The sun., 1903-04-05
UNHAPPY GREYTOWN.
There Is Little Prospect Now That She Will
Ever Have . Good HarbOr.

Ever Have . Good HarbOr.
We have not heard how Greytown took
the news that the United States would not
build the Nicaragua Canal, but It Is not likely
that any people more poignantiy felt the
blow than the citizens Of that place. They
had Q splendid harbor once and expected.
through the building Of the canal. that this
blessing would come to them again. Their
hopes, however. were blasted; and Grey
town will continue to be merely a little
port than can be reached only by boats Of
very small draught.
In January. 1890, the future City Of
America" was solemnly founded on the
beach west Of Greytown. The few struct-
ures that were reared to mark the site are
doubtless still standing. Here was to be
the artificial harbor Of the great inter-
oceanic canal which was to be directly
connected with the harbor Of San Juan.
This harbor was to be greatly improved
and.it was expected that the canal would
have the advantage Of two seaports close
toRether. But the City OF America will
never be built. without the canal there Is
no need for 1t.
Years ago Greytown had a magnificent
port. II was well sheltered from the SO
and large ships sailed directly up TO the
town. San Juan was thriving place and
it's commercial importance promised to
grow from year to year. The vast body
OF water coming down the San Juan River
to the sea constantly secured the channel
into the harbor and kept it open for large
| shipping.
About thirty years ago. however, a re-
markable thing happened. There was an
unusually heavy food In the San Juan . nd
Il had the effect to widen the entrance into
the Colorado branch Of the delta streams,
The water In the main river at San Juan
began TO fall with great rapidity. The
people could not understand II, but they
eoon learned the cause The greater part
OF the food had turned out OF the main
channel and was racing down tho Colorado,
tearing away the banks, widening the river
and deepening the channel.
From that day to this most Of the water
Of the San Juan has made Its way to the
sea through the Colorado branch. The
sluggish stream that empties into Grey
town harbor has had the effect merely to
choke II with sediment and to build up a bar
at the harbor mouth In the height OF the
dry season, when the river brings down a
comparatively small body Of water, there
are from twelve to fifteen feet OF water
on the bar At the Colorado, while at Grey
town the outlet Of the river is sometimes
closed altogether. No one had dreamed
that such a misfortune could befall Grey
town.
For years the merchants OF Greytown
we're at their wits end. They entertained
the project OF dredging out the channel
again and bringing the river back To their
town: but q little investigation showed
| that this would be q herc,ilean tack and
would cost more money than IL would
! take TO move the whole town 70 the Colo
! rado, where by dredging the bar q very
| Ane harbor might casily be made.
1t hsppens that the mouth OF the Colorado
OF the boundary dispute between Costa
Rica and Nicaragua. There seems to be
| little prospect that II will ever be settled
and the greatest bone OF contention relates
| 10 the outlet of the noble San Juan. which
! was undisputably Sicaraguan river from
fountain head TO the sea. till II suddenly
| took q notion to pour most OF Its waters
| into the ocean just across the border In
| Costa Rca.
So ali ships that 90 to Greytown have to
lie Oh outside the hsrbor all ready to put
| TO sea at moments notice II heavy weather
/ threatens Many lives have been lost while
! crossing this bar In small boats between
the steamers and the wooden wharf OF
Greytown; ,,., 49,.
the canal would be built and that Il would
| town. But the abandoned hsrbor Ia likely
| to remain almost ueelees; and biuenelds,
farther north, will be tho chief Atlantic
| mort of NtcAraQllA