Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
AMERICAN IN vAS|0N
On the Pacific Side Of Isthmus
Of Tehuantepec.
ENGLISH ESPOKEN"'
CURIOUS MANNER IN WHICH
LANGUAGE rs TWISTED.
Climate Healthful-No Earthquake for
Twenty Days-Progress in Building
Railroads-Informati Scarce.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

city of that name bear placards which read,
"Englesh Espoken." AT the hotel there are
ten Americans, representing as many states,
while entire Mexico Is represented by only
one guest. The Americans are In the city
on business, and are mostly strangers to
each other. No other country Is repre-
sented. Like most interior hotels, there Is
little privacy at Ell Globo. Monsieur Toca-
ven, Familiarity called TOGO by his guests,
Is Frenchman by birth. Cards promi
nently displayed announce, mo Sc aguilan
quartos solos," which means that no guest
can have room to himself. In fact, 1t is
question whether there are any rooms. Cots
are used for beds and distributed, under
cover and out, according to space and the
demand for accommodations. Low, wooden
partitions separate some Of the spaces, and
thus guest may not be compelled to have
more imam two or three immediate compan-
ions Whom he never saw before. By the
aid OF an intelligent compositor the proprie-
tor has been able to display notices
IN spanish, French and English, showing
an equal proficiency in the various Ian
guages. The English is probably the worst
worded. A printed card in English on the
wan reads: The proprietors of this hotel
Jects or money when delivered to them
selves by passengers" TOGO seems at all
times to be uncertain whether he is running
motel or train. as the reference to pas
A Model Prospectus.
His general prospectus" in English in
point OF photography and punctuation is a
gem. 1t is apparently modelled after the
constitution and bylaws of a debating So
clety. II reads: The only first-class
french MOTEL in Tehuantepec This estab-
lshment enjoys an old and acreditable rep
utatlon; 1t is situated in the most central
part of the city.
Art l. The guests will pay g. 80 for each
uay. Inc rooms Of the hotel face on three
rant. served in English, French, Spanish
ana Mexican style, leaves nothing to be
desired by the guests.I
81 Biil n parlor-Efne assortment of first
class liquors at moderate prices.
Article 2. The meal hours are in tho
morning from 7to~Si o'clock, coffee; from
II 10 IL, breakfast, and from 6 to pm,
dinner The table will be ready at the
prefixed hours, for all guests After. the
aforementioned hours, passengers can ask
price.
Article g. Guests who may wish to be
served In their rooms or otherwise, can do
so. paying separately.
Article 4: A good assortment of wines
ana other liquors will always be found in
TINS establishment at low prices.
Article 8. The master of the establish
ment Will not be responsible for the equip
ages and !. other things belonging to pas
| SSSSt - IL tloi ucllrSEeu 10 MIN IN person.
Article 6. Meals served in rooms and
other extra services will be charged extra.
as also will be extra lights, &C., &C
Artlcle .. servants of guests of this es-
ia blishment will be charged according IN
the accommodations which they receive.
PERSONS who do not receive proper atten-
ton by the employees Of the establishment
are requested to inform the manager"
Daily Earthquake Story.
inere Is saying that there is an earth
quake in Tehuantepec every afternoon at
o'clock. This is Indignantly denied bv
TOGO. There has not been an earthquake
here for twenty days. he says The yolca-
no IN Guatemala, Santa Maria, which de-
stroyed the second largest town In that
republic four or five months ago covered
Tehuantepec with an inch or two of ashes
and the whole isthmus had more or less of
1t.
The climate Of this part of the isthmus
Is sa10 to be particularly healthfuI 1t Ia
very dry but a cool breeze from the Pacific.
twelve miles distant makes the Temperatures
endurable., The transition from the north
slope to the south Is remarkable 1t is
change from the climate of Florida to that
OF southern California in six hours The
rainy season Is just ending on the north
coast and it Is still raining. The total fall
for the season at Santa Lucrecia was 1141h
inches Here it has not rained for weeks
and 1t rains only during three months OF
the year. The soil Is sandy. 1t produces
lIll0 except n UOZcIl OF more Kinds OF O.
tus. The distance by rail from the center
Of the isthmus is ninety miles, said to be
twice the actual air line distance The
railroad elevation over the divide Is not
great, not over 300 feet, though one peak
has an altitude Of 10000 feet The CANYON
of the Malatengo river affords an easy
and picturesque passage through the noun
tains, part of the great backbone of the
American continent extending from Cane
Horn to Alaska. The Tehuantepec railroad
has been practically rebuilt at this end
by the Pearsons of London. Heavy rails
have been laid and a dozen or more new
bridges cross ravnes at great elevation.
The old rails have been used for telegraph
poles. The ties are of Oregon pine which,
while not satisfactory, are the best to be
had. Wood decays quickly, is DESTROYED by
ants, and seldom lasts over a year in con-
tact with the soil Steel ties used by some
railroads. are also Objectionable. This
solution of the Atlantic and Pacific traffic
problem has on the whole been greatly i'm
proved under the Pearson & Son contract
Railroad Progress.
It was only year or two ago that nine
wrecks at one time within twenty-five
miles tied up the road for several days
This included two wreck trains sent out
to remove the other wrecks. Americans
here were the first to make an all-rail trip
from Boston and Washington to the Pa
cifc coast at Salina Cruz, twelve miles be-
low, by the aid of this line and two work
/ trains on the Vera Cruz branch. Through
Pullman coaches will be running from the
City Of Mexicosto Salina Cruz in thirty
days. At San Geronimo, station a few
miles north from Tehuantepec, the Pan
American route branches off to Guatemala,
and the line is partially constructed 1t is
only a question: Of q few months when an
all-rai route from Maine to Central Amer
lea will be open to- the public. The city of
Tehuantepec is one Of the oldest in Mexi-
co. Its churches date back to the time of
the conquest. There is nothing modern In
its architecture. The railroad has brought
nothing In the way OF new buildings. Sa-
lima Cruz on the coast, where SIT ,OOO, 600
is being expended on a breakwater and
dredging is the port entry and the termi-
is springing up. Tehuantepec at the foot
Of the mountains with it's massive stone
buildings and its 10000 Inhabitants, is the
seat of government Of the state, and as
such will remain unchanged. Modern com,
merce goes to the seaport and it is there
that modern enterprise will find opportun-
ity, There Is no incentive to investment
in Tehuantepec The city has remained
the same. Mexican throughout The onIy
striking change IL the effort on the part
| Of the Inhabitants to speak English, an ef-
| fort which has met with rather Indifferent
success tn1us far The educated Young men