The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-05
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
How the Enterprise Will Be Cared for-0ut'
line of the Work and Hopes Of the Builders.

line of the Work and Hopes OF the Builders.
GREYTowN, Nicaragua, July 1S.-This
hitherto dull little town, destined to be the
Atlantic port of the Nicaragua canal. is
rapidly awakening into new life, and is
already blossoming out as the scene OF con-
siderable activity. The terrible example"
set by the Panama fiasco has been most
useful lesson and guide for the American
Canal Company. All the errors into which
the French company fell have been avoided
by the American canal managers, and 1T
may be said that every dollar squandered
by the DeLesseps syndicate has been dol
lar saved to the American company. Sick
ness, starvation. dissipation and despair
ciers of Paris; but health, plenty
the characteristics of the Ameri-
can engineers and their assistants.
so much a month, and allowed them to
''tind themselves" that is, provide their
own food; but the hard-worked laborers
generally neglected to supply themselves
dulged continually and disastronsly. in
strong drink. The result was much sick
ness, little work and terribly long death
list:
Inc american compuny, On INC .Othor
hand, pays as high wages. IT not higher,
than the French company. and in addition,
supplies all its employees, even the Jamaican
and other colored laborers, with good,
wholesome food and plenty of it, shipped
direct from New York and purchased in
the best markets. Good hard-tack ships
biscult), rice, bacon, fresh meat, vegeta-
bles and coffee are served out to all the
American camps and as the work expands
all the suffers stores slOng the line of the
canal, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, will
be under the company's control and strict
supervision, the goods sold being charged
for at cost price only, so that the company's
employees will get boots. shoes shirts,
stockings tobacco. cigars, and also other
luxurles of nature akin to the two last
mentioned articles, at the same rate that
they can in New York. The company's
idea in this connection is to O.. keep ,, up the
decent prof t left when their monthly
wages are paid. This plan has worked adj
mirably up to the present moment.
In still another respect is the American
GAn psp pSey IRON
possible to do for the health Of its employees
is bel ng DONE and still further efforts are
being made in this direction. Portable
tinually shipped from New York to Grey
town. and the engineers and mechanics
will soon be practically as we'll housed in
GreytOwn as they would be while at work
immense stOre-hOuse will be the quarters
for one hundred engineers. Added to this
building will be billiard-room, reading
room and library. Officers OF higher rank
are quartered in an other handsome build
ing. containing sixteen rooms. while the
headquarters of Chief Engineer MenOcal
will be in as pretty a frame cottage as you
could find at Seabrlght or Long Branch.
Recognizing the fact that pure water is
the source of good health. the GreytOwn
engineers of the Nicaragua Canal COnstruc-
ton Company have just received orders to
survey and lay ont the ground and plant
for two largo water reservoirs Fifteen
miles of steel water-piping Will convey an
abundant supply of perfectly pure water
from the Deseado basin to Greytown.
Thus. so soon as the jetty and warves are
completed. ocean steamships will be able
to water" at the company's dock. The
del NOrte, will also receive its water sup
ply through the canal company's pipes. 1t
is reported In Greytown that the canal
company Is figuring upon line of three
American steamships which may be es-
tablished between Greytown and New
York, and San Francisco and BTitO, one of
these steamers to be devoted to carrying
stores and machinery for the company's
use between San Francisco and Brito, for
the construction of the Pacific harbOr of
the canal and the other two. to perform
like service for the company between New
York and GreytOwn.
Property about Grey town. Fort San Car
los and BritO, all along the line of the canal
route, III fact, Is rapidly advancing in
value. Some contractors from San Fran
cisco and Chicago are announced to be
coming this way; several from New York
are still figuring here, and it is expected
that by Jan. the San Francisco construc-
ton party will begin stirring up the mud
at BrtO. while the New York construction
parties will be digging their way toward
Lake Nicaragua from the Atlantic side, for
10 70 ha fbp nf ho
ragua Canal Company to attack the 18TH
milan problem from two sides, the Atlantic
and the Pacific, at once. 1T this plan is
actually decided upon land we shall know
| the truth in this connection upon the ar
rival at Greytown of Chief Engineer Memo
| call. the Nicaragua canal will be open to
navigation in a much shorter time than at
| first contemplated, while inside OF say two
| bosom of Lake Nicaragua, draining water
| shed Of 5000 square miles, will be thrown
open to the world. and, say in about two
and half years more. or III 1894 or 1898, the
| whole canal will be ready for bl siness.
AS rendezvous for an American fleet
| and as cOaling station and dOck-yard for
| American men of war. lake Nicaragua will
form an Immensely advantageous addition
| to the war power OF the united States for
fleet there assembled could coal provision
and repair, and swoOp east or west, strike
| north or south. and have q safe refuge,
should such safeguard be needed. Thus
1t Will readily be seen thaC III must De dis
tincty understood at the start that the
Nicaragua canal is an American institution.
| and that the growth of the streng tn of our
navy keeps pace with the gro with of the
Nicaragua canal even wit, Without increasing
arrived at from the fact that our Atlantic
fleet, at few hours notice. could reinforce
| the Pacific fleet, visa versa. while even a
small squadron anchored in Lake Nicaragua
| would be extra useful from the fact that 1T
could strike sudden and unexpected blows
either in the Atlantic or the Pacific at a
| moments notice.
| Work on the telegraph line, railway
route buildings. and preparations for the
| jetty construction continues. but in view of
the fact that this gigantic enterprise will
take about five years TO bring il to sue
| cessful termination, it is not to be expected
that each mail will bear news of some
great obstacle overcome. when nearly
year of installation work Is needed
Steady, strong. and sure blows
are now being dealt at the secret OF
the strait and it is perhaps needless to
add the company ismade up of good Amer
lean "git thar" material, warranted not to
shrink under any circumstances.