New-York tribune., 1889-12-23
ACROSS THE ISTHMUS.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL-PROGREsS OF THE |
WORK
lFRoN An occAsnx4- CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE!


tFRoN An occAsIoSA1 CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Managua, Nicaragua. Nov. 23.-The formal opening
Of work the Nicaragua Canal occurred on october
- Since then the obstacles which had been placed
IN the way by an agreement with Costa klca on Ile
part Of the Canal Company have been removed ana
work is now being plshed the railroad and tele-
graph lines 10 be constructed between Greytown ana
Castillo "a distance of about fifty miles, The
route surveyed follows the course of the river and
along the line some twenty-five camps have been
established, each camp averaging about forty men.
Ten miles of the telegraph line completed and the
lowec camps are in communication with headquarters
on the bay below GreytOwn. The trail which these
laborers are cutting is through forest Of hard
wood trees, and their progress has not been rapid
The buildings down the bay are occupied by the
heads of departments and their assistants. also for
storing supplies and for caring for the sick. The
sorehouse is three stories high and 50xl4O feet in
area 1t is said be the largest portable house ever
shipped from any place. The hospital is the finest
to be found south of Newo Orleans, and is under the
of DR.. j. Edward Stubbert far there has been
but little sickness among the laborers, and but two
deaths. and these resulted from accidents.
Greytown is situated low, sandy fat, and IS
surrounded by water three sides. Water Is taken
from wells but a few feet in depth, and. to guard
against sickness from the use Of it, the Canal Com
pany laying waterppes from the Atlantic terminus
Of the canal to the Indian River. This will in
sure plentiful supply of pure, wholesome
water. GreytCwn presents most dlapi-
dated appearance with its low, thatched roof
buildings and Irregular assgrown streets, the latter
almost impossible at points. The place has ev
IDENTIFY been finished since the beginning of the present
century, and since then IL has taken care Of itself
Grog shops are numerous and the hotels unworthy
Of the name, but there several large stores when
have been doing profitable business since the Canal
Company began operations
But few laborers have been contributed to the camps
the san Juan by Nicaragua on the 18th nearly
100 negroes and Indians we're detained at Castillo by
the authorities by orders from the Government at
Managua. II alleged that the men were run
aways Under the contract system which prevails
in Nicaragua, laborers paid on an average about
80 cents day, and living is high they are always
in debt These men were sent back and it was boldly
proclaimed in Castillo that aborers should be al
lowed pass that point. It argued that the
canal project simply scheme on the part OF the
United states to get possession Of their country and
thus add another star to its flag.
While there is an element in the country opposed 10
improvements and who look with dsfavOr upon all
newcOmers-and the present Government IS made up
largely from this eement-theie are many IN
huential persons in the country Who desire tIat
Nicaragua shall initiate the example oil Iondutas
and Costa Rica, where "A warm welcome awaits the
foreigner from across the sea aud the lnmIsiahI
vanced civilization and the dissolution Of the bonds
uniting the Church with state; they realize that no
Of industrious and intelligent people. they Know uldl
Nicaragua possesses wonderful agricultural and mining
resources and that its climate is healthiul they long
for closer relations with the United states, ana arc
anxious that measures shall be adopted 10 atlrdcl
hther its industry and its capital
1t is rumored here in Managua that the canal may
not be completed for some years The concession
granted by the Nicaragua Government Is good Tor ten
years, but i'm order to hold II for that length Of ume
the canal people have recently purchased the he on
steamers plying between Greytown and Granada, the
rumOrs referred to seem to have some foundation. II
is All he
will be completed 10 Castillo with all possible as
patch. The san Juan River up 10 Castlllo IS SHALLOW
many points. and on this division the greatest d-
navgable for the largest vessels, except al two or
three points, and the dredging and blasting required
railway will make connection with line OF steamers.
The route for these steamers VIII be up
to Lake Nicaragua through the lake TO an lsth-
mus which divides this lake from Lake Mana
rua where a canal will be cut from to the other,
and thence the will be across the last named lake
to point near MOmOtombo, the present terminus OF
give complete interoceanic communications ana after
This communication has been established the Canal
Company WILL 1t is alleged, give attention to the canal
cutting the eastern side from CASTILLO 10 OreytoWl
There has been more or less rlOtlng at Crranada
since sunday last, when an election was hem % Ior
muhclpal oncers sIlce l7up u, h e,'aa H. i,td % fr
Presidents i'm succession The sudden death of Presi
dent Carazo on August ! last brought DR.. Robert |
Saasa Of the Nice-Presidents. INTO power ne Is
a resident Of Leon. and between Leon and Granada an
old feud exists The fact that none OF his cabinet
advisors was called from Granada has caused much
bitterness feeling. and at the election on sunday
last the Democratic and Constitutional parties came
into conflict which resulted I'm the death of one person
and the w0uudng Of several Others Hoting continued
uutl November 21 when the railroad track al Graneda
was torn M. Soldiers sent from Managua To |
Quell tho disturbance. This finally ACCOMPLISHED
but not until a number Of the rioters had been shot
and others arrested