Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-25
GUATEMALA.
Progress OF Development In the Mod
el Central American Republic In
t,resting Facts Cleaned from Col.
Chalmers Scott Railroad Work
Present and Prospective

el Central American Republic In
t,resting Facts Cleaned from Col.
Chalmers Scott Railroad Work
Present and Prospective.
In conversation with Col Chalmers
Scott, who is visiting cid friends in Los
Angeles and who recently returned from
Guatemala, where he has been engaged
on the Guatemala Central Railway, of
which he is Chief Engineer. HERALD
reporter gathered the following interest
ing items in regard to the progress OF
improvements in that portion Of Central
America:
The Guatemala Central Railway,
which extends from San Jose de Guate-
mala, the Pacific seaport Of the Repub-
lie Of that n,me,t, Escuintla, thirty miles
inland, was completed two years ago.
At the latter point connection will be
made With the Central American Pacific
Railway and transportation Company, o
New York corporation. whose road is
now being built to Guatemala City. the
capital Of the Republic, forty three miles
further inlaud and seventy three miles
from the roadstead OF San Jose de Qua
temala. This road is under the presi-
dency Of Col. c. +. Crocker, with Col.
SCOTT as Chief Engineer, and Mr.. A. ].
Finlay as General Manager. with head
quarters at Guatemala City. The latter
gentleman was formerly Freight Agent
Of the Southern Pacific at Los Angeles.
and is considered one OF the most COM
petent railroad men on the coast. His
family are still residents of this city.
The controlling interest in the Central
Company is owned BY Messrs,. Stanford,
Huntington and Crocker, of the Central
Southern Pacific Railways, with Col. G.
+. Crocker, President Of the Southern
Pacific of Arizona and New Mexico, as
President. The country through which
the read is built consists Of series OF
plateaux, necessitating steep grades and
sharp curves, the grades for long dis
tances running as high as Al per cent. OF
237 feet to the mile. The region through
which the road passes is the most fertile
in the world From the coast to Es.
cuintla the soil is adapted TO the growth
Of sugar and from the latter point to Lake
AmatitlAn, some 20 miles further inland,
both sugar and coffee grow luxuriantly.
Beyond, as q higher altitude is attained,
the soil and climate are admirably suited
to the growth of wheat and barley,
which for yield and quality cannot be
surpassed anywhere. In addition, fruits
Of all kinds can be grown. There is also
auo ther completed road, known rs the
Champerico and Northern, running
between Champ erico, ON the Pacific, to
Retalhueleu 23 miles inland, through a
rich sugar and coffee country. This
road is owned by Faulkner, Bell & Co.,
Barron & Co. and A. Berel, of San Fran
cisco, and, at the request Of the govern
ment, will probably be extended to Ca.
ballo planco and thence portherly to
the Mexican frontier.
Guatemala City, the terminus, or
rather the central point Of these i'm
provements, is situated on plateau
5000 feet above the level of the sea and
contains 10000 inhabitnts. The city
is well built. is provided with an opera
house and other public buildings, many
Of fine style of architecture. 1t is also
well provided with public schools of o
high order, the aim OF President Barrios,
who is believer in education, being to
put the school system on q par with
that Of the United States, of which he Is
great admirer. With this object
American teachers are employed and
English is taught in many Of the schools.
Col. Scott pronounoes Guatemala City
in every way one of the NEST delightful
he has ever visited-tho people Guilt
waited and hospitable and always ready
to do everything in their power to make
the stay Of strangers, especially Ameri-
cans, pleasant.
Besides the railroads spoken Of, the
government has issued decree author
izing the construction of the National
Railroad from Guatemala City to Santa
Tomas. on the Atlantic side. This road
has been endowed by the government
with all vacant public lands, and for the
purpose of raising the money necessary
for its construction, has imposed tax of
$40 on each inhabitant OF the Republic,
male or female, whose earnings amount
to eight dollars per month, payable in
ten years at the rate Of one dollar per
quarter. When paid a certificate OF
stock is to be issued to each contributor,
which will be taken in paymentfor lands
granted to the company at the rate of
from twenty cents to one dollar per acre.
according to locations. The length of
the road is about 300 miles, through an
exceedingly rich section abounding in
mahogany forests, which as soon as the
road is completed will be available for
market. Throughout its entireYength
the soil is suitable for the production of
sugar and coffee. Propositions have
been been submitted to the government
by two syndicates of New York capital
lists, one from Louisiana and one from
English capitalists to build and equip
the road and turn over to the govern
ment $40, ,000, 900, they to take the land
endowment in return and carry out all
the provisions Of the decree for the con-
struction Of the road. These PROPOSE
tions have been declined and President
Barrios, who has had practical evidence
of their ability to carry out any work
they undertake, is now making ON effort
to induce Mcssrs. Stanford, Huntington
and Crocker to assume charge of the
work.
L Under the Presidency of General Bar.
{ios Guatemala Is now the most pro-
gressive Of the Spanish American Re
publics, and with the completion Of the
many improvements projected and undeI
way, will become one Of the wealthiest