CENTRAL  AMERICA

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doubtful  if  the  demands  of  these  republics  will
warrant  a  very  great  expansion  of  railways  for
years  to  come.
These  countries  have  no  manufactories,  and
were  designed  by  nature  to  be  agricultural.
In  time,  with  the  development  of  steamship
service  they  may  become  truck  gardens  for
the  United  States,  as  their  soil  is  admirably
adapted  for  vegetables,  early  fruits,  melons
and  berries.  In  some  districts,  especially  in
Nicaragua  and  in  Honduras,  cattle  could  be
raised  much  more  extensively.  There  are
mines,  but  not  of  sufficient  wealth  to  attract
much  capital.
Owing  to  the  diversity  of  zones,  there  are
opportunities  for  many  varieties  of  fruits,  vegetables, ­
  and  cereals.  For  centuries  these
countries  have  been  covered  with  the  most
luxuriant  tropical  growths,  so  that  the  subsoil
is  overlaid  with  a  thick  mould  estimated  at
over  ten  feet  deep,  capable  of  excessive  productive ­
  possibilities.  Tobacco,  sugar,  indigo,
rice,  corn,  coffee,  cocoa,  cocoanuts,  and
bananas,  are  the  principal  products.