Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 195, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1916 — Page 3

Central American Eden

THIS Is written in what would be called In Virginia a “manor house." But since it Is in. Guatemala it is of the Spanish colonial rather than the English colonial type, says Wingrove Bathon In the Utica Saturday Globe. The residence Is the office and home of the largest sugar plantation In Central America, and to visit It has been a privilege which has fallen to the lot of very few residents of the United States, or of Europe, either, for that matter, as the records of visitors here show. The great Humboldt came down through these fertile valleys of black mud years ago and recorded that he had found at last the celebrated “garden of Eden,” and he predicted that what was then a wilderness beneath the tropic sun would some day blossom and bear fruit—the sweetest dreams of the agriculturist. But he never dreamed that here would one day be found, as anyorie who comes here may, a sugar mill In which It was necessary to Invest, as is done in the United States and In Cuba, $500,000 before a pound of sugar coukl be obtained. Nor did he dream that visitors of today would find, as they do, an American chemist making sugar with a polariscope, assisted by thousands of Indians of the west coast of Central America, descendants of the ancient Toltecs mixed with Mayas.

GUATEMALAN INDIAN- GIRL

The approach to Pantaloon for the writer and the circumstances of the Inspection were exceptional. It may be as well to set down here that In Guatemala and In many other Central American countries, a plantation, or a series of plantations, Is known as a Magnificent Scenery. The start was made from Guatemala City, the capital, in the morning. Down grade through magnificent views of the mountains and volcanoes which make a setting for the capital the train traveled over the west coast branch of the International Railways of Central America, which was built by the late C. P. Huntington despite almost insurmountable obstacles of an engineering character, and among waterfalls and water powers from which some day will be developed vast electrical energy. Towering above the train as it wound down through canyons, amid the hazy, fleecy clouds were the peaks of the twin volcanoes, Agua (water) and Fuego (fire), no logger active, which have sent down into these valleys in years gone by showers of rich black mud that contains all the chemical elements of the best fertilizers, and In which three crotfs of corn each year are raised. A third volcanoe, Santa Marla, blew out In 1904, destroying millions of dollars’ worth of property. The train skirted the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes In the world, as interesting and as beautiful as anything Switzerland has ever offered any traveler —Lake Amatitlan — where some •of the well-known residents of the capital maintain bungalows for recreation; not for “summer

COURTYARD OF GUATEMALAN PLANTATION

resort” purposes, as there is neither winter nor summer in Guatemala. The train passed through miles and miles of tender, green, young ssgar cane, as well as cane in full growth, being cut by the Indian laborers, or occasionally by Jamaican negroes, whose villages of thatched cottages lined the tracks and were visible in the valleys down which the train sped. Some cottages were thatched with banana leaves, some roofed with red, native tiles of beautiful tints. Indian Fruit Sellers. Indians came’to the train with pineapples In size and flavor far superior to anything one obtains in the United States, and with coconuts, grapes, alligator pears, rich, juicy, fruity mangoes of fresh pink and red and pale green tints, as different from the dark, pickled mango of United States consumption as can well be imagined. Everywhere, from Guatemala City to San Jose, on the Pacific, there was, in truth, a very “garden of Eden,” with Immense tracts of land not yet taken up, ready for the enterprising citizen of the United States, Whom the government of Guatemala Is ready at every turn to encourage and to assist. At Esqulntla, a modern city of brick and stone and cement, there ire memorials of the Spafaish domination, and of the times when the aristocracy of Guatemala went there each January and February for diversion. It is a city filled with palms, and there are many beautiful baths. There are other memorials, too, and some of these attracted immediate attention upon arrival at Pantaleon. These are of the Indians who are making that great estate, the greatest in Central America, still greater. In the patio behind the “manor house” was a great group of stone idols, visible through the open doors of the residence, with a fountain for a foreground which was surrounded by four immense coconut palms, studded a few feet up with that parasite of the tropics—orchids. No one knew when or how the idols had come there. It Is said that all along the west coast once extended the tribes of Cholula, who founded many “lordships.” Sculptured stone idols were first found In this neighborhood in 1860. Excavations brought to light pillars, statues, stone obelisks, etc. Bas-reliefs were found which contained the representations of the horns of cows. Oxen were not known in the new world before the arrival of the Spaniards. Some archeologists and historians, therefore, believe that these bas-reliefs represent the goddess Isis of the Egyptians. But this has to do with ancient history and the mystery of the civilization and settlement of Central America, a theme for the scientists. As we turned away from the sculptured stone jdols and monuments at Pantaleon plantation we found, ready waiting, a most up-to-date steam locomotive and private car, to transport us through the miles and miles of sugar cane to San Vincente, a coffee beneficio (cleaning factory), and another beneficio, named San Gregario, also belonging to Herrarra Brothers, the owners of Pantaleon sugar plantation and mill. Coffee and Sweetening. The coffee trees had just come Into flower and their fruit was not yet ready to wmsh and put through the various processes, but we were in luck on the sugar plantations, for it was cutting and grinding season, and after we had watched the 5,000 cattle grazing knee deep in the great pastures and the Indians cutting the cane we came back to the mill and the manor house. In the mill we saw I,ooo‘bags of 100 pounds each of refined white sugar being turned out each day. Sugar cane was fed in and refined sugar in sacks, 1,000 of them a day, taken out. The mill worked night andday, 24 hours on a stretch. Grinding season began at Christmas and continued until the middle of May. There are 60,000 tons of cane in a crop. The white granulated sugar goes to the United States and white Demarra crystal sugar is made fqr export to London. Every Indian on the place has been taught there. There is a splendid laboratory equipment, with perfect chemical and scientific control of the product

