The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-09-16
Railway Travelling in Costa RIGA.
From Punta Arenas, the Pacific Port, to The Old
City of ESparZa.

bee If these days, revolutions permitting,
.a will be continuous transportation by
across this small Republic. At pres
-1 Is system falls short where most
feied leaving the worst bit of country
he heart of the interior to be traversed
u horse or mule back. From Punta
mas, the Pacific port, the railway is
anpleted only IA miles inland, to Espar-
l the old city at the foot of the Aqua
a-e Mountains. On the Atlantic side,
road runs from Port Limon to Alajue-
Is miles, whence branch road trends
the important town Heredia, passes
ugh san Jose, the capital, and ends
artago. A third road DIVORCES from
main line about 40 miles west from
On, goes southeast to Garlic, and
nee through rich coffee growing sec
near the Irazu mountains-10 miles
ore. All these lines are in the hands
10 English corporation known as the
>-5 Rican Railway Company and domi-
in London. The government of
,J Rica owns about one third of the
IS and will eventually possess it all,
the % years of the concession have
red-unless in the meantime it gets
II waiting and finds some pretext
nuulhng the contract. Another i'm
ant railway is projected, and | be-
partially built under a concession
med eight years ago by Mr.. Minor C.
b. a citizen Of the United States. His
runs from the Rio Frio. (Which
les into the San Juan river and the
where the san Jose and Garlic
vay crosses the Jimenez river. Its
.-J is to establish prompt communica-
between Puerto Limon and the upper
ii the san Juan river thus permit
the improvement of an enormous
at OF very fertile land which is now
st useless. In other respects it will
great advantage to both Costa Rica
Nicaragua-to say nothing of proving
ieet Klondike to Mr.. Keith and his
ers.
understanding all these roads-in
try which lacks exactly 1915 miles of
= as much territory as the State of
Nirginia-the fact remains that
ing is attended with many Difficult
If a straight line were drawn from
10 ocean, between Punta Arenas
ne Pacific and Port Limon on the
atie, san Jose would be less than six
to the south of it. Yet to reach
,pital from the Pacific port you have
away round Robin Hood S barn, SO
and make a three days journey of
ought to be accomplished in three
You may go by rail from Punta
to Esparza-l4 miles; there en-
mules OF horses, df you can) to take
-o AIaiucla, 30 miles, where You
,tlike a railroad and double back
part of the same course. to san
only three trains weekly run out
nta Arenas. The schedule time Of
ne is } p. M, but the actual time is
1eve it suits the convenience Of the
1i the planters who have coffee
IT. There is no railway station,
- Passengers may wait, but a wills
elai times repeated, gives notice
90 minutes the locomotive may be
ted To start. We left on Sunday
5n. and as the train did not get
.ntil nearly dark that day had
Tine to see all there is OF Punta
-.. Though the town has been set
since early in the 18th century and
Igest seaport Of ''La Costa Kica, "
-iuons OF life are rather primitive.
re is but one mail day to the capt.
Id the post office is open only one
before its departure Stamps are
-ainable at the post office, but you
-e ion them TO a merchant, half a
way. who alone has the right of
Hallway tracks meander around
-h several of the streets to huge
warehouses, which during the sea-
full to repletion with some of the
attee grown in the world. The
aunch service at the big iron pier
TO be excellent, so that a thousand
coffee per hour can be loaded by
as well as by day, when necessary
see strange carts continually passing
l fro, laden with merchandise for
Interior or carrying coffee down to
andings. 1t is not easy to convey
', lie pen an accurate picture of those
- structures. A pole projects from
Oh "bong frame, to which an axle is bolt
uderneath. The ends of the axle pro-
e through enormous wheels of solid
vaF the latter being at least inches
@aoS, the tire and ) feet in diameter. A
-aise of open cane work placed with
-Lese ponderous wheels supports an
'H'ag OF Unframed oxhide. On a plat
At the bottom of the box thus form
e> the load-generally coffee, sewed
TO- bags of coarse white cotton. Each
VIII carry 500 to !, 200 pounds of cof-
'4- md the freightage thereon averages
ants per 100 pounds. Over the bags
A'.Aer oxhide is fastened with thongs
a1ther, and dangling outside are the
"dte l-rourd iron pOt and nj har I1ranSilS