New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
BANANA-R AISING.
ONE OF COSTA RICA'S NEWEST AND
MOST PROFITABLE INDUSTRIES.

TONS DESCRIBED BY RECENT
VISITOR To COSTA RIGA
Although bananas raised To some extent
IN Southern Florida. the cultivation of the fruit
is an industry which cannot grow To any inn
porianCe IN. this country. owing to the insult
ability Of the climate. Consequently few Amer
leans familiar with the methods Of banana
growers in running their plantations and have
little idea of the capital which mus, be invested
or the profits which can be derived from the
business
A man who has just returned to this city from
an extended trip through parts of Central Amer
lea had. while in that country. excellent oppor-
tunes 10 become acquainted with the banana
industry. especially as it is carried on in Costa
Rica. the south"rnmost of the Central American
States In his opinion il is the most lucrative
pursuit Of the state, which has been we'll known
for many years for its older and more wide
spread Industry of cOffee-raisng
"The cultivation OF bananas" he says was
begun in Costa Rca about the year 1851, and
IS carried on almost entirely in the region along
the Ma'ina River. in the neighborhood back OF
Lmon. on the east coast. There plenty OF
other districts where IL would flourish well.
except for the lack OF railroad facilities for
transportation. The owners of the banana plan
taons for the most part Costa Ricans and
EnsliShmen. They are making a great deal of
money out OF the business. and think that If
morc Americans k1eW how little capital it takes
ana now large in proportion the profits are they
would gu down to Costa Rica and engage in 1t
for themselves. As TO the chances Of success |
think tEsre Is no question bananas are hardy.
require very little attention. and there are no
sudden changes Of climate there to njurc them
I'll IS tbs very matter Of the climate. though
which constitutes the greatest drawback that l
can see % the occupation. In the banana region
The weather The year round is not only hot but
50 damp that AZ Is like being in the interior of a
sfeenA)us" all the time. the perspira ton pOurs
IN one c]ntlnually. which is naturally weaken
Ing q 'ile system. There is 4 good deal Of fever
~ The country To which Northerrers are par
ucuar.y susceptible. But many Of the banana
iais,rS arrange their affairs that they can
I've IN san Jose, the capital. and come down to
the lowlards only about once a week TO visit
their plantations. You see. the nature Of the
country there is lik- this: san Jose is situated
somewhat over one hundred miles from the At
h2..c a. asst. in line about due west from Port
LmJn. and Is on a taheland in the great noun
tain range which runs through the country in a
r'rthwcsterlE and s0uthcasteIly direction. This
range is part Of the great Andes and Rocky
Mountain chain. The plateau in which San Jose
lies Is about s.N Tn )usand feet above the sea,
al . morntains and yolcaCi, peaks tower up an
other six thousand feet on the east and west
SIDES II The plateau. The climate Of this table
lard is temperate ana delrhtful. 50 that the city
Is finely situated. \ railroad. owned by Eng
lSh syndicate runs from Port Limon to San
jose The banana region begins at the coast and
extends far about forty miles back toward the
mo1rt3.rs. which leaves distance IF over sixty
miles Cd h" trayorSrd by the planter who lives in
M capital and pays visits to his banana fields
IN the low country. The chief banana region up
10 tn present time is along the course of the
Matina River and some Of its tributary streams.
nowhere very far from the railroad. These rivers
frequently JYerNOw their banks. fed as they are
from many mountain streams and in doing 50
they make the surrounding land extremely
fertile
"All the work on the plantations is done by
Jamaica negroes. who work by contract. That /
Is foreman or superintendent will agree to run
plantation for a certain sum per manzana-a
manZana Is equal to one and threc-quarters /,
acres The usual terms per nanZana. are $40 a !
year In gold. or its equivalent OF one hundred /
Costa Rcan silver dollars. The hot. moist eli /
mate does not seem TO affect the negroes at all /
and they are probably. considering that fact. the
best people FOR the work. 1t is true though. that
the most successful plantations from business
point II view are those which are most carefully |
watched by their white owners, 1t is not well to
place too great reliance upon the Jamaica I
negroes who if left entirely to themselves. are |
frequently lacking in both industry and strict |
honesty.
a plantation is started in this way: The |
ground having been selected-a tract of forest /
md hn