Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-11
HONDURAS OFFERS INDUCE
MENTS TO FOREIGN DEFAULTERs
THOUSANDS ARE THERE
They Are Freely Bled by the Govern
ment for Privileges-Are in Bust
ness and Prospering- Duel
to the Death Between Rivals for a
Girls Affections.

nSh and Americans, 5000; Germans
and Austrians, $500; French, 300;
Italians, $500; Mexicans, $500; Span
ISL, $500; Portuguese, 1000; all other
nationalities, 5000. 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
IaWbreakers 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 weeSthy. The gold
mines OF Honduras, which under the
most favorable circumstances are but
half developed and not half worked,
turned out over $8,OOO,O00 in yellow
metal.
It is in the vast rubber forests, how
ever, that the greatest wealth is &C
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 Will 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 Is 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 concession depends altogether
on the condition Of the national fnan-
ces. If the treasury is depIeted-which
is the case most Of the time-then a
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 q 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 exorbi-
tant figure.
No one of the South or Central
American states possesses so many
varied and constant resources as Hon
duras. Were it n9t for its backward
state Of civilization there would be a
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, $8,O0O,O0O; silver, $4,SO2,453;
lead, $817,223; stock and agriculture,
Sal 100000; rubber and lumber, $16,-
811,271; fruit. $2,450,O0O; total, $94,-
78O,947.
In country like this, where flowers
have no fragrance and women wear no
petticoats, everything goes by contra
ries. Civil rights are vaporous 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 l 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. I find the educated Hondurian
girl physically attractive, psychically
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
senoras putting them on the right side
and the senoritas on the left There is
no country on the face Of the globe
where men hold women in greater re-
spect 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 wom-
en- are so contented with their lot.
There are no married firts in Hon
duras, no scandals caused by unfaith-
full wives, no ambitious women pining
in their secluded homes, so far as
known. There are no wOmen's rights
conventions, no women's temperance
societies, no mothers meetings. There
is not even a woman's card club in the
whole country The wife knows moth
iIg Of the family finances; she is not
consulted in serious business affairs. If
| were asked, what do they do with
their timer" I should say their days
are quite as full Of activity, both men
tai and physical as those Of their sis
ters in the United States. Honduras
women do not crave the freedom and |
publicity of life that are enjoyed in the |
United States. They are very charit- |
able, and are kindness itself to the |
poor people of their neighborhood, !
sending portions Of bread and meat |
daily to those who are in destitute cir
cumstances.
It was my fortune to witness a duel |
between a native Hondurian and a !
Spanish trader who had recently come |