The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-20
AMERICANS TO RULE HONDURAS.
Syndicate of Capitalists Granted Ex-
elusive Governing Powers.
New York Herald.

AS announced in yesterdays Herald, an
American syndicate has obtained very I'M
portant concessions from the government
of HOnduras-cOncession that give 10 the
syndicate powers to collect, take charge OF
and disburse the customs duties or the
country. to act as the special ana 1nanclal
agent of the government in the settlement
of it's present Indebtedness to build an IN
teroceanic railroad from Puerto Cortez on
the Atlantic coast, to some point on the
Bay of EOnSeca, on the Pacific ocean, and
DO establish a coast line of steamships from
Belsle, on the Atlantic coast of Honduras,
to Belize, in British Honduras. The syndi-
cate is also given permission to establish
a bank with special powers beyond those
which ordinarily pertain to banking institu-
tions grant of more than $780, 900 acres of
land and valuable colonization and min
ing privileges are also conceded.
The syndicate, according to the terms OF
the contract will commence operations on
Oct. ]. They have assumed a gigantic task
in undertaking to complete the Honduras
Railroad from Puerto Cortez, on the At
lantic coast, to the Bay of Fonseca, for
Honduras is a country of mountain ranges,
over which there are not even roads. but
only winding bride paths. 1t will be
great feat of engineering skill, though not
by any means an impossible one, to build
railway that will traverse the steep noun
tains of Honduras.
At present the Honduras Railway ex-
tends from Puerto Cortez, the principal
port entry on the Atlantic coast to a viii
lage 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
mountains and across rivers until the two
oceans are joined together with bonds of
iron and steel.
But Though the road is only fifty miles
long and runs almost on a dead level, and
though labor is very cheap in Honduras, the
road cost the country $50 100000, or very
nearly $l0O0000 per mile. Honduras has
been staggering under this load Of debt ever
since. debt contracted between the years
1867 and 1872. Bonds to the amount of $780,
003,000 were issued by the government,
which were Sold in Europe.
If the American syndicate is enabled to
influence a more stable and constitutional
form of government the benefits of Hondu-
ras will be incalculable. 1t is d land of
wonderful natural resources which have
never yet been developed. Nature is won
derfully lavish in this rich region, and al
most every product can be grown. The cof-
fee and tobacco of Honduras are noted for
their excellence, and there is always a. wide
market for those products Valuable woods
of all kinds grow in abundance and great
forests of precious timberS shade the noun
tains and extend into the valleys. Mahoga-
NY, India rubber trees, oak and pine are to
be found in great quantities. Honduras
produces freely all the great staples of the
tropics, as we'll as those OF temperate zones.
Several crops can DE raised each wear and
the land is wonderfully fertile. When the
railroad shall have been completed from
coast to coast wonderful riches will pour
out of both the Atlantic and the Pacific
coasts
Honduras ranks first among the Central
American States in respect to mineral re-
sources. The working of the mines SO far
has been conducted in a rude manner and
on a small scale. Silver ores are abundant
and gold is to be found, especially in the
valley of the Olandio
L have seen Indian women washing gold
out of the rivers. They even consider this
work beneath their dignity. The women
only work spasmodically, and when they
have a few dollars worth of golden land
they are satisfied. Were placer mining car
ried on on large scale it would undoubted-
~ be very productive. Iron ores are COM
mon, and so rich that they can be worked
without smelling. Anthony, zinc, tin and
Ignite also exist. IN the department of
Gracios opals are found in abundance.