Evening star., 1914-07-26


ternational politics as one capital can
stand. 1t is not easy place to get to.
although the part of the Journey from
Amapala which has to be taken by mule
back is not uncomfortable to those who
like mountain travelling. The capital
city has MANY architectural characters
tics all its own. but they do not differ in
the main from the Spanish architecture
of other Central American cities. only
Tegucigalpa is not so large San Jose
or Salvador. or Guatemala City.
Like many isolated capitals OF small
countries. Tegucigalpa takes great In
terest in the affairs of the world At large
World politics are analyzed there with
as much understanding in London or
Berlin. and with more disinterestedness
1t is not unlikely that the Balkan prob
lem could be solved better in Tegacigal-
pa. as an abstract proposition. than by
the jealous European nations.
Latin American problems. and espe-
cially those relating to South America
are discussed with the same breadth OF
view. and possibly with a fuller under
standing. There used TO be a sort of an
international review published at Tegu-
cigalpa in several languages including
German. Its tendency was anti-Amer-
lean. or apti-imperialistic which passed
for the same thing.
The important facts about Honduras
are that II is tropical country OF va
ried resources which are susceptible 10
much development. and which, under
good government. would offer marked IN
ducements to foreign capital
The biggest industry 10 raising bananas
on the hot lowlands Of the Atlantic coast.
Between eight million and nine million
punches are produced annually. and this
is one Of the principal sources OF reve-
nue..
Some coffee is raised In the highlands,
and the coffee plantations could be large.
ly extended. Honduran coffee is of the
same high grade as other coffee raised
on the highlands OF Central America
In the last few years systematic at
tention has been given to the cultivation
of cane sugar. and there are large areas
which are available for this purpose.
The Olancho district is the one in which
the greatest progress has been made in
cuiuvating the cane. although the meth
DDS of extracting the sugar are rather
crude.
There are excellent grazing areas in the
highlands and the Honduran cattle are OF
a hardy breed. They are suitable for ex-
port. Not much has yet been done, how
ever. toward developing the cattle-rais-
ing industry.
Enterprising American manufacturers
have given an impetus to Honduran agr.-
culture by introducing modern plows The
primitive native population still clincs
largely to the forked stick but a young
consular officer from the United States
started out on a campaign Of education.
He got local dealers interested and then
persuaded some of the plow manufactur-
ers to send their plows and to employ
men who knew how to demonstrate their
utility.
Interesting the natives was slow work.
but patience brought results, and now
there Is a steady, though somewhat re-
stricted. market for American plows. The
agriculture of the country is not going to
be revolutionized all at once but 1t is GO
ing to become more progressive and
therefore more productive through the
use Of modern farm implements.
The lure Of gold has been the chief at
traction for Americans who have gone to
Honduras. The Rosario mine, not far
from Tegucigalpa, is one of the most pro-
ductive on the continent. 1t is known
among mining men everywhere. Other
gold mines are operated proftably al
though the profits are not on SO large a
scale.
4hS idSh VI lfduSpOrtallOn is one reason
why both the gold and silver mines have
been SO slowly developed. But there are
plenty Of enthusiastic American pros
pectors and promoters who have not been
discouraged by this drawback One
American capitalist told me that he had
dropped $3O.OoO in demonstrating that an
old mine. once owned by Louisiana lot
terry king. was literally played out He
dropped another $4,000 in developing a
mine which had the ore, but which wasn't
worth developing in the absence Of trans
portatfon facilities. But he is still an en-
thusiast on Honduran mines. and as he is
spending his own money his opinion is
entitled to respect.
Taken as a whole, Honduras with its
agricultural and mineral wealth and its
peaceful native population instead of be-
ing the foot ball of contending elements
In Central America, ought to become the
balance wheel.
CHARLES N. PEPPER.