The Washington herald., 1909-11-07

the value Of 81 per capita. and are selling
their own products abroad to the value
OF Sc per capita.
THE combined export and import trade
OF Costa Rica. however. amounts to $50
per capita. You see, therefore, that we
are doing considerably more business
with the world than are our neighbors
Ones wants multiply with ones money.
and international prosperity is largely a
matter OF reciprocity. Our imports from
the United States are composed in the
main OF cottOns. foodstuffs. railway
equipment, hardware, manufactured um-
Der. tobacco, and vehicles
England. once. had the bulk OF our
trade. There was a native prejudice
against American cottons and linens. but
they came I'm and now we prefer them 70
all others. II was SO with the machete.
the universal farm tool and weapon Of
Spanish-Americans. Practically every
man in Costa Rica owns a machete with
which 20 cut down his crops Europe
sent us macheteg but the United States
used better materials. and we were will
ing to pay a higher price for what we
wanted We buy agricultural implements
made IN this country because of their su-
perior quality. Our shoes. at one time
imported from France. come from Amer
Tea. We are good friends and customers
OF the United States, and everything that
Is made here suits our purposes. More
over, Americans are scattered all over
the country"
Interest Rates Advanced.
who controls your banSs2'
I'VE have three large handsome is
owned by Costa Ricans one by English
men. and ono by Americans Since the
hurricane. which ruined our banana plan
tations. and two seasons Of rain. which
seriously damaged our coffee crops. times
have been depressed. and tie interest
rate has advanced to S per cent"
Have you any mlllionaires?"
mot many. Coffee has made some OF
our countrymen rich. but we are a nation
OF poor men, though nearly every Costa
Rican owns a home or some land II
has been said that we are peaceful and
prosperous, because our people mind their
own business. They would rather plant
and cultivate their crops than to conspire
and revolt Let me say that our national
theater cost 100000 IN gold. and was
paid for by an export tax on coffee Ii
Is made Of stone and marble. and was
decorated by European artists brought
over for the purpose"
What is Germany doing in Costa
Rica7"
Not so much as elsewhere IN Spanish
America. Germany supplied y per cent
Of our imports in 1897. as against about
u per cent ten years later. We have a
solid German element in our population
and most OF our large stores are owned
by Germans, but, oddly enough. they buy
their goods In the United States
We have even gone so far" Mr.
Calvo said. 'in our efforts 70 get into
step with America that we now teach
English in our public schools. 7 have
already sent several university gradu-
ates from this country 10 san Jose. and
we are adopting your methods OF In
struction fin the important matter OF
| hygiene. Our schools are free and the
attendance n them is compulsory One
dollar out OF eight IN the public reve-
nues Is devoted TO education. Further
more" Alr. Calvo said. with n smile
'our teeth are filled with Instruments
and dental machinery manufactured IN
, America. You can truly SAY in the article
YOU write that Costa Rlcans are the
real Yankees OF Central America"
Copyright 1913, b. james r. Morrow