The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-23
cosr6 RfCA AND PANAMA.
Sir. Hin's Address on the GEOGRAPHY a""
Geology Of Tae,e Regions.

c;eogranbic Society in the large hall OF
Cosmos club Friday night says y"
Washington star. llr Robert T. hlli' u
tho Trnifed States Geological survey u'-
Uvered an address upon the 'GeosTapns
and Geology Of Costa ltlcd anu lee,, CT
ma" The fact that he mas only I,e,,c,,astiS
returned from tour OF sOl'.l, ~, 80 saxv
cation of the region, during Whlcn . nv
= cod deal OF the prevailing reNoluliynl-
arS spirit. gave special interest TO MS
re rem. hi,r,s lecture Illustrated by large
,,,,rnher Of very Interesting lantern slides,
mostly from photographs TAKEN Dy n'ir
during his recent trip. was partly gOPuIita,,i
and partly technical IN chaiae.e., ue9V ~
tive OF the topography ~ ~ the
ducts. architecture and CUSTOMS vh 80 49,,
widely contrasting regions OF the lsluill SUM,
Of anlma and the modern Spanish-Alleii,l =
can Republic of Costa Rico TO the north-
ward. , ,,.,e
The isthmIs was discussed as a type
the loyy-iving coastal lands OF the iropi-
cal region where Caucasian population
cOiild only be maintained by constant IN
migration and which would De UNI ihtvlu-
cd did IT not lie in the track OF cum
merCe between he Two oceans. All o on "a
iOpulation, except rev unc'Iiv -
indian tribes. is concentrated IN inc " ,
soaports OF Colon and Panama, or aIois
the right of way of the railway anu
canal. on either side 1t Is still an IN
conquered Jungle. ne il'Oi az ...s,',,
mercial and political American interests
in this region were discr ssed, showing
thai its traffic IS entirely in the con'lni
of Americans, aa1 lhat II IS an iupyI' ~
noint between our Atlantic and racine
seayorts.
CONTRAST AT COSTA RIGA.
Costa Rica, on the other hand. IS an e4-
ample OF the higher and better climate
conditions existing In The tropical Amerl-
can region. where indigenous CIVILIZATION
nourishes under healthy climatic corr
tons Mr.. Hill spoke OF THIS as an an. iu l'i
country. and praised the hospitality anu
progressive spirit OF the people llluslra~
lions were given OF the entire course OF
the Panama canal, showing ue ~
graphy, cuttings machinery anu ldool
ers al present working upon the con
struction. While not computing nlllstii
to anv preference of canal routes. ne sdl1
that the affairs Of the Panama oa..ai
COmpny had been painted IN thls cVu' ~, y
terminal port facilities have Deen COIL
plcted Nearly twenty-five miles oil Inc
canal are finished, reducing the Us
lance between the oceans from loiR
seven to TWENTY-FIVE miles. About Two
dffhs of the necessary grazing mas n.eh
ACCOMPLISHED. and every possible HidShih'
and tool for its completion IS upon w
ground The great problem OF coilli".i
ing and diverting the waters OF INC
f,bagres has also been accomplished.
THE lecturer gave interesting accounts
Of The various zones OF vegetation sc n
I'm ascending the great volcanoes OF os.'
Rica. and. incidentally seilei II a..
eeriution and classification or the Ftsluh
bordering the gulf and Caribbean sea.
Esppcial attention was called 70 tn@
important bearing OF IRIS Spa!llsh-At. 'ei X, y
can region, between the LATITUDE OF the
Orinoco ANA the southern boundary 81 the
Irnifed states. upon the great problems
of continental develop mt. ana lts COZ
rotated biOlogic and meteoroloSic pro
blens. and 10 the great Woth ~.
Alexander Agassiz has unaerta q, IN ~
own expense IN studying the marine ply
siOgraphy OF the region, especially as IT,
cards the origin OF its vast areas Oh
coral reefs.
CLASSIFICATION OF MOUNTAIN SYSTEMS.
In speaking Of the mountains, ne classi-
fled the systems as follows.
The southern extension or the Coral
loron region OF the United states whlSh
terminates with the great scdfP o. tne
Mexican plateau In the latitude or vera
Tho Andes proper the north and
south ridges of which end abruptly III
northern Colombia.
g. A system OF more ancient mount,
aims having an east and west trend ahu
| confessed of mesOzOic rocks. with pole
| ozoir axes. extending along the north
| coast of South America between the
Caribbean and Orinocol throIsh9uI 'il'
A
Nicaragua and British Honduras. on
! his MIR Hnl proposed the name OF th.
"Antillean system" IL was shown ma
there we're Submarine topographic riuses
connectin the Honduras peninsula VIII
the Islands Of Jamaica, Hayi and Puerl,
| Rico probably also part OF ms anoieh'
cOrrugatiOn ...,.,,,,, o.c,,
mutation. such as the Windward Islands
and lsthmian region
3. Mountains Of recent volcanic accu
mutation. including the three widely sep.
| arated groups, with different trends. OF
| southern Mexico. Central America anc
| the northern Andes, all more or les
parasitic upon the termini OF the ante
| cedent and fundamental mountain sys-
TENS Of corrugatiOn, and 10 a certain
| extent lowing 10 their neWness and great
| or mass concealing them.
Al the close OF the meeting. which was
thoroughly enjoyed by A large audience
| Mr. McGee. WHO presided, announced
| that the lecture next Friday evening; II
| National Rifles Hall, Will be an Nus
| rated one by Mr. Frank Hamilton Cush'
| ing: also. that details regarding tht
| field day at Fredericksburg will be Tor
Warded very soon TO all members an'
| that a fine map of the region would bt
! given TO each OF the party