Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-11-12
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Entirely alone, Don Albino could meta no head
way with his project of getting rich quickly and.
taking advantage OF q passing vessel. went back
10 valladolid The cotton he had succeeded IN
planting before his mozoa deserted him was al
lowed to grow Wild, and the island once more
was completely abandoned by man.
II not until is4s that CoEumol was again
inhabited. The revolution which caused Yucatah
and campeche to separate had deprived many
citizens Of the means Of livelihood and for ma
teria as we'll political reasons IL became
necessary for them 20 seek pastures neg, The
federal government offered 10 help them. pfoyld
ed they would leave the peninsula. But 20 where
could they, be transDanted7 Being Yucaiocos
quick to resent the paternaiism OF tho govern
mont. and always suspicious Of the party IN
Offices bona fdca they we're OF spirit dimculi
10 keep under restraint and more than likely TO
soon become unruly again Therefore 10 alloN
them 70 migrate 10 the central statea. even 70
the regions bordering on the Gulf Of Mckee was
out OF the question; II was Imperative thai they
be kept apart from the more doole peoples OF the
republic lest they inoculate the latter with the
political Festessness that had been their own IN.
doing. Finally II waH agreed that they should be
taken to Cozumel. This arrangement was duly
contaminated. and everything necessary to enable
the exiies TO make u good start was furnished
gratuitousy by the government After very
many yiclsalsudes the colony thus launched
gradually settled itself Into place. becoming Ell
the expiration OF n decade or so firmly estab.
lishad. and coEumel Is today the TERRA" OF
homeland Of a. hardy and independent aot OF
islanders-half farmers half hshermsn-as can
DO found anywhere in the Antillea
The present population Of cozumsl numbers
some fourteen hundred souls. Tho capital. San
Miguel is credited with 300 and tho village of ~
Cedral has about 100. the remainder are scat
tered among tho numerous ranches.
San Miguel IL quite thriving welifoFmed
town. Il has several vide. clean streets: plaza
q very pFenentabla little church. one large gen
eral store and several small ones, an Inn. and
municipal offices and euBtomhOuss u also boasts
. sort Of esplanade running along the entire see
front. at one end Of which 10 the lighthouse and
at the ether a landing jetty. Although most oi
the buildings are palm matched cottages. there
are several strongly built stone houses and the
main street has twostory brick house and =
modern bungalow.
The only regular Communication With the out
side world II by government transport Theae
steamers call twice each month to leave and
collect mail when Fouts with troops and cup
plies 10 and from Vera Cruz and the military sta
lions OF Quintana Roo
Health conditions in Coxumel are sxtYs' rely
good, whom the tropical climate Of ths island Il
taken into account The normal rate 81 mortality
averages "a per 1000 Epidsmics are very rare
indeed practically unknown
The great majority Of the cozumai islanders
are poor. far possessing surplus Of this
worlds goods IL concerned. being satisfied with
hAndtomepth existence.
Among the very lev articles exported from ths
island are zponKes. but the quantity IL limited
and the quality not very hns Aore than one At
tempt has besn made by foreigners 10 fully sx
plbit the sponge business here. but all efforts tc
make Il profitable q large scale have failed
There are very many ruins the island
some Of which and 10 the sxtsnf Of ms
limited time and ability examlned-lhs arrhiiec
turai beauty and general plan % whleh provide
iFrefutabe evidence that the early inha bttansl
we're tntslltreni and cultured 70 a degree mnr'
than surprising