Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-17

A NE Gay uIlNf liOili @AA'N 80
I cienda, the place of last writ
ing, brought us to the end OF
our bad roads, and to the foot
OF the ascent which leads to
San Jose. To our right few
" miles was Punta Arenas, a
seaport and a port OF
entry, and above IL lying d.
rectly on our road was the little town
of Esparta. The country along the
road was generally rolling, cross sec
toned often by shallow rivers contain
ing clear water In spite Of the rains
The land is very rich, and where not
cleared, Is covered with heavy growth
OF timber. But as rule there are ex-
tensive clearings principally for pas
ture purposes. which are planted to
para grass. Originally the forests con-
tained much valuable woods, prinCi-
pally cedar but these have long since
been cut and exported
From Punta Arenas northward
through q narrow strip OF country
twenty miles wide live most Of the in
habitants Of the republic. With the ex-
ceptlon OF Liberia all the large towns
are found In this strip. Here too, most
OF the coffee plantations are found
The banana plantations are on the At
lantio side.
While the coffee plantations are
yielding well and looking WELL the crop
does not bring the returns In cash
that II did few years ago and many
planters are now turning their atten-
ton 20 other crops. | was Informed
AT Atenas that coffee land few years
ago which sold for one thousand dollars
could be bought now. trees ana all, for
from three TO four hundred dollars.
Many planters live In hopes however,
that the price Of coffee will 20 up, and
thus make their crops more valuable.
Corn Is very dear. We pay dollar
for less than peck, and as corn Is
the principal article OF diet for the ma
tives, some are placed in Strengthened
circumstances, and II is thought there
VIII be suffering before the next crop Is
harvested But the corn fields look
well. and will soon yield their album
dance. Already the tassels are appear
ing. and as soon az roasting ears come
there will be food for all.
A MODEL TOWN.
One Of the most enterprising and adj
vanced little towns along the way is
LaJuela. It's streets are rounding, in
stead OF sloaping to the middle. as the
streets OF most Of the towns do, and are
grayeled and rolled The houses are neat
and clean and have look Of newness,an
appearance very foreign TO most OF the
towns In Central America. There Is n
GNgtnun az glapfpia tsl,t
PERCUSSION OF lamps not enjoyed by
many OF our cities in the north The
plaza or public square In all of the
leading towns attracts the attention of
the stranger Here are always beauti-
fully arranged beds OF flowers. even
the choicest 10 us growing In abund-
ance. Rare plants and trees all we'll
Kept and a lawn well moved accom-
pany the flowers. Then there is the
band stand, which seems 10 be more
necessary than the shrubs and flowers
II usually stands In the center Every
town has Its band, and as the people
generally are good musicians, and all
lovers OF music, every clear evening
me band Is out, and the whole town is
hlled with music.
COSTA RTCA'S CAPITAL
On Thursday at o'clock IN the
morning we reached San Jose, having
broken camp at o'clock a. m. In an
hour or so we had secured pasturage
Tor our animals near town. and n good
place To camp. our first call was on
the consul Mr. Caldwell. from whom
we received letters from the Columbian
government containing passports and
notes OF introduction and recommends
ton to the civil and military authorl-
ties.
From this point we leave civilization
TO q certain extent and for the next
six weeks or until we reach Panama,
will travel through the widest and
most unknown part Of our Journey
had written TO obtain papers from the
Colombian government. that would in
sure us the assistance OF the authorl-
ties along our route. The letter given
me by Mr. Caldwell contained these
necessary papers. The "isthmian trip"
has always been an objective In our
journey. and we have looked forward
not without misgivings 10 lis compile
ton. Many have told us that IL could
not be made that there was no road or
trail, and that the swamps were i'm