The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-08-27
descriptive Artitles.
HONDURAS.
A GIimps of one Of the Rich Central
American S1ates.

| (J D. Daniel III tne fnlladelphla, (fa.l LeugerJ
That country rich in minerals, gold,
silver, copper and iron, agricultural, graz
ing and timber lands, precious gums, dyes
and dye woods, with a climate of unparal-
leled salubrity and heaithfulness lying on
great natural highways Of the commerce of
our country, should have remained unoe-
eupied by Americans up to within very
few years is almost inexplicable, but it is
on parallel with the same negligence,
through want of knowledge of the country,
that left undisturbed so long the gold mines
and wheat and fruit producing lands of
California.
Honduras has an area of about $1,000
square miles, being in extent a little larger
than Pennsylvania. The coast line on the
Atlantic Ocean has an extension of about 400
miles, while that of the Pacific is but ~
miles in length. The principal ports are
0moa, Truxillo and Puerto Cortez on the
Atlantic, and Amapala on the Pacific
coast. Puerto Cortez stands on bay nine
miles in circumference, and may be entered
by the largest steamers and find secure
mooring grounds This port has been the
principal port of entry on the Atlantic
coast for nearly three centuries.
The interest attaching to the port of
Omoa are the ruins of the old Castle Of
Omoa, built by the Spaniards at cost of
S25, 900, 900, it is said 1t was 23 years
in course of construction. On it are still
mounted heavy bronze cannons Of superior
workmanship. 1t was here that the gold
and silver bars, which were extracted from
the minerals of Honduras, were stored
prior to their shipment to Spain
Amapala is situated on Tigre Island, in
the Bay of Fonseca. The island is of vol
canic origin, and rises in an exact cone to
the height of 2500 feet, as beautifully
rounded as if erected by art. In this har-
DOT tutTc Is TUOul W LuObl tuuuoihu NCso-
sells; the most secluded, accessible, shelter
ed, and, in many respects, excellent port on
the Pacific coast The Bay of Fonseca is
35 miles long and As miles wide, and is
entered between the great volcanoes, Con
chagua and Conseguina, which stand like
great sentinels, to guard the entrance to
this fine harbor The inland sides of this
bay are margined with wondrous beauty,
and the mountains of Honduras seem to
roll up from the waters edge rather than
from the interior of plain many leagues
inland.
Honduras has an antiquity of rare inter
est, which, though imperfectly written, is
known to antedate the discovery of America
by Columbus many hundred years. The
The people who held possession of the
country until the conquest by Cortez have
in various places left monuments of their
mechanical skill and scientific attainments.
The department of Copan is richest in these
reminders of the past. There are found
pyramidal structures, ruins Of temples,
carvings and sculptures. Many of the
choicest specimens have been destroyed
and others have been carried away, but the
Government has lately caused part of the
department to be designated and used as
National Park, to which the movable an
tiquities will be taken and cared for.
Honduras was under the tribute of Spain
from the year 1923 till 1921, when the
yoke of that country was thrown off.
During these 300 years great fortunes
were amassed here, which were carried to
Spain to purchase titles and rich estates.
During this time tribute money was liber-
ally exacted by the Kings Viceroys to the
extent of one-ffths of the output of the
mines, and special commissioners were
stationed at the richer ones to personally
collect this tithe. Honduras produced
four-fifth Of the mineral wealth extracted
by Spain from Central America Over
1000 veins carrying gold and silver have
been discovered in Honduras, and many of
these veins attained great fame for their
production of the precious metals. Many
of the traditions of these would be incredi-
Bile but for the corroborative proof furnish
ed by the records in possession Of the Gov
ernment. These records date up to the year
1921.
FAMOUS MINES.
A famous mine was the Guayabilla. 1t
is said S12 900, 900 were taken out in 80
years The Kings fifth share from 1872
to 1917 amounted to S400 600, showing a
yield of $1,000, 900 for period of Eve
years. After reaching a depth of 300 feet
water prevented these early miners from
going deeper. This mine has lately been
reopened by an English company, who
have Just finished the erection of a 20
stamp mill.
Another extraordinary mine was the
Clavo Rico, in the department of Cholute
ca, near the Pacific coast. The records
mention this mine as "being so rich and
the ores so abundant, that doubt arose if
the metal were really gold, and when it
had been determined that it was, and that
a rich chimney of ore was yielding the fab
ulous sum of $4,000 per ton, the King
caused treasury house (where the Kings
fifths were collected) to be established at
the mine, and caused the department to be
called My Royal Tamarind This mine