The daily gazette., 1881-10-31
"E PANAMA SHIP CANAL
MOI TO be Commenced Until Decem.
ber, 1852.

N". 10 oe commenced Until Decem.
ber, 1852.
rev Orleans Democrat, 20,
=, Yesterday evening a reporter of
Inc democrat noticed upon the regis
ter Oh the st. Charles hot Il the follow.
ing IF. da Costa, Asplnwall," and
thinking that perhaps / gentleman
might be able to throw some light up.
Oh the wolE ngs of the De Lesseps
men upon the lsthmus, be sent up his
card with the request for an interview
winch was cheerlullygrant l. Mr.. da
Costa is himself a civil gineer by
profession, and halls from Lisbon,
PORTUGAL, though for some years past
he has been resident of Guatemala,
IN Central Amel ca.
NH. da Costa" said the reporter,
can you tell me wbaj is being done
at the present time ON the Isthmus by
the meu engaged in the wo k of build
ing De Lesseps ship canal"
well, | shall be glad to give you
all the information pc 5sess regarding
the matter. | arrived here to day
from Aspinwall, after having spent
some days looking about me, both
mere ond at III ,ama, as | went there
In hopes of contra citing for some of the
work to be done. There are some
800 men employed in making t, iangu-
lations and surveys of the route, but
outside of that no work is being
DONE"
"Can you tell me at what time tle
actual work of excavatlng will proba-
bly, begin a'
"Mons. Verbrugg, who is the pros
visional director in the absence of
Mons. Recluse, who, as you probably
know, was recalled to Paris a short
time ago, told Te that, in his opinion,
no real work in the way of excavating
would be done there until Decem Der,
1882"
"Where is the general office of the
company ~ -.".
SAT Panama they purchased
THE GRAND HOTEL,
on the 11th day of this month, paying
for he same 206, 900 soles, or Peruv' an
dollars equal IN your money to $1SS, =
900. Th : IS by al cdds the finest
building in Panama, and will be con.
verted in o a general office by the pur-
chasers." ..'-..5E
"What do The thu residents of AS
piEwall ard Panama think OF the
scheme ?" -.-
'They have great expectations oi
fltt ttrn N M fn tt,1r Il
work will be commenced long before
the time set by Mons. Verbrugg. They
think the plan proposed is feasible
one, and that it will be successfully
carr ed out"
"What effect has th upon property
on the isthmus?"
'Property has
QUADRUPLED AND QuINTUPLED IN
VALUE
since the work OF surveying was be-
gun. Ruins that could have beer
bought for 5000 a few years ago, al
now held at $50,000. Bosh Aspiuwal
and Panama are increasing in popnla-
tion very fast, and a great deal o.
building is heing done in both places.
OF The two Panama is growing the
most rapidly.n
"Of what nationality are the men
engaged IN the work ?'
''Thev are all Frenohmen, and few
days beto.e | left the company
REDUCED THEIR WAGES
% cents day, which resulted in wha
might | 3 called a small strike among
the men, work being entirely suspend
ed for seve.,al days, ard many of thu
lien quitting entire y. There wert
several that came to United State.
on the same steamer with me. M
strike there, however, can be success
fu', as no organization exists, and thu
men must work or starve, They wer'
paying the men engaged there 81 pc
day, and now they pay 70 Gems"
''Are they having any trouble what
ever Regarding the route of th
canal ?"
ayes, little. They have a sui
pending now against the munieipa
authorities of Panama, on account o
some lands purchased of the city
which they are unable to obtain pos
session of, owing 10 the fact that th
title TO them is defective. That
about all tue news, believe, that
am possessed OF, aud if you will excus
me, will go to my dinner, as | hay
not dined yet"
After he had thanked him for hi
courtesy, the Democrats representa-
tive allowed HIM to "depart in peace.
Mr.. da Costa will remain in the cit
for some days, as he has business t
transact for the government of Guate
mala, and must await orders befor
proceeding further.
~...v.ax a unu,,S KSEAnrUr n 4