO wentto Rome and other parts OF Europe on u
especial mission from this government. They nre
man, one OF the Presidents sons. Both Of these gen.
tleInen are much esteemed, and 1t is nearly three
months since any advces have been received
OF or from them, people who are not
much accustomed to navigation commence to fear
ABOUT their safety. The mission to Europe had a
manifold object Clerical reforms, immigration, the
arrangement OF the foreign debt, the bringing OF
school teachers and other objects or great national
Importance were embraced IN the general body VI
Its duties.
The sanitary condition Of the country is excellent
and prosperous year IN expected, though money
continues very scarce. The mines in Chontales and
Segoya are yielding good returns. They are mostly
In the hands OF French aud English companies
or individuals. The two largest companies are
English. They appear to be satisfied with their en-
terprse and continue extending their works and en-
largng their property-already extensive and costly
American enterprise Ii hardly represented In the
mines; but the best miners there employed are
American. The superintendent OF the Javali works
s Colonel Naury, son OF the celebrated Lieutenant
Maury, formerly Of the washington Observatory. He
lives at the headquarters OF the company making the
best he can OF ms exile lie has with him his beauti
fui and accomplished young wife. The Ch0ntales
mines IRE Of easy access by the Atlantic side OF the
isthmus The mining legal system OF Nicaragua
V more liberal and more definite than
that OF California. Consequently property here Is
more easily acquired and less subject TO litigation.
Il mi N m