San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-01-09
FROM BRITISH HONDURAS.
Prof w. r. ShInn Reports Progress
20 The Free Press.
PUSTA GoRDA, B. H.,
Central America,
DECEMBER "A, 1889.

Mn. JULAS:-After so long a tim
I write you the letter promised 70
before left Texas. When I saw yo
last I had not fully decided whethe
l should go to British or Spanish
Honduras. Ipreferred the latter, o
rather that part OF it, known as tb
American Honduras Colony. Blu
when / got to Now Orleans, thu
steamer which we had intended to
take did not come TO time. Learned
that it was laid up at Mobile, under
gazing repairs, and that the time OF III
next trip was indefinitely postponed
I was informed by the agent of an
other line whose steamers touch that
point that we could go on one of itf
vessels, but as it had NO time schedule
he could not tell us when we could 60
Thinking that we might have to
wait too long for a chance to go to
the colony, We decided to go to
British Honduras.
So on Tuesday morning Of the 9th
instant, we went aboard the Break
water, an American steamer making
regular trips from New Orleans to
Belize and other Central American
ports. At II M, we left New Orleans
for this southern land. Our steamer
had all the passengers it could ac-
commodate, and I was informed that
every steamer that leaves New Orleans
has it's full complement of passengers
to the land of promise. England,
Scotland, Germany, Spain, Canada,
Oregon, Kansas, Texas, Illinois,
Alabama, and Louisiana, were all
represented on DO ard the Breakwater.
All were bound for different points
in Central America. Some were in
quest of gold, while sugar-growing,
coffee or rubber farming claimed the
attention of others. From this it
would seem that Central America is
looking up, and I think it certainly
is. Not only men of brains and
Drawn, but also those of money come
here to try their fortunes in this COM
paratively untried country. Mine
opening, railroad building and canal
are each and all claiming
the attention of foreign capital, and
it is said that the Central American
governments arc looking with favor
upon and encouraging enterprises OF
this kind. If the people OF these
states do not make tue fatal mistake
that the people of the United States
did and lot the money power bind
them and their children in hopeless
bondage, thereis scarcely any estima-
ting the possibilities OF this, in many
wonderful part of creation.
Nothing unusual occurred on the
voyage to disturb the seven tonor OF
our way" The sea was said to be re-
smooth and quiet, some of
Is however thought that if it was
smooth then we did not want to be
IN it when it was rough. OF course
ve were not fully initiated until we
lad undergone the usual siege Of sea-
ickness. This lasted from two to
our days before all got through.
You will excuse me for not describ-
ng the indescribable. Those who
have been there" need no descrip-
ion, those who have not, will appre-
late it best without one.
The next Monday morning found
8 in Belize. This city viewed from
distance seems to rise out of the
'ater like enchantment. Unlike
lany other places it does not lose its
harms on closer acquaintance. 1
id not have time to see much of it,
ut Judging from what I did see, 1
bought it was the neatest, cleanest {
'veliest place I ever saw. The tall t
,coanut palms rising high up into
10 air and waving their graceful
,rms above house-tops together
it'll many other beautiful trees and Z
lrubs which line the streets and
lorn the sidewalks in perpetual :
reen conspire to give Belize an air 8
freshness, beauty and refinement
nequalled by any other city I have
Ier seen.
We left Belize at 3 p. M, and next :
orning we were down at Puerto 4
ortez in Spanish Honduras. From t
is point o railroad runs about forty
lies up the Suln valley to San Pedro o
city of the interior, containing, it is ),
id, five thousand inhabitants. This
ace has a custom house, a British 4
ID United States consulate. 1t s
n hardly bs called a town, much