The Ely miner., 1918-05-03
"L SALVADOR, the little repub-
* lie on the southern coast of
Central America, is not behind

Central America is not behind
any part of the world in the
matter of the picturesque and the in
tereSting. 1t has it's natural phe-
nomena, its beauty spots for tourists
that should be double starred in trav-
elers' guide books, it's relics of ancient
races, its quaint and busy cities with
their artistic works of architecture,
writes Hamilton M. Wright in the Bull
letin of the Pan-American Union. In
the world there is not more wonder
than four generations ago, ascended
from the plains and has since re-
mained active. There is not a more
wonderful lake in the world than Ho-
pongo, distant about ten miles from
San Salvador, the capital, and con-
nected with it by splendid highway.
A fine national road which, at one
above the surface of the lake also
comes in from San Vicente.
Hopongo is an alluring spot for bath
ers, for the people of the republic
thoroughly appreciate the charms and
advantages of their own country. 1t
is the watering place for San Saliva
dor. with hotels, bath. houses and
launches. The surrounding ridges and
mountains are beautiful and colorful
and dip into the lake steeply. Viewing
this superb sheet of water, with the
nearby eminences verdure-clad or col
ored by past volcanic eruptions, with
drifting clouds casting their f1eeting
shadows upon its surface, one has a
feeling that he is far from the haunts
of man, until perchance his eye lights
upon launch far below, sending its
ripples over the expanse of waters.
Fine Mountains and Climate.
There are in the world no finer
mountain peaks than those of FL Sal
vador. The volcanoes Santa Ana,
San Miguel, San Vicente, Usulutan,
ZatecOluca, and San Salvador, rising
from Santa Tecla, and half a hundred
others have all the characteristic
beauty of the symmetrical volcanic
eminenceS elsewhere in Central Amer
lea. In the healthful uplands or noun
tain basins, where larger part of the
population lives, 1000 feet or more
above sea level, are to be found tree
shaded cities and rich country dis
tricts that in charm and interest will
repay richly every moment the trav-
eler will spare them. The healthful
climate gives rise to a vigorous and
enterprising population. This little
hos Of h
duced 75,000,000 pounds of coffee in
single year, 1916, perhaps more in
earlier periods.
We did not stop long at La Union.
but continued from the port up the
coast to La Libertad, the nearest sea-
port to San Salvador. There we an
chored out in the open roadstead a
mile and one-half from shore, and took
a coffee barge to the pier where we
arranged for a conveyance to San Sal
vador. 40 miles distant by automobile
road but less than 80 for mules. 1t is
a very short trip up to the capitol, but
the traveller beholds the varied re-
sources and climatic changes of an en-
tire continent within the brief journey
10 tHe uJidUuS. IHlS part OF the coast
is center for Peruvian balsam, a
remedy for pulmonary complaints and
so called because in early days it was
first shipped from Salvador to Peru
before being recohsigned in through
packets to Europe. The tree is found
over an extended strip up and down
the coast.
Highways Are Excellent.
The journey from La Libertad to
San Salvador is fine one and the
road is good. In fact there are l.
800 miles Of through national high
ways in the republic of Salvador. The
roads of San Salvador are a national
institution. Great work has been done
in grading and bridge-building.. Some
splendid permanent concrete bridge
have been constructed. La Libertad,
which is also reached by road from
San Vicente in the east central part of
the republic, is the seat of the cable
station between North and South Amer
lea, where messages are handled with
great dispatch. The roads leading
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