The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-11
SATISFACTORY REPORT OF THE
PROGRESS MADE.
What Has Been Done During the Past
Year-scope OF the surveys-Dificuit
Undertakings Obligations OF the Com
pany Fully Complied With.

COFuiuBls. at the ehu VI thc scNi' e'S WV
ernment commissioned Messrs. j. A. Ro-
man and Macmillan Sonnestern, both dis
tinguishad engineers, 10 examine the works
Of the canal and report the progress
made. These gentlemen arrived AT
San Juan Del Norte over mouth
ago. and tor several weeks occu-
pied themselves in visiting and examining
all buildings, machinery, and work that
had been done, being given every facility TO
carry out their instructions by Chief Engi-
neer Menocal, and at the end OF their ex-
animation declared In their report, which
had Just been accepted and approved by the
Government, that not only has the COM
pany spent s., 900, 900. for which it was OBJ
iigated, but that the exp penditure has reached
a sum over twice that amount. This de-
claration made, the Nicaragua Canal Com
pany has period of ten years to complete
the construction from ocean to ocean OF the
great canal.
REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE YEAR.
A review Of the work done here during
the past year has great interest for every
one who has given serious thought to the
undertaking.
The surveys for the final location OF the
entire canal have been completed, and the
detail surveys Of the sites OF all embank-
ments, dams, and locks very nearly finished.
This survey has covered not only the one
line selected, but all routes which gave any
probability of being practicable. The en-
tire country adjacent TO the line has been
thoroughly explored, so that every range OF
hills and every small stream has been ex-
amined, to ascertain what, If any bearing,
it might have on the general problem OF con-
structiOn.
The surveys for railroad line fr I'M San
Juan del Norte to Ochoa, distance OF
thirty-two miles, has been completed, to-
gether with another line running parellel
To the canal for twelve miles for construc'
ton purposes.
A reservoir and dam on the La Pas creek
has been located. as we'll as pipe line "a
bring the water from that point to this
place, and to supply all the canal works
with fresh, pure water.
To ascertain beyond question what the
character and cost OF the work was 10 be,
borngs have been made at the sites OF all
important works, such as dams, embank-
ments and locks, as well as at the heavy
cuts. These holes have been bored TO the
bottom OF the canal or to the bottom Of the
foundations Of all locks, &c., many OF them
being from 40 10 300 feet deep.
TELEGRAPH LINE TO THE INTERIOR.
One of the first works OF actual construc-
ton began was the running OF telegraph
line to the interior, distance OF sixty
miles. This was very difficult 20 construct.
the first ten miles being through deep
swamp, where the wire and all other sup
plies had to De carried on the backs OF men,
who were wadiDg in water from one to -four
feet in depth. Much OF the way was SO
deep that poles could not be set in the
ground, and had to be fastened to stumps
with wire as the only means of securing
them.
The rock quarry at Silico Lake has been
worked for the purpose Of getting rock Il
ill in the pier and breakwater at san Juan
del Norte, the rock being brought for dis
tance OF twelve miles in lighters.
BUILDINGS ERECTED,
During the summer Of 1899 permanent
buildings were begun and building con.
slructiOn has been in progress ever since
Up TO the present time nearly forty build
ings have been erected. covering an area O
40 by 900 feet Some Of them are three
stories in height and others two stories
while but few have only the ground fiooI
10 represent their capacity. The principal
stOrehOuse is 80 by l30 feet, three stories
high, and the most part Of it is filled with
material for the work. There is row in pro-
cess of erection machine shop los by 81
feet, and a blacksmith shop and foundry
- by ~ feet. Much Of the machinery for a
irst-class machine shopis now here. There
| il also a building in course OF erection fOl
draughting-room and officers quarters, 4!
by 81 ieet, TWO stories in height. the founda
| tiOns of which are completed. All the build
ings OF the company are substantially built
rooted with iron and painted.
Work on the canal clearing was begun IN
January, 1890, and about eleven mlle'
chopped the full width OF 4c6 feet. A large
part OF this was burned during the dry
weather Of April.
A railroad has been constructed from the
company's stOre-hOuses to the hospita
buildings, distance of mile and quar-
ter and passing he headquarters building
and the chief engineers house.
DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING.
In June, 1890, railroad was begun
| across what has been considered the I'M
passable swamp between the san Juan La
COON and Bernard Lagoon. soon after be
ginning heavy rains set in and the swami
vas flooded TO the depth Of from two L
four feet. Most of this work for distance
of two miles was done in water three fee
de- p, and much Of the work for four mllei
| more in water two feet or more in depth
making total Of six miles o
swamp water. After the rails were lail
the trains of dirt, brought from tn
mouth of the canal, were pushed out ant
unloaded, and as the bank was raised aboy'
the water the track was raised and put int
shape on a solid rOadbed of sand. 10 Orde
| 10 make the road safe at sll times the grad
mas been put above the highest water mark
The most difficult portion OF The road Is nov
completed and for a distance OF about sever
miles the track is laid. The road is wei
equipped tor construction now, having tw
| powerful locomotives, one weighing thirty
,ix tons and one forty-fOur tons, and
heavier and still more powerful one is on tn
way here. Fifty cars Of various kinds, an
one excellent steam shovel and all neces
,ary appliances are on hand. AT the term
mus of the railroad fine wharf thirty fee
Dy 264 feet has been built, all the timber IA
which was creosoted in the best possibl
manner. 1t is provided with derrick an
steam hoisting engine, and has railroa
track laid on il 50 that materials may
loaded directly from the lighters on the car
by steam. Over 100 feet Of this wharf is 1
twelve to fourteen feet OF water.
HARBoR PROTECTION.
A breakwater for the protection Of the er
trance OF the eharbor now being constructe
al the eastern terminus Of the canal wa
begun in December, 1889, and has alread
been built out q distance Of nearly thot
sand feet into the sea, and Is now bein
continued and will be carried out dii
tancs OF one thousand nine hundred fee
The breakwater Is forty-two feet
width. and is constructed of creosote
timber. The spaces between the row
OF piles are filled with brush mattresst
loaded with rock As this is bein
tlled in the waves bring sand and dep0s
il, so that the whole space Is thorough
tilled in, making structure al gres
strength and durability. For the purpos
Of handling materials economically stan'
ard gauge railroad track had been laid o
the per. The bar in front Of the San Jua
lag o)n has long been known as one of II
most dangerous places on this coast In roug
weather, yet the breakwater has been ca
ried forward through the heavy surf whic
prevails here during several months OF II
year, without ever stopping on account
the weather, and without an accident
any kind. The dredging plant purchase
OF the American Contracting and Dredgin
Company at Colon, consisting OF sest
dredges, several steam tugs aud lighters al
a machine shop, - nearly all here. III
dredges are being put in order as fast
possible, and two have already got 10 wor
! and one is now engaged in cutting cha