New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-13

Cozumel Island and the Fruit Trade.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS: rrr
The nearest locality to this city where
tropical fruits can be successfully raised
being Cozumel Island, think no amount of
opposition emanating from parties enjoying
any monopoly of the fruit interests of this
city will deter Americans from entering
upon and successfully cultivating that
island. When it becomes generally known
that the island has splendid soil adapted to
their production, and acreage sufficient to
grow as much fruit as all the islands Of
Ruatan, Utilla and Baraco com bined. and
that it is 300 miles nearer to this city than
these. we can readily perceive the motives
and influences which interested parties
make use of to protect those small produc-
ing districts, to the dispsragement Of C0zU-
mel.
SO long as there can te found any means
or can be made any assertions which will
prevent Americans from cnltivating the
island Of Cozumel to tropical fruits, just SO
long can these other islands above named
and the monopolizing trade connected with
them enjoy alone perhaps the tropical fruit
trade OF New Orleans and the Southern
States. Is there anybody so dull as to not
see the point!
The doub: has been raised, By .c,ue inter.
este,i parties think. az 10 titles 70 land on
Coaumei. 20 which may eafaly :epiy: The
local authorities there. who represent the
State of iucatan. and who am confident
understand the matter. assert positively
that there il no trouble or serious question
on the subject: that continuous possession
and cultivation Cor five years entities hold
ers. Even with this statement, however.
think 10 unnecessary to more than suggest
that Americans are not the sort of people to
be trified with OK banked in their energy on
account u any nominal fgurs they mi ght
eventually have to pay for lands which III u
few years can be made TO produce enough
to satisfy the most grasrlng disposition.
Whoever goes from these States TO this
! island. conforms to the regulations and laws
in force there. and IL peaceably disposed,
| will receive every encouragement IN what.
I ever enterprise he may engage. more espe-
:iaiiy the filling of the soil. which! IL at
/ present most profitable. and raising OF
irui : the highest in tn. scale. Waiie the
! producers can make good margin on cocoa
| nuts at $l5 per 1900. they bring $35 per 1000
| in this city. and ten cents each at retail.
Bananas sell at fi..y cents per bunch on the
! islands, and retail from IS TO - in our mar
kets. The trade is increasing. demand
! large in AL the interior cities OF she United
! STATES. and the supply TOO smal! by tar.
| With CozAmei cultivated ard producing
! 600 acres OF tropical fruits. and New Or.
| leans the nearest market OF Importance, we
! take it fov granted there wsuld te quite
J business enough for two or three Compel.
ing firms, instead of combining all this COM
merce to the efforts Of one shipping house.
| am continually in receipt of letters from
J these Southern States asking for !nformn.
1 tier, and az il is entirely Impossible Tor me
| 20 answer them, furnishing my time. sta
| tionery and stamps. while my interest 10
this enterprise i. only general one. and
| pro bono p,tt!ieo. beg your indulgence 10
! add "a few general answers which cover u
| great many inquiries:
One or more small calling vessels. with
! license from the Mexican government to
! ply between Cozumel and American ports.
would pay nov. and the trade VIII mate
rally increase dusn. the coming gear or
! two.
! The raising II fruits. coffee. tobacco,
sugar. etc. with a trade in wood. turtle.
| cattle and other numerous products. are the
! material sources Of profit.
! Many varieties of seeds are scarce there
! and much needed by those who engage in
| planting. intending garden seeis. berries.
| grasses. flowers. vines.
| Timber .bcuua.. bu: :iece is ye: no saw
| mill.
Linn. is abundant. bu. no trica have as
! yet been manufactured.
Duties have 20 be paid at procre-sc, but
| the government will without Doubt soon
make arrangements ;os tho collection Ok
| customs At CozIm.!.
! Application has been made 70 the United
| States government to .rpcin. u consular
agent at Saw Miguel. on C.zumei.
Good boarding obtained with families az
fifteen dollars per month. B.l! of fare il.
cIudes beet. pork. turtle. chickens. eggs.
| fish. she!ltish: fruit. and vegetables ID album
| dauce.
Srna!: s.iiboa.s scare. and in demand.
! Horses and poor SADDLE. tor e&Y!o'!n. the
land can he had.
No n.g-o-. on ,he Island. labor cheap
F.: natives.
Passage wit, sch"oners from Havana
1 easily procured every week. an! occasion.
| .liy from Ea- West direct. Passports from
Washington sevuiret. for American citizens
to e. via Havana. have :. Few blank .pp'l-
! cations Tor my friend. q: "at.v. or naiSrai'
! ICED sh'.ce.ients.
Yncatan vessels PLY fetwec,s Cozumsl.
| MNicrts and tn. port vi Progressc. aaorLlns:
! competition st the latter place with steamers
for New Yo,k. ara with calling vessels 20
Mexican ?"rt-. Havana. Galveston, and
occasionally for New Orleans.
By little concert Of action vessel can
! he chartered a. anv time o. carr parties 10
Co.umei from New OI!esn.OE Key West ct
Low :.uye.-.Av SO cr $40 each person.
The cost via Havana w"r:a probably reacl,
$50.
! ~ present I knew Of rs many ~ twenty
or .hir.v responsible and industrious c.,'-
.ens. some having families. who have re-
[ solved ~ plan. irui. and other products
there, and will z" 70 make homes and
bccHne useful citizens, and hundreds more
:.l. resolving The sutsc: in their minds.
Er. tictc, +. Harper. SON OF Captain
| ". L Harper. WEI? known cotton planter
of Jefferson county. Mississippi, is residing
! on tn. island, and will no doubt be happy
10 rsniey err people all The assistance he
can by way Of intsodnetions amor. the
| islanders. interpreting. etc.
Vhe natives are exceedingly peacea5le.
! hosr;.ab'e. courteous 70 strangers. and.
! sHose al. very anxious tina. q entficien!
; Nuub.r 81 Americans. English. Germans
aud French engage IN plantin. there az
! ehsli ,aak- the island 'b'ossom like the
rose" and become the most prolific :os tE"p
! ic.l. fruits q! any place known.
Very respectfully. yours.
e. l.. GOODRICH.
No. 100 Camp street.
S(e4eesafo gscai and River Report.