New-York tribune., 1879-12-08
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
RIGHTS TO A NICARAGUAN CANAL.

The right to build a ship canal across Nicara-
qua is held by an American company under char
ter granted originally IN 1s49. The grant was made
then by the Government OF Nicaragua to Cornelius
Vanderbilt, Nathaniel Harvey Wolfe. Joseph l..
White and their associates, and the rights
then bestowed have been preserved by
the successor of the original company.
A survey was made the two follow
ing years by party of engineers. of whom Orville
W. Childs was the chief. After a careful survey IN
which a large sum of money was expended, a route
was adopted from the harbor of Greytown. on the
Atlantic to that of Brito on the Pacific coast. On
the eastern slope the San Juan River was 20 be
used for about 91 miles, with an artificial
canal 2Sla miles long from that river 10 Grey
town Harbor On the west of the great Lake OF NJ
caragua the proposed route followed partly the
River LOgOs which falls into the lake, and the Rio
Grandc which enters the Pacific Ocean at Brito.
The summit level between these rivers Is f0rty-slx
feet above high water in the Lake of Nicaragua, the
level of which is 1913 feet above high water on the
Pacific and 107ie feet above the same level on the
Atlantic. The lake IL about ITO miles IN length.
and has an average width of twentv-tiv We miles IL
is the great reservoir of Central America and affords
an inexhaustible supply of water at the summit
nearly of the projected rOUte.
Beyond the survey lutte work was done toward
building the proposed canal. AT that time tide OF
god-hunteTs was flowing toward the shores OF
California and turned partly toward the rOute by
way of Nicaragua. With the consent of the Gov
ernment of that country transit company was
formed. called the Accessory Transit Company,
which possessed all the rights of navigation anu
transit between tho oceans. Those rights only were
reserved which were necessary to build a canal be-
cause they had been granted under the original
charter By renewed contract made in 1905 the
Government removed the obi CATION to build canal,
but did not deprive the company OF IT'S chartered
rights The r1ute of the Pacific was opened by the
public demand before arrangements had been COM
peted by the company. In the early days travel
lers were carried on mules across the country
through a tropical forest. Afterward roads were
built, stage coaches were obtained and
steamboat was placed on the lake. la these
improvements n large sum of money was
expended. but the instability of the Nlcaraguan
Government intcrfcred with the success OF the COM
pany. It's original charter required the observance
Of strict neutrality, but IN the frequent revolu-
tons the mules and steamboats, of the company were
seized By the Government, and travel was inter-
ulpted until the renewal OF peace. Inc operations
OF the company finally ceased altogether, in cOnse
duence of the by the Government OF the COM
pany's steamboats, on the lake.
The NIcardguan Government sought Subsequent
w. BY granting charters 10 French and English
companies, to restore what was called European
equilibrium A contract was made IN $50 with
Frencnman named Belly, aud captain PLn secured
a contract for an English company. These CON
tracts were made subsequent to the Vanderbilt
charter. John +. Body, now treasurer of the
Manhattan Railway Company, and LOomis
L. White, banker at No. I Mal-st, were the
first agents of the company III Ncaragua The
capital OF the original company was $3,OOO,OOO,
but tnat of the Central American Transit Company,
which absorbed afterward that com oany AMI the
Accessory Transit Company. ~ S1,sOO.OoO. These
companies have filed IN the Department OF state. ar
Washington. claims aglnst the Government Of
Nicaragua amounting to T5,3OI, GOO. The Central
American Company also filed IN 1877 memorial
setting forth IFS rights 10 build an lnter-Oceanc
canal. In the Spring Of this year the Senate ap-
pointed committee consisting OF Senators
Hamin COnking, klrkwood, Eaton and Morgan.
10 investigate these CLAIMS A meeting OF the dlrec-
of the company was held IN this city yesterday,
and committee Was appointed 10 protect the com
nauv's interest before the committee. General Will
W.hn lreE
the New-York agent of the Washington banking
firm of Riggs Il Co., constitute the committee.
LEAVING A WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN.
UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE OF AN ORANGE BOOK
SELLER.
Thomas p Bayes. for the last ten years one OF the
leading book aud stationery dealers Of Orange. n.
j. left bis home on November 1, and has not since
been seen nor heard from by his friends. He was in
the habit Of leaving Orange for several davs in sue
cesson, and nothing was thought of his absence un-
Ill few days ago, when facts became known
which led his friends to think that he had taken
final departure from this part of the country. Mr.
Bayes is an Englishman about 10 years OF age and
came TO this country when boy. His parents, to-
cetler with several of his brothers and sisters are
AZ present living in Redford. England. Twelve
years ago he married the daughter of George W.
Freeman. of Orange. and established himself in
business in that place He had many acquaintances
in this citv and for some time has been the local
husiness agent of the New-YOrk Philharmonic So
ciety.
On Saturday morning November %, Mr., Bayes
told his wife that he going 10 Ncw-Iork. His
wife has not seen him since. He returned to Orange
the following Monday. and after remaining at his
store about half hour came back to the city.
No further trace of him has been obtained. After
waiting over week tor his return, his wife was
compelied to remove with her children, OF whom
there are five, all under twelve years OF age To the
home OF her father. where she now remains. touI
years ago Mr. Bayes failed in business. Since shat
lime he mas been careless both as 10 his business al
fairs and personal habits aud has been gradually
lowering himself IN the estimation OF his friends.
Charles Werner, the manager of the New-iork
Philharmonic Club, went To Orange Immediately
upon learning OF Mr. Baycss disappearance. ana
made an examination of his accounts. Ii was then
discovered that he had taken with him
1875 of the funds belonging to the club,
which he had collected Further investiga-
week previous TO his departure Mr.. Bayes had
borrowed from his friends, both of this city ana
Orange amounts which Will PROBABLY reach ? .ooo,
Most Of these were procured on worthless checks
upon the Orange National Bank. One Of the chief
losers IL c. W. F. Dare Of ths CITY; manufacturer
of children's carriages, VINO advanced Bayes about
5000 Bayes also borrowed S466 of A. K. Walsh.
and sold r. EsterbrOok, the steer pen manufacturer,
two notes purportng 10 be drawn by Mr. Dare, Tor
ahout 81 900. Other creditors IN TINS city are
Never Brothers, Oney. Fetters IL Co.., Halght ~
Co. Baker, Pratt e. Co. aud Aiken, Lambert "
CO.-all. however for small amounts
One Of Mr. Bayess questionable transactions was
his nformiug the police on the morning Of NOvem-
Der IS that his store had been S ro5bed during the
night of goods to the yalne ei Souu, ;dca
in support of bis statement, but, the contrary,
confirmed them in the opinion that the robbery had
been committed by some one connected wlth Tue
store. =.
Bayes is described as five feet five inches IN
height and weighing about 135 pounds; he is OF
dark complexion, and wears mustacne. leM
wears AGO he was one of the most popular men IN
Orange one Of his favorite stories 70 his friends
lately has been that he had been left large legacy
by the death of relative IN England, ana tH.V
next month he would receive a portion of 1t.
Many believe this, and think that he has gone