The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-04-01

OF the coffee district, holds a strategic
position with regard 70 the Aguacate
mountains, chief source of mineral
wealth, and Is fayorably situated for
shipping TO all points in the interior.
Most of the developed land is east and
west Of it, the territory north and south
being much less utilized.
Good Harbors Are Few.
Although the coast is lacking In
good harbors. that at Port Limon, on
file Atlantic side has been converted
into satisfactory port Of entry.
The Pacific port of entry. Punta-
renas, is still lacking In wharfage IA
cilities, but is well protected by its
situation on the broad Gulf of Nicoya.
one of three great indentations which
make the republic conspicuous on any
map.
Below the Gulf of Nicoya. which RUM
up 30 miles to the broad plain of Guiana
caste, where stock grazing is the prin-
cipal industry, is the Golfo Dulce.
large inlet into region which is still
undeveloped.
lntTb are uU HINTS VI any Size
the republic. Nayigable rivers are non
existent, save for some tidal streams
along the coast that play an important
part in the transport of bananas TO the
point of shipment. The streams of the
country are mere mountain torrents,
in some places deep enough for canoe
travel. but more valuable as sources
of power.
Costa Rica's banana industry has
been created by an American fruit com
pany. which has monopoly. The
rankly fertile soil of the coast has been
cleared of natural growth and planta-
lions extended year by year, principally
to the north of Port Limon. while light
railways bring the crop 10 tidewater.
where il is loaded on barges and take
to Port Limon for transshipment in the
company's own steamers.
The republic sends TO the United
States more bananas than any other
country-from 100000 TO 9OO0.O00
lunches n year-and they are nf high
qna.ify. As the industry represents a
foreign investment aud operation. II
is not of such vital interest TO the peo-
pie as Is coffee. A failure OF the
banana crop affects the profits of the
fruit company: failure of the coffee
crop affects every bank In Costa Rica.
and may even threaten the stability Of
the administration then in power. since
voters do not always reason closely
from cause 10 effect. in times of finan-
cial stringency.
Beautiful Coffee Country.
Surely. not even Japan in cherry
blossom time can he more beautiful
than the coffee country. occupying val /
Ieys al an elevation IF from 5000 10
r. coo feet. when the SNOW of the bios
SONS hangs like Il mantle over the
land and their perfume subriues the
strong scents of the forests. Plania- /
lions are mostly small. peasant propri- /
etorship heirg the rule. and each has .
its one-room house with a tile or cor /
rugated iron roof covering a hetero-
geneous assortment of men, women
and children. monkeys. parrots and
dogs But the industry can he better
studied on a larger inca say of 81
acres.
A visitor inspecting such p'anta-
lion during the picking season would
lind himself walking between rows of
bushes. six feet high and colored with
the deep hut vivid red of rope berries
such trees are five years old and Just
beginning to bear proiitahly. They
are kept two years in nursery and
hen transplanted tn the orchard. where
il requires three years Ia bring Them
TO maturity. They will then bear for
five or six years. when they cease To
be profitable and are cut down. New
rees are planted every year in the
n!ace of old ones, and thus the plarta-
ion is kept at the highest point of
Bearing efficiency. Bananas are planted
,mong the trees for shade, which the
.ofree tree rcuuires constantly. espe
tally when young