The sun., 1889-11-10
WIZ NOT GO TO p1TA RAISING, ,
Fortunes Said to Await the Development of
New Fibre Plant.

Fortunes Said to Await the Development of
New Fibre Plant.
BELIZE, Honduras, Oct. 15-Fifty thou
sand rupees is said to be the prize carried of
by the machine latoy constructed by Leices-
ter. England. manufacturing house for the
successful treating of the pta FIBRE This prize
was offered by the Government OF India, in the
hope Of overcoming the obstacle OF the lack OF
a machine that would turn out the fibre In a
fit state for market. The machine. while simple
in construction. is certainly a success. One is
now working on a large Nicaragua estate, and
the representative OF the English manufactur-
ers has recently arrived in that republic. with
a view to introducing others. Now that the
hitherto insurmountable difficulty has been
overcome it will be surprising. indeed. If
the exploitation of this vast natural
resource of Central America be not
begun and carried on with zeal and energy.
The Immense fortunes that have been made
during the past three or four years in Yucatan
from the hennequen. u near relative Of the
pita, would indicate the certain results
The hennequen, or Sisal hemp. is much
lower-priced article, selling at from seven to
nine cents per pound while the pita properly
prepared. should bring three times as much
The vast area Of the north coast lands of Hon
ton Of this plant. The obsefvant traveller can
not iail to remark the immense quantities Of it
springing up wild ON every hand. and the prac-
stretching from Yoro 10 Truxillo; the ,pita,
es botaneal 2Gns name~Sbounds fs in SHe marYeons
mountainous districts it hourlshes. equally
posed Interoceanic hallway. 1t Is o most ac-
commodinG growth with respect to locality.
splendid Specimens may be seen in rocky I'M
heard d-Of OF
OF dizzying precipices. From the stony soil,
where other vegetation were doubtful it towers
Cultivation Gu Ii IS easy. within eiehteen months Of
the planting 1t has attained its full growth
length aud four to six inches wide. An acre of
land will produce from, l,0Oq TO 1900 plants:
Welding on an average tg thirty leaves. Each leaf
state. This would give per acre something be-
tween II 900 and 10000 pounds.
yield per acre in marketable product would be
0 # % Ssns to Pst 5 18TH e 5 H N'T hs hS
worth eonsldierlng;, After ihe drst three. or Of
time the plant has become so dense and pow
country like Honduras, where labor is scarce.
Is fortunate circumstance And in this re-
gard the industry would have the advantage
cocoanut culture.
Hitherto the prevailing interest OF American
capitalists in Honduras has been in the min
Ing industry. No other natural resource hns
thus far been given any thought. to speak OF.
fet 1t is undoubtedly true that immense for
tunes await such enterprislng men as will take
to Central America with their other capital the
requisites OF energy and perseverance.
The pita culture might vel be combined with
other enterprise With q view to easier trans
portation OF the product. 1t would be advisable
10 select In Honduras a locality convenient to
the road to either Puerto CorleZ, Truxillo. ON
the Gulf side or Amapala on the Pacific coast.
In YoIo. Olancho. Santa Barbara, and other
magnificent possibilities. Exaggerated stories
in the press OF the North have doubtless con-
tributed to retard It's progress. Undue stress
has been laid upon Its dangerous climate, W hich
In reality is perfectly healthful one. II the low
lands of the coasts be hot, there is neverthe-
less o constant and delicious sea breeze blow
ing inland. and the nights are always cool.
The interior Is mountainous. with Altinlani-
cles, valleys long and Wide, at various eleva-
tions Of from 1000 to 5000 feet above sea leyel.
hotly upon the earth throughout the day, the
temperature In the shade ranges seldom above
76' Fahrenheit. There is thus no oppressive
ness. Given these conditions, ! cannot tmag-
Inc any reason why an enormous success
should not be made OF the pita industry.
To obtain q plantation OF pita would be COM
paratiyely easy. Suitable land could be OBJ
tained from he Government or otherwlso at a
low figure. The young plants would cost hardly
anything. In case OF large enterprise we'll
backed and likely t., prove beuehcial to the
land would be conceded by the Government OF
Honduras,