Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-08-29
written for the Optic. j

100 RAAaWhAl
very few In the northern part Of TIL
country know what an important IA,
tor the banana IL in the nationa
economy of the United States.
Some fruit enters On the pacifi
side. but only 10 a very iimite'
amount. The hulk enters by way o
New Orleans and Mobile. These w,
ports receive about two thirds nf al
the fruit imported. TO these ports pis
fIfty.tow steamers which are cailet
"frniters' because they are fitted GU
solely for the transportation q fruit
and carry no other import These
nfty-two steamers belong ID sfx dif
ferent c~ofnpaniea. the United Fruit
Company. Cefaio Bros, vacraro Bros
Thacker Bros. Machcca Bros. and
the Sauio oteri Company.
10 obtain m idea Of the immensely
or Tho business done with IN appart
entity Insignificant article III Ii neeaa,
sary N look HI the statistics of inl.
port of last year. III the year 1909
there were imported into the United
States no less than thirty-four mil.
lion benches of bananas.
0f these went To New Orleans amt
Mobile alone over eleven %tnlIlinn
lunches.
suah numbers appear fabulous, yet
often Il Is Impossible ID meet ibe
demand and The demand FOR bananas
increases every year. Not only iii thn
United States, but also III Europe.
During the last few years traffic with
this article has begun across The AZ
lantic. England imported last year
Two million lunches.
The banana Ii raised Iii plantations
n far, only un tho Antilles md mil
along The shores of tho Caribbean sea
Enterprises on The islands proved
nor Or less Of d failure III compafI
q with the largo profits gained OH
the mainland, because tho storms fra
qientiy destroy fha plantations while
on many places Of the coast HURT
cans are unknown.
The greatest part OF tho Investment
Is In Central America and there Hon.
duras offers Tho ideal locality. The
fruit Of Honduras not only seems to
be superior III annlity but also the
fertility Of the soil cannot be esoeiled
no whore. Furthermore Honduras al.
fcrs harbor facilities which are want
Ing oil along the rest on the Central
American coast.
The Bay Of Trnsillo gives shelter al
any time Of The year and during any
kind OF weather. Sailing vessels often
run in and wait for the heavy seaa 10
cal mdown. I
Truxillo II the Oldest town oil the
American continent; there the first
was erected and at the end I
OF a narrow tongue OF land which J
forms the excellent bay. known az !
'Punta de Castillo" Columbus set
loot for hto first limo on tho con. I
linent. Only lately plantations were !
In the vicinity or Truxlllo. !
but on account Of the harbor and the J
Richness o fthe soil Truxillo within {
! few years Will be tho most Import. !
mt center for tho shipping IL ban. !
!
Rich streams flow near by and {
miles Of railroad or n canal can J
make Truxlllo the outlet OF one of the
richest valleys Of this planet where J
miles and miles Of the most fertile
await the planter. whore miles !
and miles OF dlewood surprise tho J
traveller, where miles and miles the !
eye sees the surrounding hills lined I
with beautiful pines. I
N that valley. the valley ef thn /,
the farmer makes yaftets Il I
r%nahasony and fences OF coder. me !
ebony serves for ! handles and The !
lignam vitae ia used for house poets 4
because they resist Tho decay 30 much
the numerous branches ut tlin !
carry rod Tint nobody washes
or prospects for. III mo mountains
are the ruins OF cid Spanish mines.
abandoned during The strife for IN. |
4 Is known that these
mines shipped many ealleon and fam.
buccaneers always were laying !
'eady for vessels with gold and III. J
outside the harbor and only well !
conveyed could the galleons reach :
heir destiny. II the traveller asks his 9
'uide. where Is the famous old Miner !
Quien sabe," Il often the reply and Y
My old men can lead the curious
Q the caved In entrances through :
growths and over rough paths.