roads with all parts of the hitherto impenetrable jungle, as well as with the mountain capitals and towns. In fact, I look to see, during the next twenty years, a transformation in Central America which will astonish the world and make it difficult to realize that, in 1907, it was commonly regarded as a terra incognita. HOW TO REACH CENTRAL-AMERICAN CITIES. The query is often propounded to the International Bureau of American Republics: How does a visitor go to the principal cities of Central America, and what are the conditions of travel? The best way to-day to reach Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala; San Salvador, the capital of Salvador; Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, and Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, is either by the way of Panama and the Pacific or by San Francisco and the Pacific, except that the new rail route across the isthmus of Tehuantepec may presently provide connections that will be quicker than the route via San Francisco or Panama. San José, the capital of Costa Rica, has direct rail connections with Port Limon, on the Caribbean shore, and will soon have a through railroad to Punta Arenas on the Pacific Gulf of Nicoya. The port of ern Guatemala is reached through the ports Guatemala City is the town of San José, from of Ocos and Champerico, and a railroad exwhich a railroad runs to the capital. The tends from the latter place to several imporline from the Caribbean, soon to be com- tant towns of the interior. The principal pleted, begins at Puerto Barrios. Northwest- port of Salvador is Acajutla, from which a THE WHITE HOUSE, SAN SALVADOR. railroad carries one, in five hours, to the city of San Salvador. From La Libertad there is a fair mountain road, but it has been little used since the railway was completed. The capital of Honduras has its port at Amapala, on the Pacific Gulf of Fonseca, and a good macadamized road extends from San Lorenzo to Tegucigalpa, on which automobiles are operated. A railroad is planned and partly constructed to connect Tegucigalpa not only with the Gulf of Fonseca, but also with Puerto Cortez, on the Caribbean Gulf of Honduras. When these roads will be completed is, however, uncertain. The chief port of Nicaragua is Corinto, on the Pacific side. From this port, a railroad runs to Managua, and thence to Granada, on Lake Nicaragua. PRECAUTIONS FOR TRAVELERS. The capital towns of the Central-American republics vary in population, but all provide hotels and clubs that are comfortable. New York and Paris hostelries do not abound, as there is no demand for them, but unless a man is a chronic "kicker" he need not be unhappy in his Central-American surroundings. Whoever goes there should be provided with an abundance of light clothing, such as white duck, brown khaki, or thin flannel. He must guard against the sun in the middle of the day, and should wear, unless he carries an umbrella, a pith hat or some kind of sun helmet. After the sun is well down, the air cools off immediately, and the nights are generally cool. Except in the higher altitudes, a mosquito net is absolutely necessary, and no traveler along the coast or in the low interior should be caught without one. If any time is spent in this section, it is also well to take regular doses of quinine, according to one's capacity or health, in order to guard against malaria. Ordinary care should also be exercised in the kind of food consumed, and even more care in the kind of water that is drunk. I do not wish to frighten anybody or make it appear that there is any particular danger while traveling in these countries. I desire. rather to make a few simple suggestions, which, if followed, will make travel and life there more safe and agreeable. As to myself, I can say that during many years' residence as United States Minister in different tropical countries of the Orient and America, including a year at Panama (before it was made healthy and sanitary through the great work of Colonel Gorgas), I never experienced a day's sickness from any kind of tropical complaint. I exercised common-sense care of myself, and nothing more. To-day, I visit the heart of the tropics with far less hesition than I do New England in winter. TRADE, COMMERCE, AND FINANCIAL STATUS. That this discussion of Central America may contain some exact information about its ONE OF THE ROOMS IN THE GOVERNMENT PALACE OF HONDURAS, AT TEGUCIGALPA. revenues of the government at $25,000,000. trade, commerce, and general business, the latest statistics and figures, prepared in the Salvador enjoys a foreign commerce of International Bureau of American Republics, $9,986,000, divided into exports of $5,640,of which the writer is the director, are given 000 and imports of $4,346.000. The share in summarized form. The total foreign of the United States is $2,580,000, with excommerce, exports and imports, of the five ports of $1,225,000 and imports of $1,355,republics amounted last year to the consid- ooo. The annual budget for 1906-07 estierable total of $56,133,000. Of this, exports mates the national revenues at $8,644,295. were $32,170,000 and imports $23,963,000, Honduras conducts an external trade with or a favorable balance of nearly $10,000,000. the world of $7,857,000, of which exports The share of the United States in the above are $5,564,000 and imports $2,293,000. trade is interesting to note, because it aver- The United States' proportion