The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-28
NICARAGUA CANAL.
INCREASED FACILITIES FOR THE
DREDGING.
Progress of the Work of Construction So
Far-PIsns Of Chief Engineer MenocaI-
A New Town Being Laid Out Into Lots
Sad and Fatal Accident.

CONSTRUCTION AOMlAN1. SAN JUAN DfL
NoRTE, (GREYTowN), NICARAGUA, Nov.
H.-lSpecial. An addition TO the plant OF
the North American Dredging and Improve
ment Company, which has the contract for
dredging the harbor at the eastern terminus
Of the canal. has been made during the past
week 10y the arrival from the United States
Of powerful suction dredge, the "Nicara-
gua," and two clapets. thus giving that
company two dredges with which TO carry
on the work here. In order to prepare the
way for these machines, the canal
cOmpany's dredge. the "City OF
Paris" has made channel through
the bar and alongside the pi
fifteen feet deep, ard for distance OF
about thousand feet. A large part oi the
sand and clay 50 eXcavated has been pied
up on the pier, forming a bank fifteen feet
high, thus being protection TO that work,
which extends nearly nine hundred feet
into the sea. Ia few days the "Nicara-
qua" 10 be followed by second dredge, the
"Herbert," will begin work deepening and
widening the channel, while the bucket
dredges belonging 10 the Canal Company VIII
be placed TO work on the canal line. There
are now seven powerful dredges In the
haTbOr, three Of which will be at work nv
next week, while the remainder Will begin
operations as soon as they can be fitted up.
which will not take long, as nearly every
article needed for them Is on hand.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
The dredging plant here, together with
that which is TO come from Colon. Is ample
for all the dredging work on the eastern
portion of the canal. An abundance of ma
Ierial is on hand for pushing all branches
of the work. Three lumber schOOners. with
'creosoted ties for the railroad, piles for the
pier and wharf and timber for putting up
additional buildings, have been unloading
here during the past week, while steamer
that has brought 1900 tons of coal IS now
nearly discharged. AS single dredge OF
the kind the company owns burns ten tons
of coal daily, a large quantity OF this article
is needed.
Work on the large machine and black
smith shops is being pushed, and the ioun-
dation for building afiOrding greater facl-
tiles for the corps Of draughtsmen, now en-
gagged here in preparing drawings OF locks
and other works, is ready for the super
structure.
Progress on the railroad construction is
keeping pace with that being made else
where, and Of the twelve miles necessary to
reach the "Divide," or rock cut, seven
miles has the track laid down, and the
grading over the entire distance IS nearly
completed.
CHIHF ENGINEER MENOCAL's PLANS.
Chief Engineer ,Menocal will leave for the
interior next week, when he Will take pos
session of the land Of the canal route from
the lake 10 the Pacific. for which the Gov
ernment has been paid $4,000, in order that
the contractors may begin at once clearing
the line of all vegetation, preparatory TO
extending construction work 10 that
vicinity. West of the lake the cOun-
try is not so thickly wooded as 1t
is nearer the Atlantic terminus OF the canal,
il being chiefly pasture land, yet some very
heavy timber is to be found there, largely
of valuable hard woods that have
been allowed 30 stand because OF the eX-
pense Of getting them to the coast, where
ihev could be exported. There is lack OF
the underbrush, which in the unsettled part
of the Republic is so thick tnat
one can travel only by cutting
every foot of the way. The agree
ment entered into with the contractors pro-
yides that they will preserve such timber
as NAV be of use for construction purposes,
and bv this method the ties tor the railroad
which will parallel the canal, VIII be oD-
tained. In that way they VIII be secured
at a minimum Of cost while they Will be oil
the most durable wood. 1t will be strange
experience for Americans to travel over
such "A road, and see ties made OF wood thdt
in the States wOLld only be used for veneer
ing purposes.
The contractors who will undertake this
work are all prominent Nicaraguans, and
they are under agreement 10 push the WORK.
abOr on the west side Is more plentiful
than in any other part OF the country, ana
there will be no delay on that account. Ihe
clearing will begin at the lake.
BOOMING A NEW TOWN.
MIR. ]. A. Roman, commissioner OF the
Coyernment OF Nicaragua, during MS Visit
here of the past few weeks, has, by direc-
tion of the Government, arranged the de-
tails for the sale OF lots in the CITY OF Amer
lea. which has lately been la q out at Tue
mouth of the canal. The plan adopted
should satisfy the believers in the single
tar doctrines, as to some extent 1t is IN ac-
cordance with those principles, and the
e,le of the ground will remain IN the hands
OF the Government. leases to be made 10
those who agree to improve the property.
The new town extends along the coast 10
the North of san Juan del NOrte, from Whlch
il is separated by park 1000 ieet VIDE
The mouth of the canal is about three miles
from san Juan del NOrte, and 1t II IN TINS
vicinity that it is expected the most faiu-
able portion of the coming city VIII De. IL
heing also the terminus of the railroad
SVhich run. parallel to the canal as well as
the end of the tramway connecting the city
with San Juan. The Government DIVIDES
the lots into two classes. according u thelr
dasirability, though they are nearly all more
or less well suited for building purposes.
The leases will run for 1--WE wears. Inc
Iessee must deposit with the Governor OF
America twenty-five dollars upon declaring
an intention 10 take up lot. thls amount
TO pay his ground rent for the nrst year,
which ends on the thIrty-hTtl !"
December. 1891. Fifty dollars must also be
deposited with the Governor as guarantee
OF good faith in the agreement to improve
the land by next June, and IN the event OF
failure 10 do that the deposit VIII DE IOI-
feited 10 the Government No person VIII
be permitted 10 take up more than one
hundred front feet Of land nor less thah
fitty feet. and for each fifty feet taken up
the improvements must amount u AT least
$500. The Government charges rent AT 'he
rate OF sixty cents per annum IOr edch IRON,
foot for the second and th'rd years. ahu
double that amount for the fourth ana MIN
wears. al the end of which time new lease
will be made on the basis of the value oil the
ground at that time, the improvements be-
longing 10 those putting them ON the iOts'
and can be removed or sold If the same parry
does not renew the lease at the terms the
establishes. The above rates
are for the most desirable lots, but hall the
nrica being charged for those rated As
second class. While the terms OF the leases
are for five years. yet any one Wishing 10
imnroye the property with more costly
buildings than those required for right oil
occupancy, such as hotels, large business
houses. &C.. will be granted longer leases
A =. al rnnpnssiOn.
- Thess terms are considered by the Gov
ernment as sufficiently liberal To attract
i'm ,royements 10 the new city. where Dulld-
ings will Weld a large intereS; on the invest
ment, while the increase IN the vaiue, re-
sultlng from the prosperity which the con,
strnctIon of the canal is bringing VIII
revert rev to the benefit Of the Government; ,li,;
A for leasing the ground VIII
be completed N a short time, but only every
o,ber lot will be rented, the remaining por'
lion TO be disposed Of later on.
INSPECTING THE HAkBoR'
The United States steamer hearsa,Ee
stonpei of San Juan few days ago ior lne
nnrnose of verifying the reported changes