Lester Bernstein Papers
Collection
Identifier: GTM-860501
The Lester Bernstein Papers consist of a diary written by Bernstein from July 21 to December 31 1899, part of the period in which he worked for the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC). The remaining materials are lists pertaining to the hiring and placement of local men to work for the ICC.
Lester Bernstein was one of the men sent to Nicaragua to survey for canals. From his diary it can be discerned that he hired, supervised, and distributed the local workmen, helped build and/or restore camps, bought supplies, cleared paths through the jungle, and assisted with the surveying. Bernstein often wrote that he was out cutting "caminos" (paths), putting in boring and camino signals for geographic studies, or keeping receipts and accounting records. The camps seemed to have had frequent communication between them to pass down orders and to visit each other. Bernstein mentioned having had contact with two key figures in the ICC, Arthur P. Davis (Chief Hydrographer) and Mr. J. Miller ("Chief Engineers Surveys Nicaragua Routes").
Bernstein began the diary with his departure from Philadelphia for New York to begin work and ended it on the last day of 1899 in Nicaragua. He described the trip to Nicaragua, highlighting the more interesting stops along the way, such as Kingston, Jamaica and Cartagena, Colombia. As a travel log, Bernstein's descriptions of the people, customs, scenery, and governments of the various places he saw during his journey and while he was working in Nicaragua are detailed. He included some hand drawn maps of Kingston, Cartagena, and the camps in which he stayed. Bernstein's interest in nature can be seen in the time he spent observing and writing about the army and leaf-eating ants he encountered, as well as brief descriptions of several local tree varieties. He also wrote some brief descriptions of local holiday celebrations.
The diary ends on December 31, 1899 and, although Bernstein occasionally made reference to a supplementary diary and despite the fact that the Commission did not complete the investigation until 1901, there is no further information from him.
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The Isthmian Canal Commission was formed by the United States government in 1899 to investigate possible routs for a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the areas of Nicaragua and Panama. At the time there was a strong sentiment in Congress to build the canal in Nicaragua, however the supporters of a Panama canal managed to persuade President McKinley that more investigation was necessary before a decision could be made. Thus the ICC was created with retired Navy Rear-Admiral John G. Walker at its head. The ICC sent men to Panama and Nicaragua to survey potential canal routes.
S. J. Bernstein was born c. 1854 in Germany, and moved to the United States with his wife, Marie, sometime before 1876. The couple had several children: Moriz (b. ca. 1876), Ralph (b. ca. 1877), Julius (b. 1880), Lester, and Walter. In December 1897, Moriz and Lester left their family in Philadelphia and embarked for Central America to do construction and surveying work for the Nicaragua Canal Commission. While in Central America, Moriz took charge of a small work crew under Dr. C. W. Hayes, and operated a drill to take geological borings of the terrain. Lester became a member of a small group charged with surveying the San Juan River around Lake Nicaragua. Lester returned to the United States in December 1898, while Moriz remained in Central America until at least August 1900.
[From the finding aid to "Moriz and Lester Bernstein correspondence, 1897-1900", University of Michigan William L. Clements Library.
0.20 Cubic Feet (1 Slim Document Case)
English
Purchase, May 1986.
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository