FROM QUEZALTENANGO TO THE PACIFIC. 169 
single track, would result in quadrupling the coffee export 
of Guatemala. It would then be profitable to raise more 
of the delicious oranges of Teleman, — oranges such as 
Florida can never raise ; the mahogany of the Cienega 
and Chocon could be marketed ; and all Alta Yerapaz be 
a plantation of coffee and fruits. More than this, the road 
would pay from the first through train. Before us on the 
west coast was the sugar and cacao region, — that land 
that produces the royal chocolate which outside barba¬ 
rians never get, but which might be raised very extensive¬ 
ly from Soconusco eastward if a railroad should be built 
over the level lands from Escuintla to Retalhuleu and 
Ocos. A road from Guatemala City through Salama to 
Coban would not only open the rich sugar estate of San 
Geronimo, but connect the capital with the Mexican 
system, which will probably go to Coban eventually. At 
Belize the English are trying to build a road inland to 
Peten to open the logwood and mahogany forests ; and 
they need a road along the coast to open the settlements 
that now have no outlet save by water. A hundred and 
forty miles, at the outside, would connect Belize with 
Livingston. The roads in Honduras will extend between 
Trujillo and Puerto Barrios, there connecting with the 
Northern Railroad of Guatemala. Not one of these 
projected lines presents any very difficult engineering 
problems. The financial question is the only obstacle ; 
and with the exception of the first two, — both coast 
roads, and of simple construction, — they would not pay 
for a few years ; that is, until the plantations that would 
spring up along their way came into bearing, — that, 
however, in this climate, would not be long, even for 
india-rubber. 
