Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-08-23
The Nicaragua Canal

The Nicaragua Canal
iCorrespondence OF the Alexandria GAzETTR.l
U.S.S. OssIPEE GRAYTowN, Mics ragua,
Aug 1t, 1889 Whist at Port hn P'ince,
Ha,ti, iu company with the Q 5. steamer
Kearssr4e, wstchipg tie movements of Hyp'
polite aud Leyitime, we received orders to
proceed To the Island of Ateanas, on the
coast of Yucatan, to take off some ship
wrecked sailors. Gall bands up anchor"
aud got under way Immediately. Stopping
at Kingston, Jamaica, for coal, we arrived
off Greytown July 29th, acd as the Nicara
qua canal is such an important topic, I
thought would drop line from headquar-
ters for your many readers. 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 as scene of considerable actiVi-
ty. The terrible example set by the Pana-
ma fiasco has heen 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 eud it may be said that eve
ry dollar squandered by the DeLssseps syn.
dicate has been dollar saved to the Ameri
can company. Sickness, starvation, dissi.
patton and despair mark the uteprojected
by the fusnciers of Paris but health, plen.
ty of good food, decency and giant energy
are the characteristics of the American en-
eineers and their assistants. Every thing
possible to do for the health of the employees
is being done, and still further efforts are
being made in this direction.
Portable buildings OF all descriptions are
Being continually shipped from New York
ord tho anoinpQrQ and
chaucs will soon be practically as we'll
housed in Greytown as they would be while
at work in any part of the United States.
Recognizing the fact that pure water is
source of good health, the Greytown eugi.
neers of the Nicaragua Canal Construction
Company have just received orders to sur
vey and lay out ground and plant for two
large water reservoirs. Fifteen miles OF
steel water piping will convey an abundant
supply of perfectly pure water from Descsdo
basin to Greytown. Thus as soon as the
iet,y and wharves are completed, ocean
.mships will be able to "water" at the
compapy's dock. The town of Greytown,
otherwise San Juan Del Norte. will also re.
ceive water supply through the canal COM
papy's pipes. II is reported in Greytown
that the canal company is figuring upon
lice of three American steamships which
NAV be established between Greytown and
New York, San Francisco aud Brito, one of
theee steamers to be devoted to carrying
stores and machinery for the compapy's use
between San Francisco and Brito on the
construction of the Pacific harbor OF the
canal, and the other two to perform like
service for the company between Greytown
and New York,
Property about Greytown, Fort Carlos and
Brito, all along the line Of the canal route,
in fact, is rapidly advancing in value, and
some contractors from San Francisco and
Chicago are announced to be coming this
way. Several from New York are still fig
uriug here, and it is expected by January q
San Francisco construction party will be
stirring up the mud at Brito, while New
York construction parties will be digging
their way toward Lake Nicaragua from
the Atlantic eide. for it is now said to be the
plan of the Nicaragua Canal Company to at
tack the Isthmus problem from the two
sides, the Atlantic aad Pacific, at once. If
this plan is actually decided upon the Mica.
ragua Canal will be opened for navigation
In much shorter time than at first oontem.
plated, while inside of say two years and q
half the grand fresh water basiu of Lake
Nicaragua, draining watershed of 500
mllGs, VIII Ut tuTOWu OpcL W buO ouu
say in about two years more, or in 1894-'95,
the whole canal will be ready for business
As rendezvous for an American feet
and ss coaling station and dock yard for
American men -of.wsr. Lake Nicaragua will
form an immensely advantageous addition
to the war power of the United States, for
feet there assembled could coal, provision
and repair, and swoop east or weat, strike
north or south, and Rave ssfe refuge
should such safeguard be needle. Thus
it will readily be seen, 1t must be distinctly
understood at the start, that the Nicaragua
Canal is an American institution, and that
the growth of strength Of our navy keeps
pacs with the growth of the Nicaragua Ca.
nal, even without increasing the number Of
ships This conclusion is arrived at from
the fact that our Atlantic feet at few
hours notice could re-snforce the Pacific
fleet, or vice versa, while even email
squadron anchored In Lake Nicaragua
would be extra useful, from the fact that it
could strike sudden and unexpected blows
either in the Atlantic or Pacific at q mo-
meDt's notice.
The ship is rolling so heavily that in the
classical language of the sailor, l must "pipe
down." ss find it almost impossible to keep
on my feet, much less write. r. P. W. g.
SLEEPLEss NIGHTS, made miserable by
that terrible cough. Shiloh's Cure ia the
Remedy for you. Sold BY E. S. Leadbeater