Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-17
LETTER FROM THE TROPICS
From DR.. S. H. Hodgson, Mobile
Quarantine Physician, at
LIVINGSTON, GUATEMALA
Healthy Country and Delightful Climate.
Chance for Southern Merchants to
Reap Harvest.

The following interesting letter from
DR.. S. H. Hodgson, quarantine physician
at Livingston, Guatemala, appeared in
the Mobile Register of the 14th:
Livingston, Guatemala, May 3.-Much
has been written of the prehistoric inhabi-
fants of this country, of the advanced
arts and sciences and the civilization of
its early settlers, but. the ruins of stately
palaces and temples testify to the skill of
the sculptors and builders, and the aque-
ducts and paved streets make engineers
at this late day wonder at the feats of
their science. Volcanic eruptions, inva-
sions of the Spaniards and civil wars re-
duced this once prosperous country to
ruins and devasta ton, but since 1873 and
with the election of Gen. j. X. Barrios an
era of reform and progress has been in
stituted that will make Guatemala the
peer of all of Central America. The pres
ent president, Gen. j. M. r. Barrios, by
his intelligent management and undaunt-
ed energy has succeeded in establishing
railroads, telegraph Ines public schools
and colleges, opening public roads .s ,6,,a,,
s,, sne p0s.aq qanHusy Id putting the
financial, educational, judicial and agri-
cultural departments of the government
upon as high and intelligent a plane as
those of the United States. If the United
W
Guatemala Dun and Bradstreet would
retire from business. The failure OF
business house is practically unknown,
and a merchant having once failed in bus
iness has to pay every creditor In full
before he can again commence business.
There has been no failure of any impor-
tant business house for the past ten years.
Just think OF that, and compare 1t to the
past weeks report of Dun!
The export and import business of this
vxrhn hplnnOG
geographical situation, to Mobile and
Alabama, and Is only waiting for your
merchants to come after 1t. Don't send
your fresh. American drummer after the
business, for they cannot get it; but come
yourself and look at the opportunities
that will make any business man open
his eyes in wonder. A bright, intelligent
gentleman, speaking Spanish and Ger
man, sent here as agent for your business
house, would soon turn the business of
the whole country through Mobile. You
will have to find out what the people
want and how to pack the goods for ship
ment before you can do any business.
American drummers come here and try
TO sell these people fire escapes and snow
shovels and put them up in ton packages.
The houses are all on the ground "a two
story house an exception. We never
have snow and have to transport goods
on mule back to the interior.
Mobile can make freight rates cheaper
than any port in America or Europe. Yet,
two-thirds of the imports to this country
are from Europe. You might ask why?
Well, the reason is simple. European
merchants never question the credit of
intercourse have demonstrated that the
credit Is unquestionable. Europeans
seek the business and don't wait for bust
ness to, rome to them. The European
goods are packed and shipped just ex-
-. actly as ordered.
no write about the exports and imports
of Guatemala would require book, but
at is sufficient to remind the merchants of
Mobile that In 1890 over $14, 100000 of goods
We're exported from here and nearly
100000 imported, and there is no rea-
son on earth why Mobile could not step
IN and get the lions share of the trade.
What is there preventing your getting a
large part of the 1000, 900 of coffee? You
get a quantity of fruit and send 1t to the
interior of the states and ship few dol
lars worth of goods back on the fruit
steamer; so why is 1t you cannot get cof-
fee, rubber, cocoa and minerals? There
are two steamers running between here
and Mobile, and there Is no reason why
there should not be ten If the merchants
of Mobile would only come here and see
what a. market there Is for their goods.
Two railroads, now building from the gulf
coast through the interior will soon con-
meet with the Pacific. They pass through
the garden spot of the earth-lands so
productive that to the people of the states
the mention of the produce per acre
sounds like a fairy tale These lands are
being settled up rapidly, and the exports
are increasing In proportion. To the tim
Der, coal grocery, dry goods and hard
ware merchants I would suggest a trip
down ON one of the steamers as a vaca-
ton. The health of the country is much
better than that of your city, and the ell
mate In July and August is simply de-
lightful. Blankets are necessary now at
night, though the days are warm-not
any warmer than In Mobile.
For those who know anything about
manufacturing and have some capital
this country Is q bonanza. Lumber at
800 per 10OO ice at IS per 100 pounds, con-
densed milk at 621z cents per can, butter
at $1.26 per pound and flour at $22 per
barrel; 1t looks like q sawmill, ice factory.
grits mill and dairy would pay small
dividend. The president and government
foster and protect all Industries and offer