New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-10
IN THE LAND OF COFFEE.
STATE AID TO GUATEN1ALAN FAIRNESS
INDIANS AS WORKNlEN
prom AN OCCASIONAL coRREsPoNDgNs OF THE TRIBUNE

FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNAL
St Thomas Guatemala, October Is
The new laws for the encouragement OF farms
ing are already producing valuable results
The Agricultural Commission appointed last veal
was composed not of politicians or theorists, bus
of men of experience in farming who at the
present time actually engaged in that pursuit
They have accordingly gone to work in the most
practical manner, devsing plans for developing
the resources of the country in the most effective
way. The system adopted their recommends
ton includes the establishment Of Agricultural
Councils in the different Departments, all under
the general charge of the Minister Of Public Works.
The Government offers liberal aid in the acquire
ment and the improvement of land, and also assists
the farmer in securing labonrs to work for him.
The latter is really the greatest difficulty the pro-
pretors have to contend with. During the past
year more than 90 900 quintals of coffee, or one
fifth of the entire product was lost for lack OF
hands to gather the berries On every large farm
there is an agent whose sole duty it is to hunt up
workmen, and he is generally the busiest man
about the place Some farmers consider 1t to their
advantage TO offer extraordinarily high wages,
with a view to inducing the hands to remain.
Others endeavOr 60 anticipate their wants ~
training young hands, or engaging worKmen
year in advance in other towns and departments
Those who do not pursue these plans, or VINO
trust entirely to Government aid, are frequently
disappointed, and find themselves in the busiest
season entirely without worllmen. The Govern
ment does its best In the harvest season 1t sends
to the farmers those men who are Obliged by law
to work on the public roads, excusing them from
that Obligation In order to aid the farmers Bus
even this is entirely insufficient to meet the de-
mand Many OF these men are also employed al
other times in destroying the locusts and the grass
hoppers which have been a serious plague through
out all the country, but which nave ho" ''"
almost exte rminated.
The main reliance Of the farmers for laoor II
nlaced upon the Indians These would be ideal
workmen if they only had mind to. But they
haven't Many Of them refuse outright to work
on any terms. and those who will work almost al
ways insist upon being paid in advance having
secured their wages in advance, they are very app
10 abscond and leave the work for when .ney
have been paid undone and although all sucn ~
are caught are imprisoned, this circumstance ooes
not seem seriously to discourage the Others rom
going and doing likewise The lndlans are
strong and hardy race, and although small ID
stature are capable of almost any amount OF WORK.
But they seem to have an anupathy TO progress
and to wish to be neither producers nor consumer
except TO the smallest possible extent ihey orc
unwilling 10 go seriously 10 "oth' We
money being no inducement 10 them. Many Oh
them have their little plots Of ground on WINCH
they keep few sheep or pigs and fowls ana
raise a little corn. Some of this live stock tney
sell. but they have no sense Of accumulation ana
never seek TO do more than supply their presen'
wants. To live costs them mere trlhe ana 'H'
are satisfied TO spend their existence In TINS way
| Iool,inp after q few domestic animals harVSuns
a few hnndfllls of corn, and for the rest unAs
! unon the profusion of fruit which nature pro'H"'
! for them When they can be induced 10 ens'7
! themselves for farm work IL Is never lor NV
than a month, and seldom for more than d "@s'
at the end Of which time they return 70 'h','
| lagos SO a farmer no sooner gets enough -
70 work his land than he has to oes'n 'OO ~
about for others to take their places. -
dams are often engaged at conslderap'o
Tbov will set ont long before daylight in the mOin,
ing for their place of labor. Men, "on. a. :.
children alike will walk perhaps twenty" -.
thirty miles TO the plantation where u'' =,
! been engaged, carrying weeks pro''' q,
thor heads They will arrive at the fann q
about noon, and begin their duties at ohoe, "a,
ing all the remainder of the day IN 'e Nv IA
without resting and without seeming 10 oe IA
of rest Fatigue seems unknown TO 'i'us aMt
their capacity to carry heavy burdens 10 p abf
| mr
people in the world. Their wages La sogN
range from 20 TO 30 cents a day on ,l@ oravO.
plantations and farms, but consldeiapinr fwiich
! tion of work is done by the pee, un" "n indian
system they earn much more for wneI az can ac
does take it into his head TO work he,,se AID
complish an amazing amount between sun''
sunset -, .. Ia, nortant m
Agriculture is, of course the most imp N i've
Forest OF Guatemala. Ii affords the MAJ ,i,r And
Uhood 10 about four-fifths of the poPuAnh ~ tbs
desnite the mountainous character OF inu0 nrruoss.
country. the land is well suitsd 10 TINS p,bs cb-
The soil is almost universally fertile, an, ronse u
| mate is an varied as 10 allow great isnTmssuni
! nrodpcts Within the past five years tle srosbld,
- land nn,er cultivation has more than Irosds
"a d 10Y" ~ extension and the improvement OF bsea
anu anu ' nther means Of communication hassosbed
au H., oreat. The value Of property has aV vsars
eds .sinS tyo wears and trebled within four 1000
wi. a.nas farming land at an elevation oil say mow
"Seys the sea level, is now worth rather ,Ses
Zee, sioo an acre and il is not often thafc sdee
1nan ch of IL for sale even at that price. usl
rs n nonrxe is the chief crop, and next YEA, pe
9i%tIsss see much larger acreage Than nno 400
aouD' n is thought that more than lVss his
lor Isn,sIs will be produced, and the share ,hs1
nn. will be exported will bring moN
a. o 200 900 IN cash into the country