The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-06-03

two parts. that which is the
scene Of the operations of the
United Frnit company, and
that which Is not. The first is
becoming Americanzod; y the sec
ond, European nations now have the
advantage III trade.
In the banana country the fruit corr.
pany Is everywhere and as a common
carrier II has d powerful influence In
the coffee country. 1t has developed
the Atlantic coast Of Costa Rica and
probably has done more than any 9th
er single agent foF the prosperity and
commercial development Of this small
republic Costa Rica is by far the
most prosperous Of all the Central
American republics, and has not had
a successful revolution in more than
80 years, the correspondent Of the
New York Sun, writing from San Jose,
says Americans living here and Cos
ta Ricans are convinced that the ab-
sence of revolutions and the prosper
fly Of the country are in the nature Of
cause and effect.
The bananas and coffee sent out Of
Costa Rica represent practically the
entire export trade Of this country.
The value Of the banana expectations
average about s40OOOOO a year, and
the coffee a little more than half as
much. The fruit company either grows
or buys and transports and sells all
the bananas and carries all the coffee
produced in Costa Rica. In doing
these things 1t has developed a great
number Of side lines OF activity, which
make II the great power it is in Costa
Rica. These other activities include
railroads. stores. telegraph and tele-
phone systems, light and power plants,
hospital. schools and various forms Of
agriculture and stock raising, In ad-
dition 1t has its sect Of ships car
rying both passengers and freight
Bananas Cost 20 Cents Bunch.
The company owns over 100000
acres Of banana lands on the Atlantic
seaboard Of Costa Rica On these
lands it produces about AZ per cent. of
all the bananas grown in the repub-
lie. II buys all the bananas that ma
tive growers can produce, The IN
nual shipment Is about 10000, 900
punches, bought BY the fruit company
at fixed price of 80 cents bunch.
For handling the bananas the company
allows 10 cents a bunch. and the de-
clared export value Of bunch of ba-
nanas is fixed at 40 cents
The outlet for both the coffee and
the bananas is Port Limon, on the
Caribbean. When Secretary Knox
and his party arrived there recently
there were three steamers in port
awaiting cargoes Of bananas.
To tap the banana districts the main
line Of the railroad. leased and oper-
ated by the United Fruit company IN
der the name Of the Costa Rican
Northern railroad, extends from Port
Limon to San Jose, the capital, l0s
miles distant and 5000 feet above the
sea. From the main line extend a mum.
Der Of branches and from these
branches other spurs and tramways,
the whole forming a system Of veins
and arteries for the transportation Of
bananas. Every effort IS made to get
the banana from the tree to the ship
as soon as possible and with the min
imum of handling
The main line Is a common carrier
OF both passengers and freight. Dis
criIlination by the fruit company is
impossible under the terms Of its
lease. At Port Limon the company
has built a number Of steel piers from
which the ships are loaded with ba-
nanaa and coffee by special nachin-
cry. The company has large offices At
Port Limon. and has Ia addition q
wireless station. hospital quarters
for its employees. light and power
plents and Wholesale and retail stores
The Costa Rican government has co
operated with the fruit company
has put in many public improvements
aud Keeps the city clean. The govern
ment receives a direct, as well as al
indirect revenue from the fruit com
pany through an export tax Of i cent
gold upon each lunch Of bananas seni
Fout Of Costa Rica.
The big banana growing districts
practically end ii the foothills of the
mountain range which divides Costa
Rica. and where bananas stop coffee
begins. Tho hills and mountains foi
more than SO miles along the railroad
from Port 1lmon 10 san Jose are coy
cred with coffee plantations. many d
them thousands Of acres In extent
These ate practically all owned BY shs
Costa hicana, many of them wealthy
Costa Rican coffee Is considered b
many to be the finest IN the world