No. 89.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation in Central America,
Guatemala, December 22, 1873.
(Received February 5, 1874.)
No. 81.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose you a translated
copy of decree issued by the President of this state on the 15th instant in
regard to the construction of certain high-roads, among them the important
one to Yzabal on the Gulf of Dulce. I have had repeated conversations with
the President and his cabinet in regard to this road, and they have
reiterated their determination to build it. If this is done and proper [Page 134] facilities at a competing rate are
furnished from Yzabal to our ports, I believe a large portion of the trade
of Guatemala, some from Salvador, and a great deal from the departments of
Gracias and Santa Barbara, in Honduras, will seek markets in the United
States instead of, as now, in Europe.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Decree of the President of Guatemala.
- Article 1. The opening of a high road
which, beginning at Guatemala, shall terminate at Yzabal, and the
opening of branch roads which shall unite with it the departments of
Chiquimula, Jalapo, and Verapaz, adopting for this purpose the
design made by the engineer, Mr. Wray, with the modifications
proposed in the plans and designs last made.
- Art. 2. The opening of another high road
which, leaving Hubuetenango, or rather the mines of Chiantla, shall
terminate in Champerico, passing through and uniting the principal
populations of the departments of the west.
- Art. 3. The continuation of the high
road, already far advanced, which leads to the frontier of Salvador,
thereby giving foil effect to the Arbizu-Samayoa treaty.
- Art. 4. The imposition of a tax, which
shall be called the “territorial tax” of a cuartillo real, (6¼ cents;) a manzana, (100 yards by 100 yards;) or it may be two
dollars a caballeria (33⅓ acres) of
land.
- Art. 5. That said tax shall go into
effect on the first of January of the coming year, shall be paid
within the space of the three succeeding months, and by all owners
or holders of lands, with the exception of such lands as may hold
the rights and immunities of cities; this exception not to be
enjoyed by the owners of municipal lands from whom the direct or
profitable ownership should have been withdrawn.
- Art. 6. That the chancellor of the
exchequer shall frame and present the law which shall fix the manner
and requisite conditions for the making of registrations and the
collection of taxes, and also the fixing of penalties in order to
render effective the present decree.
- Art. 7. That the minister of
improvements, for his part, charge himself with the execution of
that which was ordained in the 1st, 2d and 3d articles, preparing
the tools and necessary materials, so as to commence the opening of
the roads as soon as the funds destined for them shall begin to be
collected.
Given in Guatemala,
in the government palace, on the fifteenth day of December,
1873.
- J. RUFINO BARRIOS.
El Ministro de
Fomento,
- J. M. SAMAYOA.
