Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-17
MOST FABULOUS WEALTH
IN PRECIOUS WOODS. METALS AND
DOMESTIC PRODUCTS
ABOUND IN
CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY
OF H~onduras-Mr. BrOckunier, of
This City, Has just Returned From
That Country, Where He Has Been
on a Prospecting Tour, and Tells
of Abundance to be Found There.

MI. SdDu E1uSu uibacI iOtui uOu
Monday from Honduras, Central
America, where he has been at the
head of a prospecting party for the
past six months. He was sent down
ostensibly to open a placer gold mine
Tor the Virginia Mining & Trading
Company of this city, to examine into
the resources of the country, and to
ascertain what chances there were for
investment of American capital. In
the party were James S. Rayburn, OF
Alpena, Mich, the company's super
intendent of the Canadian venture;
John Eagley, of Rat Portage, Can, a
mechanical engineer in the employ OF
the company; w. H. Holmes, of Den
yer, Col, a practical mining engineer
of thirty years experience; A. ]. Bor-
den, of Denver, a mining engineer;
Capt. Harry w. McCauley, of Colo
RADIO; Samuel B. Ebert, of Des Moines,
Ia, a mining engineer, and Brigadier
General E. A. Lever, of the Army of
Honduras.
The parry lxnded at Puerto Cortez,
in Spanish Honduras, the point at
which the early Spanish explorers first
touched this continent. This is the fore
most seaport of the country. The only
railroad in the country has its ter
minus there, and runs back fifty miles
inland to San Pedro. The party took
this road to that point, and taking a
mule train with their outfit, struck out
into the mountains. The train was COM
posed of forty mules, the only means
Of transportation afforded in the coun-
try with the exception of the railroad.
The party took up operations sew
enty miles beyond San Pedro on Chi
uuila river, a stream about as big as
Wheeling creek, but with a much
swifter current. The spot selected was
In the midst of a tropical wilderness.
The growth of the foliage was so dense
that a way had to be cut through 1t.
Fifty native laborers were employed.
Everything for the operation OF
mines had to be cut out Of the forest
surrounding the site selected. A num-
Der of huts were constructed of a frame
work Of poles, with walls Of matched
leaves. The roof was made of a much
deeper thatch. In the construction OF
the mining apparatus mahogany and
cedar wood were generally used. These
two woods are most generally used, as
the pine in the country contains too
much pitch and warps very easily.
The weather was extremely pleasant
the entire time. On not more h
three or four days did the thermometer
mount above 80 degrees. But at night
it never went below so degrees, so that
the temperature, while decidedly steady,
was not uncomfortable.
The natives of the country are a
treacherous, lazy set of half Spanish
and half Indian extraction. At the mine
they would not work longer than until
pay day, and it was finally found nee
essary to appeal to the government for
a detail of troops to force the natives
to live up to their contracts.
After the mine had been started two
men were left in charge, and Mr.. Brock
unier, with the rest Of the party, started
through the interior, prospecting, stop
ping some times to wash the gravel. The
country abounds in coffee. banana and
sugar plantations, and untold wealth of
forest woods. There are numerous old
gold, silver, copper and lead mines,
which had been worked a century ago
by the Spaniards. On the tour the party
also visited the famous Esperanto opal
mines.
The trades people make from forty to
one hundred and sixty per cent. On ev-
erything they handle. The price is nat
urally exhorbitant, owing to the danger
of sending goods in the country. The
only drawback to the development OF
the country is the difficulty in securing
transportation. Everything is carried
mule-back, and the burden limited to
two hundred pounds. The charge of
conveying these two hundred pounds
from n point to another is ten dol
lars, or as much more as the muleteer
can exc out Of the shipper. With a
railroad running from coast to coast
the future of the country would be very
bright. The grading for a road would
be very easy ones, and there are prac-
tically no streams. The government Is
behind the times and not rich enough
to offer any other assistance than free
right of way and free timber.
During the tour the party went
through the part of the country where
the Gracies Indians inhabit. They
are the best type of Indians known, as
they have never been demoralized by
the benefciaries of civilization. They
have a tradition that they have never
been conquered by man Forty cents
a day is a fair wage for any kind Of
work.