Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-11
A NATURAL PARADISE.
The Beauties of Honduras and Its
Promising Future.
Heavy Influx OF Americans and Their
Growing influence.

was IluIuS dlOuS udfTOW mountain rOaC
leading into this CITY from mountain
village, where is situated mining camp
the mill and Offices of one of the largest
mines in the country. AS l rode l could
see from twenty to forty miles of, look
ing over magnificent raVine down which
the mountain streams dashed and sParkled
with beauty beyond description. The
sun was not yet high, and did not strike
too hotly upon me, as l rode mostly IN
the shadow of the mountain summit.
The odor of flowers was intoxicating; the
fresh breeze gave new life; the sky was
dazzIingly fair. I said to myself, pitied
the people OF the far north, who had to
'keep warm" with stove and CRATE and
furnace and steam, TO SILVER in heavy
outer garments, and to look up at the
heavens, and find them ieaden, while here,
in this land, was spring eternal.
But great many Of the people of the
United States seem suddenly TO have con-
ceived desire to know something about
Honduras. We have had this season q
perfect influx, an infltration of the
North American element. The growing
interest in mining matters may have had
q good deal to do with it. Tie immense
amounts that are being invested in our
gold mines by Americans of the temper
ate zone denote this. They have already
reached the sum of $12,O00,000. This is
q good deal, when one remembers the size
of Honduras, which is no larger than, say,
Pennsylvania or New York state. All
the mining companies are American,
many having their Offices in New York.
Those that are being worked are worked
with energy. There is no half-hearted-
ness displayed. I have been at the zero
level of two great mines, where it was
positively cold, and where, looking out
over the clouds, one seemed to see a
great white billowy ocean, through which
the tops of other mountains peered like
islands. At this level one is more com
Portable, nights and mornings, with fire.
OF course no one lives up there but mine
men. Life in the valleys, such as this,
which is yet some 5000 feet above sea level,
is simply delightful. 1t is pastoral without
boorishness; it is idyllic. The Hondur-
ians are blessed with vel-headed Pre-
sident, gallant soldier. General Don
Luis Bogran should pay q visit to the
United States ard be liOnized little.
He deserves it, for both his liberal policy
toward American enterprise here and for
his own clever administration. He has
brought peace out of the turmoil and
Gained the contentious parties effectively,
1t appears. Honduras WAS in badly up
set state before he took hold of matters
There was no end of strife, rows of all
sorts, hot-b looded Spaniards contending
for offices, Jealous Aztecs nursing their
grievances, conspiracies of unprincipled
schemers, until nobody felt that his life
was safe. Nobody felt sure of his tortil
las or frijoles for the next day, or OF
waking in the morning with his thatched
roof intact and his adobe Walls still stand
Ing around him. Bogran found every
thing thus at SKIES and seveus. But he
went to work nobly. Having lately been
re- elected, he says in his message, after
abiding to the constitutions adopted
since the year 1925: How men possess
ing the Same idea and born under the
same laws, can have contended with each
other SO long, can hardly be comprehend
ed. From mutiny and saDguinary con
tests we cannot gain these lessons which
sensible people should follow to be pros
porous. In Spanish America political
education has preceded social education
The task now is so raise our country to
the level of political institutions which we
have given it, and thus render all equally
able to properly fulfill the duties imposed
upon them by the institutions of our
country. What we now require in order
80 advance is the spread OF education
etc.
General Bogran will not be 80 until
next June. He was to have pursued g
literary career, was educated to that end
but his father died and circumstances al
tered the case. He became a soldier
To day he is president of the Republic
He is very handsome, of tail, imposing
figure and regular features. He married
early the daughter of General Marejon, g
beautiful and accomplished lady, who is
said so speak five or six languages well
but who is unfortunately, so delicate
physically as 20 be prevented from
spending much time at the capital. Be
sides this she is most devoted mother
to several young children, who take Ut
greatly her attention. She lives almos
constantly at the presidents country sea
in Santa Barbala, near beautiful lake
of that region.
Speaking of lakes, the weird story o.
the "IIake of Blood" which has beer
written in so many differnt versions o.
late, contains more truth than poetry
and OF rather disgusting sort. It (tht
Iake1 is in cave near the town of Virtud
This cave is inhabited by innumerablt
bats, horrible vampire creatures, who ex
list by sucking the blood of quadrupeds
and who always, after feasting, go to hans
themselves up by the feet, when they dis
gorge q part of the fluid with which the,
have over filled themselves. This make
the ''Lake OF Blood"
wb, no in r1lgF int
hope of coming to Honduras and navi
eating in a sea OF gore, will, fear, b.
disappointed. Still there are other st
TRACTORS. The opal industry is Eortl
looking into, if one has not longing
after gold mountains. But frankly,
must say, no one should come TO Hon
durss who is not good rider, not a mer
show figure like the maiority seen il
Central Park bride paths, but o rider o
endurance. For the mountains ar
rough to dangerousness in many place;
and there is no other mode of locomotior
No one who is not though enough to sit a
day astIide q mule with Q hard gait, o
rich enough TO be carried in a litter b
four TO six mozos should come here. No
should chronic grumblers come; no
should any one who has not good lon
purse, happy disposition and tender
ness for tortillas.
Any one thus properly qualified ma
he happy in Honduras. l have met som
such individuals. They are characterize
by a noble scorn for American dishes an
meal hours and lofty disregard of I'll
ubiouituous flea. By ubiquitous"
gould denote that which is able TO bi
your ankle and sting the nape of yoI
mack At the same time. Until he Is full
q limated, these little differences are a.
to be felt as serious discomforts by tl
stranger. Nevertheless I have met with