Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-13

] doubt that we could find a country
In which we could travel with greater
safety than we have found in Mexico
and Central America.
IN THE MINERAL BELT.
From San Miguel we came day and
a hairs drive TO Santa Rosa. the great
mining district OF theSrepnblic. We
were fortunate In meeting a young
American, James Hoffman by name, as
he was on his way TO the mines. and
with him we travelled during the day.
While at Santa Rosa we put up at the
house Of an Englishman, a Mr.. White,
who has lived In this part Of Central
America for sixteen years, and In Next
co and Central America thirty years.
He was we'll posted on mines and min
ing In Salvador. and did not hesitate to
give US all the information he could
There Is only a short strip or belt OF
low hills In this republic that contains
any mineral to speak Of, and runs from
Honduras on the north TO the ocean
on the south, and Is about ten 10 fif-
teen miles wide. The mineral is mostly
gold, but there is in places silver and
other minerals. Four mines worthy OF
note have been opened up, though there
are many others In their early stages.
The richest OF the four Is known as
San Sebastian. II contains gold. Is
owned by an English company, and IL
said to pay big dividends. The second
Is the San Bartolo, runs mostly gold.
but contains a little silver; is owned by
a New York company, and when the
big machinery now being put in place is
ready for operation. will produce well
The present mining laws Of saliva
dor, which give 10 the owner OF the
land possession Of the mineral as well.
greatly retard the development Of this
industry. a native seems TO
think white man. especially an
American, can find rich mines any
where, and when one applies to pros
pect on his land, he puts II down inn
mediately that he already knows there
rs the precious metal there. and de-
mands such a high percentage Of the
ma, with no outlay whatever, that no
person can AFFORD 20 comply The re-
suits are that no prospecting has been
done for two years.
From our talk about the mines and
the country we were, at noon. called
by Mrs. White 20 a repast. the equal
OF which We had not enjoyed since we
hade adleu 10 our colonies in Mexico.
We did fun justice TO everything,
showing an ability as epicures
that anyone might envy. Mrs. White
modestly remarked that the meal was
not good one, while we told her not
alone In words that 1t was a banquet
TO be proud OF.
The lady Is a native OF Salvador,
though OF the lighter ones, her face be-
ing as white as many OF our northern
women. She Is refined and educated. l.
handy with the needle. as well as an
expert in the kitchen, and possesses
above all sympathetic heart The re-
ci,al OF our travels interested her. and
she expressed sympathy when we re-
lated our little trials and hardshlps.
AN ARTIST IN oBSCURITY.
Mr.. White would be taken by anyone
for an American rather than an Eng
lishman. He left England thirty-two
years ago with the idea Of settling I'm
California. But meeting with ship
captain bound for Mexico, he came
here and was supercargo on a coast
steamer for a long time Finally he
came 10 Salvador, and liking the coun-
try settled here.
From the many works OF art which
adorn his home. there Is no question
that nature intended him for an artist
while fate has made him a merchant
in little obscure Indian village in Ell
Salvador.
RAIN IN THE TROPICS.
The rainy season Is on. Every night
a heavy shower passes over. flooding
the ground for a while with water
When we camp out. which we do only
when we cannot get a good room 20
put out cots IN. we invariably get wet,
Tor the showers come up with such force
and magnitude that long before the
tent Is soaked up sufficiently 60 shed
the water much has passed through. A
rain at first IN the shape Of a
warning prepares us. but the tropics
seldom furnish such a raia.
Already the grass and weeds are
up the trees are slowly COW
ering themselves In coating OF new
green leaves, and the whole land smlles
In verdura II Ia surprisinG how quick.