The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-21


the concession is granted. His name simply heads
the list. In this capacity. with others. he will
ask. through commission about to be organ
lied and which will proceed to Nicaragua
at once. and ask of that government that conces
sion may be granted to enable an American company
to build an interoceanic canal through their terri
tory. That concession will consist Of the exclusive
right OF way with land grant of alternate sections
of territory three miles square either side of the
river between the lake and San Juan del Norte
and as much public land on the Pacific slope 1t is
in the power of the government to grant, and the
territory necessary for the canal route owned by
private parties to be sold at it's present APP
praised value Also land grant of 400 square
miles. the location to be selected by the
company from the public lands. The prop
erty and lands Of the company are to be
forever exempt from taxes. and the company is to
have all the land that is necessary along the route
for the construction Of the canal. During its
struction the tools. machinery and all other
means imported for the Of tho canal
to be exempted from payment of
duties as well as the subsistence stores and
clothing purchased for the laborers and employers
OF the company or the contractors or course these
are not the details of the agreement. but what I
mentioned substantially what the corporators
will ask and which the government Of Mica
ragua is ready to grant. On the arrival Of
the Commission in Nicaragua Congress Will
be called together in extra session and
the concession ratified. The Commission win
then return to New York. and upon the basis of
the concession the act of Incorporation will be
drawn. the leading features of which have already
been published in tho HERALD. l have calculated
the time pretty closely and should say that by the
LIST of March, by the middle of that month the act
would be ready to be introduced in Congress.
That act will enumerate the same gentlemen
is included in the petition for the concession to
be asked of Nicaragua. headed by General Grant.
When the act is passed and the corporators are en-
powered to organize. then General Grant win be
chosen president. He is now. to oil intents. the
president, inasmuch as he is at the head OF the
terprise. More than that he is doing to-day all that
lies in his power to promote the enterprise and all
that is lacking are some details such as business
prudence naturally suggests"
sYou speak Of a commission visiting Nicaragua
Will you please give me the names of tho parties
lected?'
THE VISITING AMERICAN COMMISSION.
IT do not feel ut liberty to mention but one, and
that is Sehor de Franco. who is anxious to leave
the steamer next Monday and leave the other men,
bers to follow in the steamer of the 30th inst"
what is the reason Of the haste?"
"The letters received from Nicaragua urge prompt
action on the part of the American company. As Mr.
De Franco is a prominent member of the Nicaraguan
government his presence ut home would enable the
President OF Nicaragus to anticipate the arrival of
the main body of the commission and convene Con-
gress without delay so that upon the arrival of
the other members they would find. perhaps.
that Congress awaited their coming You see, the
object is not much to gain time it is to head of
~ Europ IA to mi ST
the United States. The presence Of Mr.. De Franco
will do this effectually.''
"what is he now waiting for?''
.Simply for the perfection of the preliminaries,
which will be completed. trust. in time for him to
leave New York ON next Monday. You can judge for
yourself whether any time has been lost since Gen
eral Grant arrived in Philadelphia or not
..And the remainder OF the members follow him
with the perfected details Of the petition and guar
antees?'
"That is the understanding"
THE coPoRAroRs AND CAPITALISTS.
"wiu you please give me the names Of the gentle
men associated with General Grant in this enter
prise?"
clam not at liberty to do They ten or
twelve in number, gentlemen Of such prominence
in the United States that their will
be a sufficient guarantee of the solidity Of
the company or course they not all the corpor-
ators. More will be added. understand. to in
clude the names Of prominent bankers in England
and France; but the names refer to are those who
have agreed to inaugurate the work.
"WiIl it be necessary to make any more prelimi-
nary surveys?"
ono. sir; those already made considered
amply sufficient. and tho projectors
confident that the detailed surveys will
diminish the estimates for the construction OF
the canal instead of increasing them. No,
the act passes Congress will be ready to begin
practical operations all along the line OF the pro-
posed route. There many details might tell
you. but they would be uninterestng at this time.
What the HERALD is anxious to know is whether
General Grant is in earnest. think there will be
doubt on that point within the next ten days."
WHY GENERALS TRIP DELAYED.
'In speaking of the concession the commission
will ask for, are the points you have named those
determined upon in Philadelphia they such
as the government of Nicaragua stands ready to
grant?"
MAINLY such as the officials Of that country have
proposed to incorporate in the treaty concession
granting the right of way. OF the practical
details of such u demand will have to be drawn up
with great care. and those only be determined by
the parties asking tor the concession. Nicaragua
indicated what she is ready to do, and the land
grant alone ought to be valuable as the canal
property ITSELF" Mr.. Menocal said that there were
still some minor matters to be fixed. and that all
could be arranged by tho last Of the month. This
will explain the why General Grant delays
his departure for Cuba.
IMPORTANT LAND SUIT DECIDED.