The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-16

Copyrighted 1877 by the Associated Press
GUATEMALA CITY. Guatemala. March
1.-THE Central American exposition was
formally opened today and VIII remain
cTen for The next four months.
The first idea was 70 have an exhibit
o. nothing bQ. Central American prod
ucss. Il vas soon seen that. though these
i've republics are extremely rich In raw
material OF every kind. they could not sx-
rscr 20 attract the world by that alone. 50
IN /. original plan was modified 90 as 70
include q general exposition OF foreign
goods as wei. This measure encountered
opposition from many Of the native a<ti-
ssns and manufacturers, who feared COM
petition In their respective lines. but, as e
was soon pointed out native industries
sre IN @ very documentary state and much
Is 10 be learned from foreign lards. the
hackers Of the broader principal pre-
vailed
The assembly voted over 81, 600 600 for the
buildings. and contracts were signed with
a French hrm for the main edifice. which
arrived several months ago from Bor-
deaux, and Will be finished by the end OF
the week The frames OF most OF the
buildings are OF iron and they are distrto-
uted over surface OF some twenty odd
acres. The grounds. including the Re-
form PARK, cover an area OF over SO
acres
Ac oudlS lDdsA SAnlDlL CONTAINS most or
the native products but the same build
ing contains sections for Salvador. Costa
Rica. Honduras and Nicaragua. Special
buildings are occupied by exhibitors from
Germany, France. the United States. It.
aiy. Belgium and England. Numerous
k9osks have been erected for refresh
ments. music stands and for the service
OF the police
The total amount set aside for prizes is
&c,ooe. conveniently divided among the
native and foreign sections
All goods coming for the exposition have
the advantage OF special reduced rates on
the steamer lines on both the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts and on the railroads
Ine different pier companies. whose
Charges are usually very high. have also
MADE = reduction. Every thing gaining ii
prize comes into the country duty 2 &c.
Inc location OF the fair. on the out
skirts OF Guatemala City. is not only am
pie, put picturesque, the beautiful drives
and gardens OF La Reforma being close
D.. The Llano here Is fun ten miles
square To the north lies the capital and
as a subiimely beautiful background on
the south, the majestic volcanoes OF Aqua,
usgo and Acatenango, complete the pic
tcre. The climate OF Guatemala during
these months Is pleasant and squable. The
heat ID never intoleTable as IL Is on the
coast regions. the principal reason for
tbs being tha elyation, which Is close 10
5000 feet
AS we'll as every department OF Guate-
maia. Salvador. Costa Rica. Honduras and
Nicarsg ga nave selected exhibits Hundreds
or precious woods including ebony, Mgnum
vitae. mahogany and logwood from the
coast: the minerals. especially gold and
silver. from the districts OF San Miguel and
san fsidro, Salvador Santa Rosa Chan
alta and Motagua In GuatemaI- Sau
Jrancito. Yuscarah and Patuca. Hondur-
as; Sagovia and Pana. Nicaragua, and
Los Andes districts OF Costa Rica The
exhibit OF this department alone viii as
tonlsa most OF the visitors 10 the fair
There are sections which will IN time RI
val California and South Africa Pages
could be filled with the mere enumera-
ton OF different varieties Of raw material
presented. Hundreds OF new fbres. cye-
wood ana medicinal and other plants are
here found collected together for the first
time. All these countries are celebrate.
FOR their weli-known products. such as
coffee, cocoa or chocolate bean. rubber
balsam and rsapariIla, and each one OF
them vies In making a creditable showing
Principal among foreign nations which
viii take part are Germany. France and
Italy, the United States. Great Britain
and several other first class nations have
only taken incidental interest In the ex-
position, and that only in the last few
months Several American citizens here
tried to create an interest in II. and CAL
ifornia and Washington are represented.
IL was at first thought that 81. 500. 900 would
cover the expenses OF the fair. but IL was
soon evident that double that sum would
oe required, and a loan was called for.
Lately. President Rsyna asked for an
other loan OF $4,000 10 complete the build
ings. etc. Ii Is expected that the last
named amount viii be sufficient to cover
sll outstanding debts. contracts as well as
running expenses up 70 the closing day.
the 20fh OF Juna next