Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-03

t>lcATdSua mas perhaps SInatier NUM-
Der Of foreigners within its borders than
any other republic of Central America
Yet in none of the other republics has
the foreigner contributed more to the
welfare of the people than in this coun-
try. Strike out the improvements which
they have brought here and Nicaragua
would be little advanced beyond the civ
iiiZation of thousand years ago Be
fore the Americans came here the boon
of a cool drink was all but unknown. for
ice was seen only on board the passing
ships. Before American enterprise took
the initiative even the presidential palace
was lighted with old-fashioned lamps.
Wholesome beer could not be had. except
at the prohibitive prices of the imported
product. and the people were content with
constituencies aguardiente-a by
product OF sugar making-for their intoxi-
eating drink.
The English and the Germans have had
some little hand in the development of
Nicaragua, but the bulk of the benefits
have come through Americans. Perhaps
the most interesting personality among
the foreigners in Nicaragua Is that of
I. Nj. Solomon, who heads the Central
American Commercial Company, one of
the leading enterprises of Nicaragua,
Solomon is Of Jewish extraction and came
here from New Orleans. He began his
career buying rubber from the small pro-
ducers and has prospered until it was
estimated, at the downfall of the Zelaya
regime. that his company had cleared a
million dollars by its operations
Under the Zelaya government Solomon
and his company had everything prac-
tically h e l I
Had Its Own Way own way.
Under Zelaya's Rule. eminent wished sn
to borrow some ready cash the Central
American Commercial Company was pre-
pared to furnish it. In return for the
innumerabie favors extended by Solomon
and his company to the government. they
were given many valuable concessions.
One of these was for the building of a
pier at Corinto. This concession compels
all imports coming into Corinto and all
exports going out TO pass over the pier,
and the wharf charges are such as make
a business extremely profitable to the
holders of the concession. 1t is said that
some Of the shipping dealers would pre-
fer to use the old method Of sending their
cargoes ashore in lighters rather than
unloading ii at Solomon pier, owing to
the high wharf charges.
The company of which Solomon is the
head owns the electric light plant at
Managua. 1t claims to furnish the cheap
est electric current in the world, and yet
it Is in constant difficulty with the gov
eminent. Several times the government
has not been able to meet it's light bill.
and the city of Managua. it's capital, has
been in the same predcament. The Solo
mon company Immediately cut off the
current and LETT the city in darkness
until the bill was paid.
Last winter an effort was made to abol-
ish the concession of the electric light
plant The city fathers require that the
light shall be of a certain standard. The
wood which constitutes the fuel of the
electric light plant is delivered by the
national railway. Word was passed down
the line that the supply of fuel should be
restricted. and this. as was apprehended.
naturally resulted in poor quality of
light. That, in turn, was taken as Justi-
flying action against the light company.
and the city fathers took this action in
the shape OF an abolition of the lighting
concession. Solomon appealed to Gen.
Mena. the secretary of war. and the
power behind the throne, and the next
day the entire city government was re-
moved and another. friendly to the cleo
trio light plant, was substituted In its
stead