Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1889)
SHORE. The canal arrow tint plain of Ijnm could U very easi ly constructed, the greatest elevation in the way lieing loss thai) 100 f(rt tall. The lutter is the plan pro mised by 1 ,011 is NaMileon in 1 HIT. The fi rnt men tioned, however, in regarded ah the most hemic method, and seems likely to produce the liost results, because when once completed there are not ho many uncertain clement to deal with. Lake Nicaragua constitute a very lurjjf reservoir, thiiH making a sure water supply for the canal leading from it and one that in easily controlled. It is 110 mili'H long and about thirty-five miles hroad, and of an average depth of ten fathoms. The animal life within the lake presents sunn curious features, as there is frw access to it from the (s can, and among the specimen that seem somewhat out of their element are sharks that frequently ascend the San Juan river lo the lake, and it is even said that a considerable nurnU r of (lie man-eaters make their home in the frcidi water of the lake. On every side of the unsalted sea there is a dense growth of valuahle timher that Mould lie an acquisition to the ship-building interests to the southward. Hut little is known of the indus trial resources of that region, though it may he judged from all the indications patent to the uerlicial oh server that the country possesses natural richness that would well pay for development. Nicaragua is a land of antiquities. The ruined churches and cathe drals erected by the Spaniards when they held sway recall the strained glory of that time, hut the remains of massive idols and of architectural piles rivaling in majesty those rvmarkahle achievements that mark the valley of the lmer Nile are scattered over the land and niakw iiiont fascinating studies for the student of antiquities The natural scenery of the country is most beautiful. Vegetation is of tropical luxuriance, and tht urfact characteristics of the land are such as to afford a gh at variety of interesting features. Hugo volcanic cones thrust their exos into the sky from haws covered with dense forcMs of tropical timls-r. There ar valleys and plains where agriculture is car ried on in an unthoroiigh way, hut which seem to oiler inducements for U tter cultivation. In pitc of the country's apparent age, modern civilization has only got I foothold, hut there seems to U no good reason why it should hot rapidly advance. The total population of the Mate of Nicaragua is alsiut MI.WIO, a very small .rtion of which is white. Probably more than one-half of the inhahitants are pur Indians, and thcrr is a considerable numher of mixed Id.!. The city of Urn is the largot in the country, having some ,".U,lM) inhahitants. o t, f,.r. tile plain aU-ut that town are many American settler engage! in farming and stock-raising. The city of Mssaya ranks next in imH.rtnce with a Jmpula'tion of uhout 14,000. Then come Granada with 12,000 people, and Managua, the generally recognized capital, with 10,000. Ilivas, the old capital, is now a town of H,(XH) inhahitants, hut it it) on the line of the propond ship canal, the construction of which will restore iln old time iniiortanee. These cities are in the region that would lie traversed by the routes mentioned aliove, all hut Uivas, however, being on the route pro. s)sed by Napoleon, and which is not likely to be adopted because nearly twice as long as the other, about ;100 miles. The climate of Nicaragua is not really bo unhoalth ful as many suppose. The mortality rate is high, but the irregular life led by the 'people is more responsible for this than the climate. Moderation in eating and drinking, abstention from the use of intoxicating liquors and reasonable care as to bathing and exposure insures as good health as is ordinarily enjoyed else where, unless one has ailments that suffer aggravation in a warm, moiHt climate. The lives of most of the people are marked by diurnal indolence and nocturnal festivities, and liquor is freely indulged in. A night' debauch frequently ends fatally, and as such caroueali are common the mortality bills are charged with deaths that might have been prevented by the exer cise of ordinary care. There is quite an American colony in I,eon. Kivas is being filled with Americans. In those places the climate is accounted more health ful, but decent living is probably the cause of'the dif ference. The Atlantic coast is much warmer than the Pacific. The Pacific coast is greatly interested in the mat ter of getting nn inter-oceanic canal across the isthmun. On the great staples of the northwest, grain and lum ber, a direct advance in price would be experienced by shortening the route to KurojMJ and making it practi cable to reach the markets of the eastern state by water without doubling Cape Horn. It would facili tate trade with our southern neighlsirs anil encourage thedevclopi it of a rich country. The progress of the scheme will lie watched with solicitude. Contract has lieon let for the mineral palace it Pueblo, Colorado. It will be one of the largest and handsomest buildings in the west, and will cost fATO,' 000. The Kgyptian stylo of architecture will I fol lowed. The object of this building is to maintain within it a ermanent exhibit of the minerals of the state, collected from its mines, as well as minerals from every portion of the world. When the collection is ready for exhibition its intrinsic value will be enormous. In the nature of things the collection will never bo completed, as additions will no doubt con stantly U made, even if the palace be maintained u promised for centuries.