The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-03-12
A VISIT TO
COSTA RIGA
Most Progressive Gen.
tral American Country.
NO JURIES THERE
Everyone Looks Forward to the
Building Of Niearaguan
Canal-No Land Taxes

CanaI-No Land Taxes
to Pay.
James c. Deidrick, president Of the
News-Democrat Publishing Company,
returned, this week, from trip to Costa
Rica, Central America. In speaking
Of the country, Mr.. Deidrick said:
Costa Rica is country of which
but little is known. in this part of the
United States, and such information
as has been given contains much that
is untrue. Costa Rica, In the main, Ia
healthful country, with tempera-
ture that stands at about 81 degrees
the year around, variations In temper
ature not exceeding five degrees. The
land Is mountainous and San Jose, the
capital, Is six thousand feet above the
level of the sea. AS an evidence of the
civilization, 1t may be cited that the
opera house at San Jose cost $2,000,-
600, the city has in addition beautiful
parks and excellent music, all provided
by the government for the public.
Civilization In the upper circles in San
Jose Is equal to almost any to be found
in the world. Most Of the better class
have been educated in Europe.
The country abounds in coffee, cocoa
and fruits of all kinds. Heretofore 1t
has been very difficult to reach this
country, owing to the freighters being
slow and have poor accommodations.
The United Fruit company, better
known as the fruit trust, has put on
line of fast, modern steamers, running
from New Orleans to Port Limon.
These boats make the trip, of over
4 IT, oh lov A.
commodations are very good. The COM
pany is making special inducements to
tourists who desire to spend the winter
season in warmer climate. and 1t
iG safe to say that a large influx Of
tourists to Costa Rica will be the re-
suit.
In Costa Rica it will rain almost
every day for six months, but during
the other six months Of the year it is
dry. 1t is the dry season there now.
Two crops year are raised and owing
to the high altitude of the mountains
different degrees of temperature and
different vegetation are found. Living
for the lower classes of the country
is very cheap. In fact, 1t is SO easy
to live that very few of the natives
care to work. Most of the work at
Port Limon is done by negroes from
Jamaica.
A great many Americans are now
in San Jose. The Imperial hotel is con-
Quoted by John Nones, formerly of
New York. This is the principal hotel
in San Jose. Costa Rican money is on
q gold basis, but dollar of Costa
Rican money is worth but 46 cents In
American money. Custom duties of
two cent per kilo are levied upon the
gross weight of baggage taken in and
the same amount on baggage taken
out of the country. The language
of the country is universally Spanish,
and the principal topic Of conversation
is the Nicaraguan canal. Everyone,
from congressman and senators of the
United States to the ordinary specula-
tor Of Costa Rica appears to have pos
sessions of various kinds near the pro-
posed route of the Nicaraguan canal,
which they expect to be made worth
built That the canal will be great
aid in the development Of Central
America there can be no question, and
no one who is opposed to the canal
has any place In the hearts Of Central
American citizens.
There is no tax upon land or chattele
in Costa Rica. Land that has not been
taken, and there are immense tracts
that have not, can be had from the
government for practically nothing, and
1t Is safe to say that nearly all the
tropical fruit companies being exploit.
ed and advertised in northern papers
are not much better than frauds. While
| fruit, rubber and coffee can be raised
In abundance, yet 1t requires constRn
attention and labor the same as any
where else The title to the land IL
\ Costa Rica Is perfect, the decd bearing
ON It's face every transfer and lien
1t is signed by the man, and also In tn,
maiden name of his mother.
The Roman Catholic church hold
absolute sway; there is no other churcl
In Costa Rica. The government pro
vides popular education, and make
education compulsory. The free schoO
system In Costa Rica is said to be YER,
much like that of the United States
There are two classes Of people In Cost
Rica. The upper class is very high
while the lower class is extremely low
While the upper class wear the moderl
creations of Paris and have an abun
dance OF money, the lower class hy
in adobe huts. with pigs. chickens an
children all together.
The police force of Costa Rica is mil
itary in character and at San Jose a
armed soldiers stands at almost ever
principal conner. The military is ON
nipresent. The arms and accouteI
mepts Of some Of the soldiers are YER
elaborate, but some Of them do nc
wear shoes. The uniform Of the privat
Is Of blue denim With brass pantaloo
buttons for ornements. ", I.
! u epn 3oee ne cnthe6ral beJle chin