Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-13
Some Things You Want to Know
Turbulent Central AmeriCa-Fertile Costa RiCa.

The smallest, but one Of the five Central
American states, Costa Rica, shows the
greatest per capita wealth Of them all. II
has the largest proportion OF white popu-
lstion, and in everything that makes a peo-
pie happy and prosperous It is the best
OF the five little republics whose total popu-
ton is less than that OF Ohio, and whose
total area is but little greater than that
Of California. The per capita Imports OF
Costa Rica equal the per capita imports Of
the other four republics combined. It's per
capita exports are nearly three times as
great as those Of It's nearest rival, and
four times as great as the average for the
other four republics.
The advantageous position which Costa
RIGA holds in these particulars is reflected
in the character of it's government. II has
been most free OF all the republics from
civil contention and strife. With property
there always comes an added responsibility
on the part OF the Individual. and he does
not go to war so lightly as when nothing
but his own person is at stake.
It is said that more varieties Of plants
grow in Costa Rlca than in any other place
in the new world. The ~exhuberant vege-
elton fills the coast and lowlands and
reaches to the highest mountains. This
bountiful land has 100 kinds of birds. The
richest and most precious metals are in
its mountains. Pearls are gathered from
its waters, as we'll as the snail which pro-
duces the Tyrian purple. The forests
abound with the finest dye woods, medl-
cinai trees, herbs. cinohona, rosewood,
mahogany, cedar. sandal wood and all the
finest timber OF the two zones.
One is hardly prepared for the state
ment that a Costa Rica town has one OF
the finest theaters in the world, yet San
Jose, the capital Of the country, boasts
this distinction. 1t has the National
theater, which was built at a cost OF 81
100000. 1t is said that for perfection OF de-
tail and wealth OF decoration II surpasses
any building in the United States, with
the possible exceptions OF the Library OF
Congress and the Boston public library
The best sculptors and artists contributed
in making the foyer of this theater eQua
to the finest OF those OF Europe. The flooI
of the auditorium can be lifted to the leve
Of the stage by hydraulic pressure, and
this is done on the occasion of great balls
making it one of the largest and fines
ball rooms In the new world.
The forests of Costa Rica are not essen
TALLY different from those of the othe
Central American states, but they ar
especially rich in India rubber and tn,
trees that give us quinine. The gathering
n Of India rubber is an interesting procedure
About thirty-flve people constitute tn
average party that goes in quest of II
. They dress in course cotton clothes, wea
u sandals and knot red bandana handker
! chefs about their heads. Every ma
u carries his own outfit, consisting Of
u blanket, sandals, gun, fishing tackle an
a machete. The machete is a universe
tool with the natives. 1t is used to defen
y the hunter from wild beasts, to cut a pat
through the forest, to trim poles for a hu
or to fell a tree.
A camp is built with poles and pair
leaves, a fireplace is made. and then tn
main work of the expedition begins. TT
y average caoutchouc tree will run dry /
a day and yields from fifteen to twent
gallons of sap. When this is carried
camp, IT is first strained, to free 1t froi
dirt and leaves, and is then hardened b
mingling with the Juice OF a vine foun
v In the forest. After this It is kneaded ILL
N dough and moulded into round cakes.
The natives have their own way of NAL
ing waterproof goods, They spread a piec
Of canvas on the ground and pour II
sap over 1t, taking care that the clot
shall have an even coating. To accomplis
this they use cocoanut husks or sma
~ paddles. Exposure to the sun completes II
i job and the goods are ready for US
When the expedition returns there is
holiday season. The average labor,
spends all he has made while away, ar
III as much more as he can borrow from h
employer, When he touches the bottom
his pocket he is ready to return to work.
a. The climate of Costa Rica helps to NAL
I'd 1t the favored state of Central Americ
IL The atmosphere of its high plateaus
Id pure and invigorating. and the temper
I'd tpre remains about the same ~througho,
~ the year. On account Of the malarial col
Of ditlons which prevail in Panama, it
necessary to have an accessible post
IN recuperation in the vicinity, and II