The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05

vidinC that the government VIII ihsu'"
the per cent dividend on the $4,000
OeO invested in it. In addition TO TINS
last year 1t made more than sleo'0o'.
and the traffic is steadily growing
Port Bnrrios to Guatemala city.
II was over this road that / came into
Guatemala. landed at Port Barrios
on one OF the regular steamers which
call there on their way from Panama
TO Orleans The port has a wide and
deep harbor and vessels OF the heaviest
draft can come to IFS docks. The rail-
roads pass for thirty or forty miles
through the rich banana plantations
Of the United Fruit Company and carry
their freight right 70 the steamers
While / STAYED at Port Barrios about
II. OOu. goo bananas were loaded. and Oh
my way over the road we were some
hours passing through the plantations
Leaving Port Barrios. the cars so
right into the jungle. They wind their
way through the Motagua Valley.
where the soil is rich sandy loan
about fifteen feet deep. Here the rain
fall is abundant. AMI Nature has on
her scven-league boots. Palm trees
hundred feet high wall the railway.
and the vegetation is the most luXu-
RANT TO be found i'll the tropics. After
n few miles of such scenery you enter
the great banana estates, and the cars
fan the leaves of banana plants from
thirty to forty feet high. many OF
them loaded with fruit There is per
haps forty miles of such riding. and
then you come to the mountains. where
tho vegetation IS dryer. and with many
herds Of cattle arc feeling upon it.
Like Arizona.
The scenery now suddenly changes.
1T - almost like crossing from the
valley Of the Nile into the desert In
the valley the rainfall is over 100
. inches per year On the highland there
! Is almost no rain. and a. you ascend
the mountains you pass through re-
gion like the desert lands OF New
Mexico or Arizona. The ground is dry
and cacti abound. The trees are silver
gray There does not seem to he
enough moisture 10 color the leaves
The only green spots are along the
beds Of the streams. We can still see
the Notsgua River. but beyond It's
banks is the desert In its upper
course the river looks not unlike the
Jordan. and the vegetation is no more
luNuriant than that which lines the
famed river of Palestine.
Still farther inland the mountains
make one think Of the Rockies. They
arc bare. ragged and torn by ravines
ana canyons. There are thirsty trees
upon which hang thirsty cir plants.
Tho orchids OF the desert. Now and
then YOU pass n little valley with irri
gated patches along the stream run
ming through 81. Here are matched
huis the homes % tho Indians. such
valleys are bur a few hundred feet
d. - r-a.a- q.
Tcn-DoIiar Breakfast
Ny train stopped Cor Breakfast at
Iscapa. and NY meal cost r7c So
t,neu left took = bottle -
Apoli0uaris with re-. Tor which vas
/ charged 81 and also a package OF
{ cigarettes. which cost me s.. I gave
. . Eve dollar To- 20 the psrlor car
porter at the close % the trip. and
once paid a boy a dollar to brine me-
drink vi sof these figures. ro~-
. ..rrr. re0res0uf ssateu1a-ian money. 81
70 nich j. taxes ~ 90 make orc q
ns-s. 50 thai = 1ve-doiiar bill equals
..s- about 80 cents
Zarsua .e 'he biggest rity between
t.e Carribcon and 'he capital = i-
goo minies inland. i.ius ~ nc FOOT
.I fh. mountains aul only SOC feet
.H0ve ffe sea During fhe neSt ninety
rfise ur vent upward over 1000 feet.
arI l.r. % Guatemala city. Nc are
jest about a mile high
RaiIroad scenes.
Tho scenes ~ the Guatcraiar rail-
rad are Interesting The passengers
souslrfr ~ Indians. hzfi-reeds. Or
ladioros and rhifcs who are few and
.fr tefwfrr. The cars we're 1rsf and
tt.nlf Glass; and We isd - the end
20 the train a iI'fie parior car. tne
t.fra charge for which wa- about SIS
/ I.rr a.. spent a. part q tho Journey
] Boz the se~onf-riaes c.r Tho seats
/ Herc nlrrn iltr those - a street car.
. .ols'sffre af lorg benches runring