The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-07
THE CANAL.
Dredges Rotting in the UncOmpleted
Waterway-Its Financial Troubles.

Greytown Letter in Philadelphia Press.
The time has arrived when the fate Of
the Nicaraguan canal must be decided. Ev-
cry day means loss to machinery and the
undoing of the work already done. The
correspondent speaks from actual observa-
ton. He arrived here on the Yulee, which
was obliged TO cast anchor five miles from
Greytown on account of a bar. This bar
was the first indication OF times havoc
on the enterprise.
The intention of the Nicaragua Mari
tine Canal Company was to build break
waters leading out TO sea on each side of
the bay, which Is the entrance to the canal,
and by turning into the water between
them the San Juan river TO keep up a
current out to sea that would keep a good
channel open forever. But the breakwaters
were not finished, and instead of serving
to produce a current which would keep
dredged it's own channel, they have only
served as anchors TO the sand, so that a
bar was formed.
Sc formidable is this bar that a schooner
drawing only three feet Of water was
wrecked on it two weeks ago, and at the
Greytown wharf is lying the steamship
President Carazo, which has been impris-
oned six months. 1t cannot get out over
the bar at the highest tide.
When the correspondent first saw the un-
finished to the left the Mica
raguan flag was flying over ii. This break
water was completed for about six hundred
feet. 1t was built of creosote-soaked Geor-
gia piling, with a filling of concrete. 1t
was expected that this filling would last
almost forever, but already the long piles
dred feet of the breakwater to tie right
was completed, and all that is left or this
Is a struggling row.
of the Nicaragua Maritime Canal Company
and the Nicaragua Canal Construction
Company. there remains as the property
mile of canal, which is filling up with ev-
cry rain; five costly dredges, now sunk In
eight feet of water and becoming more and
more rusty every day; eleven miles of rail-
road, the ties Of which are rapidly rotting
and sinking in the swamps; three loco
with every hour they are exposed to the
moist atmosphere of this country; a good
hospital; a number of good buildings. maps,
item in the inventory Of the company's
property but is rapidly depreciating in
value. Greytown itself is in a collapsed
A Spaniard has established a ferry across
the canal, and from his boat a good view
started. The total length dredged is a
originally fifteen feet. but the heavy rains
banked UP at each side until the canal is
filled up to an average depth of eight feet.
AT Camp Lefe were found the storeh3 Th;e
and other buildings and their contents In
maps and designs were found in excellent
condition. Near the large buildings, and
forming a small town, is a collection of
huts, built to the colored Ia
borers who were employed. These are now
empty, although in fair order.
The climatic influences in s~uperinducing
rot and rust are not the only difficulties
the canal company has to contend with.
dition and ready to break any contract
in order to fill its empty treasury.
The construction company, which Is real
lV a SuDcOntrdCtOr under the Maritime
company, owed Mr.. de Loua, of Grey
town, 5000 in gold. The debt falling due.
of the Maritime company, were seized Dec:
II, 1893. The shops were sold by order of
tine the e SaessoEn e Had NO 5 i@risdiction IN the
matter. Mr.. Braida- who was an Ameri-
can consul at the time. protested against
The construction company really owed the
money, and the only complaint the Mari
time company had was that the case was
No notice was taken of the protest, the
consul being informed that as he had not
| court could not recognize him. Mr.. Baker,
the American minister, then Joined Mr..
Braida in a formal protest, but they Were
affair was ended, as there was no appeal
from the Greytown courts.
Br midis'e then n1 made ff ormai eompla IN ft to the
President and Cabinet. The Minister was
put off for two weeks, when. losing pa
The only answer he received was that the
company would be allowed to appeal to the
Supreme Court of Nicaragua.
The sale had been effected so easily that
Mr.. De Louza determined that the COM
pany should pay a further sum of $500 for
counsel fees. Accordingly. another seizure
was made of several buildings near the
machine shop, which were sold March &c
for the $500 claim. The buildings are said
to be worth 81, 400. The Navigation COM
pany was unable to pay it's obligations and
debts piled up to s 1880. The convenient
Greytown court was used again and the
entire property of the Navigation COM
pany, including boats, wharves, etc, was
seized and sold for the benefit of the cred
itors. This sale also took place March 30.
chaser. This property also belonged to the
Maritime c0mnary