The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-01
copyright, 1912, by Frank g.. Car
penter.)

name is Don Ricardo Jimenez n
he was elected two years ago by a
SO in spite Of the opposition Of the
administration and the Catholic
church. However, the voters told the
priests that they were electing a presi-
dent and not a bishop, and they pre-
ferred Don Ricardo. The new presi-
dent is democratic in his adminiStra-
ton, and I am told ne has even
subleased a part of the presidential
mansion to private parties to increase
the government 1t was in
the audience room Of this house that
he received me. The president Is a
man Of good education and fine ad-
dress. A lawyer by professions, he
speaks several languages, and it was
in good. American English that our
conversation was carried on.
The Government of Costa Rica-
But first let me give you some idea
Of the government of this little re-
public. Costa Rica is the q~uietest and
its presidents are the choice of the
people and not the result Of revolu-
tons, as in Nicaragua, Guatemala n
Honduras. The country got its in
dependence about Seventy-three years
ago., and it was in 1S47 that it for
public of Costa RIGA. It now has a
president n congress, each elected
for a term of our years, and that
only. h president cannot have a
second consecutive term. The man.
ner Of the election is by an electoral
college, just as is our custom at home.
! asked President JimeneZ what he
thought Of this method. he said it
was a mistake and that the best way
would be to choose the executive by
the direct vote Of the people.
The president Of Costa Rica has a
little different form Of administration
than President Taft. He has a cabi-
net, 1T is true, but he has also a gov
council. which consists OF
the cabinet and such other citizens
as he may choose to appoint. The
salary OF the president is just about
one-ninth that Of President Taft. He
gets a little over $4,000 a year, or.
in the none Of this country, $4,000
colonies.
Costa RIGA and the Canal.
During our talk the Panama canal
was referred to, and l asked his ex-
cellency what effect this would have
upon Costa RIGA. He replied hat it
would benefit it. Said he:
1T will open up some excellent
lands, which WE have not far from
mountains. There are large tracts
there which would raise the best OF
coffee, and by the canal we shall be
able to have a cheap outlet for that
crop to the markets of Europe In
the past we have been much ham
pered by having only one railroad. ]
mean that from here to Port Limon
on the Atlantic coast. That road has
been controlled by the United Fruit
Company, whose chief interest is in
the shipment Of bananas, and it has
let the coffee wait, KNOWING that il
had the monopoly and that there was
no other way for it to get to the
coast. We have Deferred that condi-
ton by building a government rail
way to the Pacific and we have o
no trouble. When the canal is fin
ished there will be a emand for ou1
Pacific coast lands and that part o.
Costa Rica will grow.
We expect also an Increase in Ou1
traffic or the Caribbean side Of TIL
mountains. A competition has arisel
as to the trade in bananas, and will
two companies operating the business
should greatly increase. The banan;
is, as You know, our chief none.
crop. 1t amounts to something lik'
eleven million punches q year an
sells for $4,000 900 and upward. Gu
neighborhood of $4,000, 900 per an
mum. Coffee and bananas are GU
principal sources of income
The Investments in Coffee Lands.
Us there much undeveloped Ian
In Costa Rica, your eNcellency?' ask
ed l.
There is a great deal, but it need
capital TO bring it under cultivation
If we had that and the right ship
ping facilities we could produce min
or ten times as many bananas as nO1
and could materially increase our cot
Zee plantations. What we need
more money and l should be glad
see American capital brought here
The trouble with your moneyed mel
however, is that they are too vision
AIRY. You show them a piece OF roc
with a little gold in it. INC they Wi
open their pocketbooks almost VII
out Investigation. They may ais
put noney into bananas if they al
properly shown, but n sure thing l'>
the coffee of Costa Ri"l they do n(
appreciate. This land produces SON
of the best coffee of the world. TT
conditions of cultivation are we
lnnuh Ind l. Tho nnOTtl1Nttie Il