The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-10


the archives of Guatemala until the
emancipation of the colonies, when
they were unearthed and published by
q commission sent here from England
In 1925 an envov extraordinary from
the then new Republic of Central
America called the especial attention
OF the United States government to
these early surveys, and asked Its AID,
proposing by means of a treaty, to
effectually secure its advantages to the
two nations. Accordingly. a charge
d affairs was appointed by the United
States government. who was especially
instructed to assure the Republic OF
Central America that
| UNCLE SAMUEL FELT DEEP INTEREST
in the execution of work $50 highly
calculated to diffuse an extensive infu-
ence in the affairs of mankind"
But that was about all that was done
except that, in 1925, as appears by
documents accompanying the report of
committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives in a memorial praying the
| aid of the United States government in
procuring the construction of a ship
| canal across the isthmus between North
and South America"-a contract was
made by the Cent? al American govern
ment with the agent of New York
company, under the name of the Cen
trail America and United States Atlantic
and Pacific Company. But the
scheme fell through, though Mr.. De-
witt Clinton and other distinguished
men of that day were among its pro-
motors.
In 1880 the Central American govern
ment made another contract with So
ciety of the Netherlands. under the
especial patronage of the King of Hol-
land, who embarked IN it a large
amount of his private fortune. But
owing to difficulties that then arose be-
tween Holland and Belgium and the
separation of the two countries, this,
too, collapsed.
Nicaraguans still remember that not
far from the present site of Graytown,
Lord Nelson began his brilliant career
by selling the mouth of the RIO St.
John, seeking thus to obtain control of
both river and lake; and that a little
later Tin 1846) an effort was made to
liberate Prince Louis Napoleon Bona
parte-afterwards emperor-in order
that he might accept a concession to
construct canal across this country.
In 1885 resolution passt the Senate
OF the United States, which read lin th 10 |
usual prosy NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. |
the President be requested ito consider |
the expedieacy of opening negotiations |
with the governments of other nations, |
and particularly with the governments |
of Central America and Grenada (now |
Panama., for the purpose of effectually |
protecting, by suitable treaty stipula- |
tons with individuals or companies as |
may undertake to open a communica
ton between the Atlantic and Pacific |
Oceans" etc, etc. Under this resolu-
ton special agent was
APPOINTED BY GENERAL JACKSON,
who was instructed to proceed without
delay to Port San Juan, (now Gray
town., ascend the river to Lake Near
aqua, and thence by the contem plated |
route of communication, by canal or
railroad, to the Pacific. after which he
was to repair to Guatemala, then the
capital Of the United Republic OF Cen
trial America, and, with the aid of Mr..
De Witt, the charge d'aKairs of the
United Etates, procure all such public
documents connected with the subject
as might be had From Guatemala,
be was to proceed to Panama, and
there also make observations and in.
quiries relative to the proposed con-
nection of the oceans at that point.
Unfortunately, however, owing to the
difficulty of procuring any conveyance
to the river San Juan, the agent n:
first to Panama; and, owing to various
adverse circumstances he never
reached Nicaragua, dying soon after
his return TO the United States, before
he had reached Washington. But his
imperfect report set forth as the re-
suit of his observations, that a ship
canal across Panama was not practi-
cable, and that one might be made
across Nicaragua via its great lake.
In 1S47 Mr.. Stephens wrote of the
then much discussed project: ut will
compose the distracted country of Cen
trail America: turn the sword, which il
now drenching it with blood, into a
pruning-hook; remove the prejudices
of the inhabitants by bringing them
into close connection with people of
every nation; furnish them with mo-
tive and q reward for industry, and in
spire them with q motive for making
which after all does more to
civilize aad keep the world at peace
than any other influence. A great city
will grow mp IN the heart of the coun-
try, with streams issuing from it, fer.
tilizing as they roll into the interior;
the commerce of the world will be
changed, the barren region of Terra del
Fuego be forgotten, Patagonia become
B land of fable, and Cape Horn live
only in the recollection of sailors and
insurers" FANNIE B. WARD.