Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-10-11
HONDURAS OFFERS INDUCE
MENTS TO FOREIGN DEFAULTERS
INDUCE
THOUSANDS ARE THERE
They Are Freely Bled by the Govern
ment for Privileges-Are in Bust
ness and Prospecting Savage Duel
to the Death Between Rivals for a
Girls Affections.

The census of last year taken in the
different states which go to make up
the republic of Honduras shows a for
eign population of 81, 400 in that coun-
try. This is divided as follows: Eng
fish and Americans, 5000; Germans
and Austrians, $500; French, 300;
Italians, $500 Mexicans, $500; Span
ish, 5000; Portuguese, 1000; all other
nationalities, 1900. OF this number it
is fairly estimated that one-half came
here to engage in legitimate business
pursuits, while the remainder are
forced exiles from their native lands
lawbreakers who are safe here from
any possibility of extradition. Here
are men from the great American
cities, who, by their enterprise and
brain force, backed by goodly amount
of money, which they brought with
them, are growing wealthy. The gold
mines of Honduras, which under the
most favorable circumstances are but
half developed and not half worked,
turned out over SS,000,000 in yellow
metal
1t is in the vast rubber forests, how
ever that the greatest wealth is ac
quired. There are recorded at the cap
ital by the treasurer something like
100 national concessions to Americans.
Each one Of these concessions ranges
from 5000 to 10000 acres and each acre
will average 1000 rubber-producing
trees, The average grown tree in one
season is capable of being MIXED to
the extent of forty pounds of pure rub
Der 1t win be readily seen, therefore
there is an enormous profit in this bust
ness. The cost of producing, melting,
carting to the coast and exporting to
the New Orleans or New York market
will not exceed 20 cents per pound,
This sum also represents the proper
tionate cost Of the concession, which in
all cases runs for twenty years. The
cost of a concession depends altogether
on the condition of the national finan-
ces. If the treasury is depleted-which
is the case most of the time-then
concession can be had for approximate
ly $50 per acre and a yearly tax of Sc
per acre. No concessions are granted
for less than 500 acres, and this allot-
ment is made by the surveyor general
II a man has discovered a particularly
fine lot of trees which have not been
taken up he may file his claim to them,
but, if granted, it will be at an exorb-
tant figure
No one of the South or Central
American states possesses so many
varied and constant resources as Hon
duras Were, it not for its backward
state of civilization there would be
bright outlook for investors from all
over the world. The following are the
industries reported for taxation for the
year 1899, and it is fair to assume they
are largely in excess of these figures;
Gold 100000; silver, S4,S02453
lead $Sl7,223; stock and agriculture,
$4,000, 900; rubber and lumber, S16,-
Sl1,27l; fruit, $2,45O,0OO; total, $94,-
7S0,947.
In a country like this, where flowers
have no fragrance and women wear no
petticoats, everything goes by contra
ries. Civil rights are yaporous and life
decidedly uncertain As to the men,
their eyes plainly read Il am dying,
Egypt, dying" They make me feel like
the ruthless hunter | ana hunter OF
sensations and mere literary material
whom the quest of sport has swept to
this country to be in at the death.
With the women It is different. While
the men are very much dormant, the
women are correspondingly alive, the
married women, or senoraS, particular
ly So | lind the educated Hondurian
girl physically attractive, psychicaily
sympathetic and altogether enthrall
ing,
1t is easy to tell the married from
the unmarried women whenever you
meet them by the manner in which
they wear flowers in their hair, the
HtNNl ~ EANAAAS NAtliA VA INC - III o+N'N
and the senoritas on the left. There is
no country on the face Of the globe
where men hold women in greater re-
spec. than In Honduras. Not only do
they guard them with an earnest so
licitude but they accord them the dis.
tinction Of outward Differences. They
protect them from every care and bear
every burden that man can carry for
woman The chivalry of olden times
survives among these people, and this
is doubtless one reason why the WON
en- are so coutented with their lot
There are no married dirts in Hon
duras. no -rmdals caused by unfaith.
full wives. no ambitious women pining
i'm their secluded homes, SO far as
known There are no women's rights
conventions. no women's temperance
societies no mothers meetings There