San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-17
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
What a Civil Engineer Says of the Out
Iook-Climate and Health.

"
Iook-Climate and Health.
A prominent civil engineer who has
been engaged in the survey Of the Mica
ragua canal spent few days recently In
New York on his way home He speaks
enthusiastically of the future OF the en-
terprise, and says that outside the ordi,
nary difficulties of engineering in wild
country, there will be nothing to delay
the work, once it commences. 1t is ex-
pected that November will see large
force of men engaged in building the
canal, which Is now marked out from
ocean to ocean. The weather, although
warm. was not uncomfortably so, the
thermometer rarely passing 80 degs The
best wear he found to be thick woolens
and canvas trousers. and the less alco-
holic liquors partaken of the better. The
construction company under which the
survey was made issued orders that three
ounces of spirits should be given to every
laborer when his days work was done,
and Of course the men were in many in
stances able to buy brandy, which is very
cheap at Nicaragua, there being no Gus
toms dues in that happy country. The
best spirit, however, to drink, If some
thing must be taken, is rum, which seems
to suit tropical climates better than any
other, aud which can easily be procured
from Jamaica, from which island large
numbers Of negroes are imported, who
prove to be the best lsborers under the
hot sun.
A proof Of the salubrity Of the climate
was found in the lack of mortality.
Among the $50 men employed on the sur
vey there was not o single death, and yell
low fever is absolutely unknown. This
Is q curious circumstance, as at Colon,
lust below, and at Honduras, just above,
the "vomito" Is nearly always rampant.
The explanation of this freedom from
fever is probably due to the confguration
of the country. Half way between Grey
town, where the canal will begin ON the
Atlantic coast, and its outlet on the
Pacific, is the lake which is to be utilized
by the canal The slope to the west of
this range has regular rainy season OF
four months, and during ten months OF
the year regular trade winds blow off the
Pacific ocean. As the land is low right
across the isthmus these winds sweep
over to Greytown, which thus enjoys the
Atlantic and Pacific breezes and the germs
of fever are dispersed. The Atlantic
slope to the eastward Of the lake has a
much poorer climate, as it rains almost
ten months out of the twelve. One con-
sequence of this difference of climate Is
that almost the entire population of the
country is settled upon the western slope.
A curious circumstance in connection
with the lake, which IS of course fresh
water, is that it swarms with man eating
sharks, which prevent any bathing in its
waters. The country abounds with game,
principally wild turkeys AID smaller
bird something like the prairie hen. Wild
pigs of excellent flavor are numerous, and
an amphibious animal closely resembling
the manatee of Florida and apparently an
antediluvian product is still to be found.
Its flesh is somewhat like coarse beef, and
as it grows to the respectable weight of
800 or 000pounds, there is always enough
fresh meat in the camp to go round when
one is killed. Of course there are lots OF
monkeys and big lizards for those who
like such food, but otherwise the campers
cut have to rely upon beans, rice, and
canned meats and vegetables. York
Evening Sun.