Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-14
san JUAN DEL N0RTE.
A Lively Little Town on the Mica
raguan Peninsula.
SOME OF ITS IRREGULARITIES.
Horse Cars From New York Roll Along It's
strset-It Once Had Harbor. But = Sand
Bar Destroy ed It-Its English Name Is Grey
town.
Correspondsnne Of The Evening Star.
San JUAN DEL SoRTE (GREYrol

NICARAGUA, Feb. 20, 1891.
CAN JUAN DEL NORTE (GREYTOWN).
~ the eastern terminus Of the Nicaragua canal,
Is now. and always has been. chiefly collection
of two-story frame houses and smaller shacks,
In which are gathered a population almost as
varied as the nations of The earth. Perhaps no
seaport town gives a just idea of the other
cities of the country, for such places are nearly
always affected by foreign influences, and this
Is particularly true in this instance. Nearly
half a century ago the English settlers caused
San Juan del Norte to be known as Grey
town." and only during the past couple of years
has the original name been prominently brought
forward by the government. which insisted on
preserving the native name in designating the
post Office. Instances of like changes are not
uncommon. The Central American republics
are rightly jealous of such liberties their for
eign settlers take and at times resort to ex-
IRENE measures in securing the acceptance Of
the original name. An instance Of this Is
shown when the Americans. after building the
Panama railroad, thought they could turn
Colon into '.Aspinwall." and succeededuntil
the Colombian government gave instructions to
postmaste-s that, as no such place as "Aspin-
wall existed in the republic, letters SO adj
dressed should be returned.
SOME SIGHTS IN 6REYrowN.
The first and most exciting experience of
every one landing at San Juan del Norte in the
past has been the ordeal of being lightered
ashore. II the sea be heavy the passenger is
lowered TO a lighter while seated in chair and
be viii make several lunges through the air. as
the vessel rolls, before giving up thanks for
safe deliveranee on the deck of the lighter and.
later, ON the tug. Baggage is also lowered and
then the tug steams away for the entrance of
the harbcr- The buildings Of the canal COM
pany lay to the right and the town to the left
% the channel leading into the lagoon, which is
To be the future eastern harbor Of the canal.
Once landed. the first evidence of advancement
seen in GTeytown itself is the tramwsy running
from the farther end of the town to America.
the proposed canal town The cars make half
hourly or hourly trips according to the time of
day. and the little mules pulling them keep mp
q lively trot under the lashes and wells of the
jamaican driver. The cars themselves have a
history previous to their present use the key
note of which is seen in the declaration on the
brass plate of the door, viz: Eighth Avenue"
As il il hard to believe that the avenues of San
Juan have reached that number it is not
long before we realize that here Is a relic of
New York passing the latter Part of a life that
was commenced in the metropolis The line
runs down the main street. on which are the
governors house and the principal stores of
the town. The chief buildings are two-story
frame structures and the stores are well
stocked with goods of the kind generally seen
IN prosperous variety slOre OF tue STATES As
in every Standardization town the plaza is
the important place and around it are several
hotels and stores. the Catholic and Protestant
churches The latter was established by an
enterprising Jamaican Baptist minister who
landed here at the time the first expedition for
the final survey of the canal arrived. in the
winter Of 1887, and now he presides over the
only Protestant church on Nicaraguan soil. His
little chapel is sufficiently commodious 20
accommodate comfortably an audience num-
beEing a couple of hundred and it is kept
freshly and brightly painted. which gives the
place an air Of prosperity. Its pastor is ener-
getic and proposes to visit the United States
shortly in order to raise money TO enlarge his
work The government is very favorably dis
posed toward him and has granted $40
month to pay a teacher for the school he pro-
poses 10 establish.
HOW THE TOWN Is BULL
The outlying houses Of the town are of one
story and Of frame or constructed, in a native
style, Of cane The town is built on a sandy
soil that is but two three feet above the level
Of the ocean Ii is somewhat hemmed in by a
branch Of the San Juanillo river and a lagoon
back Of it The sandy soil has undoubtedly
been great element Of healthfulness in the
past, as it forms a drainage that could be had
IN 10 other way Three years ago there were
shout 800 people living here, now the number
II probably over twice that figure. the town be-
Inc really crow,led Houses hiring a 0ooi