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VIEWS FROM A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
#39 - GRENADA, NICARAGUA
Size: 5" x 3"
Copyrighted: 1891
Lithographer: Joseph P. Knapp
Illustrations: Church of Guadaloupe at Grenada; One of Engineering Corps; Engineers'
Camp; The Market Place; Building Railroad Through Swamps; A Water Carrier
NOTE:
There appear to be 2 printing
varieties for this card, distinguishable by the spelling of the country
name in the caption at the bottom center of the card. These
varieties were originally identified by Jerry Anderson. |
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The name of the country in the caption is correctly spelled as "NICARAGUA". (This is the variety
shown on the full-size card, above). |
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The name of the country in the caption is incorrectly spelled as "NICARACUA". |
Reverse - Text |
Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section: |
GRANADA, NICARAGUA. |
The city of Granada dates from 1522 when Francisco
Fernandez de Cordova chose its site on the N.W. bank of Lake Nicaragua,
whose waters form so conspicuous an element in the grand problem of the
Central American Canal. |
The remains of ancient fortifications, and
bullet-marks in the walls of the old churches, bear witness to the
stormy periods of piratical stress undergone in past centuries. The old
Spanish characteristics of architecture, the motley apparel and customs
of the mixed populace, and the general features of marketplace and
plaza, present picturesque effects. |
The tempting commercial possibility of threading
the isthmus with a water-way joining the two oceans, was recognized by
navigators in the midle of the 16th century, leading thereafter to
earnest examination and study of the project. At the beginning of the
present century the matter took definite shape, and some fifty years
later, thorough surveys were made. On grounds of international policy
the United States Government declined to take the initiative, but
materially aided the private corporation which assumed the task.
Comparison of several routes, led to a decision in 1876 in favor of
that known as the Nicaragua route, its termini being Greytown on the
Atlantic and Brito on the Pacific, a distance of 170 miles. Of this
amount 27 miles will be excavated canal and 143 miles free navigation
by Lake Nicaragua, the River San Juan, and through basins in the
valleys of three other streams. Prosperous conditions thus far
attending active preparations for construction inspire the belief that
six years will suffice for its completion, and that its total cost will
not exceed $90,000,000, exclusive of banking commissions, interest
during construction, and other expenses not included in the engineer's
estimate. The prospect also of its final patronage points to a higher
percentage on investment than accrues to the Suez Canal. It is
eminently desirable that the control of this enterprise should be
secured to the United States. |
Population of the Republic, 350,000 to 400,000. |
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