The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1892-03-12

i NIT. 1eGerS insurance ON MS llIo UnaU mas
been paid, and it is a great credit to that
fraternity that it was 80 promptly paid.
sssssssS ssssssS nom I.. Henry 5: Wood.
OwEsBoRo, KY, Feb. 29, 1892.
FRIEND COPELAND: Having few min
utes on my hands just after arrival here, I
will drop you line and briefly sketch my
wanderings since left the "cold stream
ing north"
In company with friend from Bangor,
s! D., left Minnesota about January 3Oth
for the south. We staid three days IN
Chicago, where we found our genial Wash
burnite, DR.. +. r. Smyth. The doctor was
in good health and spirits, and very busy
attending lectures and bone-sawings of
various sorts. He conducted US out to the
Worlds Fair grounds, where we had the
pleasure of being forbidden to parade on
part of the lake front that did not seem
to be any better than the rest of it. We
went to see a comic opera that was ''fair
to medium" and scared up into the sky
parlors of a number of the tallest buildings
in Chicago. This last fun was all free, so
we took in the highest we could find and
as many times day as was any way de-
cent. The Masonic Templs was not one
of them, as it is not yet complete inside.
1t is a very ugly looking structure. though
for height it is very much IN it.
On the 4th inst. we bade goodbye to DR..
Smyth and his big town and set out for
Honduras via New Orleans. At the latter
place we received unfavorable reports, of
the country on the other side the Gulf, but
we decided'to go down and see for our
selves. We went via steamer. IS. Oters,"
were five days OH the briny deep, and three
of them wore poor days for my appetite,
though tried to eat little every meal,
just to get even with the boat: At Ceibe,
west of Trujillo, we cast anchor first, thence
to Trujiilo, Belfati and Ruatan island, the
seat of the American consulate. Thence
back by coast ports (they are called SO by
courtesy to Ceibe, and so to New Orleans.
could, il time and space allowed, fill
up several columns with more or less in
teresting and valuable lies and information
about our experiences and discoveries on
the Caribbean coast, but will content my
self at present by telling you that I got
badly left this trip. had expected to find
Honduras somewhat advanced, and in some
respects like northern Mexico-Sonora,
especially; but it was all a vain, Elusive
dream. never was SO badly bitten by
any country. Of course, did not make
long stay, but then, there was no use for
the stay. From all the residents, Ameri-
can as we'll as native, we heard the same
storv-a rescally and thieving set of gov
ernment officials from top to bottom.
There you have a country free from taxes,
as we know the term; but if you prosper
and are 'getting to the front" you are just
the man to tap, and if you object, there
are ways to quiet you. There are no i'm
provements worth mentioning going on.
Vast capital is required to open any port
coming. The Perry Groat is fizzle, and
the Burchard concession is, to say the least,
in an extremely embryonic state. We de-
cided that the United States was far ahead
of Honduras for almost everything but
government employees, who, in the tropics,
s'stand I'M with the high authorities and
share in the Doodle when any is to be had.
The thirty-seven miles of railway the coun-
try owns cost twentY-nine million dollars
$29OoOO0O), and was not in operation
when we were there, owing to the decay of
some bridges. It is to be repaired, how
ever, and set running. A number of
Americans are in business there. Trujillo
is stone town, 800 years old, and barely
alive, ltho' in month or two it will be
busy place. We met several people from
the states who were on their way back
from the several sgrants," and they were
all we'll satisfied to return. Several have
been buried in the coast sand or the jungle.
One man from North Dakota, Mr.. Smith,
with his family, went to Sangrelaya. He
buried a daughter there, and himself died
when the boat was Just outside the Jetties
on the homeward trip. It was very sad.
From New Orleans we vent out to Jen-
nings, La, to look at the country, and were
much pleased with it. The region is set
tied with northern people entirely, except
ing few. old settlers who lived there when
it was stock country. I am making
visit of three or four weeks here among
old friends, SO please send the Leador here.
You will hear from me again ere long.
Kind regards to all my friends in Mclean.
II is away ahead of Honduras.
Yours, II. s. WooD.