New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-11
COSTA RIGA.
Geld mi.--Re.ource- of Costa Kiea.

oeue.yODdebee Of The n y 1nrsne.
w s. SAN JOSH, Sept. %, 1888
Since nv last letter | have seen and examined
nod many samples from the recenty-dscO'eTed goid
mines Of lie AQuacate The occurs IN small cris
tallodal pieces in quartz, together with cacareous
,psth feldspath and other minerals. The result OF
chemical analysis produced 90 per cent pure goid "'1
uer cent of silver and about per cent OF copper
Tie last unls whics Don Joaquin Mora, the proprle
for of the mines has Gent 10 the mint produced $SDvV
II 10 the opinion Of the director OF the mines, Don
Yuare BsTth, an experienced German MINER VINO mas
himelf examined the ancient gold mines OF the aqua
ene that of the real cold riches Of this mountain the by
Ear smaller part is yet known and discovered The most
abundant gangues Of the mineral lay hidden by the anu
vial strata and wild forest vegetation and itsto be Tear
ed that by the Incidence Of the Indians who seem TO care
but tefor the riches under the earth As long AS they
have 10 eat three times day, their tOftas ana ther
leans these immense natural treasures VIII YET Tor
long time remain unraised This state Of things, how
ever would soon be changed II some experience
prOspectoIs Of California could be persuaded 70 pay
visit to this delightful country. According - the
opinion Of Mr. Barb il seems pretty sure that al inc
little rivers hch run from thcAguacate into the Pacific,
and especially the Rio Jesus Maria, contain gold sand
Unfortunately, person Of practical knowledge his
yet till now undertaken TO examine TINS mineral river
with energy and perseverance, Inc lower classes 1re
"A We have already mentioned, too ndOent and ndihcr
emit and the rich propreOrs fear that by the discovery OF
new cold mines they should lose the hands which they
70 necessarily require for the cultivation oil the conce
tree The Government, though generally pretty Wei
dsposed towards foreigners, appear To be AFRAID OF
numerous emigration from North America and at
tempt therefore rather 10 hide than 10 make publicly
know the mineral riches of the country AS cary as
the YEAR 1923 several drifts abundant in gold ore were
discovered on the Aguacate Don Santos Lombafdo,
Don Matthias Santoyal, and Senior Espanae' from
Carriage, explored these mines at different periods
with great ck and the latter of these gentlemen made
a considerable fortune by this exploration Yet az
far one is able to judge the, recently discovered
mines seem to be superior to the ancient drifts
At this occasion il might not be without interest
10 learn, that also on the Atlantic part of Costa
Rca rich gold mines existed but their former situation
ia DO more known at present About go years ago,
there existed in the vicinity Of Boca del Tore the rich
gold mines Of Tisngal which as We are informed by an
ancient manuscript found in the archives OF Carriage
Yielded great quantities Of ore In the vicinity OF
these mines stood the town of Esrea and il is not at
ali improbable that Costa Rca itself is indebted
or its name 10 the great mineral wealth OF its coast,
NJ Costa Rica in Spanish signifies nothing more than
rich coast" But since pirates and wild h0rdes OF
Indians destroyed the first rudiments OF civilization,
and murdered great number of the first Spanish set
tiers every trace Of the ancient mines has been lost
till the very place where the town OF Estrela once
was situated has become known IL seems however as
there had never been serious searches made either for
the mines for the lost town CultyaOrs and settlers
have since directed their steps to the more healthy
places of the Cordleas and towards the Pacific coast
IL il nconcey able that Costa Rca the most interesting
and most happy Of the FIVE republics Of Central Amer
lea as been till this moment neglected by the North
Americans. They have abandoned it, most singuarly.
10 Englisbmen and to Spanish and German merchants
20 share the advantages which the great development
Of commerce in this country presents TO all foreigners
who come TO settle here with capital and spirit OF
enterprise. Even American authors have neglected
most undeseUedly the little mountain republic, and
also Mr. Squier, who has visited Central America
twice did not consider il worth while to visit state,
which nevertheless possesses such decided advantages
ever all the other republics Of New Spain We VIII
attempt explain these advantages in particular.
Costa Rica is a very healthy country, with the sole
exception Of its low lands the Atlantic coast Pun
Ia Arenas, its haibor the Pacific Is probably the
hcalthest port in tropical America. The Cordneras
offer 10 settlers in different regions the most different
climates In the low grounds of Matina, near TO the
Atlantic coast prospers the CacaO tree (theObroma
cseao,) which is known, requires OF all tropical
plants the greatest heat the cacao OF Madina Is equal
IN tine flavor to the best cacao of Nicaragua Cotton
sugar cane, tobacco Indian corurce ana pantans grow
nwell in the low grounds as on the table Lands Inc
extensive plateau of San jose and Calag" between
The TBzei and Aguaoate, which consists OF dner'
ent smaller valleys offers excellent sou Tor the
coffee tree The hight Of this plateau above the eVei
OF the varies between 1000 aud i5O0 feet single
coffee trees bear in good situations ~ to - pounds OF
huit. In general the produce OF coffee tree IN
plantations where the trees are good deal crowded
together, is estimated from Ii to Is pounds,
or almost twice the produce which the coaee
tree yields in Cuba The price ut coffee,
on the place where it is shipped varies between -
and IS the quintal The culture OF coffee has IN
ereesed in the most remarkable progression, aud next
10 its dnetness and safety, it is principally 10 this cu
ty alton that Costa Rca is indebted for Its material
progress snd the rapid increase of its commerce. la
the past yesr about 100000 Quintsls If coffee were
exported The crop of this year VIII probably amount
to 10000 Quintais. or i2,W0OOO pounds "t coffee
Although the coffee oil Costa Rca has but recently
made it's appearance on the markets OF EUROPE, st'
there is already strong demand for It, and at Liver
pool It's price is noted high that OF the most sp
Pec atsd sorts Of the Old Nerd except that ot MochS
Tie higher situated lands Of Costa Rica as Tor IN
stance AlAuita uerslda. san Rafael and San Ramon.
are extremely well suited for the culty alton Of wheat
which Yields two crops IN the year without requiring
manure. Also Indian corn can be gathered twice IN
the year. withoNt any injury 20 the soil Ii COM
mare these agricultural results with those of the
Mo al fertile countries n Ohio and Illinois, ind that
Indian Corn yields here double the amount Of grain.
All the table lands Of Costa Rica covered from tho
end of April tii the end Of January with rich aai
luxurious vegetation Daring the drynes OF the summer
there is dronth On the low lands; but animals md
10 the artificial IS well AZ in the natural meadows
(portrtross the Whole year round sufficient lood me
cattle strong, and Of good race. The prices Tor
cattle, milk. butter and other agricultural productions
sre surprisingly high, compared with the IerulG
of the sou and tie loNness If wages. mlieh
COW averages between 30 and - dollars, good mule
so 10 IC0 dolaTs Calves remain with the COW til they
wten thsBftyes ard by this system the best and most
tro!use produce of milk Is lost MIN in Costa Rica Is
iovr tines a. dear a. in Texas. Batter AMI cheese
are eonpsratively little made IN the country, bu'
frequently imported from England. The custom OF