of this trade aged about half. The total was $26,376,000, is valued at $6,322,000, or much the largest of which exports to the United States were part, of which exports to the United States $14,992,000, and imports from the United are $4,632,000 and imports therefrom States $11,384,000. $1,690,000. The last budget places the revenues at $3,043,000. Although the foreign debt is heavy, Honduras has marvelous re sources, which, developed, will enable her to meet her obligations. Taking each country in turn for the purpose of providing accurate and specific information, it is noted that the total trade of Guatemala with the world is $15,082,000, of which $6,844,000 are imports and $8,238,000 are exports. Of this, the portion of the United States is $5,582,000, divided as follows: Imports, $2,707,000; exports, $2,875,000. The budget for 1906-07 estimates the Nicaragua's foreign commerce reaches a total of $7,128,000, of which $3,920,000 represents exports, and $3,202,000 imports. Of these, the share of the United States is nearly half, as the total is $4.757000, Honduras. When these roads will be completed is, however, uncertain. The chief port of Nicaragua is Corinto, on the Pacific side. From this port, a railroad runs to Managua, and thence to Granada, on Lake Nicaragua. PRECAUTIONS FOR TRAVELERS. The capital towns of the Central-American republics vary in population, but all provide hotels and clubs that are comfortable. New York and Paris hostelries do not abound, as there is no demand for them, but unless a man is a chronic "kicker" he need not be unhappy in his Central-American surroundings. Whoever goes there should be provided with an abundance of light clothing, such as white duck, brown khaki, or thin flannel. He must guard against the sun in the middle of the day, and should wear, unless he carries an umbrella, a pith hat or some kind of sun helmet. After the sun is well down, the air cools off immediately, and the nights are generally cool. Except in the higher altitudes, a mosquito net is absolutely necessary, and no traveler along the coast or in the low interior should be caught without one. If any time is spent in this section, it is also well to take regular doses of quinine, according to one's capacity or health, in order to guard against malaria. Ordinary care should also be exercised in the kind of food consumed, and even more care in the kind of water that is drunk. I do not wish to frighten anybody or make it appear that there is any particular danger while traveling in these countries. I desire rather to make a few simple suggestions, which, if followed, will make travel and life there more safe and agreeable. As to myself, I can say that during many years' residence as United States Minister in different tropical countries of the Orient and America, including a year at Panama (before it was made healthy and sanitary through the great work of Colonel Gorgas), I never experienced a day's sickness from any kind of tropical complaint. I exercised common-sense care of myself, and nothing more. To-day, I visit the heart of the tropics with far less hesition than I do New England in winter. TRADE, COMMERCE, AND FINANCIAL STATUS. That this discussion of Central America may contain some exact information about its ONE OF THE ROOMS IN THE GOVERNMENT PALACE OF HONDURAS, AT TEGUCIGALPA. revenues of the government at $25,000,000. Salvador enjoys a foreign commerce of $9,986,000, divided into exports of $5,640,ooo and imports of $4,346.000. The share of the United States is $2,580,000, with exports of $1,225,000 and imports of $1,355,ooo. The annual budget for 1906-07 estimates the national revenues at $8,644,295. trade, commerce, and general business, the latest statistics and figures, prepared in the International Bureau of American Republics, of which the writer is the director, are given in summarized form. The total The total foreign commerce, exports and imports, of the five republics amounted last year to the considerable total of $56,133,000. Of this, exports were $32,170,000 and imports $23,963,000, Honduras conducts an external trade with or a favorable balance of nearly $10,000,000. the world of $7,857,000, of which exports The share of the United States in the above are $5,564,000 and imports $2,293,000. trade is interesting to note, because it averaged about half. The total was $26,376,000, of which exports to the United States were $14,992,000, and imports from the United States $11,384,000. Taking each country in turn for the purpose of providing accurate and specific information, it is noted that the total trade of Guatemala with the world is $15,082,000, of which $6,844,000 are imports and $8,238,000 are exports. Of this, the portion of the United States is $5,582,000, divided as follows: Imports, $2,707,000; exports, $2,875,000. The budget for 1906-07 estimates the The United States' proportion of this trade is valued at $6,322,000, or much the largest part, of which exports to the United States are $4,632,000 and imports there from $1,690,000. The last budget places the revenues at $3,043,000. Although the foreign debt is heavy, Honduras has marvelous resources, which, developed, will enable her to meet her obligations. Nicaragua's foreign commerce reaches a total of $7,128,000, of which $3,926,000 represents exports, and $3,202,000 imports. Of these, the share of the United States is nearly half, as the total is $3.757,000, |