The New York herald., 1876-11-30
A Hidden Land of Wonderful Wealth
on the ISthmus.
SEEKING AN OUTLET.
Wanted-A Railroad to the Markets Of
the Word.
FINANCIAL EMBARRASSMENTS.
SAN JOSE. Costa Rica,

circle OF civilization Every day is gained more in
innate acquaintance with nations that 1t wero
shut out from intercourse with the more advanced
divisions OF the human by physical barriers which
require energy and perseverance, to surmounL II Is
by the degree Of both OF these qualities possessed by
these isolated natonaltics that struggling Of
obscurty that their fitness for tho reception of aid is
measured, or loves TO ally itself with those
who strive for 1t with ndomitabe will and persistent
efforts. The HERALD justly regarded by such people
the worlhiest representative Of that great cvzng
power OF modern times. tac press. It's enterprise in
the OF mankind appreciated in countries like
this that yet cncumbercd by dic ultcs in their
line of progress, and which the utmost powers of
the people IN the development Of their destiny.
Though situated the samc continent and very
near the boundaries Of tho great Republic Costa Rca
is but little known to the American people Her vast
mineral wealth which still lios hidden In tho virgin
bosom of her soil aud tho wonderful powers oil pro-
ducton which her tropical climate to her arc
scarcely taken into account when summing up tho
OF the connent This Is duo to the fact that
tho population OF Costa Rca is still very small
the absence Of facilities for bringing her varied pro-
ductons to tho markets Of the world. scanty popu-
lation for scnnty treasury and
quently slow development Of our natural resources
Perhaps this condition OF things is wholly due to tho
fact that Costa Rca practically terra incognita to
tho Of the world, but 1t is also a reason why,
through the medium OF tho New YORK HERALD, our
position as q State should be made known.
DESCRIPTION RIGA
In giving the readers of tho HERALD description OF
tho condition OF Costa Rica and reciting hcr claims 10
the notice OF the American people State In which
wealth lies faIlow, awaiting the hand or the on.
tcrprsng and energetic people OF all countries 1t is
NECESSARY enter somewhat into details which will or
themselves prove very interesting Tho Republic oil
Costa Rca Is situated tho strip OF territory
which connects the two great continents Of tho New
World II lies between deg. and IL deg 81 min.
north latitude and between So deg. 20 So deg
40 min. west longitude from Groonwich. Its topo-
graphical features peculiar. Tho mountain system
centres 10 deg north latitude and 81 dog long
tudc, in the very middle Of the Republic and into
high ridges in every direction. The principal chain OF
mountains lies southoastorly and several lofty
peaks, of which the following named arc the princi-
pa:-Turalba, 1850 feet height U-jum, $500
fcet 1razu vocanol 1880 ieet Pico Blanco. or Ka-
muk TO- 200 feet; Poas volcanol Ss95 fect and the
Rnron do vicja tvocanol OF which tho height has
yet bcen asceraincd The ridges that lie parallel
the coast arc 900 high and thirty miles in
breadth.
Tho rivers OF Costa Rica are tho San Juan, which
forms the boundary line between the State and Mica
ragua tho Rio Serrapiqui. tho Rio keventazon, the
Rio Pocuare, the Rio San Carlos and tho Rio sucio
Tho country bountiiuy supplied With water by IN
Vulnerable streams tributary TO the rivers above
named, and which inorsect the State in every drcc:
ton the divide OF the watershed 10 situated tho
centre of the State the flow in about equal pro
portion toward tho Atlantic Pacific oceans During
! the period OF heavy raiDs in the mountan regions
the rivers rise very rapidly and the floods descend
with immonso violence, tearing away all obs,ructions
IN their downward course. 1t is not unusual to
powders weighing from eight TO twelve tons being
/! whirlcd rapidly down the streams Last spring the
Matina River twenty-cght feet In hours and
swept away the railroad bridge, n strong and very
heavy structure butt OF piles and guarded by largo
wooden tenders running lar up stream 1t could not
however, withstand the baitcrng force OF hsli dozen
Trees each about seventy live ieet long, which
whlrlcd against It at velocity equal TO fifteen miles
| per hour.
conditions Of the Atlantic and Pacific slopes OF
| Costa Rica The latter commences TO rsc rapidly
| from the coast line, whilo the former has
travel over twenty miles inland 10 gain few hun cred
| feet OF elevation over tho sea level. The swamps
ness Al the present writing have died OF
twenty and a great many have lett the country. In
consequence o. this the railroad shops are idle and
them, although mechanics are paid from $3.50 to $500
| per month
! Costa Rea has very few cities towns that
pire TO that dignity Tho largest Cartsgo, the
former capital The San ose the pres
ent seat oi the government and then follows Alajucla
The estimated populations oil these cities 30 0O0
20 900 and 1oGo respectively There arc two ports OF
being FREQ port The duties on all classes OF imported
goods, particularly American, arc very high. and the
every hall ounce Of mail matter although the distance
| IL Is carried Is only orty-eght miles.
RAILROAD PROJECTS
In 1865 the government OF Don Jesus Jimenez Sec
ing the unfortunate situation OF the country with
gard TO transportation, and the losses sustained tho
producing population by OF the OF any
adequate outlets Tor commerce, initiated different
schemes for Improvement IN this respect, but
succeed In accomplishing anything. Another effort
made in the same direction ny the
of 1885, but similar fto attended IL, and II was not
until the administration of Don Tomas Guarda that
really commenced TO path civiiiza
tion from the mountain and forest guarded interior
the sea- In this the Costa Rica Railroad was
begun part OF which Is now IN operation and part
only surveyed
In May, 1871, Costa Rea signed loan contract for
E500 900 at sevenywo pcr cent net bearing
at tho rate oi SIX cent per anhum, asd October
further OF $500 900 mt our per cent net
Again in 1872 full Of enthusiasm Tor her railroad and
other improvements, she threw herself again the
English money market and solicit cd another loan ot
| g., 400 900. but succeeded only getting one Of
e., 226 500 at eightytwo per cent net But her bank
account thus created did no, bring her good
which might nave been reasonably expected. The
Costa kican Minister Of Finance deposited the
| whom Costa Kca had previous TRANSACTIONS
Tho firm was clothed with power during thirty
| days alter tho award OF tho bonds to repnrchasc
| IN the market with funds already realized the
bonds II thought necessary for maintaining the
price Change ErIangcr A. Co however. charged 10
| tho account oil Costa kIca the enormous of
81, i265U0 IN repurchased bondsthat Is, the specie
| that In aud came INTO their hands to cover the
drafts OF Costa Rica again converted paper.
Thus II will be seen that Costa Rica's financial nego
tiaons complete failures, tho sums received and
invested in the railroad amounting only TO twcnty-sx
per cent o the entire loan obtained. In june 1873,
| Erianger Co. protested drafts drawn them by
Costa Rica to the amount of Esq 900, thereby
pIctcly ruining the credit OF the Republic both in.
ternaiy and abroad Out OF these protests has
the SUIT In Chanccry now pending Costa Rica has
suspended the payment OF interest on the loans until
legal decision the question at Issue be arrived
at, and her surplus revenue to support the
railroad for which she assumed tho fui responsibility
THE RAILROAD WORKS
The section of the Costa Rica railroad actually In
construction extends from Port LImon to Aisjuela
Port Limon Is situated In 10 deg north latitude and
SO deg min west longitude, forms nearly semi
fnt.xn a ~. eud