Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-03-21
NICARAGUA.
c. N. LAAdIsoN TEIAs SOMETHING
OF THE OogNrRri IlH
His Views Upon the Great Ship Canal
to be Built Through IL.

u. s. Congress, the Times sought, and
obtained an interview with G. n. Lam
ison, who thirty-seven years ago visited
the country through which this great
engineering work will pass. He said:
"I have been through that country,
and know considerable about 1t. also
know that a great many capitalists of
New York, and elsewhere, have had
E. their attention directed to this project.
While / know very little of the in
tentions of Hon. Calvin s. Brice, /
know he is interested i'm the enterprise,
as Is every other man interested in the
commerce and progress of the country.
He has gone for a trip to the Caribbean
Sea, and though he has gone ostensibly
on yachting tour, for pleasure, he
will make Nicaragua his objective point
as have other capitalists of New York.
81 have heard the project discussed
among the brokers, and Others who will
invest money in 1t as soon as the COM
pany is ready for business; and its rapid
completion is a matter that may be
looked for almost with certainty.
saw the Engineer and some others who
were down there, and the feasibility of
the plan seems to be doubted by no one.
Its vast importance to the commerce
of the country Is of course patent to
anyone who has any knowledge of
geography; and if, as they claim, they
can build the canal without locks it
will as matter of course, facilitate the
passage of vessels to two oceans, in a
way the Panama canal could never
hope to achieve. The capitalist of New
York and those who are expected to
contribute their means seem to be
imbued with spirit of confidence in
its construction, and are equally conf
dent of its success as a viaduct for the
transmission of the worlds commerce
between the oceans.
The canal as projected enters the Car
ribean Sea at San Juan del Norte, or
Freytown as it is also called, at the San
Juan del NOrte river. It's course is up
ragua at what was formerly known as
Fort San Carlos, just above the Taurs
rapids, on the San Juan del Norte.
There it joins the lake and from the
lake crosses to point within seven or
eight miles, or probably nine, from San
Juan del Sud, when it reaches the Pa
cific ocean. They claim that it will be
free from docks by the reason that 1t
will be supplied by tide water, the Pa
cific being higher than caribbean sea,
where the San Juan del Norte river
empties.
Communication to Greytown to and
across the lake Nicaragua is carried on
by small steamers, both on the river
and lake. The steamers don't enter the
lake, and there must be transfer be-
cause of the Taurs rapids, or probably
three or four miles. They made this
transfer by mules when was there.
~ don't think very much capital has
been paid in yet. The corporators will
now, since the passage of the act OF
Congress, organize as provided by that
act, bonds will be issued, and the capi-
talists of New York, and the world will
be expected to invest in them. have
but very little doubt, from what have
heard among brokers in Wall street and
in the hotel lobbies of New York, that
those securities will find very ready
sale.
"I don't know who are named in this
bill as incorporators. They are, how.
ever, persons identified with the enter.
prise for q long while. They are the
same, think that secured a charter
from the State of Vermont. The first
company was organized by act of the
Legislature of that State; then the
promoters thought they would get the
sanction of the United States govern
ment, it being kind of national or in
ternational enterprise, and they finally
succeeded in securing the passage o
this act through Congress. With some
amendments, it is, I think, the bill
passed by the Legislature of Vermont
The incorporators will have very littl,
to do, except in the organization; for al
soon as the subscribers to the capita
stock elect directors, these will be giver
full charge, and the incOrpOrators will
disappear, except such as are elected Il
some position in the perfect organiza
tion.
"This canal will shorten the distance
between the Atlantic and all Pacifi,
ports. and to all Chinese ports and tt
the Indian ocean, and vastly facili
tate intercourse between this country
and these ports. and between England
and all countries lying on the Othe
side. If the engineers are to be credited
at all the feasibility of the enterprise i
beyond all question, and it is probabl,
the only really feasible route which Cal
be secured between the two oceans
especially since the collapse of th'
Panama canal.
The country through which it passe
is of entirely different character from
that on the Isthmus of Panama. Th
San Juan del Norte river is beautiful
stream. 1t is the outlet of Lake Mic
aragua. 1t flows through most fer
tile and beautiful country. Leaving
the lagoons which surround the Grey
town, the ground becomes higher, an,
as you advance toward the Pacifi
ocean the elevation is such that tn
country is as healthy and fertile as an,
on the globe. The country lying be
yond the lake; and between the head Q
the lake at Grenada, to Leon, and il
fact, all through to Realajo Is as prett
as any on earth, as fertile as land Cal
be, covered with heavy growth Q
timber, and abounding in indigo ant
sugar plantations; and on the low land
rice is grown. Indigo is raised In larg
quantities, growing up like q hemp
and large indigo plantations are scat
tered all along from Realajo to Grenada
The people make sugar, and the banan
f1ourishes in an almost wild state. Tn
lime, lemon, and orange grow in grea
profusion and luxurance, while on tn
higher lands are raised wheat aud mos
of the grains raised in more temperat
1okstnAno nNho 10 20 not nynnrnce