The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-23

canal. These conditions consist OF a large.
deep lake, 100 feet above sea level, sepa-
rated from the Pacific Ocean by a narrow
strip of land containing the lowest depres
sion in the continental divide between the
Arctic Ocean and the Straits Of Magellan,
and a large navigable stream carrying the
surplus waters from the lake to the Car
ibbean Sea- This project is especially for
tunate in having at its summit level a
magnificent natural reservoir, Lake Mica
ragua, fed by an ample drainage BASIN
This reservoir is useful not only for stor-
ing water for operating the locks Of the
canal. but also as regulator for the con-
troll of great floods that could hardly be
provided for at practicable cost without
its aid. We other proposed route enjoys
advantages OF this kind.
"a recent study of the geology Of this
region by DR.. c. ". Hayes. of the Geolog
ical Survey. has brought to light many in
teresting facts. which serve to explain
the origin Of these peculiar conditions"
Mr.. Davis continues
Lake Nicaragua has an area of 1915
square miles. Its greatest length is from
north northwest to south southwest, and
is about 100 miles. Its extreme width is
about 40 miles West Of the centre is an
island occupied by the volcanoes Ometepe
and MADEIRA. which stand about 5000 feet
above the lake level. adding greatly to the
scenic beauty. MADEIRA is the most south
ern Of a line Of volcanoes of comparatively
recent origin which extends in a north
westerly direction nearly to the Gulf of
FOnseea, including Ometepe, Zapatero
Mombacho, Chiltepe, Momotompo, and
many others.
cause a moderately heavy surf to beat al
most constantly on the western shore. re-
sulting in the formation Of a decided beach
on that side, while the eastern shore is
fiat and muddy. with no welI-marked
beach. and aquatic vegetation there grows
far out into the water.
Except in the southeastern portion the
lake is deep reaching in one point. near
the southern foot Of MADEIRA, a depth OF
200 feet
Lake Managua lies to the northwest of
Lake Nicaragua and drains into the lat
ter through the Tipitapa River. Its area
is about 500 square miles.
Regarding the temperature and reia-
tive humidity OF Nicaragua, Mr. Davis
says. that the climate may be regarded as
insular. as il is remarkably uniform. 1t
is never very hot, and hardly ever cool.
In no part Of the country is there the
slightest danger of frost. The climate is
somewhat cooler and more uniform on the
east than on the west coast but in gen.
eral it may be said that the temperature
seldom exceeds 30 degrees Fahrenheit, nor
falls below 20 degrees"
Speaking OF the population Of Nicaragua.
Mr.. Davis says. that it is between 800. 900
and 400 600. only about eight to the square
mile. To each 100 inhabitants there are
30 Indians. 1 negro. As mixed blood and
4 whites They are sharply divided into
classes, the "eaballeros,'' or gentlemen. and
the poems. or laborers, who can be dis
tinguished by their costume as far as they
can be seen
This classification is punctiliously OBJ
served on all occasions. and is particular
~ noticeable on railroad trains and steam
boats. The upper classes dress very much
as we do in summer. that season being
perpetual in Nicaragua. Among the low
er classes the mems costume usually con-
sists OF straw hat and short cotton
skirt and trousers OF darker material. No