The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-25
In CENTRAL AMERICA.
An Agents Report on Three
Pacific Coast Ports.
The OUTLOOK FOR BUSINESS.
All Are DESTROYS Of Dealing With
PUGET sound, and q Great Bust
neas Could he Established

The Puget Sound and Central American
Steamship Company has sent an agent 10
Central America TO report 10 the Seattle
Office OF the company upon the chances OF
a large trade being built up with tnat
country. The agents name is F. II. lrl-
boden and under date OF January - ne
writes from Guatemala CITY as follows.
Acting upon your instructions / have
visited the ports OF Coos and Champsr-
leo. and the towns OF Ret2luleu. san
Felipe and Quezaetenango. ports and
towns on and near the Pacific coast be-
tween here and Mexico, and submit the
following letter as a brief report OF Nilat
1 saw and could learn In SO short a trip
In regard TO advancing the interests OF
the Puget Sound and Central American
Steamship Company and opening comsnef-
cial relations with Seattle.
The port Of ocos, the first place
reached, has no connection with the in
terror except by carts and pack mules,
and most OF the freight that comes this
way goes directly TO the large fincas near.
many OF them ordering their supplies d.
rect from the United States and Europe.
The business at This port Is controlled by
two firms that trade with America, who 90
considerable business il importing sup
piles OF AL kiads and exporting coffee.
few hundred Indians yet the prospect fer
future business al this point Is good From
the best Information could get IL .tlI be-
only a few months before a railroad viii
be under construction from this port To
the interior. feeder TO the trunk line now
being built by the Guatemala Central to-
wards the Mexican border. and going
through the richest coffee section OF this
republic, along the foothills OF the Pacific
coast mountains, and wiz open up a new
market for supplies of all kinds. bringing
valuable timber regions within reach OF the
ports, besides increasing the production
and expectation OF coffee.
ocos is well equipped for handling
freight, having d good wharf. steam der
rick, engine, cars, etc. but as yet they have
no steam launch. The expectation of oof-
Zee from this point is about l30 90 Quintals
yearly.
From here / went to Champerico. and
found IL much more active port than
Ocos, shipping out 32s 90 quintals OF eof-
fee per year, and with ample facilities for
doing a much larger business. a good
railroad runs from this port TO San Felipe,
forty-two miles. Aside from handling
freight little business is carried on at
Champerico, there being no merchants or
business houses. but at Retaluleu. twenty
eight miles up the railroad. / found an ac-
tive town of 5000 people. The government
custom house is located here. and there is
a large coffee cleaning establishment at
this point, also machipe shop which does
large business repairing machinery for
the nelshboring 1ncas. and quite a num-
Der OF branch houses OF large Guatemala
firms are located IA this town. and do an
extensive business importing supplies of
all kinds and exporting coffee practically
controlling the commerce of this section.
Retaluleu is located IN the heart of ono
NJ
with railroad connection to the port, and
Is most important point TO consider In
working up business for the steamship
company and Seattle San Felipe. four
teen miles beyond Retaluleu, Is but a small
town, one merchant doing almost the
entire business of the place. However.
X is an important point as they also have
large coffee cleaning establishment and
a large part OF the coffee that goes from
Champerico Is brought 10 this point for
shipment. and have assurances fn regard
10 freight Coffee TO London and Hamburg
In the near future from this place
From san Felipe TO Quezaetenango is
thirty miles, over a very rough country.
but the road is quite good. yet the ques-
ton or freight is a serious one 10 the mer-
chants OF Quezaetanango. and hundreds of
indians are on the road daily carrying
freight Of all kinds on their backs 10 the
city, also there axe large trains of pack
a.
of 1890 inhabitants. nearly 5000 feet above
sea level, and on account OF its location.
almost cut of from the world. There Is
considerable business done. however. with
the fincas and small neighboring towns.
but as az Retaluleu the contracting bust
ness houses here are simply branches Of
Guatemala firms.
On this trip talked freely with all the
leading business men IN the towns ana ports
! visited and | hnd them almost without
exception willing 10 enter into business re-
lations with Puget sound. When confidence
Ia once established in the steamship line
and the commercial advantages OF Seattle
are fully represented 20 them by competent
men sent cut % represent the interests
Of that city there is no reason why that
section should not compete successfully
with the san Francisco. New York and
European markets. At present they have
their connections with commission houses
and Il VIII require some little time 70 turn
this business in the direction Of Puget
sound
In regard to all commercial relations
with Central America there are several
existing conditions 10 be considered and
met. feel that almost without exception
time IS given on all orders. and IN many
instances open accounts exist with com
mission houses. who are willing 10 wait
until coffee - shipped 70 balance accounts
etc hut nv regular and quick steamship
service I feel confident better arrange
rneuts can be made. Consignnents OF
coffee. 20 any extent 20 Seattle cannot
20 expected uUth cur country = better
known 70 these people. which viii REQUIRE
only a short time 10 effect. and a Quota
ton OF prices. weekly or monthly. will 40
much towards inducing buyers and sell
ers 70 seek the markets 90 Seattle In plaza
OF those OF San Francisco New York and
Europe.
Coffee can be purchased. tut e VII r.
cuire resident agents az suitable points
with Tire money IN hand. as there Is much
competgfton ard frequently c-ops ara
bought nut PAID for seven o. eight months
before they mature have met a,erts
IN al the towns ! have visited. willing "a
purchase coffee on the above terms. In
regard % frelgAung coffee - London ar4
Hamburg NEST 81 the shippers hsye
made their arrangements with the pa4t.
&c Mall and the English aus C~~,n,
steamers. and cannot change a. present
bat have assurances Of large shipments
In the near future.
Jntn the railroads ar projected fur.h-