Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-07
PACKING COMP ANY
REPRESENTATIVE ON
VISIT TO HONDURAS
A. n. BtACkiSTON RETURNS TO
OTTAWA FROM JOURNEY TO
CENTRAL AMERICA - TELLS
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF
TRIP.

II is long call from Ottawa 10 the
Tropics. but nevertheless the influence
Of this city is making itself felt in that
distant part of the world. and one of
the latest and most progressive of our
institutions is being looked to as a
model for others to follow
A. III. Blackiston, connected with the
financial department OF the Illinois Co
operative Packing Company, has just
returned from Central America to as
sist in the final drive of the packing
company in Ottawa, the affairs of
which are now rapidly nearly sue
ccssful complication.
Mr.. Blackiston was called to Cen
trail America last December in connec.
ion with interests there in which he
and Mr.. tlagg are associated with a
number of prominent men, both in
United States and Central America.
In n report to the Chamber OF Com
mrce Mr.. Blackiston enumerated his
cNperiC nces while in the Southland.
The report follows:
While there he told many OF the
cooperative packing movement here.
and such was their interest that sug.
2estions were made for the Inaugural
ton of one there to be based on the
lines OF the Illinois Cooperative
Packing Association of Ottawa This
was the more appreciated on account
Of the food shortage thruout the world
which the tropics are now being called
upon to combat with ever.increasine
vgor.
The principle back OF the 60 opera
tive movement was brought into espa.
cal prominence by the recent packing
revelations in Chicago. and was con
sequently the more appreciated as the
people in Central America are going
thru the same struggle for industrial
independence that we ourselves have
experienced. and Therefore the idea Of
the producer receiving the full benefit
of his labor and investment, instead
Of turning il over to others was met
with the greatest enthusiasm.
The industrial activity OF the rest
of the world, Mr. Blackiston states, is
reelected in Central America. For.
tunes are being made in the raising
and exploration Of bananas, sugar. cot.
ice and other tropical products, in adj.
dition TO live stock, and yet the vast
resources Of these countries have
hardly even been touched
Natures food basket lies within the
tropics. and with hut small portion
of the capital and industry expended
here would supply the entire world to
such an extent that the less" days
would be forever struck from the cal.
endar. The fault lies wholly in our
ignorance Of the conditions and re-
sources OF our southern neighbors, and
our general indifference to affairs he.
yOnd oul immediate surroundings. but
despite this the trade between the
United States and Latin America is
increasing with leaps and bounds.
In many of the Central American
countries there is not single can
merry tn preserve the surplus food
that now annually goes to waste in
large amounts. and only one or two
large sugar mills are found How
ever more are being erected and plan,
tations laid out on the unsurpassed
cane lands, as the vast fortunes made
in sugar in the last two years in
Cuba have acted as decided incen
tive.
One steamer was passed which was
bringing to the United States 6S,Uc0
lunches OF bananas and 1000 tons OF
sugar from the only refinery in Hon
duras. This one cargo alone meant a
profit Of several hundred thousand
dollars, and that ship was only one
Of three separate fleets plying be
tween that part of Central America
and New Orleans.
Railroads are being extended to
open up new banana lands and the
wide awake governments Of Honduras
and Guatemala are doing all possible
to bring in new capital for the devel
opment of their wonderful resources
which have practically laid dormant
from the days OF the Spaniards unit
the era of modern development
dawned in the tropics. AS yet this
has not passed its infancy. despite the
millions invested and the enormous
returns yielded.
One large company which started
as late as five or six years ago. il
said to have made as high as one hun
dred per cent on its capital last year
besides having accumulated its grea,
assets of railroads. steamship lines
plantations, etc.
However, Mr.. Blackiston, who has
been connected with the tropics to
over fifteen years. states that success
there demands absolutely thorough
knowledge of the country and condi
lions. besides capable management
With continual growing season
and abundance of water and deep sill
lands now valued at few dollars al
acre. and which produce two ant
three crops a year to our one, h
feels that the future Of Central Ameri