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

STATISTICS NOT FAIR

AMERICAN RAILS FULLY EQUAL TO THE FOREIGN-MADE. Weight of Locomotive* and Car* Mart Be Taken Into Consideration — Average of Accident* I* Con- + stantly Bping Reduced.

On April 25, the bureau of standards, at Washington, made a report on railway material which Indicated that rails of foreign manufacture were superior to those produced in this country. It is understood that the report was based mainly on accident statistics, such as derailments, although, of course, the rail making processes of Europe and America are generally known to the bureau. It was found that derailments in the United States are 26 e tlmes as numerous for ea?h thousand miles of track as in Great Britain; three times as numerous as in Germany, but not so numerous as in Austria-Hungary. Low accident and derailment figures are shown for France, Russia and Sweden. In France one person is injured out of every 2,000,000 carried; 14 persons out of ever 2,000,000 transported in the United States are injured. In France one rail out of 2,000 has been found defective; in Germany, one in 1,350; in the United States, one in 470.

This, apparently, is a bad showing for the American rail. Generally speaking, American rail transportation is not regarded as being as safe as that in England, but explanations are necessary. The News, is in receipt of a communication from George C. Pyle of Indianapolis, who writes from Leeds, England. The report of the bureau of standards was not fair, in the opinion of Mr. Pyle. “The bureau,’” he writes, “after having announced rail accidents, derailments and rail breakages, should state the possible cause and not allow the average American mind to discount homemade goods. The rails used here (in England) are as heavy as those in use at home. The freight cars here are only 15 feet long—on four wheels—and ten tons is a good big load for them. The passenger cars here are about as long and perhaps less in weight than the interurban cars entering your city and many are much shorter. The average locomotive here is only about one-half the weight of ours, and I doubt if any of them could pull three Pullmans forty miles an hour. Compare the weight of our rolling stock to that of any European country and I think any schoolboy can figure out why we have more rail breakages.”

The deficiency* in the bureau of standards’ report, which Mr. Pyle points out, Is covered, however, in many reports of investigations made by the Interstate commerce commission. A few years ago, when the New Haven was having a series of bad accidents, It was shown that rail ages were due to many causes. It Is difficult to discover flaws which exist In a steel rail. These may develop through age and use. A rail which might stand up. on a straight stretch could not bear the strain of a crossover. Possibly the most important factor Is the weight of equipment. After that the element of personal responsibility enters. Perhaps the average European train crew is subject to stricter discipline, though not, of course, -when the comparison Is made with the best American roads. Another point which may be brought out la that American railroad transportation, which Is without doubt the most highly developed In the world, is yearly reducing the average of accidents from all causes. —Indianapolis News.

Balks Loan Sharks.

To give Its employees the benefit of their wages as soon as possible after they have earned them, the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad has announced that hereafter all employees will be paid on the first and fifteenth of each month, instead of on the last of each month, as has been customary. Other southern roads may follow the example. In some sections of the industrial South there is strong sentiment In favor of legislation which will compel railroads and Industrial corporations to pay their employees nt least semimonthly. It is contended that where wages are paid only once a month employees frequently resort to loan sharks to tide them over until the next pay day.

