Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-11
NICARAG UAN AFFAIRS
Some Interesting Facts Given to the State
Department by Consul 0'Hara.
Distribution of the Indemnfty-CuS-
tom House Practices That Need
to BE Reformed.

In dispatches to the Department of State,
dated August o and "a, Consul O'Hara of
San Juan del Norte. Nicaragua. announces
the distribution Of the indemnity Of f1500O
paid by the government Of Nicaragua in
response to the British demand for dam
ages to British subjects because Of the
Bluefields affair. The Bluefelds Recorder
claims that some of 1.-The persons indemni-
fed owe no allegiance to England" The
amounts received by individuals range from
f1O0 to f4,500, the British vice consul, Ed
win Hatch, receiving the latter amount.
Custom House Practices.
Consul O'Hara says of custom house
practices at Bluefields: 1.-The town of Blue
fields is about six miles from the sea. The
custom house is at the mouth of the
karbor, and all goods for Bluefelds are
fist discharged across the lagoon at Blue
fields Merchants have complained that
goods have been unnecessarily detained at
the custom house, when not accompanied
by consular invoices. 1t is believed by the
merchants that DR.. Talero, the inspector
of customs just appointed, will act upon
the suggestions thrown out in the editorial
herewith fnclosed and which appeared July
q, 1885, in the Recorder, newspaper pub
lished at Bluefields."
The editorial referred to describes various
deficiencies and delays at the custom house,
and expresses the opinion that the change
is intended to effect a reform.
Concession to an American Company.
Consul O'Hara states that the Bluefelds
Recorder announces the granting Of a con-
cession to Mr.. ]. Lasche, representing the
South Dakota and Central American Trad
ing Company of South Dakota, for 25OOO
hectares of land, at any point on the At
lantic coast of Nicaragua, in alternate lots.
In return the company Is to provide a
steamer to ply between San Juan del Norte
and Cape Gracias-a-Dios, calling at inter-
mediate ports. Consul OHara adds:
1T Is said that Lasche is now in the
United States. endeavoring to interest cap
italists in his project. He has been given
six months within which to deposit $4,000
as an evidence of good faith. About half
way between here and Bluef1elds there is a
natural harbor, under the lee of Monkey
Point. and 1t is an excellent place of refuge
for vessels of the deepest draft when the
Wind is from either the north or east. At
comparatively small cost a harbor could be
complete shelter to vessels with the wind
from any quarter, but permitting them to
land their cargceS without the aid of light
ers, and large enough to thus accommo-
date many steamships and other vessels at
the same time. The Rama is but few
miles south of there, and the lands along
the river are rich and well adapted to the
cultivation Of bananas and other tropical
crops. 1t is believed to be part of Lasch he's
scheme to improve this harbor, establish
town at Monkey Point, build railway to
the Rama river. and, after selling lands
along the river, put a steamer on the river
to carry bananas and other productions TO
the railway. on which they would then be
transported to Monkey Point"
Consul OHara states, however, that
Thomas F. Drew and other Americans are
aragua for the privilege of improving
Monkey Point.