The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-14
NICARAGUA.
Some Information About the Country
and Proposed Canal.

The proposition to unite the Allan
tic and Pacific oceans by means of
ship canal is a matter of great impor-
lance to the commercial interests of
California, especially in view of the
growing power and rapacity of the
railroad companies, which at present
control the carrying trade of the state.
There are two schemes for effecting
the desired union; one by the Isthmus
of Panama, which Ferdinand de Les
seps has now well under way, and the
Nlcaraguan inter-Oceanic canal
through the state of Nicaragua, Cen
tral America, across the lake bearing
the name of the state. This scheme
is only in an embryotic state, and it is
questionable whether $50OO0O00, the
estimated cost, will ever be raised.
Luis h. Degener, consul for Austria
and Hungary at Leon, Nicarag VA, re-
Gently arrived in st. Louis on a visit.
When asked by reporter concerning
the present status of the scheme TO
unite the two oceans through Mica
ragua, he took very hopeful view of
the situation. The people of the coun-
try are enthusiastically in favor of it,
and the government will do every
thing in its power to aid capitalists
who should embark in the enterprise.
Responsible citizens of the republic are
at present in New York, endeavoring
to organize a company. 1t is proposed
to raise $oO,OO0,OO0, issue bonds bear
ing three per cent interest, controlled
by the United States, with certain re-
strictions in favor of Nicaragua.
Regarding the engineering difficult
Ties 10 be encountered in constructing
the canal, Mr.. Degener was confident
that they could, comparatively, be
easily overcome. The Pacific coast
termination of the canal will be the
port of BritO, which is situated on an
open roadstead. A tremendous break
water and artificial harbor will have
to be constructed, which, with the
similar works on the Atlantic side,
at Greytown, or San Juan
del Sur, will constitute the
principal items of expense. From
Brito to Lake Nicaragua a narrow
peninsular from thirty to thirty-five
miles intervenes. Through this the
deepest cutting of the whole canal
will have to be done, not exceeding,
however, siXty-four feet, including the
depth of the canal itself. The mouths |
OF two small rivers or creeks-the Rio
Lagas and Rio Gonzales are available,
when the lake is reached, for mouths
OF the canal. Lake Nicaragua is a
large body of fresh water occupying
the heart of the republic, and is 120
miles long by thirty to fifty miles
wide. 1t is Ill feet and five inches
above low tide in the Pacific, which
would necessitate the construction of
at least five locks. The depth of the
lake runs from seventeen feet near
the western shore to hundreds of feet
in the deeper portions. Along the
eastern shore, where the river San
Juan flows out of the lake, it shoals to
the depth of twelve or fourteen feet
the bottom being in black. soft mud,
and easily dredged. 1t is proposed
to deepen the bed of the river
San Juan, which drains the lake on
the Atlantic side, emptying into the
Caribbean sea at Greytown. The
river bed could be used for ninety
miles, when cutoff would have to
be made across marsh, distance of
thirty miles, to avoid the engineering
difficulties near the mouth of the
river. OF course a series of locks
would have to be constructed, and
Mr. Degener argued that the objec-
tiOnS made to them that they would
render the canal too costly to be a
paying investment, has no real foun-
dation in fact. He claimed that be-
fore the Panama canal is finished it
will be found necessary to construct
locks, and the Chagres river, which he
has known to rise forty feet in one
night, cannot be damned us
proposed. Returning to Nicara-
qua, he said that at Grey
town another artificial harbor would
have to be constructed the same
as at Brito, at great cost. Speaking
of the Republic, he said that vast tracts
of it are entirely uneXplored, abound
ing in mineral wealth, and covered
with forests of valuable timber. The
government offers every inducement
to settlers. and any quantity of land
can be had for nominal price. The
term Of the President-General, Joaquin
Zavala, expires on the 31st of next
March, when he will be succeeded by
DR.. Adam Cardenas, who was elected
by an overwhelming majority, to serve
during the next four years. The peo-
pie have awakened to the fact that
revolution do not pay, and business
men and capitalists of the state now
unite in body and support the gov
eminent against attempts of that
nature.