“CLAMSHELLS” TO SHOVEL SNOW

In clearing their right-of-ways through the great snowdrifts of northern Michigan during the past winter the railroads and tnlning companies Tn the vicinity of Calumet employed steam shovels and large clamshells operated on traveling derricks. v The clamshells were devised by an employe of a mining company for the special purpose of handling snow. One of the enormous shells takes a bite Ifi feet wide and 5 feet deep and operates on an arm having a s'veep of 40 feet. It does the work of 100 men. In many places the snow was 8 and

GET INFORMATION OF VALUE

Railroad Executive* Learn Much by Attendance at Convention* of Men Who “Do Thing*.” There was an unusual number of railroad executives present at the conventions of the Master Car Builders’ and of the Railroad Master Mechanics' association recently at Atlantic City. Heretofore many of the executives have shown a disposition to give ear to misleading reports relative to the entertainment features of the conventions, rather than to get facts regarding the very important work done there, both by railroad officers and by the supply companies. The executives who attended this year’s meeting expressed great satisfaction with what they saw and heard. These are two of the most important railroad organizations in America. The reports of their committees and the discussion of and the action taken on them have expressed the wisdom of the mechanical departments of the railroads of North America for half a century. The exhibit of railroad equipment and supplies made annually by the members of the Railroad Supply Manufacturers’ association in connection with tlje conventions of these bodies, is the largest, most instructive an<T most important exhibition of machinery of a special class made anywhere in the world. A fair estimate of all-steel cars in service at the close of 1915 places the number at 530,000. On June 30, 1915, there were 672,121 freight cars of steel underframe construction in use. The aggregate of these two classes constitutes over 50 per cent of the freight car equipment of the roads of this country.

BURIED IN TONS OF EARTH

Incident Shows Some of the Difficulties of Railroading in the Country’s “Far West.” Many tons of cliffside, loosened by rain, descended abruptly upon the tracks of a California railroad, and as there happened to be a locomotive just below the results were startling. The engine was almost entirely buried under sand, gravel and small pieces of rotted rock' and only a small part of it remained above the surface. Comparatively little damage was done, however, and the locomotive was put into service again after being excavated. x The shifting sands of the desert are among other difficulties which must be met in the solution of Western railroad problems. But ft is the winters which cause the most trouble and expense to the railroads. In some places it is necessary to build miles of snow sheds and keep them in repair. Drifts sometimes are 20 to 30 feet deep in the midst of winter and were it not for the snowsheds at certain points traffic would be impossible during certain months of the year. Snowslides from mountain sides are another danger, particularly when the snow begins to melt in the spring.

Grade Crossing Accidents.

To lessen accidents on railroad crossings specific standards have been adopted by the American Railway association. This action was taken on the recommendation of a committee which reported that largely because of the increased use of the automobile, accidents at grade crossings in many parts of the country have increased 1,000 per cent in the last five years. It is planned to standardize crossing signals throughout the country in order that motorists may easily recognize the warning. The special committee of the national association of railroad commissioners in recommending standards to be followed and to obtain legislation in all the states requiring compliance with such standards.

Robin Builds Nest Under Box Car.

When a box car was pulled into Vancouver, Wash., the other day for repairs Lt was found that a robin bad built, her nest under the car and had hatched three young ones. When the car was pushed on the repair track the mother bird flew around greatly excited arid could not be driven away. The men searched the car and found the nest. They put the nest in a small box, cut a hole in it, and nailed it to a post. The mother bird took possession immediately and is feeding her young numerous times daily.

A Clamshell in Operation, Devise Especially for Removing Snow.

10 feet dew. —Popular Mechanics Mag azine.* -■ ...

Weather ||l Meats qt Ve*l Loaf, to *erve cold: Cooked Corned Beef, select and appetizing. Chicken Loaf, Ham Loaf and Veal Loaf, jo delicately seasoned. Vienna Sausage, Genuine Deviled 4044111 ~ Ham and Wafer Sliced Dried Beef for sandwiche* and 30 ” dainty luncheons. 20 /tart wiL/My'**/peer r«o«r’*i ‘ ' ' to gQ5| 1 20 uH KOI ffihiro 30 HR Bumper Grain Crops Good Markets—High Prices Prize a Awarded to Weatern Canada for Oata, Barley, Alfalfa and Graaaea \ \ The winnings of Western Canada at the Soil Product* Exposition at Denver were easily made. The list S&flT 1 comprised Wheat, Oats, Barley and Grasses, the moot I / Nfri / important being the prizes for Wheat and Oat* and sweep stake on Alfalfa. Wk* No less important than the splendid quality of Western Mi Canada’s wheat and other grains, is the excellence of the cattle fed and fattened on the fi rasseß of ‘ wjHWvoWgisffi Lb. country. A recent shipment of cattie to Chicago to PP ed 1116 markct “ dty for <l uaJlt y 311(1 P" o ** I Wetter* C«**Ja produced h 1915 o.e-third M m*eli wheo* ■I L u “ tei Suu *’ * ”* 30 ®’ 000 ’ 000 **■*“*• j | R * I/g) V> Canada in proportion to population has a greater ■JKSdfT tL. A I exportable surplus of wheat this year than any M rt AJ . country in the world, and at present prices you W ( A can figure out the revenue for the proM ducer. In Western Canada you will find JKSkIRa/ 1 good markets, splendid schools, excep- • J ■ tional social conditions, perfect climate and other great attraction*. Thera la na-war tax on land and no conscription. for illustrated pamphlet and ask for reduced railway rates, information a* to beat location*, etc. Address Superintendent Immigration, Ottawa. Canada, or CJ- laae 412,112 W. Atas St., dacacv. III.; I. V. McEta, 178 .’ofrrss* Art, Ddta, Ifick Canadian Government Agents

