The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-15

OF this Costa Rican republic Tho
banana plantations form but small
part of it. and they arc confined to a
strip Of the lowlands along the Carib-
bean sea There are similar lowlands
on the Pacific, but the bulk OF tho coun-
try Is made up Of these mountains
which roll over one another in all sorts
OF shapes. now in great gorges and
again in littlo hollows or nests OF
comparatively smooth land. which are
covered with farms
Some OF the mountains are over two
miles in height. and from one OF them.
Irazu, you can SEQ the two oceans. tho
Atlantic and tho Pacific, each being
only ABOUT seventy-;ve miles away
That volcanic peak can be reached
from Carriage. which is just ninety
miles from Limon. and we may posi-
bly, ascend it before We leave Costa
Rica. It's two craters arc now quiet.
but they are liable at any time to
burst into action. This country has
nineteen volcanoes. and some OF them
arc perpetually smoking The average
height OF tho mountains. however. is
only that of tile tallest peaks of the
Alleghenies. and they can ne cultivated
almost 10 the tops.
Down at Port l.!mom II is hot 1t is
labor on account OF the climate and
Jamaican negroes have been brought
in 10 do the hard work. Higher UP we
shall nnd the people cream white. They
arc tho descendants OF the Gallicians
q hardy and Intelligent race from north
spain. who are far superior to the
desce ndanis OF the Spanish of other
parts OF Central America, and also TO
those of the South American continent.
they are an independent people. and
the most OF them are property owners
and liberty lovers. They do not be-
lieve in revolutions. and for more than
a generation they have had continuous
peace. This can be said OF no other
Central American state.
The Rcpublic In n Nutshell.
But before take YOU on the trip up
the mountains let me put this little
land I'm Il nutshell You know where
it lies. Considering Panama as the
hinge which Joins the North ana south
American continents. Costa Ricn is
the lowermost country of our grand
division. 1t borders on Panama. and
Just now q party of American scien-
lists. headed by Mr.. John Hayford, the
eminent seosrapher and scientist. is
mapping the boundaries which are now
in dispute. on the north is Nicaragua
and san lose. where l am writing. lies
in the centre OF the highlands. just
about half way between. The country,
all told. contains a little more than
$4,000 square miles 1t is Just twice
the size Of Vermont or New Hampshire.
1t is twice as large as Maryland, more
than half as big as South Carolina,
about third the area Of Illinois and
more than two times that OF Massa-
chusetts.
The most Of Costa Rica. as have
said is made up OF these highlands.
They arc so broken that they remind
one of the Illustration which one of
the explorers of the days of Columbus
save to the King of Spain to show him
the character OF the island of Haiti.
That man took a sheet OF paper and
crushed it up into a ball in his hand.
He then pulled It apart and threw II.
all wrinkled and crumpled. on the
table. saying.
Your Majesty. Haiti is like that
We'll. the same may be said OF Costa
Rica. From ono end to the other it is
mass Of great wrinkles ana folds,
but the soil which fills up the wrinkles
and covers the folds is composed of
volcanic ashes and mud and is one or
the richest soils upon earth. The land
viii produce both temperate and
tropical fruits Most Of the country is
so high above the sea that tho clmnte
a. .....,.,.., r..rtrr. 49,.