The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
ABOUT GU1TEUIL1
A Railroad That is Being Constructed Down
There.

Mr.. Sylvanus Miller OF Port Barrlos
Guatemala, is in New Orleans saws the
Times Democrat. Mr.. Miller is engaged
In constructing sixty miles Of railway
for which he has contract With the
Guatemalan government. He has all
ready eighteen miles finished. with trains
running, and has grading camps dis
tributed over the next foYty-tgo miles
and hopes 10 finish the entire sixty
miles within six months. In this work
there are employed from 600 10 / 200 la
borers, of whom about five hundred are
American negroes. Mr.. Miller has ms,
completed a pine wharf at Port Bar
rios, which Is 200 feet in length. and at
the end Of which there are twenty-one
feet Of water at low tide The steamer.
City Of Dallas was the first ship TO come
alongside the wharf. where she discharg-
ed her cargo with great facility.
Speaking Of Port Barrios. he said: THE
harbor is a fine one. being completely
land-locked and a good depth Of water in
every part Of IL. IT is the best harbor
there is between the United States and
the Isthmus of Panama, being COMPLETE
~ protected from the northers which fire.
quently sweep down there and are so
disastrous to other ports on the coast
The sixty miles of railroad which I
am building runs through very fine az
ricultural lands excellent for bananas.
sugar cane. etc, and this country will
be very rapidly developed as the rail-
road progresses. while on the mountains
or other side of the valley, are found fine
coffee lands which are now being extern
svely planted near the terminus OF TINS
section Of the road.
ct is the intention of President Reyna
Barrios nephew Of ex-President Bar
rios) to complete this railroad to Guat-
emala CITY. as soon as the finances OF
the country will permit, the total distance
from port Barrios to Guatemala City be-
ing about two hundred miles.
Guatemala City has about $1,000 in
habitants. Is situated at an elevation Of
about five thousand feet above the sea,
and has a delightful climate.
president Barrios is a very progressive
man. and is doing everything in his power
TO build up and further the interests Of
the republic. Owing TO the inability Of
congress to obtain the quorum, and trans
act business. President Barrios assumed
the dictatorship on October 10th, last and
called for new elections to Congress to
meet next March. This step, ! think
is an excellent one for the welfare Of
the country. and is approved by the peo-
pie in general, except, Of course, the enc
mics Of the government. Everything is
neaceable there and no fear Of a revolu-
ton. Guatemala has not had a rev.
olutlou since 1871. and that was the first
one in over forty years"
In speaking Of confederation, he said:
although there Is no doubt but that
the confederation Of all the Central Ameri-
can republics will take place some time,
still I'm Guatemala, the time is not yet
ripe for such a move. The country is
In the hands OF the liberal party. and Of
course favor confederation, but the peo-
ME are not entirely educated mp TO that
nolnt vet. II will come some day, but
not until the different republics have
better communication with one another
than they have at present. The rail-
roads will have 10 be laid from north
TO south, otherwise extensive viaducts
would have 10 be built. and there would
he considerable tunneing 10 do. The
Pan-American railroad has already been
surveyed down the Pacific side at the
foot Of the mountains, and at an eleva-
tion of from eight hundred 10 one thou
sand feet.
"Tbis road will run just below the coffee
district and will be a grand outlet for the
coffee growers. Coffee is the principal
export of the country. and Is grown at
an elevation Of two thousand feet and
UPWARDS. II is a much better product
than fs or can be grown by any other
Central American country, and every one
who can, is now going into the conee-
plantine business. This year there were
over six hundred sacks exported, most
Of il going 10 Europe, by way Of Pan
anna. but some Of il shipped 10 San Fran
cisco and New York. There are three
lines Of steamers which run direct from
Guatemala TO Hamburg, carrying over
coffee and bringing back staple goods.
There IS no better place for a man to
invest his money than in cofee-plant-
ing i'm the Republic of Guatemala The
country and coffee trade has great
future before it. As for the climate,
it is perfectly beautiful and exceedingly
healthy"