All Gone.

“Blinks doesn’t seem to have much snap In him any more.” “No; he used to have so much snap In him that now he’s broke."

ITCHING, BURNING SCALPS Crusted With Dandruff Yield Readily to Cuticura. Trial Free. Cutlcura Soap to cleanse the scalp of dandruff crusting* and scalings, and Cuticura Ointment to soothe and heal itchlngs and Irritations. Nothing better, surer or more economical than these super-creamy emollients for hair and scalp troubles of young or old. Free sample each by mall with Book. Address postcard, Cuticura, Dept. L, Boston. Sold everywhere.—Adv.

Maybe.

“Reforms are being carried on everywhere just now.” » “Yes, and after we have reformed some of our reforms we will probably have matters in pretty good shape again.”

Important to Mothers

Examine carefully every bottle of CASTORIA, a safe and sure remedy for Infants and children, and see that it Bears the xTs _/ Signature of In Use for Over 30 Years. Children Cry for Fletcher’s Castoria

Simplicity of the Fathers.

Mrs. Everett M. Raynor of New York, president general of the Daughters of the Revolution, said at a luncheon : “There are many anecdotes in illustration of the simple living of the Fathers. ‘ “One of our country’s pre-Revoln-tionary fathers had occasion to call on the' governor of his province, and was Invited to stay to luncheon. “Luncheon began, and a liveried servant moved busily about, serving the wine, carving the fowl, and so forth. “The guest watched the servant for some minutes, and then said to him irritably: “ ‘What are you dance, dance, dancing about the room for, man? Can’t you pull up a chair and sit down? Surely there’s enough for the three of us.’ ” -

He Meant Well, but

Distinguished Out-Of-Town Guest (speaking at banquet)—Your beautiful little city appeals to me. As we came iu on the train I remarked to my wife: “Ah, my dear; you and I ought to be living on the top of one of those magnificent hills.” Toastmaster (in hoarse whisper)— Go easy; we’ve got only two hills in town. The insane asylum is on one, and the sewage works on the other.

To Remove the Fly Paper.

When sticky fly paper gets on clothing, linoleum or oilcloth, pour kerosene on the spots and let soak at least two minutes, then wash in warm soapsuds and they will come off readily. ' i ■ -

Warned.

•Is old skinflint an approachable nan?” “Yes, very, provided you don’t care ,-hat happens to you after you approach him.”

Daughter's Idea.

Mrs. Brown was In the habit of introducing her big daughter as, “This Is Jane; she is only fifteen—you’d never think it, would you?” • At last the girl protested. “It’s mean of you to tell everybody how young I am. I could have a lot better time If you didn’t.” "Perhaps you could. But I don’t propose to have people saying, after you’ve been out In society a couple of seasons? ‘Don’t tell me Jane Brown is only twenty —why, she was a grown girl years ago.’” “Just the same,” retorted the daughter, "you wouldn’t like It if I Introduced you to my friends as "This 1* my mother. She’s only forty-eight—-you wouldn’t think it, would you?* ” Judge.

Flush.

“If you please, sir,” pleaded the bookkeeper, “I’d like to have three weeks’ vacation this year instead of two.” Have you any particular reason for making such a request?” asked his employer. “Yes, sir. I’ve saved up more money this year than I usually do, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to spend it all in two weeks.”

Many a self-made man would have suited better had he let his wife attend to the job. A woman can’t throw a stone, but did you ever see one who couldn’t hurl defiance?

Tea and Coffee For Children ? These beverages contain drug elements that hinder development of both body and mind, especially in children. Nowadays, for their children, wise parents choose POSTUM This delicious table beverage, made of cereals, has a wonderfully satisfying flavor —a flavor much like the higher grades of coffee (but without any of coffee’s harm.) Postum is a true, pure food-drink that has helped thousands to forget the coffee habit “There’s a Reason* Grocers everywhere sell POSTUM