The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-19
Ehs 4eu Orleans @rtstent.
BRITISH HONDURAs-ITs SOIL, Gil.
MATE. PRODUCTIONS. HTC.

EYGREER's CAMP. PUTNAM, houR RIVER BAR
BRITISH HONDURAS, Feb. ~, 1865.
NIL. p. Harrison. 81 Union street, New Orleans:
My Dear Sfr-Yesterday wrote you q note
principally on business matters and relative 10
our surveys. It occurs to me that few words
from me. if made public, might prove Of interest
TO our friends in the Southern States. Thus far,
from the peculiar force Of circumstances, (ssyou
are alvarez have remained silent, having formed
the determination not to write one word until my
opinion should, from experience, be faIy sus-
tanned by facts.
At the outset il is simple justice 10 state that
many Of the immigrants who have come hither
from the United States are those who have been
totally Impoverished by the late war and whose
last dollar was expended as passage money.
These unfortunate conditions were in many ia
stances aggravated by their being accomp snied
by helpless fsnies-children, infants, etc. etc
IL s also proper TO state that good proportion Of
those who have arrived at Belize have not exhibit
ed the same spirit which induced them to leave
the United States. Indeed, assure you that many
persons who have come here left without kuo wing
more OF the country than you do, sitting in your
Office in New Orleans.
Three of our counuymen have shown the most
commendable energy and activity, viz: General
Mchae, formerly fiscal agent Confederate States
Mr.. Timothy Morris, of Arkansas. aud Rev. Mr..
Pesrce. To these may be added W. @. Chamber.
lain, Of Natcbez, Miles,, and DIR. Pugh, of Louisiana
These gentlemen have not allowed the grass to
grow under their feet" and I now simply state
the practical results Of their explor alton, to-wt:
Gen. McRae hiss bought lands, but | DO not
know the precise quantity.
Mr.. Timothy Morris has bought 1000 acres, ana
returns 10 the United States for more funds and
implements for cultivation.
Rev. Levi Pearce, with twenty seven families,
has settled at "Big Hill, on the Rio Grande. This
constitutes the present ii ltch Colony"
W. q. Chamberlain has bought Is 900 acres at
O. nth anE nj 10 40 - ,-,
developing the same.
DT. P0gh (deceased), had settled at Seven
Hills, hopeful and contented, and during the cpl.
oemic he was professionally called, and fell vic.
tim TO the cholera.
The sum total is that have never known an
emjgraDt from the United States, who b As ex.
plored the country, who has found any fault with
the lands. On the contrary all these have either
settled or have borne their testimony to the Ca.
pacity Of the country-and stand ready to fur
nish tie finest quality Of lands sufficient for five
hundred families "at sight," and these are lands
that ciUa Engineers might expect to discover in
expect that the people Of Belize viii fall down
and worship you. They will do nothing of the
sort; but civil treatment you are bound to receive.
Come here, il possible, with some capital tole
rable constitution and some Of that backbone
which cost the Yankees so much trouble. Do
not bring helpless families and infants unless you
have some little capital to provide for them. :
Messrs. Young. Toledo 4 Co. are fitting up q
-
pose of running up and down the coast and also
up some Of the rivers. These gentlemen have
shown not only sympathy but the most generous
hospitality 70 those OF our countrymen who have
arrived here. This steamer will be to Us q great
acquisition.
Now, my dear sir, have written the pith"
of what j have observed. ! have endeavored to
represent things precisely as find them. | am
sahsfed here, and never intend 70 90 back 10 the
United States, and | own that do want to see
this beautiful country settled BY Americans; yet
II is fact that We must have some capital to de.
velop this country fully, and more energy and
pluck. The very richness of the soil. the genial
climate, accompanied, as they must be, By thick
and luxuriaut growth, furnish broad field for
the exercise OF physical power in placing these
lands In cultivation.
The climate is magnificent; nothing can sur
pass IL that Is, while have been here. | sleep
generally under a pair Of blankets, and az my
present camp, without bar yet believe that NJ
the various rivers flies will at first be found all over
the coAny. IL is reasonable to presume thathere,
as elsewhere, they will leave when the country is
cleared MP.
The cholera which has prevailed from about
Christmas time to the I'd Of this month, is no at
an end. cannot charge the country with this
epidemic, for IL is liable 20 spPear without cere
moDy anywhere in the United States or elsewhere.
Christmas here Is day or (rather week. Of gene
raj jnbilees. The natives spend the season in
excesses of every description. The utmost 10.
temperance in eating and drinking prevails, and
the wonder was that any OF the creoles escaped
Some $50 cases smong the native populsce occur
red; and on. the Southern coast four or five
Americans fell victims to the scourge. Yet in the
msjority Of these four or five cases either imprr
denee or bad trestment was manifest. Yet my
party including &c men, although more exposed
ard dong the toughest kind Of feIdwork, all es
capped result due to simple prudence alone. /
have lever enjoyed better health.
Now, in conclusion. let me warn our friends in
the United States that should they immigrste here,
they will and must find some annoyances.
When shall have finished township 1, north
range west, of principle meridian and base,
"District Of the Rio Grsnde,"I shah send you q
copy for your office In New Orleans.
Sincerity yours, J.EDwARDs SMITH,
Chief Engineer.
Cigued) YOUNG TOLEDO, surveyors,
br fish Honduras