Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-05-13

Some Facts About Honduras.
Correspondence of the Ledger.

ing It's laws, ianQs, etc., ID nope6 that
1t may possibly interest those few.
1t will be hard for the thrifty, ener-
getic and industrious American to
realize that Honduras, though the
first and only country on the Ameri-
can continent whose soil was trodden
by the foot of Columbus, whose ports
were first colonized, whose natural
resources were 30 great and whose
whole future at the very beginning of
the 10th century seemed SO bright, is
as yet SO very far backward in its de-
velopment. In fact, its industrial
development can hardly at this time
be said to have begun. A parallel
thereto is only seen in those countries
where Spanish influence and civiliza-
ton have prevailed. So persistently
jealous of her narrow and concentrat-
ed form of government, while pre-
venting the progress of her colonies,
Spain o-day has almost wrecked her
once powerful kingdom, and to this
Spanish civilization alone can be at
tributed the slow advancement of
Honduras.
Briefly looking at the historical out
line of Honduras we find that in 1902
Columbus, on his fourth voyage to
the Western Hemisphere, took formal
possession of the entire country in
the name of Spain, having previously
landed at the now beautiful port of
Fouxillo. In connection with this lit
tie city might incidently remark that
it was here that Walker, the revolu-
ZIONIST, who in 1851 left this country
with well equipped band of followers
intending to overthrow the Honduras
government, was finally captured and
shot.
We next hear of Honduras when
Gil Gonzales Ravila in 1924, while
on voyage from Santo Domingo to
Nicaragua, reached the now famous
Pueto Cortez. At this point is now
located the old Louisiana Lottery. In
the same year history tells us that an
expedition was sent by Cortez from
Mexico, which founded settlement
along the coast only, however, to be
soon abandoned. Shortly thereafter
another expedition was sent down and
this time with striking success, reduc-
ing to submission the entire country.
Cortez, himself, having ere this COM
pleted his conquest of Mexico andGua-
temala and becoming doubtful of his
emissaries to the south, now set out
for that section. Arriving at the bay
which now bears his name he planted
a large colony.
For thxes- -osntnries- athsraaftar the
country under Spanish rule is known
as province of Guatemala. During
this time many futile and desultory
attempts at resistance at what might
be termed Spanish serfdom were
made, but not until 1921 was the Hon
free from the tyrannical Span
ish yoke. In the latter year the Cen
tral American republic, with Honduras
as one of the five independent States,
was formed. BY this time the native
but enslaved Indians had been almost
exterminated, there remaining but
small fragment of that once teeming
Internal dissention and
strife, accompanied by civil wars and
now set in, till in the year
1888 the former union of 1921 was dis
solved and Honduras emerged as a
free, independent and sovereign
State. Since that date her govern
ment has been republic, which, un-
fortunately indeed, has been subject
to many severe revolutions, one of
which is at the present time in pro-
gress.
Geographically, Honduras is situated
south of the tropic of cancer. Its
northern frontier, consisting of some
800 miles, is formed by the Caribbean
sea; on its south and southeast is Mic
aragua, while on the west and south
west is Guatemala, Salvador and Fon-
SEGA Bay. Its superficial area is ap-
proximately $4,000 square miles. The
general aspect of the country is noun
famous; in fact, it's greater portion is
corrugated by disconnected groups
and ranges of mountains, which at
some points reach enormous eleva-
tlons, notably Mount Cougrejoy, near
Seiba, being 5000 it. in height. In close
proximity to the coast and along the
numerous rivers which traverse the
country, the land is very low and in
some places damp and marshy, but,
nevertheless, with an alluvial soil of
great fertility. Between the noun
tains are to be seen high plateaus,
broad plains and fertile valleys, af-
fording every degree of productive
capacity. 1t will, therefore, be OBJ
served that Honduras offer very
great variety of lands, both as to ele-
vation and productivity. AS a rule
its soil may be said to be very deep,
rich and productive.
Though mountainous, the country
is free from volcanoes. Evidences
and traces of their existence in pre-
historic times, however, frequently
present themselves. Honduras has
many small, but beautiful rivers.
Though not navigable by large steam
boats, with a few exceptions, they,
together with the paek-mule, serve as
the only means of transportation in
the country. These rivers, fringed
with the various palms and palmettos
and bordered by the banana, coffee
and cocoanut plantations, are unsur-
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