INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.
1800-1887.
EARLY AGRICULTURE—PROTECTION OF THE INDUSTRY—GREAT PROGRESS
ATTAINED—COMMUNAL LANDS—AGRICULTURAL WEALTH—DECAY OF
COCHINEAL—DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER STAPLES—INDIGO, COFFEE, SUGAR,
CACAO, AND TOBACCO—FOOD AND OTHER PRODUCTS—PRECIOUS WOODS
AND MEDICINAL PLANTS—LIVE-STOCK—VALUE OF ANNUAL PRODUCTION
IN EACH STATE—NATURAL PRODUCTS OF PANAMÁ—NEGLECT OF
AGRICULTURE—MINERAL WEALTH—YIELD OF PRECIOUS METALS—MINING IN
HONDURAS, SALVADOR, AND NICARAGUA—DEPOSITS OF GUATEMALA AND
COSTA RICA—MINTS—FORMER YIELD OF PANAMÁ—MINING NEGLECTED ON
THE ISTHMUS—INCIPIENCY OF MANUFACTURES—PRODUCTS FOR DOMESTIC
USE.
In the early part of the present century cattle were the mainstay
of the large estates in Central America; but the great staple was
indigo.[XXXII-1] Sugar and raspadura were also important crops, but the
most valuable was that of Indian corn. Some tobacco was also grown. The
cacao plantations had ceased to exist. The cultivation of jiquilite,
cochineal, and vanilla had also declined.[XXXII-2]
[Sidenote: GUATEMALA PLANTATIONS.]
Guatemala passed, from time to time, laws for the protection and
development of agriculture,[XXXII-3] and yet it made no notable
progress down to the end of the seventh decade.[XXXII-4] But
with the establishment of a more liberal system, a great change
soon became manifest. The cultivation of cochineal having become
unproductive,[XXXII-5] the government turned its attention to the
development of coffee,[XXXII-6] until it became the first source of
wealth of the country. In Antigua Guatemala coffee, and in Amatitlan
sugar, have taken the place of cochineal.[XXXII-7] Every possible
encouragement has been given to other products, such as sugar, wheat,
tobacco, cinchona, jiquilite, spices, and grapes, with good results in
some of them, and prospects of the same in others.[XXXII-8] I give in
note statistical data on the country's productions.[XXXII-9]
Honduras produces all the great staples of the tropics. The land on
both coasts is adapted for cotton.[XXXII-10] A soft, slender, and juicy
sugar-cane is indigenous; two and even three crops are taken annually.
This cane requires replanting only once in ten or twelve years.
Excellent coffee may be had in abundance if cultivated. Cochineal and
grapes were obtained in former years.[XXXII-11] The nopal is indigenous
and abundant in Comayagua. The tobacco of Honduras has a well-deserved
reputation. Indigo is produced in quantities for commercial purposes.
Food staples are varied and abundant. The country has also a wealth of
precious woods, and indeed, of every variety common to the tropics. Of
fruit-trees, there are many indigenous. Sarsaparilla, of which there
is none superior, is found in abundance, particularly on the northern
and eastern coasts. Vanilla grows in the same districts.[XXXII-12]
Agriculture is progressing. The cultivation of fruit-trees on the
northern coast has drawn the attention of capitalists. Coffee, indigo,
sugar-cane, and tobacco are the chief staples. Neat cattle were the
most obvious source of wealth, the interior country being favorable for
their increase.[XXXII-13]
Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica enjoy the same advantages as
the other two states already described, and have within the last
thirty years developed agriculture in a remarkable degree. The great
products of the first named are indigo, coffee, maize, sugar, and
rice. A variety of other articles contribute to increase the country's
wealth.[XXXII-14] The old system of communal lands prevails throughout
Central America.
The chief staples of Nicaragua are cacao, sugar, indigo, tobacco,
cotton, coffee, wheat, and other cereals, and plantains and fruits in
great profusion.[XXXII-15] The departments of Rivas, Granada, Leon, and
Chinandega supply trade with the most valuable staples. The government
has endeavored to promote agriculture, particularly the cultivation of
coffee and tobacco.[XXXII-16] Among other productions mention must be
made of the inexhaustible quantities of medicinal plants, and valuable
cabinet and dye woods.[XXXII-17] Cattle are another source of wealth,
but cattle-raising has its drawbacks.[XXXII-18]
[Sidenote: COSTA RICA AND PANAMÁ.]
