The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-12
COSTA RIGA HAS
HAD HARD JOLTS

ueiu' mas prepared the following for
this paper:
1t is remarkable coincidence that
Just 100 years ago a terrible earth |
quake swept over Costa Rica, and that
repetition of that disaster should
take place in these days.
But this is not the only peculiar
phenomenon, because at the Deriod
when the previous earthquake occur
red great cathedral was in course
OF construction in the town of Cartogo,
while today a temple of international
peace was being completed.
Like the grand cathedral, the build
ing Of the International Court of Ar
bitration is reported destroyed
The earthquake Of 1911 swept over
Central and South America and caused
much damage, not only TO the then
thriving city OF Cartogo, but also to
Panama, Porto Bello. Cartagena. Car
racas and BOgoto, in South America,
and also to many OF the towns in the
islands of the West Indies.
During the past twenty years have
spent the most of my time making
studies of the economic geology of the
Latin Americas and only a few years
ago examined the volcanoes of Costa
Rica i'm search for sulphur deposits.
My last report in Costa Rica was
made for the then Vice President of
the republic, now President Jemenez.
From Cartogo, the present scene Of
disaster, the volcano of Irazu lies
Twelve miles TO the east.
The city of Cartogo, since the earth
quake that devastated it in the early
part of the last century, has made
but little efforts at self reconstruction,
and probably the most important
building i'm the town is the combina-
ton public market and hotel The
town has about 5000 inhabitants and
lies in a beautiful valley covered with
coffee plantations, pastures and farms.
1t has an elevation Of about 5000 feet
above sea level, and has one of the
best climates in Central America.
The volcano of Irazu rises above
this valley to the east and has a height
Of 9,16O feet above sea level. When
entered the crater il had a depth
from the summit of 2,100 feet and
hered to the wall of the crater, as re-
suits Of the fumes that constantly ex-
uded from the vast assures that sur
rounded the base Of the amphitheater-
like base of the vast declivity.
At the bottom of the crater a lake
of boiling suiphurc acid was found
and the whole scene, as one entered
the funnel-like depression, which had
a circumference of three miles, was
extremely wierd and repelling.
The lower part of the volcanic cone,
to the west. is the active scene OF
great agricultural activity. Here is
located the lands of or settlement OF
almost pure Indians known as TERRA
Blanca, that raises large crops of po-
tatoes and other vegetables common
to North America.
Above this settlement. ascendin;
Irazu, are found vast forests. anC
only the trees are found many va
rieties Of orchids. Near the SUNNI
a species OF black scrub oak is found
until the barren gray vulcan asl
heaps prevents growth altogether.
A part of the forest near the sum
mil hn 81, ,nF F.,1r l.
been planted TO supply the needs
an extensive cattle ranch and mill
dairy owned by President Jemenez.
The top OF the volcano is a desolat.
place. where storms and winds how
during most of the year
During some previous eruptions
blocks of lava weighing from 500
pounds TO 100 tons have been shot
out OF the crater to a distance Of
twenty-five miles. This is a dark gray
porous tuffa and is used in Cartago
and San Jose for building stone.
San Jose lies thirteen miles south
Of Carriage and claims a population OF
$4,000 inhabitants. 1t is one Of the
most beautiful cities of the Latin
Americas and although the total pop
ulation OF the republic of Costa Rica
is only 100000. the Government has
bullt theater in San Jose that, while
only seating 500 people. costs SO 900.
VVVs ana Is the most beautiful struc-
ture OF the kind in all the Americas
Electric cars are found. good no.
tells, banks and every other commod-
tty OF a modern city makes life q
pleasure in San Jose. All educated
people speak English. There are no
revolutions and the country is on a
gold basis.
Sixty miles to the southwest OF the
volcano OF Irazu is found the volcano
of Poas. which erupted in 1905 with
much q n hn OF d hDv- -F.,.r
try. Half way betwe San Jose and
the Panama Canal is found the active
volcano OF Naru. The country in which
this is located is practically uninhabit-
ed except by Indians, and we hear but
little or its activities and destructive
influences.
The Panama Canal lies within the
no living being can predict the ulti-
mate results of these powers over the
deStinies of our great engineering feat
on the Isthmus.
The eruption of Irazu has destroyed
one of the most valuable sulphur de-
posits in the world The repetition of
these siesmic disturbances may be ex-
pected from time to time, and will eX-
tend from Nicaragua to Peru on the
Pacific and from Nicaragua to the
mouth of the Amazon River on the
Caribbean Sea.
All of this country, including the
West India Islands and the underlying
bed of the Caribbean, may be expected
to exhibit disastrous phenomenon from
time to time.
I deeply regret these happenings in
Costa Rica, as | have many friends IN
that beautiful little republic.