The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-17
AMERICANS AS RULERS
Honduras Now Offers Fine Field Fol
Yankee EndeaVor.


yesterdays Herald, an American syndi-
cate has obtained very important con-
| cessions from the government Of Hon.
duras-concessions that give to the syn
dictate powers to collect, take charge Of
and disburse the customs Of the country.
10 act as the special and financial agent
| Of the government in the settlement Of
| its present Indebtedness to build an in
teroceanic railway from Puerto Cortez,
on the Atlantic coast, to some point on
| the Bay of Fonseca, on the Pacific Ocean
| and to establish coast line Of steam
ships from Belisle, on the Atlantic coast
Of Honduras, 10 Belize, in British Hon
| duras.
The syndicate is also given permission
to esta blish bank with special power,
beyond those which ordinarily pertain
to banking institutions; grant Of more
than 500, 900 acres Of land, and valuable
colonization and mining privileges are
also conceded.
The syndicate, according TO the terms
Of the contract, will commence operatio
on October 1. They have assumed a gi-
gantic task in undertaking to complete
the Honduras Railroad from Puerto Cor
tez. on the Atlantic coast, to the Bay OF
Fonseca, for Honduras is country Of
mountain ranges, over which there are
not even roads, but only winding bride
paths. II will be great feat Of engi-
neering skill, though not by any means
an impossible one, 10 build a railway
that will traverse the steep mountains
Of Honduras
At present the Honduras Railways ex-
tends from Puerto Cortez, the principal
port of the entry on the Atlantic coast,
to a village called La Puninta. a few
miles from the town Of San Pedro Sula.
The road is only about fifty miles long,
and it Is this road which is to be pushed
on over steep mountains and across riv-
ers until the two oceans are joined to-
gether with bonds Of iron AMI steel.
But though the road is only fifty miles
long and runs almost on a dead level
and though labor is very cheap in Hon.
duras, the road costs the country $50, 0o0,-
000 or very nearly s100, 0000 900 per mile.
Honduras has been staggering under
this bad Of debt ever since a debt con-
tracted between the years 1867 and 1872.
Bonds to the amount of $50, 600, 900 were
issued by the government, which were
sold in Europe.
II the American syndicate is enabled
to influence a more stable and consti-
tu.ional form Of government the benefits
to Honduras will be incalculable. Il
land of wonderful natural resources,
which have never yet been developed.
Nature is wonderfully lavish in this rich
region, and almost every product can be
grown. The coffee ard tobacco OF Hon
duras are noted for their excellence. and
there is always a wide market for these
products. Valuable woods of all kinds
grow in abundance, and great forests OF
prescious timbers shade the mountains
ana extend into valleys. Mahogany, In
dia rubber trees, oak and pine are 10 De
found i ngreat quantities. Honduras
produces freely all the great staples OF
the tropics, as Well as those OF temper
ate zones. Several crops can be raised
each year and the land is wonderfully
fertile. When the railroad shall have
been completed from coast 70 coast Won
derful riches will pour out OF both the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Honduras ranks first among the Cen
trail American States in respect to min
eral resources. The working OF mines
so far has been conducted in rude man.
ner and on small scale. Silver ores are
abundant. and gold is to be found. e.-
peciany in the valley Of the Olaniio.
have seen Italian women washing
gold out Of the river. They even con-
slider this work beneath their dignity.
The women only work sposmodically, |
and when they have a efw dollars worth !
OF golden land they are satisfied. Were |
placer mining carried on on a large scale |
il would undoubtedly be very produc- |
tive.
Iron ores are common and so rich that |
they can be worked withou; swelling. |
Anthony, link. tin and Ignite also ex- !
Isl. In the department OF Gracoes opals |
are found in abundance.
Governor Stephens OF Missouri has Sc |
iected the following delegates-at-ia-ge |
ID the sixth annual session % the Ma |
tional Irrigation congress % be held a. /
Lincoln. Nebraska. Septenpe. IS: II r |
Whi;more, 5. Louis: George ". B. Grit |
fifth. Kansas City, and James L Lorl- |
bard. Kansas City. Thomas Knight %
Kansas City represents Missouri IN the /
congress as member % the national ex-
ecutive committee.
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Relieves KiA~Au