The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21

few miles heretofore completed. This debt
was contracted by General Antonio ParaZzo
and others between the years 1867 and 1872.
The money was received for bonds sold.
When the English investors found that
the railroad was not to be built and that
S23.OO0.0O0 of the $25.000O00 had disappeared
they appealed to Parliament for aid. The
British government refused to interfere, be-
cause the government Of Honduras had re-
ceived none of the Spoils. This debt has
burdened the republic for years, the per-
sons who bought the bonds believing that
they should have their money returned by
the government of Honduras, fraud or no
fraud. The syndicate has arranged to pay
the interest and principal of the debt in
annual installments, and to get this money
the income Of the government is to be di-
verted from its present channels. In fact,
all Of the financial business of the country
tives by the Americans and transacted
hereafter on American plans.
There is no stipulation as to the termina-
ton of contracts. The Hondurian believes
the revolution TO be the easiest method of
making such canges. When the country
tires of the Americans some popular leader
drive them out Of the country. Knowing
the nature of the Hondurians, the members
Of the syndicate have looked into the future
When such a revolution is started the lead
erS will never be able to tell just what did
happen. But 1t is safe to say that they will
be more than willing to continue the ar
rangement to allow the Americans to run
their government for them at so much
year.
There is a large and growing group of
American mine owners in Honduras, the
pioneers having gone there decade ago.
To-day 1t is said that there are two dozen
mines of great value being operated in that
country by Americans and worked by
American employees. The sullen-faced ma
jealousy but he can do nothing. There is
money in the mining for him. for the Amer
lean Is generous. IF the American did not
do the mining he would not, that Is certain,
because the work is hard and It cannot be
pat off until tomorrow" just how much
money Americans have invested IN mining y
supposed to aggregate S5,WOOOO or 5000 OOO.
About ] 900 men, the majority Of whom are
Americans, are employed IN n, these mines
The syndicate IS sure to run the government
business on business lines. which means
that only one man is to be employed to do
one mans work yer MI to rata ao R6 S
employees Added to the miners these men
are ant to make it sorry day for the revo-
lutionist who tries to overturn the Ameri-
can syndicate government
WILL PULL THE WIRES.
Mr. Valentine. as the general manager of
the syndicate. will naturally be general
manager of, Honduras. Just how the re-
mainder of the government will be organ
tied could not be learned yesterday as the
stockholders would not discuss the subject
for publication, and Mr.. Valentine is now in
Honduras, where he went on Aug. with
several bookkeepers and clerks to inspect
custom house matters and government doc
uments. Some information. however was
furnished by Mr.. j. Dodson Good, partner
Of Mr.. Valentine and the New York repre-
sentative of the Honduras Railroad Com
pany, which has now been absorbed by the
syndicate.
I'm the first place." said he, ''the gov
eminent of Honduras is not to be disturbed
by the syndicate. No private person or par
ty Of men can purchase a country. There
must be government, and the present
President and Congress, or their successors,
not have so much to do in the future as in
the past the syndicate taking charge of the
railroads, customs and lot of other bust
ness"
He intimated that the government was
necessary to the syndicate in spectacular
sense. The syndicate had agreed to pay
100000 year for the administration to sit
at their desks and look wise, or to gather
at fashionable resorts and appear to be do
Ing something. The etiquette and nicetieS
OF international law must be observed.
In the past there has been vast amount
of smuggling going on in Honduras" con-
unued Mr. Good. 1.-The syndicate Will stop
that. The losses to the government from
this evil in the past have amounted to mill
lions of dollrs. The syndicate will not per-
init this abuse to confirm
Whether a Gordon of detectives Is to be
placed around the frontier, or whether a
navy is TO be established by the syndicate
TO prevent smuggling, Mr. Good could not
say.
dicate," he said, "is to be for the good OF
make Il one of the richest OF its size on
the globe, The natives lack of enterprise
is all that has retarded the growth of the
country. expect TO hear from Mr.. Wax