Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1921-12-08
LAND OF THE BANANA.
Republic of Central America Also
Coffee Producing Country.

nanas for world neighborliness
and volcanoes fertilized the soil
1or the new Republic of Central
America. Such CONGRATULATIONS
leave many facts untold. but this
one provides dependable handle
for essential factors in the dev.l.
opment of the three states. Qua
temala, Honduras and Salvador
winch now make up the newest
American republic. according to
bulletin from the National Ge.
ographic society.
This new nation has an area
approximately that of Colorado
and population greater than
that OF Massachusetts. Its map
ped outline resembles nothing so
much as sleigh, with the run
ners Oh the Pacific ocean and
British Honduras perched in the
drivers seat. Its surface confor-
nation may be compared to an
A tent, with one side sloping
much more gradually than the
other. and this longer side sag
gng and almost touching ground
toward its edge.
"One's geography gets twisted
in thinking of Central America as
being to the south of us. if it be
remembered that an east and
west line running through the
new republic could touch Nicara-
qua and Mexico at the ends, and
that going from the Atlantic to
the Pacific means Il trip south.
1.-The ridge pole of the Guate-
mala Andes lies much closer to
the Pacific than to the Atlantic.
Along this range volcanoes 90
sky-rocketing with disconcert-
ing frequency. They wipe ont
cities, at times, as when Guatema.
la s capital was all but destroyed
1--WE years ago, and San Salvador
has won the nickname of the
swinging hammock. Yet yolca-
noes are the friends of these
states. They are the very gush-
ers of elements which, entering
into the soil, have made the veg.
citation luxuriant.
1.-The sagging side of our tent
slopes gently toward the Allan
tic. Toward its edge are the low
lands. Scattered tribes of prim-
tive Indians and negroes from
the West Indies once ckcd out an
isolated existence here. Now the
region is blanketed with banana
fields. This crop has bound the
Caribbean side of Guatemala and
Honduras to the United States by
those invisible but enduring ties,
steamship lines
What sugar was TO Cuba dur
ing the second decade of the 10Th
century, coffee was to Guatemala
during the last decade of the
18th. The breakfast beverage of
millions of Americans helped
put up magnificent public build
ings in Guatemala City and San
Salvador and placed pianos, pho
nCgraphs and other luxurics in
many Central American home.
Ii likewise sent suddenly i'll
creased number Of Latin Amcri-
cans to colleges and universities
OF the United States to return
better equipped for leadership in
those political and civic iedals
which their countrymen already
were trying to follow.
THE constitution of Honduras
does not regard the ballot as a
privilege, but makes voting COM
pulsOry upon the male citizen
who can read and write. If mar
rled he must begin voting at Is;
II unmarried at 2l. The death
penalty has been abolished.
Salvador's coast is wholly on
the Pacific side of the isthmuS.
Guatemala and Honduras turned
their faces toward the Pacific un.
til the advent of the banana crop
on their northern plains. The
simple fact has had far-rcaching
historical consequences.