Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-07-03

At request l enclose an excellent
article concerning the very successful
growth of fruit in Central America, as
managed by the United Fruit Company
which now owns or leases an area of
1891 square miles, of which 500 are Gull
tivated, with fleet of 80 steamers and
$4,000 employees, an account of which
will be found in this article.
j. BATTELL.
ROMANCE OF BIG BUSINESS
Vol. /.
Conquest of the Tropics. The story of
the Creative Enterprises conducted
by the United Fruit Company. By
Frederick Upham Adams. Illustrated,
Doubleday, Page & Co., 1914. PIP.
XII, 1858, 8vo.
The Conquest of the Tropics" by
Frederick Upham Adams, merits es-
pecial attention from the fact that it is
the first volume of a series to be pub
lshed entitled Romance of Big Bust
ness.
The choice of the United Fruit Com
pany as its subject was wise, for 1t
would be difficult to find more inter-
esting story that this of the develop
ment of the agricultural wealth of
Central America through its means
during the last few years. The author
is not connected with the company, but
he was given every opportunity to make
personal study of the conditions at the
different regions owned or controlled by
it, and all his statements of facts have
been verified by officials. Hence he
gives graphic and trustworthy account
of the extraordinary transformation of
vast fever-haunted swamp lands into
rich plantations on which are grown
1.-The cheapest fruit and food products
now offered in the United States"
Some idea may be formed of this trans
formation from the fact that part of
Costa Rica, where there was not a
sign of human habitation forty-three
years ago, contains now population of
fully 1000 people. a railway and the
town Llmon, 1.-THE leading place of
banana export in the world. The United
Fruit Company alone sends from Limon
more than 400 shiploads of bananas a
year" This uneXampled conquest of a
tropical region, as shown in the chapter
laying the foundations, was mainly
due to Minor C. Keith, who went to
Costa Rica in 1871 and during a con-
tinuous residence of twenty-seven
years constructed the railway and
created great banana plantations.
In some respects the most interesting
and stimulating part of the book is that
description of the pioneer sanitary
work of the company. On its organza-
ton in 1899 prompt steps were taken
to enlarge the scope and efficiency of its
medical department. In every section
relentless war was declared on the
mosquito. Swamps were drained and
petroleum was unsparingly used in
stagnant pools and slow running
streams. The native laborers were
verbally instructed how to take pre-
cautions against the known dangers of
these districts, and the medical en-
ployees of the company made regular
inspections of their places of living and
enforced strictly the basic regulations
of sanitation. Hospitals were erected
and prompt measures taken to isolate
any victim of contagious disease. F"
Some of the most attractive of the 1876
illustrations are the pictures of the hos
pitfalls. There can be little doubt that
its sanitary work and discoveries ICON
stitute notable contribution to medi-
cal science" Much information is also
given in respect to the banana, of which
a German scientist has recently said
that there is probably no more nourlsh-
ing food, or one whose cultivation is of
more value to mankind" The careful
inspection and loading of the punches of
the fruit on the cars and in the steam
ships is fully described and some widely
popular receiE is for its cooking are
given. The company owns or leases an
area of 1891 square miles of which 500
are cultivated. Its employees consist
of an army of 60, 600 men and it has a
fleet of 90 vessels and operates 1889
miles of rail and tramway. 1t should
be added that its relations to the various
governments have been such that in all
these years there has been no complaint
against it. The service which it has
''the problem of Transforming deadly
swamps and jungles to gardens on which
can be raised the food products de-
manded to keep pace with the ever in
creasinp hunger of the citv-honsed