El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-19

time Columbus discovered America
ara the collection Of pottery probably
2ntedates that period by some hun
oreds OF years. This museum shows
the wide interest Of the Costa Ricans
IN history and science, and it is an
other example of the contradictions
everywhere to be seen. 1t shows that
the nation if it were really rich would
spend large part of its means upon
culture But. alas, it is poor
A Big Debt AID High Taxes.
The national debt is a little over
SlSrQOO,OOO- This is according to a re-
cent rounding agreement which
makes the obligations pay or per
cent interest but which as the bonds
were sold at much below par makes
the actual interest rate cOnsiderabl bly,
greater. This debt would not be large
for big country. Indeed, little
Sweden owes more than 10 times as
much. But it is enormous for Costa
Rlca, the bulk of whose population is
mlSerably poor, and the country has no
public improvements to speak of to
show for it.
As 1t is now the taxes are out of all
reason; and, as they are mostly in
direct the burden falls on the poor
There are no land taxes whatever, nor
any taxes on incomes, but everything
else pays The prices are high and
anything that costs 10 cents in the,
states IS sure TO cost 20 or so cents
mere sugar is now selling al about
10 cents pound and salt at 5 or 6
cents. I have some figures from our
American consul of the cost OF 100
pounds Of salt landed c. ]. F. that is
with cost Insurance and freight paid
al Port LimOn- 1t is just Sc cents.
BY the time that salt has passed
through the custom house and paid
the wharf dues and freight on the
railroad 10 san Jose, the cost of the
whole IS S2-56, and when the whole
saler then adds his profit, the cost
to the retailer is 1926. So you see
what the consumer must pay. The
railroad freight alone over 100 miles
OF track is equal to the original cost
OF the salt; and the man who uses it
to flavor his food pays about 10 times
the original cost in the harbOr of Port
Limon.
This gives you some idea of wha.
Things cost IN this part of the world
and why there are all sorts of taxes
on trade. Everything is licensed and
all that comes in is charged for. I
had to pay cents a pound on my
baggage TO bring it into the country,
and 1 am told that I shall have to
give $3.50 to get a permit to leave
The interest charged on the foreign
debt IS something ike 100000 per an
mum. That is equal 10 a tax OF some
thing like SO per finally. Enough flour
to make one OF our fOur-cent IOaves of
bread pays 4 cents in duty. and other
things are prOpOrtiOnately high.
A Land Of Mortgages.
am told that the Costa Ricans' are
in debt up to their eyes. There are
many individual mortgages. The people
are sanguine, and the better classes
Will mortgage their crops at per cent
a month and upward in order that their
wives and daughters may make show
during the social season. i dc not know
that they are any worse than our citi-
zens who are now borrowing money on
their homes in order that their families
MD con Al. HTa.aa
still it is bad enough, Take, for in
the close of last year. One of the Amer J
lean women of san Jose tells me that (
she knows milliner who sold 200 |
hats for that occasion at a cost OF $50 I
apiece Many Of them were bought on {
nstalments and viii be worn out be- !
fore they are paid for. EOu Will be the :
more surprised when I describe some .
features OF the festivities for which .
these hats We're worn One Of The for .
eigners has told me about them. Said /
ne:
The fiesta was held in the Central I
Park, which is used for band concerts. |
This has been fenced off so that the ]
common people stood on the outside, !
with a lot Of young men and girls, some /
)f whom were no better than they |
should be, sitting between them and /
the more fashionable crowd within. I
These young men and girls sat on the /
rails of the benches with their feet on !
the seats. They were all dressed IN 4
their best, as were also the high class !
Costa Ricans walking inside
Then, when the band played, the men /