Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-15
THE BIG DITCH.
A Eetter Upon the Nicaragua Car
frnrn fp a. gcene nf a Acttn,,

A Eetter Upon the Nicaragua Canal
from the Scene of Action.
EDITORS HERALD-Since the collapse
of De Lssseps's great scheme at Panama,
and the subsequent formation of an
American syndicate to unite the Atlantic
and the Pacific at Nicaragua, all Ameri-
cans, and especially Californians. will
watch with eager eyes the progress of
the Nicaragua canal, and when once
completed, the ever-recurring and all
perplexing problem of cheap freight and
fares to the eastern seaboard and Europe
may be eventually solved through the
medium of this interoceanic highway;
and this being purely American enter
prise, no one will entertain the least
doubt of it's ultimate success.
Greytown, as the eastern end of the
canal and the headquarters of the COM
pany in Nicaragua, will in future attract
universal attention, and ia well remem-
bered by many of California's pioneers,
who reached the Golden Gate by the
Nicaragua route. The town itself has
not altered much since that time, but the
commodious and picturesque bay has
undergone great changes. Where then
was deep water and vessels of different
nations were riding at anchor, islands
have formed since, coated with tropical
vegetation and cocoanut trees. Since
| 1864, when the last deep water vessel
entered the harbor Of Greytown, the bar
or entrance to the bay has been gradually
shifting and shoaling, until st present
there is but FIVE feet of water at
high tide. All material has TO be
lightered at very heavy expense,
aud the difficulty of getting it into port
has been great impeachment to the
operations OF the canal company.
Foreseeing that the landing of heavy ma
chinery is almost impracticable, they
have commenced the construction of q
breakwater ], 800 feet long, ample mate
rial being at hand and more Oh the way
to arrive. Six months is the estimated
time, but the difficulty of procuring suit.
able rock in this vicinity will probably
prolong the time, and until ocean n-going
vessels can enter the harbor, it is not
likely any work will be done on the
canal.
Mr.. Menocal, formerly naval engi-
neer in the United States service, now
the chief engineer of the Nicaragua
Canal Company, has evidently learned a
lesson from the canal builders at Pana-
ma; he firmly believes that the high
salaries paid by the French company to
it's employees, if not the immediate
cause, materially aided the downfall oi
that gigantic enterprise; and to prevent
similar fate from overtaking his com.
| 1>o l. = ,t>I
administration from the start. With
! the exception of few fore.
men, machinists and surveying corps
no workman in the company's service
receives any more than 20 pesos ($14 2e
in United States gold coin) per month
board included, and in case of sickness
doctors services, medicines, etc., art
deducted from the pay of the laborer
White labor, with the exception of a few
skilled mechanics, is not desirable
neither are the natives from the uplands
of Nicaragus-both are liable sooner OF
later to succumb to fevers. Jamaica and
Caribbean negroes are preferred above
all others, being impervious to fevert
and able to labor continually in al
kinds of weather. At this writing the
company employs near Greytown about
$50 men, all told.
In the absence of definite information
in the United States concerning the CD.
eratlons OF the canal company, MANY
American mechanics, especially from the
Pacific Coast arrived in Greytown lately
with the expectation of bettering their
condition. All returned to their hon. es
and let their experience be warning to
other Californian adventures not to VEN
ture here until actual work commences
on the canal. and even then they should
be we'll supplied with money to be able
to return when they get tired of battling
with deadly fevers.
Although everyone in Greytown will
assure you that the general health of the
community ie good, yet the large num-
Der OF patients in the canal company %
hospital will not support this assertion.
In walking through the different wards
one sees everywhere sallow compilations
and emaciated features, that speak vol
umes of the suferipgs of strangers in this
fever.breeding country.
On learning that an Angelefio was So
Ijournipg in Greytown, many of the old
settlers came to inquire after the
welfare of the Hollenbeck family,
and on being told that Mr.. Hol~
lenbeck is no more, all were
visibly affected at the sad news, and
charged your correspondent to convey to
Mrs. Hollenbeck their wishes that her
life may be spared for many years to
come, and some expressed the hope that
when the canal is completed, CHEAP
fares would enable them to visit her in
Los Angeles and once more look upon
the face of one who, through her gentle
and kind nature, her acts of beneyoleuce
and charity while living in their midst.
has forever endeared herself in the
memory of these simple people.
| ANGELENo.
GREYTowN, Nicaragua, Dec. 26, 1889,