The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-18
TECUCICALPA
Newest National Capital, is
Railroadless
RailrOadless

/. Washington, Feb 1s-"If the United States.
eordng criticisms in 791 selected site for its
capital far from the beaten path the newly form
ed Federation of Central America has selected one
that is even more remote and inaccessible, says 4
bulletin issued by the National Geographic Society
sTegueigalpa name which when properly pro
nounced brings to mind the 'goosey Soosey-gander
.of nursery rhynes) is the caoital Of Honduras
one. of the members of the union the bulletin
continues. 1T might be termed the 'Lhasa of the
West but because it is forbidden city by the
edctz of man.. It's citizens have their Share OF the
hospitality for which Latin America is noted; but
Nature has placed rough country between the CITY
and the two oceans that bathe the shores Oh non
B duras aad man has done little to overcome inc
handicap. It is, the only capital on the rNorh
American continent that has never echoed to the
more less musical blast Of railroad lonoeotlve
and one of the few ralroadlessA capitals in the
Western Hemisphere. Nor may one yet travel
: to the new national capital by automobile
Tegncigalpa is some so miles inland from It's
Pacific port San Lorenzo on highlands more than
1900 feet above level ~ road which is more
than trail bat less than a highway connects the
two points The most ambitious uan1e that it can
lay claim TO is cart roed Travellers do the
eight miles three days by mule back. and II they
are travelling light take their belongings alons
3 BIZ. mack mule. Trunks must follow even more
soyrv by ox-cart In the interior of the country,
with its tanks in the air, mihtary<nan might
describe it, Us a afty-n1ile highway in good con-
sdieion extending between Tesucigapa and the sec
ond most important TOXIN Of Honduras, Conlayagua
CFcrs this road automobiles operate regularly.
ssTegucigalpa is more than 4 GO miles from the
AtlantieAor rather. the Carrbean Sea; but Amer
leans can reach the capital more quickly from the
Atantic than from the Pacific side. due to the fast
steamer service from New orleans and Mobile.
Puerto -Cortez is the north shore port From there
"a railroad extends for short distance toward the
interior from the rail head the journey by mule
back to Tegucigalpa, occupies five or six days -
The capital is quiet place as its lnacces-
.ibility would indicate. Its population is varlousy
estimated at 2ee90 to $4,000. Most of its build
irss are OF one story with walls Of adobe or ma
sonTy and roofs Of tile. .iS
Though it is isolated now. Tugueigafpa does not
mean to remain so and perhaps its choice as CAPT
tai OF the new Central American Federation is an
earnest that it will soon have rail- connections with
the outside world. The government o. the state
adopted an ambitious rail building program gen.
Grafton ago but financial ruin overlook the enter
prise. In recent years number. of railroads have
been built from the north lcoast by large banana
companies and some of these are being slowyScX-
tended toward the capital -.
The Federation Of Central America, consisting
now OF Guatemala San Salvador, and Honduras,
hopes in the near future 70 enroll Nicaragua and
costa Riga among its members. If thesetwo coun-
tries to the soath join. Tegucgalpa will be almost
exactly at the geographical center~p of the new fed
eration's texritory'' < q x..s..sSt