New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-16
GLIuPsEs OF A PRIMITIVE REPUBLIC.

NIcARAGUis RAILROAD ACROSS TIE IsTHMUs->
THE JACKAss AS A MISUNDERSTANDING
GOVERNMENT Drink FOR THE GODS.
iFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRmUSEl
LION, Nicaragua. July 23.--While NJ. de Lesseps
and his followers are preparing gigantic schemes
for procuring an indefinite number Of hundreds OF
millions of dollars. Ia be expended incuttng neat
vertical slice out of the lsthmus which IONS North
and South America, and according to route care
fully surveyed by the simple and inexpensive pro-
cess of applying lead pencil to map somewhat
imaginary in its details the Government of this lit
tie Republic is engaged in the construction Of an
interoceanc route far modest in It's scope, but
infinitely more business-like in its management.
This route is to consist of three feet and half
narrow-gauge rail way, between the town OF Corinto
on the Pacific better known by its old name OK
Realeo. and far the best port on that coast IN all
Central America or Mexicc), and the little town OF
Moabita at the western end OF the Lake OF Mana
qua. passing through the towns Of Chlnandega aud
Leon the latter being the most important point in
Nicaragua, and exceeded IN size by Guatemala only
among Central American cities. Another piece OF
railway is to be built from the town of Managua,
situated on the eastern end of the lake Of that
name. To Grasada which lies on the south shore
and near the western end of the Lake of Nicaragua.
The road from Corinto to Moabita will be about
sixty miles in length, and the one from Managua to
Granada about thirty miles. As line Of steamers
already plies between Granada aud San Juan del
Norte or Greytown, through the Lake of Nicaragua
and the San Juan River, small steamer 10 run be-
tween Moaota and Managua is all which will be
needed TO complete the line of steam communication
between the two oceans, making route which, De-
sides supplying the needs Of the local rafic OF tho
country cannot fail to be extremely attractive to
the tourist though fancy that its commercial inn
portauce outside of Nicaragua itself will be tri-
fling.
The surprising feature in these railroad enter
prises is that the money expended therein has not
been extracted from the pockets of the conhding
foreign bondholders, but is furnished by the Cow
eminent OF Nicaragua itself. IL seems that tho
Minister OF Finance found himself last year with
balance in the treasury OF about O0OO, after de-
fraying the expenses of the Government, out Of a
total revenue of about Sl,00O,0O0. The Govern
ment Immediately decided TO invest this sum IN as
much railroad a. could be got for the money and
to continue it in future years with whatever sur
plus the budget may show. And here let me OBJ
serve that $4,000 is good deal of money in this
country where the price of labor Is from 80 cents
TO 40 cents day. so an American engineer was
sent for, aud 100 or 200 men set at work. and
the ground between Chinandega and Corinto being
very favorable TO railroad construction, the grading
of that portion of the road will be finished.
The Government has also adopted the ingenious ex-
pedient OF sending all offenders against the law 70