Costa Rica produces indigo and sugar of excellent quality, and some
of the best cacao in the Matina Valley.[XXXII-19] Wheat, potatoes,
and other vegetables, apples, and other fruits of the temperate zone
are also found; but the republic's chief staple and source of wealth
is coffee.[XXXII-20] The plantations are small and looked to with the
utmost care. The largest one of Costa Rica would be considered small
in Guatemala; but on the other hand, men and women find occupation,
and there is no actual poverty. The production of coffee has steadily
increased, except when rains have been scanty or excessive, or locusts
have caused devastation in the fields.[XXXII-21]
Fiscal monopolies have kept back, in a great measure, the development
of the cultivation of sugar and tobacco.[XXXII-22] The country is well
supplied with livestock of all kinds, and is also rich in valuable
cabinet and dye woods as well as in medicinal plants.
The soil of the Isthmus of Panamá is well adapted for all tropical
productions. The country only needs an industrious population and peace
to develop its immense natural wealth. The chief productions are Indian
corn, sugar-cane, rice, a great variety of fruits, vegetables, and
nutritious roots, such as yam, yucca, etc. Agriculture has been limited
to the supply of edibles, and of late years to the shipment of some
fruit to the United States. The cultivation of sugar and coffee might
be made profitable, though requiring a large outlay, but for being
dependent on an uncertain supply of labor. In 1862 and 1863, cotton
culture was undertaken in the interior with fair success, and in 1864
had spread all over the country.[XXXII-23] The plant is perennial, and
yet, with this and other advantages, the natives have not become awake
to the importance of it. Cacao is another article that might be grown
to advantage. The government has tried to promote the culture of coffee
and cacao.[XXXII-24]
Coffee and sugar are cultivated, but not in sufficient quantity to
meet even the home demand. I append in a note an official account
of agricultural production for 1882, though not giving it much
value.[XXXII-25]
[Sidenote: VERAGUA AND CHIRIQUÍ.]
Veragua and Chiriquí have good plains for raising neat cattle, goats,
pigs, horses, asses, and mules.[XXXII-26] Poultry, and a great variety
of wild animals exist in abundance. The seas on the two coasts are well
stocked with fish.
The Isthmus has plenty of timber of the best kinds and of enormous
size, found in South Darien, and in all the mountains on both
coasts, and in the islands; also cabinet and dye woods, and medicinal
plants.[XXXII-27]
* * * * *
Of the five states of Central America, Honduras appears to be the
most plentifully supplied with mineral wealth. Mount Merendon was
long celebrated for its silver and gold mines. Until about thirty or
forty years ago, mining was the most prominent interest in the state,
but wars and political disturbances caused the abandonment of the
mines, and the works fell into decay, after which there was neither
enterprise, capital, nor skill to restore them. The owners of the
property afterward became owners of immense grazing estates. Some mines
were continued in operation, however, on a small scale, and in a rude
manner.[XXXII-28] In 1860 and for some preceding years the bullion
export of Honduras amounted to about $400,000 annually, most of it
being gold collected by the Indians from shallow washings.
[Sidenote: MINERALS AND METALS.]
The development of the mining wealth of Honduras is engaging the
attention of foreign capitalists.[XXXII-29] Several companies have
been organized in the United States, France, and elsewhere to work the
mines in the departments of Tegucigalpa, Santa Bárbara, Yuscaran, and
Jutigalpa.[XXXII-30]
Guatemala has not been noted for mines. However, the district in the
Alotepec mountains was rich toward the latter part of the eighteenth
century, yielding large quantities of silver.[XXXII-31] The river sands
of the department of Chiquimula are auriferous, and the Indians wash
them for gold.[XXXII-32] Recently several deposits have been reported
to the government, of lead, silver, gold, cinnabar, coal, kaoline,
marble, etc.[XXXII-33]
Nicaragua possesses an immense wealth in minerals, which has not been
developed as yet, except on a small scale, and generally, without any
intelligence. Gold and silver and several useful metals are found in
great abundance.[XXXII-34] There are also deposits of gypsum, marble,
alabaster, lime, saltpetre, etc. Sulphur is sometimes found pure. The
mining laws favor the industry by either natives or foreigners. A mint
has existed in the republic for several years.[XXXII-35]
In Salvador there can be no mines of precious metals out of that
portion of the state which is geologically dependent on the mountain
system of Honduras. The silver mines of Tabanco, Encuentros, Sociedad,
Loma Larga, Divisaderos, Capetilla, Santa Rosalía, etc., in the
department of San Miguel, on the north-eastern part, and bordering on
Honduras, have had a wide celebrity. Some of them were extensively
worked, and with great profit. The group called Minas de Tabanco,
holding the ore in combination with galena and sulphuret of zinc, are
easily worked.[XXXII-36]
Salvador has rich mines of iron near Santa Ana, and of brown coal
throughout the valley of the Lempa, and in the valleys of some
of its tributaries, over a region of 100 miles long by 20 miles
broad.[XXXII-37]
Costa Rica has been less favored than the other states in mining
wealth. Rich gold mines are supposed to exist near the border of
Panamá.[XXXII-38] In the Aguiate Mountains and at cuesta del Jocote
gold mines were worked by foreigners with a moderate profit. It
is stated that the country also possesses mines of silver, copper,
nickel, zinc, iron, lead, and coal.[XXXII-39] The republic keeps a
well-organized mint, the improvements having been first introduced
by Chief Mora; since then none of his successors has neglected that
establishment.
