The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-02-26
COSTARICA.
ITS MODERN CAPITAL, SAN JOSE
DEL INTERIOR, -
mas 10000 Observation-Disclosures Evil
deuces of Aspirations to be up-to-date-
What They Make, What they Import and
How they Live. -.,.

How they Live ..-,.
SAN JOSE, Costa R1ca, l->>- Especial
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES between the
oceans, In q green hollow Of the mountains
that environ it, lies San Jose del Interior, al
Costa Rica's capital Is called, to distinguish
It from dozens of other San Joses scattered
all over Spanish America. The screeching
train that brought us here discharged its pas
sengers at g. neat railway station, which has
extensive car shops on one side Of it, a tram
way line running of cityward on the other.
|, and row, OF one=horses cabs waiting in front
u only about 100 years old, a mere infant
compared to most Of its neighbors.. Carriage,
fifteen miles distant, was Costa Rica's seat of
government under the Spanish dominion, and
this city has grown up since the independence
of the country. One misses somewhat of the
somber quaintness which cEaracteriZes thu
aged capitals of Central and South America
but Is reconciled to Its absence since the Pc
,uliar odor Of death and decay which hangs
about the moldy old casas is also missing, to-
gether with much of their fever breeding
alth.
San Jose has grown wonderfully since the
completion OF the railroad from the Atlantic
port, and now boasts Of $4,000 Inhabitants.
Many Of It's wide, clean streets lave recently
been macadamized, and all have sidewalks, OF
brick, stone, or tile, edged with curb and
bordered with cutters. A goodly number Of
two-storied structures are sprinkled among
the general one-story style Of architecture,
and every house Is whitewashed from caves
to pavement, producing an appearance Of
cleanliness quite foreign to this latitude. OF
late years brick has been largely adopted for
building purposes, In place OF adobe, or ba-
jareque; but I cannot say that it is any
better material than the time-honored sun
dried mud which when nrODnr1vJ n1aStpro6
will last for centuries. All the houses are
set fusk with the sidewalks, and their roofs,
OF dark red tiles, projecting a. few inches
beyond the walls, are furnished with gar
soyles, or little water-spouts, sticking straight
out, and in rainy weather pouring streams
of water upon the heads of pedestrians who
are not wise enough to walk in the middle
of the road. The lighting of the city shows
it's various stages of Improvement. Up to
Our compagnons ue voyage from LILO nies-
glass compartments, gentlemen IN dark JACK
bts and trousers, wearing bright sashes In
lieu of waistcoats, and wide Panama mats,
Ind bonnetless ladies with black shawls over
their shoulders, some Of them smoking cigar
ettes and all chatter1ng exc1tedly, HE'D them"
selves at once to the carriages, while those
bf the second class, mozos or muchacas, al!
barefooted and bareheaded, the men without
Jackets and the women with no waists to
their gowns took the tram cars, and only our
party, chose unaccountable Americans" as
we are often characterized in this part Of the
world, preferred to walk up town.
! BY the way, it does startle the stranger, at
Hrst. to see women strolling about the streets
clad only in dark skirts and sleeveless, low
necked white chemises. bare-armed, bare-
shouldered, bare-headed, and bare-footed..
Equally odd is the spectacle Of a man, other
wise neatly dressed and with great dignity OF
manner perambulating the city without shoes
br stockings. Both foot and head covering
~ bo in Pioa HQf1pss
women are the rule, the exception being the
occasional wearing Of mans Panama hat,
rs If the woman had borrowed her husbands
In her hurry, though nobody ever hurries IN
this land of "sweet idleness." Even the most
eristocratic ladies 60 bareheaded on all their
rides or walks abroad, though they sometimes
carry q sunshade at midday. They dress very
gayly, however, If not richly, in Paris fash
ions some years gone by, and wear extremely
bigh-h eeled slippers or shoes, generally sew
eral sizes too small.
The Republics Chief City.
The first glimpse OF San Jose, as you step
put Of the station, Is charming. Immediately
In front Is an extensive public park, sloping
westward; beyond 1t the white walled, red
roofed many-towered city, with its fine old
churches and handsome public buildings.
clustered In themiddle of the beautiful valley
Of San Jose whose gardens and coffee groves
stretch to the foot hills and Chamber up their
sides, the view bounded on every hand by
lofty mountains, with many volcanic peaks.
This Is the most important city of the re-
public in every respect being not only
the seat Of the national government since
1923, and also the capital of the rich province
Of San Jose, but the most populous, as we'll
rs the most fourishing, in a commercial point
Of view, the center of Costa Rica's business,
political, and social interests, and the resi-
dence of her wealthiest people. Situated at an
altitude Of about 1000 feet above the sea, be-
tween two considerable rivers, the Torres and
the Maria Aguilar It's climate Is absolute
perfection, the thermometer never coming
below 60 degrees, nor higher than 80-per-
petual spring, with perennial verdure, the
days always warm and delightful, and the
nights cool and favorable for sweet rest. The
wonder Is that Costa RIGA has not become
the Mecca OF Northern travellers, instead OF
Florida. The climate Is much more pleasant
Ind equable with the addition of glorious
scenery and q constant succession Of novel
experiences; and, although the expense Of the
longer journey is little more, the lessened
cost Of living here offsets that item. But one
should come In summer rather than in win
Ter; during the latter season 1t rains inces-
bantly, sometimes 100 days, beginning soon
after noon, and continuing with undated
Riolence until early morning. '". -
New and Sanitary.
San Jose has all the main features of otne,
Spanish American cities, so often described
In these letters-the same prodigality O,
churches and plazas: low adobe houses, bull,
around central pattos: narrow cobble-paved
streets, laid out at prim right Angles, with
cutters In the middle and down both sides;
OK carts dividing honors with the omnipreseni
donkey; half-naked women peddling fruit
from huge traps balanced on their heads, Of
eQuatttng on the ground in the market place;
wholly naked children playing With pigs and
parrots-the same familiar scenes in ever,
town from the northern border Of Mexico t
> Panama, and, with few exceptions, from
Panama to Cape Horn. But there ia thi,
notable difference In San Jose del Interior-i
1910 It was not lighted at all, when 1sebl
lanterns were put up, each provided With
tallow candle whose feeble illumination last
ed but q few short hours. Sixteen years ag
kerosene lamps were substituted, to the mum
Der of about two hundred, in the principd
streets; and eleven years later these wer
superseded by the electric Light adopted b
special contract. the service universe
throughout the city. ss Il sfsS&
Lighting and Drainage.
= As yet there is no system Of sewerage, b.
sort of portable apparatus collects and Re
moves the refuse matter, also by contrat
general use il brought to San Jose from
considerable distance; but never was q tow
more plentifully supplied with the purea
and sweetest It Is Deposited In Ave grel
"a reservoirs, built on up-to-date lines, with ms
terials and filters sent from the Units
States; and thence distributed by iron pipe
permitting every modern convenience. Fac
Of the several plazas has Ito handsome four
tain, az also the courtyards Of the publ
buildings and the pattos Of many privat
houses. q u, $3.50 81 4.s .5s i4 t#
The h,,nlrI~, 1naSlAA ~