The Washington herald., 1909-11-07

cacao, and coffee. I should Ike TO have
the people OF the United States know
that Costa RiCa IS the most peaceful.
enterprislng and prosperous country I'm
Central America. and that we have good
opportunities for the investment of out
side capital. In area, Costa Rica is about
as large as Vermont, Connecticut. and
/ Massachusetts. Along the Atlantic. the
country Is low. On the Pacific side. are
/ rich valleys and mountains that are
nearly two miles high"
/ "A railway" said, as being built
across the country 90 connect the two
! oceans
/ 1T will be completed IN a short time"
/ Mr. Calvo replied IAN English COM
pany constructed a line from Port Limon
20 the interior Of the republic. A few
/ years aE0. let IRE say. Port LIm0n was
! hardly more than a swamp. To-day Il
| has nearly 1900 inhabitants and e. one Of
the best harbors in Laun America. Ba-
ns3as made the city. The English. as I
/ said built a railway toward the interior
/ from the east. Meanwhile, the govern
ment Of Costa Rica constructed q line
! toward the interior from the shores Of
/ the Pacific. Between the ends Of the
two roads. when completed. were a gap
/ twelve miles long and a range OF noun
/ tains $500 feet high.
viii Join the Roads.
"Our engineers could not agree on n
plan by which tho roads could be con-
nectod. and so I hired an American who
! had been in the service Of the New York
1 Central, and he is now rapidly driving
a tunnel and building the necessary
| bridges He hopes that through trains
may be running across Costa Rica some
time next January. When the two roads
4 are Joined I am sure many persons IN
the United States will visit my country
simply TO enjoy the wonderful scenery.
BY rail the distance between the oceans
will be 10 miles The eastern end Of the
road. built. as have said. by English
men. is leased and operated by an
American corporation, the shares OF
which are owned by the United Fruit
Company Within a short time ten rail-
ways will connect the Atlantic and Pa
cifio oceans north Of the isthmus-one In
Mexico one in Guatemala. one IN Pana-
ma. one I'm Canada. one In Costa Rica,
and five in the United States"
How will the Panama Canal effect
Costa Rice?"
TT will be greatly 10 our advantage.
because II will cause Americans 10 form
the habit of travelling toward the south.
and, once in Panama. they will want to
see other parts OF Central America. Al
ready more Americans are going TO San
Jose, our capital than ever before We
are always glad 70 bring our fine oppor-
tunities for business 10 the notice Of
strangers"
What are the shipping facilities be-
tween the United States and Costa
Rica 2''
! They are really very good. There are
fruit ships. with accommodations for pas
sengers. from the four regular ports I
have heretofore mentioned The Adj
mral feet, so called for the reason that
the vessels are named after famous
American naval officers, is the best of all
and sails from Boston. BY the ships OF
that line can reach Port Limon in seven
days. we also have direct water com
munication between San Francisco and
our ports on the Pacific, and we have
plenty of ships to Europe"
Buy from the United States.
Nearly one-half Of the goods you buy
away from home are made in the United
States How can the mutual trade OF the
two countries be increased?' 1 asked.
''Forty-fve per cent OF our imports are
purchased in this country. In exchange YOU
get practically all Of our bananas and part
Of our coffee. Our trade with this country
can only be increased through the devel-
opment OF Costa Rican resources. We are
now buying up 10 the limit OF our means.
AS whole, the FIVE republics of Central
lqAraerica are purchasing foreign goods TO