[Sidenote: YIELD OF PRECIOUS METALS.]
The yield of gold and silver of the five states of Central America
for the years 1804-1868 is estimated at $13,800,000 of the former, and
$7,400,000 of the latter, making a total of $21,200,000.[XXXII-40] The
yearly supply since has been roughly calculated at $300,000 in gold,
and $200,000 in silver.[XXXII-41]
The Isthmus is reputed to have a great mineral wealth. The mines of
Darien have been renowned from the earliest times after the conquest.
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa speaks enthusiastically of them.[XXXII-42] They
were not worked till the second half of the seventeenth century.
The richest of them were those of Santa Cruz de Cana, where of the
Espíritu Santo was the chief.[XXXII-43] In 1708 the king's fifths
were equivalent to $216,500. The mines had attained a high state of
prosperity, when an end was put thereto by the Indian revolt in 1726
and 1727.[XXXII-44] Since then, though the mines have been granted
from time to time to several parties, nothing has been done worth
mentioning.[XXXII-45] It is believed that the yield of these mines had
reached 18,000 to 20,000 pounds of gold yearly.[XXXII-46]
According to a report addressed to the Colombian secretary of the
treasury, and published in the Diario Oficial at Bogotá, the whole
production of gold and silver in New Granada or Colombia, from 1537
to 1800 was $414,000,000, and from 1801 to 1882, it was $216,000,000;
total, $630,000,000,[XXXII-47] of which amount $74,000,000 is credited
to the Isthmus of Panamá, four millions of them being the yield of the
present century. Cinnabar and manganese are reported to exist on the
Isthmus, and coal in Chiriquí, Bocas del Toro, and the bottom of Colon
harbor.[XXXII-48]
* * * * *
[Sidenote: MANUFACTURES.]
Manufacturers are as yet in their infancy in Central America.[XXXII-49]
Since the separation from Spain, every inducement has been offered to
develop them, and more especially after the change of governmental
régime of 1871.[XXXII-50] In later times we find in Quezaltenango
good factories for spinning and weaving textiles. In Chiquimula they
manufacture palm-leaf hats, mats, and maguey-fibre baskets. In Vera
Paz the natives make excellent hammocks, bags, rope, etc. But the fact
stands officially acknowledged that Guatemala has not made a sufficient
advancement to enable her to export any manufactures, or even to
compete in her own markets with the better and cheaper productions of
other countries.[XXXII-51]
In Honduras manufactures are at a low ebb, owing to the condition
of affairs before and after her independence, not less than to the
composition of her people.
There are in Salvador several factories at which cotton and silk
rebozos are made, which meet with easy sale in all the Central American
markets.[XXXII-52] Hammocks, earthen-ware, straw hats, cigarettes,
sweetmeats, etc., are manufactured. Rum is made, as in Guatemala, from
sugar-cane.
In Nicaragua mechanics are scarce. Manufacturing is yet in the
incipient state.[XXXII-53] However, the Indians make excellent pottery
and other articles for home consumption.[XXXII-54]
In Costa Rica there is hardly any domestic manufacturing.[XXXII-55]
Efforts are made by the government to develop the industry.[XXXII-56]
As regards Panamá, it may be said that manufactures are almost unknown,
save such as are imported.[XXXII-57]