The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-05
sCArEwAGA

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Mesico. Coftea deapatohsi hta c%utnpanlon
Pedro 10 Alvafadp. on ~ ssprtition to
Tho aputhWart. Hs fought his way w. The
country INV known ~ Guatemala, which
be- occupied during tho summer ~ 1874
10 found q civilization superior N that ~
the ino,,s ~ Peru ~ ~ ths Aktecr ~ desicu.
Ruins ~ citlos and temples built by th~-@
people. claimed by aome Ia h~ tho boat
trilira ~ Israel. ara still to be aeen. The
entire region IL a rich field for the archa'ol-
ogis, and thu s,hnologist.
Tho history ~ Guatemala under Spanish
rule Ia like that ~ all Spanish colonies.
Development toward n higher civilization
followed ~ rough and bloody road. In
ls2i tho I'VE provinces which now appear
~ tho nye republicz 81 Central America
threw on their allegiance to Spain and
organized the Republic ~ Central America
The combination was not a success, and the
federation dissolved In 1899. The years
which followed we're. In Guatemala, a time
Of political confusion and frequent armed
conflict until 1871, when the political skies
showed clearing tendencies. The Conssi-
tuition which Ia now In force was adopted
in 1870. The next twenty years were not
precisely n time OF peace. In 1893 Manuel
Estrada Cabrera came into power. and
under his administration which still con-
tinues, Guatemala has shown a most grail
flying progress.
Like the future OF perhaps all ofthe Latin
American republics, the future Of Guate-
mala depends upon three factors, namely,
political peace, population and railway
systems. The country has an area Of $500
square miles, or a few miles more than
the State Of New York. The general CEN
sus of 1904 gives il n population Of "a? 600.
As some omissions are known to have
occurred, IL is estimated hat the actual
number is not far from 1000, 900. or these,
about / 100 600 are of the native Indian race,
and $50 900 of mixed white and Indian
blood, known as Ladinos.
In its photography Guatemala is a land
of rare attractiveness. 1t il a land Of noun
tains, hills, lakes and streams. Along its
coast lie fertile plains with the plants and
the tree growth Of the tropics. Its central
area is a mountainous region ~interspersed
with broad plateaus. In the northern part
there are low hills OF 1 500 to 1000 feet
elevation. These join the higher ranges
of the central zone, and further southwark
lie the volcanic peaks, two Of which reach
an altitude of IA 900 feet. Guatemala q
lakes are as beautiful as the lakes OF Scot
land, and many Of her streams are torrents
broken by rapids and noble cataracts.
The various elevations greatly diversity
the possible products. On the low lands
of the coast are the crops Of the tropics,
and on the uplands of the middle region
are the crops Of the temperate zone. In
the markets Of Europe, where the best
coffee is known and appreciated, the Qua
temala berry ranks among the choicest
and most expensive. This is grown at
from 1,5OO to 5000 feet elevation, where
the temperature ranges between 90 and
90 degrees Fahrenheit. Sugar, cacao, rub
Der and cotton are also among the products
of Guatemala. She has forests of hard
wood waiting for transportation facilities.
Her mineral wealth is only indifferently
known, but there Is every reason to believe
it to be of great Importance.
Guatemala City, the capital Of the coun-
try, is the largest city of Central America.
1t has a population Of about 100 900. 1t
was founded in l778 and is the third of its
name, its predecessors having been shaken
out of their location by earthquakes. It
stands at a little less than 5000 feet eleva-
ton at the northern end Of a broad, sweep
ing plain, around which stand the noun
tains in an irregularly serrated wall.
The range Of temperature, with rare ex-
ceptions, Ia between IS and 80 degrees
Fahrenheit. 1t is a city Of broad venues,
beautiful parks and notable public build
ings.
The present administration Of Guatemala
is giving all possible encouragement to
railway enterprises. Probably within the
next two years a line will be in operation
from Guatemala City northward to a con-
~nection with the Mexican system. When
hat is done it will be possible to reach
Guatemala by an all rail route from Cape
Breton, and all intermediate points. Within
about the same time the country will also
nave in operation an interoceanio route
from Puerto Barrios, on the Caribbean
side, via Guatemala City, to San Jose, on
the Pacific coast. Still other lines are
contemplated. These facilities will open
a large area Of fertile land to profitable
cultivation and settlement. The inter-
oceanic line will be some 27o miles in length,
and a system Of highways, some already
completed, some in process Of construction
and others planned for early completion,
will serve as feeders for the railroad.
When this country has been made more
easily accessible, it should prove a m
attractive point for travellers. Beautiful
scenery is not alto gether a novelty in our
own land, but there is more than scenery
for the tourist to see in Guatemala. About
thirty miles from the capital city and easily