Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-12-16
N|CARAGUAN HISTORY
Lee L. SiOpple Visits COrintO Rendez
VOuS at Present Time OF Ameri-
can BattleShipS

Lee L. Stopple, who is stopping in
Alma for a visit with his brother, w.
w. Stopple, while EN- route TO his
home in Dallas, Texas, from ST. John,
New Brunswick, and New York city,
where he has spent the summer and
fall, Interestingly describes Corinto,
Nicaragua, one of the principal sea-
ports of that turbulent little republic
that is causing Uncle Sam consider
able anxiety just at the present time.
Corinto is the Pacific Ocean rende-
vous of the United States warships
now in Nicaraguan waters. Mr..
Stopple spent several days there while
en- route from San Francisco to Pan
anna two years ago Regarding the
town, he said:
"Cornto is the principal seaport on
OF Nicaragua, yet is but small trad
ing town of about five hundred in
habitants, and is the western terminus
of narrow-guage railway extending
about one hundred miles into the in
terror, connecting the port with Lake
Manga, one of Nicaraguas two large
lakes, through which the route of the
proposed Nicaraguan canal lay. Cor
into possesses a we'll protected ma
tural harbor and this. combined with
excellent wharfage facilities. makes it
a desirable port OF call for all ocean
going steamers. The principal exports
are cofees, hides, rubber. cocoanuts
and other tropical products. The
precious minerals are also exported,
but in smaller quantities than from
other Central American ports
A goodly number of the white peo-
pie are resident in the republic Amer
leans, OF course, are in the majority,
with sparse scattering Of English,
French and Germans These men
are, as rule, plantation managers
as were Cannon and Groce. the two
Americans shot by Zelaya's soldiers
mining superintendents, engineers,
exporters. fruit buyers, etc
One reason, and, ! may say, the
principal reason why the natives are
inclined to be lazy. illiterate and non
progressive is clearly manifest. Ow-
ing to the warm climate. abundant
rains and the fertility of the soil,
bananas and cocoanutS, both highly
from the hot rays of the sun or the
life, grow and bear fruit the year
around; and If a native has his thatch-
ed hut to protect himself and family
torrential rains, a goat or two for
back yard to supply him with food,
he doesn't care whether his ruler is
Zelaya, a Nicholas, an Edward or a
Taft.
Military service for all able-bodied
citizens is compulsory in Nicaragua:
provided, OF course. the government
pro tenn can round up the citizen and
conscript him The government us
ually rests with the man who is able
to induce the largest number of his
nutritious and capable of sustaining
banner Right now Nicaragua is in
the throes of one OF the periodical
revolutions that have been such a
milk and healthy banana tree in his
These hostilities will in all probable
ity, as has been the case heretofore.
cease at the opening of the coffee sea-
son, when all hands will turn to and
gather the crop-which is the coun-
try's principal source of revenue.
However, in this particular disturb.
ance, the disregard of the Zelaya gov.
eminent for the Central American
peace treaty and the summary and
unwarranted execution of the two
Americans has aroused the United
States to a realization of the neces-
sity OF the use of stern measures that
IN the end justice and retribution may
be meted out to all"