The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-04-23

|
ciety. Washington. D. c.
When revolutionary trouble threat
ened In Honduras recently, the United
States sent warship to the Atlantic
not the Pacific coast Of the country, q
fact which brings out strikingly the
conformation Of the Americas. For
though Honduras has a coast line on
both the oceans and though 1t, as well
as the United States, Is In North
America, 1t Is more than three times
as far between the closest Pacific
ports Of the United States and Hon
duras as between their nearest Allan
tic ports.
Just before North America trails Off
into the Isthmus of Panama 1t runs
due east, forming broad shelf" on
the map. This is the north coast of
Honduras which faces directly the
opening between Cuba and Mexico
and the southern coast Of Florida and
Alabama beyond. Honduras is In
reality next-door-but-one neighbor to
the United States. 1t Is shorter from
New Orleans to Honduras than from
sailing southwark from Key West
would reach Honduran territory long
before vessel Of equal speed sailing
north would reach Norfolk.
But in spite of its accessibility Hon
duras has been largely neglected by
Americans save by traders in bananas.
The contact with the country has been
confined almost entirely to the coast
lands on the Atlantic side, and be-
yond them Honduras has been In large |
part unknown to Americans.
There are two chief arteries of |
travel in Honduras-one from ANA
pala, on the south coast, to Teguci-
galpa, the capital; and the other from
Puerto Cortes, on the north or Allan
tic coast, to the same place.
Starting from the United States, 1t
Will cost practically the same amount
10 reach Tegucigalpa by either port of
entry; but the time taken and the in
met with on the two
'oads are vastly different To reach
a steamer may be taken at
san Francisco. The voyage, as a rule,
occupies % days, not because this
ength Of time Is necessary to cover
he distance, but because the boats
re slow, carry cargo and stop for a
ew hours, or 1t may be for a few
avs, at ports In Mexico, Guatemala
nd Salvador. For the traveller who
J in no hurry, this voyage Is extreme
interesting. Ones ship may touch
Mazatlan. Acapulco and Salina I
ruz, In Mexico; Ocos, Champerlco {
nd San Jose, In Guatemala; Acajut- {
|. La Libertad and La Union, In Sal
ador.
BY Automobile or Mule. '
Until quite recently It has been nee |,
'sary to continue the journey from r
mapala by mules to Tegucigalpa, the "
lpital, about ninety miles inland. But s.
e trail that has served to connect II
e city with the outside world for II
INJURIES has latterly become road d
I'd now one may be trundled to the ly
pital, though somewhat roughly, by d.
tomobile. The modern power wag- IL
|, however, has not been able to S,
oulder out entirely either pack tt
lles or OK carts, and the traveller
~ still see numerous bales and boxes h,
goods transported by these meth al
s. 1t is a fair question whether It al
not more satisfactory, indeed. for NJ
e unhurried traveller to go by mule tn
ok In the good old way that has
en- followed since the first Span tn
DIS entered the land, tn
II such choice is made a mozo or be
want should also be hired He is ca
absolute necessity to the stranger
d is usually sent to you by the te
ner from whom you have hired the be
imals. The mozo practically ar err
aSes your days journey: he packs SO