Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05
THE NICARAeuAN CAPITAL.
Visit 10 . Prosperous and Promising Con-
trail American City.

HANAauA AND TIE PUBLIC BuILDNos-rHR AP-
fRoAoH TO THE CAPITAL FROM CANADA
STOP AT NAsAYA-rHE GREAT LAKE-PnoeRKs-
special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
MANAaUA. NICARAGUA, August Is, 1891.
ME APPROACH MANAGUA, THE CAPT.
w tai OF Nicaragua, from Granada This
stretch OF narrow-gauge road a distance Of about
tnirty miles, forms a third part of the railroad
system OF the republic, which is owned and
operated by the government. Coming from
the region of the San Juan river, where the wet
season but seldom allows the rays of the sun to
SHOW themselves, the scene is q transformation
In the former region the river is lined with .
mostluxuriant vegetation, hanging vines. droop-
ing palms and graceful ferns Of enormous
SIZE, forming at every turn Of the river ex-
quislte scenes Of tropical beauty. But should
We arrive west of the great lake in the dry
season, beginning in December and lasting six
months the vegetation would not suggest that
we are within eleven degrees OF the equator.
From Granada to Managua We pass through
series OF cattle estates only occasionally patches
OF country coming in view that show signs Of
cultivation, these growing plantains, Indian
corn, yucca and tobacco.
When our journey is half accomplished we
nave arrived at Masaya, at the base of the vol
cano OF that name, and here We wait for half
an hour for no purpose that is apparent.
oranges, mangoe tiste "a popular drink OF the
country. being connection of ground corn,
chocolate and sugar in wster) are for sale by
native women. The latter stand at the side of
the station, a structure of modern style, and
making this drink offer it for sale, together
with the assortment of cakes and pies. cheese
being an ingredient that takes prominent
place Ill the pastry thus sold. The train starts
on again. running at the rate Of twenty miles
an hour. making frequent stops for wood,
which is the only fuel used to run the engine.
AT MAsAYA
we have reached the highest elevation on the
line Of the road, over 700 feet above sea level.
and here go through a cut of some fifteen feet
deep, then descending 500 feet in twenty miles.
Several mountain peaks are in sight, the ex-
tinct volcano of Masaya being on the left. The
railroad passes. over the lava bed of this vol
cano, about eighteen miles from the crater.
An elght-foot cut was made through the lava,
which shows the formation of the how. Near
the surface the mass has a porous and
spongy appearance, but six feet from
the top the pressure from above
hardened it to compact form. The material
from this cut has been used as bedding for the
railroad at every place where grading is made.
though there is but little of such work from
wall is being constructed of it for the protec-
ton OF the pier extended into Lake Managua,
ON which the track runs and whence lake
steamers ply to Momotombo, there connecting
again with the national railway extending to
Corlnto on the Pacific
THE GREAT LAKE.
Upon nearing Managua glimpse Of the lake
Is had before the city is reached. Crossing the
great Lake the traveller is impressed by the
broad expanse of water. ninety miles long and
half that width, but here tho scenery is more
contracted and the water is hemmed in by ar
almost continuous mountain range that gives it
the appearance of but few miles across it. The
mountains are bleak and about 1000 feet high
in the evening the sun setting back Of the city
unses the rugged heights and throws back
nooo OF light that would rival a sunset in color
ing, the reflection from the cliff of the bare
summit varying with every slant of the rock
surface throwing them of.
FIRST VIEW OF MANAdUA
Approaching the city the first view is Of cane
nuts and one-story structures OF sawed timber.
The latter innovation has been introduced by
the saw mill on the lake by which the road
passes, and if it be in the interest of progress
does not improve the picturesqueness of the
scene. Adobe and cane houses, tile rooted
ana alike as 80 many peas, tucked in
here and there among groves OF orange,
piantaln, mango and other tropical fruit
trees, blend with the scenery wonderfully
well. The modern steam saw mill here. the
hrSt ana only one in the country has been
turning out lumber for some three or four
years and ready market at fancy prices is
found for all it cal produce. Elsewhere lum-
per Is only turned out IN the crude manner of
Dygone times; one man standing on and
another under great log suspended over pit
saw by hand, and their combined work, consum-
ing days, could be done in almost as minutes by
machinery
PROGRESSIVE NICARAGUA.
1t may be said that Managua, the capital,
represents the progressive side of Nicaragua.
Here 1t is that the frs. two-story houses Of the
country were built only o few years ago. and
now building operations are in progress on all
sides. almost all the houses being of two stories
1t Is also the only town here that has an ade-
quate system OF water works. the water being
pumped up from the lake and distributed to
the houses all over the town. An ice machine
Is here and Is making a small fortune for its
owners, Its product being sold at five cents a
pound, or 80 per hundredweight Ice is be-
coming more and moro popular and at
hotels it is freely used. Among tho innoya-
tions is theater, such a place of amuse-
ment established in Granada q year ago having
become so good an investment-paying 80 per
cent-that the enterprise was introduced here.
1t is wooden building with gallery and ac-
commodities 600 or 700. Travelling Spanish
troupes perform here and they have crowded
houses. Twelve dollars for boxes of six seats
and Sl.50 for admission to the best part of the
house is charged. While the experience of at
tending the theater is novel one business ia
prosperous; but it is yet to be seen how well the
patronage continues when this element is
wanting.
CENTER OF THE COFFEE TRADE.
1t is not alone the presence here of the seat
Of government that gives the place its lead over
other cities, but it is also the center of the cof
fee trade, which is now the life of the whole
country. The advance in the price of the bean
has given coffee land boom, and SO riches
have been thrust upon many planter who
previously only got bare living from the land.
The bulk of the incomes so acquired are spent
in this city. Consequently, the stores have
taken on proportions never before eouaIed.
The trade Is divided between natives and for.
eigners and the place is thoroughly cosmopol
itan. As in all the Central and South Ameri,
can countries, England and Germany are most
largely represented among the business houses.
Houses being erected now show the influence of
the foreign clement.
ITS POLITICAL LOCATION.
Managua is not an old city and never would
have assumed proportions greater than that of
q small pueblo had not two political factions
been located on both SIDES Of it. Leon and
Granada. the former Of 10000 inhabitants and
the latter half the size, are the largest cities s
the country. The former is near the Pacific
and the latter is on the shores of Lake Mica
The seat of AMT