The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-21
DOWN IN HONDURAS.

Major James H. Reeves. chief of the
division Of postage stamps and post
masters accounts of the postoffice de-
partment, has recently returned from
Il business trip to Honduras, Central
America. and is enthusiastic over the
prospects for success in all lines of
business. II properly pushed by enter
| prising Americans.
1T has always seemed to me that
when 1 reached New Orleans. or any
other point in the United States along
our southern border. 1 was really in the
land of fruit. lower and good old sum-
mer time" said Major Reeves this
morning in speaking of his experiences.
My view point changed materially
soon after the passenger steamer Break
water left New Orleans and pushed out
into the gulf. The breezes blew softly.
passengers rapidly discarded heavy
clothing. and before we reached Belize.
British Honduras, we were accustomed
to the view of shores decorated with
the witchery of feathery palm on the
one side. and the shifting colors on the
water side caused by coral lodges of va
rious shades and at many depths. Only
coral reefs can garnish water with this
riot Of opalesque coloring.
Belize is a thoroughly British town,
clean. orderly, n in every way mi
nently respectable. Oranges, lemons.
lines, cocoanuts and bread fruit ripen-
ing in the sun tell you, as do the many
brown faces and stately palms, that you
are in he land of perpetual summer
There is little of interest in British
Honduras outside of Belize, and once
outside the harbor you look forward
cheerfully to your landing at Puerto
Cortez, in Honduras the republic-the
Honduras of Spain. You pass many
beautiful islands, miles Of shore line
shaded by c%ocoanut trees, into the mag
nificent harbor of Puerto BarrioS,
Guatemala, and thence on to Puerto
CorteZ. Flying fishes we saw frequent
ly, and great schools of porpoise were
daily on view. These huge fishes fol-
lowed us for miles, frequently jumping
high out of the water, and racing back
ward and forward across our bow.
The old town of Puerto Cortez is on
the south shore Of a deep-water harbor,
formed by an elbow of the Caribbean
sea. The town is two miles long and
but eighty feet wide, and is the coast
terminal Of the only railroad in Hondu-
ras. Here is a splendid beach and the
NAAONS TX $500 1A IN OANAoN
and lemon trees hang out golden fruit
signals, thousands of brilliantly plum
aged parrots and other birds are in
evidence and tropical foliage is every
where. 1t is now no! for the San Pc
dro Sula valley. the richest and in ev-
cry way most desirable agricultural
spot in Honduras. A rather old-faSh-
Toned railroad train takes you south
thirty-seven miles to San Pedro. one of
the largest towns in the country. 1t
has a population Of more h 5000, in
Guiding about 100 Americans. This 100
leavens the whole lump. They are ev-
erywhere in evidence, and are very
much alive.
Il forgot to mention that a revolution
Is supposed to be in progress down
there, and that towns have been taken.
We had a war fleet on the Pacific side,
and another has been ordered to the
Caribbean sea coast. 1t was reported
that the revolutionistS had captured
Celba, but, strange to say, nothing is
: said about shots being fired, men killed
or prisoners taken. That is where the
: joke comes in. Friends of Bonilla were
in the majority in the town. A squad
! Of Bonilla men drifted in and declared
the town TAKEN and SO it was.
NO american neeO lear Tor MS lie,
< liberty or property. No native could b.
induced at the point of a bayonet to in
+ terfere with one of Uncle Sans chill
dren. 1t was hard to believe 1 was in
q country said to be in the throes of a.
civil war. 1t is of no Importance to an
American whether hostilities are active
or settled, and it make no difference
to him which side wins.
THE WOPJDC BANANA CApDEN
A San Pedro 1 was in the heart of
one Of the great banana-growing Sec
tons of the world. l saw scores of car
loads of the fruit at the port. more in
transit and cords Of them at the rail-
0 road trackside. awaiting shipment. ]
was particularly interested in the work
!, of an American company working along
. the railway a few miles south of San
Pedro. A fourteen hundred acre plan
; tation has been laid out. with 500 acres
! cleared and work is being pushed to get
the remaining acreage ready for plant
ing. A force of men began planting the
banana bulbs on March 10. The COM
pany referred to is the Santa Barbara
Plantation Company. of which Colonel
Orren G. Staples, Of this city, is presi-
dent. Before the year closes they will
have the largest plantation in Hondu-
n raS.
r 1.-The growing Of bananas there is a
revelation. Plants three months old
are ten feet high. They begin to pro-
duce fruit in from seven to eight months
after PLANTING. Every bulb planted
produces a plant. and every plant pro-
: duces a bunch of bananas There seems
to be no failures. The fruit is sold at
< the cks OF long term contracts.
{ There is NO ~1uctuation in prices, ex-
g cept a gradual advance. Prices aver
age 10 per cent higher than a year ago,
with prospects of another advance of a
like amount before the year closes. ]
never saw a country where I was SO
impressed with the fact that money
cOuld he made aaSiIv along so MANY