The New York herald., 1879-03-07
TRADE WITH HONDURAS.

THE RICH PRODUCTS OF OUR SISTER REPUBLIC
DESCRIBED BY COMMISSIONERS VALENTINE
MINERALS IN ABUNDANcE-AN OPEN FIELD
FOR AMERICAN COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.
j. ]. Valentine. Special Commissioner of the Re-
public OF Honduras. found yesterday in his
Office, No. II Broadway. and in reply to question
he said:--
''The agitation by the HERALD of the establishment
of trade with Central America is already bearing
fruit, and commercial and agricultural enterprises
are springng up in this country. as well as in Cen
tral America particularly in Honduras, which must
be eninently beneficial to the financial and industrial
interests of BOTH"
Upon being asked the nature of his commission.
Mr.. Valentine said:-
ut is to show that geographically, the Republic of
Honduras is the key to Central American trade, and
that, therefore it offers Inducements OF peculiar
nature to American commerce. IN cultivatng com.
mercial relations between the two republics great
advantages must result to both and immense profits
accrue TO the American merchants aud manufactur-
who appreciate the fact aud act accordingly.
Goods taken down there may be readily exchanged
for the rich marketable products of the country in
cluding the precious metals aud high grade mineral
MINING DISTRICT
ments to investment the most noted is situated at
distance of only twenty-seven miles from Teguci-
galpa. the capital of Honduras. 1t is ut present
worked by the imperfect method known to the
tiyes which is OF course far behind the processes
used in the United States. By the present method
the yield about 500 per ton. whereas according
to assays made by smelling companies here. they
by the aid of proper machinery. be made to pay
from $3.50 to $4,000 ton and thirty forty times
the amount of extracted could be taken
out. DR.. r. Fritz Gaertner lately of the office Of
the State geologist, of Albany. and who is
at the head OF the geological
and meteorological departments OF the Honduras
government, calculates that at the Rosario mining
district there visible the surface veins of su
cent magnitude to require at least hundred and
fifty years to exhaust them According to his esti-
mates single, company. whose claim is already in
working order. will net dividend OF something like
the fine field which Honduras offers in this branch to
American industry. There several other inter-
ests equally inviting to intelligent labor.
OPPORTUNITY STATES.
HERALD show that the balance OF exchange in prod
ucts as between Central America and the United
States in favor of the former in the proportion of
seven to one, while. in fact it should be the
Europe supplies the great bulk Of merchandise to
those countries. and it is found by experience
that while America is represented by q
aa Amerca ''' that fraction o IS unasniably Of
tar better quality than that which comes from the
| Old World: Now, as the distance between this
country and Central America is much shorter than
between the latter and Europe, 1t is reasonable to
| suppose that America should step in and make this
the capital aud skilled labor the United States
| which are seeking remunerative employment would
fnd q ready market for their commodities in Hon.
duras. Agriculture and mining there offer induce
| ments superior to any other Central or South
cencns ana 5ssa .ns
| am empowered by the government to make
| concessions OF valuable coffee and other agri-
cultural lands, with the simple provision that the
grantees settle upon them within reasonable time.
Among the names Of gentlemen who are interested
| toward Honduras there may be named Messrs.
Franklin Edison. chairman of the Produce Exchange;
Board; John j. McAlpine. consulting engineer; IRE.
| nor w. Park. president OF the Panama Railroad;
Walter Wood. OF Philadelphia; John W. Anderson.
land Continental Iron Works; A. G. Rand
equally prominent men. purpose returning shortly
to Honduras, and Will take with committee
tain Peter Hagan the latter Of Albany These gentle.
| men will examine and report upon the mineral and
| agricultural lands which am empowered TO OFFER
| SECURITY EMIGRANTs
1.-The constitution Of Honduras guarantees to
the emgrant and his personal effects exemption from
import duties, also the free importation OF imple-
ments and ins strunens necessary to the exercise of
his calling, besides the enjoyment of the civil
and religious preropatives as are enjoyed by the
people q the country. They viii be granted
the right to vote. exemption from taxes and
ro OF III kinds s:v,c as anS en nero as
liberty in the exercise Of their religious faith.
| No instance can be cited wherein the person or
| property of foreigners has been molested. unless
they mixed too much In politics. The foreigner and
his goods have always been considered sacred by
| belgerent parties. Through the worst periods in
Central American history Europeans have traded
molested, and l cite half dozen houses i'll
| Tsgucigalpa alone that enjoy almost unlimited
| European confidence. can speak confidently for
Honduras in saying that times have passed for
Central America. BY liberal and intelligent policy
the present government has succeeded in gaining
| the confidence Of the people, and public
| disturbance Of any kind need now be sppre-
hendcd. President Soto is popular and pro-
| gressive in his ideas that peace and progress
| may naturally be looked for throughout the land.
He has established system of public schools. with
teachers from the United States; he has built tele
| graphic lines opened mp mail communication in the
Republic advanced its condition far beyond any
| thing it had formerly attained. No part of tho
! country unhealthy than the Mississippi
Valley, and tho marsly district occupies relatively
| much smaller territory.
| MINERALS AND VEGETABLES.
| "regucigalps, the present capital of Honduras.
| derived lis name from the Indian words TaGus
| galpa, meaning mountain Of silver which Is charac
tcrlstic of the district where it is situated. The
| minerals that can be most prohtably worked in
| Honduras god silver, copper, iron, lead. coal
aud opals, and the vegetables generally those
of the temperate and tropical regions The cutiva-
ton Of coIiee Is an immensely remuneratve branch
of industry. Then there hides. furs. gums. oils,
resins and precious woods that be exported in
| abundance. have here small number OF samples
Of the products of tie country which American ner-
| chants examine when they desire. expect
that the first vessel will soon sail to the north
coast of Honduras with implements and goods for
the country. and the government will do every
thing that can be accomplished to facilitate the
growing trade with American merchants"
LOOMS REDIvIvUS.
from tho London Sunday Observer, Feb. l6.l