The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-06-19
ATTRACTIONS IN HONDURAS.

New York, returned recently from nm
extended visit to Honduras, CentrS
America. 10 New York Tribune re-
porter he said;
"Though Honduras Is only seven days
from New York and four from New Or
leans, ! have been surprised TO find
that IL was less known than the Congo
country of Africa. | have been away
from New York on my trip TO Honduras
for three months and half | was in
duccd TO make the trip, for business
purposes, through my acquaintance
with two ex-Presidents of the Republic,
Don Marco Aureliq Soto, who, lives In
New York, and Don Parciado Leval,
and with the present President, General
Luis Bograu; am also acquainted with
his cabinet, and while in Honduras
made my home with his Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. have been requested
by President Bograu, rs far MS
possible, to spread knowledge Of the
inducements offered to American capt.
tai to lind Investment in that country.
There Is no inducement for emigration
at present. But capitalists, taking adj
vantage Of government grants, and util-
izlng the cheap labor of the country, can
unquesiionably reap great advantages"
"ls the country. peaceful enough to
warrant security to capital?''
''For 10 years there has been none Of
the revolutions and quarrels that prev
iously disgraced Central American Re-
publics. The prospects for 10 years
more are peaceful, and 1t must be that
after 20 years of peace the country will
appreciate its benefits and remain so for
all time. During two administrations,
prior to General Bograu's election, the
military element was a chief factor, but
still the administration showed sufficient
strength TO prevent revolution. General
Bograu was elected by an almost unani-
nous vote last October, receiving 1900
votes TO 5000 given for his opponent,
General Arias The President is loved
by the entire people, as | have reason to
know by constant association with
them. They give him their entire con-
ildence, and he will be reelected when
his term expires. lie is a poor man and
highly patriotic. When he went into
office he found $500 in the State treas
ury. lie lives plainly and manages the
public affairs with great economy. His
installation in November was unat-
tended by even the slightest sign of the
customary revolt. General Arlas, VINO
Is quite wealthy, saw the i'll effects that
would result nom commotion, and
aoquiesced gracefully. Contrary to
all preceden,s, the militory is only
represented in the Cabinet by the
President himself. The policy of the
administration is the Improvement of the
industries of the country. The President |
Is an Intelligent. educated gentleman,
and has high regard for the citizens Of
the United States. The country being
poor In financial sense, but rich in
minerals and fertile lands, his induce
ments to capital will be in the form of
special grants and exemptions from tax
ation."
"What are the products of the coun-
try?n
'.The soil produces an almost endless
variety, with scarcely any labor. 1t is
rich, deep loan. / have seen corn
planted In a hole In the ground made
with the finger, which in three months
grew to perfection. They get three
crops of corn year and never use hoe
on 1t. Other products are coffee, sugar
cane, tobacco, cocoa, sarsaparilla, rub
Der, cocoanuts and sweet potatoes. They
get two crops year from all edibles. |
have had Strawberries and raspberries In
January in the central districts. have
seen sugar cane 20 feet high. with the
stalk as large as my wrist. The finest
cane in the best region of Mississippi
would scarcely be used as sprouts In
Honduras. The methods of crushing
cane are Of the orudest kind. 1t is run
between two wooden rollers, which
merely bruises the stalk, and the
largest, proportion Of juice is
refining or exporting, the sugar being
Of dark-brown grade. There are i'm
mense and excellent pasture and grazing
grounds. Cattle are raised in great num-
bers and almost the entire West Indies
draws its supplies of beef from this
source. The beef is tender and Juicy
Around Truxill0 great numbers OF horses
and mules are raised. Good horses bring
only Sl5 to SD, In their money, which is
only So cents on the dollar of American
coin. In some sections there are fine
forests Of mahogany, cedar, and other
woods much sought after"
"What Of minerals"
"There are large gold mining districts
on both coasts where American invest
ors have already taken hold. In the
San Pedro district three large mines are
being opened by Americans and one by
Frenchnen. Large plants of machinery
are being made at all of them, and the
shipment of the first bars of gold will
take place about July l. The Potosi
mines are being opened in new ground,
but all around them are quantities of
dump from old Spanish workings. This
dump has been assayed and yields
from Sl5 TO 20 per ton. 1t is all
worked over. The new ground yields
$50 to $50. There are five placer mines
in the department of zero, running from
Truxillo toward the interior from which
have seen nuggets as large as my two
fingers taken cut. The mining is done
on the old plan. Natives are hired TO
pan the dirt, and paid 80 cents per day.
II the wash yields the proprietor 81
day per laborer, he is well satisfied,
though with improved methods the same
dirt would yield $l5 or $40. There are
some silver mines. / have seen noun
tains containing the finest colored mar
BILE. In the central district, two days
from the capital, are opal mines, from
which the best opals in the market are
taken. The climate is healthy, contagi-