-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.freelabs.com/~whitis/clan/whitis/mark_rogan_whitis/transcribed/gen0 032.txt <A HREF="http://www.freelabs.com/~whitis/clan/whitis/mark_rogan_whitis/transcribe d/gen0032.txt">http://www.freelabs.com/.../gen0032.txt </A> ----- [GEN0032] [This aparently appeared in the New York HErald Tribune on 6/15/29 - MRW] Minor C. Keith, United Fruit Co. Counder, Dead ------ Builder of South American Railway System Suc- cumbs in Babylon, L.I. ----- Began in Broadway Store ------ Constructed Line Through Jungle on His Own Credit ----- Special to the Herald Tribune BABYLON, L.I., June 14 - minor Cooper Keith, builder of a great rail- way system in Central America and a founder of the United Fruit Company, died of pneumonia today after a brief illness at his home in West Islip. He was eight-one years old and had maintained a residence here for sixty- five years. The death of Mr. Keith brings to a close a colorful career, which is de- scribed in detail by Samuel Crowther in his book, "Romance of the Tropics." Mr. Keith, who was pres- dent of the International Railways of Central America, began his business career in a store in Broadway, New York City, at a weekly wage of $3, after he had completed a private school education. He was born in Brooklyn in 1848, the son of the late Minor Hubbel and Emily Meigs Keith. Lumberman Turns Cattle Raiser His father had been in the lumber business, and young Keith, developing a distate for his first position after a few months, became a lumber sur- veyor. His first year in this field netted him $3,000. He sold out his lumber interests when he was twenty- two years old and set himself up as a cattle raiser on alonely island at the mouth ofthe Rio Grande. In two years he build up an extensive range with 4,000 head of cattle and 2,000 hogs. He had received an invitation from his brother, Henry Meiggs Keith, to join him in the constructio of a rail- road in Cost Rica, so he joined his brother in that country, at that time a fever-ridden jungle, and the two men began to build a line from Puerto Limon, on the Atlantic side, to San Jose, the capital, on the Pacific. Henry Meiggs, an uncle and a builder of the first railroad across the Andes, had turned over to Mr. Keiths brother the contract for this road. At the start the enterprise was beset wit grave peril and in the first twenty- five miles Mr. Keith's three brothers and 4,000 other men lost their lives. De- spite this, Mr. Keith, on his own credit, continued for several years to build the line, contracting in 1882 with the government to accrange the external debt and to complete th road to San Jose. He went to live in London for three years, where he arranged the ex- ternal debt and also the financin of [pounds]1,2000,000 in bonds to finish the rail- way. while building the road on his own credit he suffered losses of more than $1,000,000 which the Costa Rican government paid to him vounterily. First Banana Shipper Meanwhile, Mr. Keith had learned of the possibilities of raising bananas in that tropical section. In 1872 he started the first banana plantation in Central america, sending his first shipments to New Orleans. Mr. Keith made the first banana shipment by steamship from Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia and Nicaragua to New Yrok and New Or- leans. In the days when he first under- took the raising of the fruit the entire annual shipment from the tropics amounted to approximately 300,0000 bunche, carried on sailing vessels. To- day this section exports annually more than 50,000,000 bunches. By 1893 he controld the banana industry in Cost Rica and the next year, with the late Andrew W. Preston, he organized the United Fruit Com- pany. Mr. Keith already had acquired a fleet of steamships to transport his fruit and fore his holdings he received three-fifths of the company's total capital at that time. In order to give more attention to his interests he re- signed the first vice-presidency of the United Fruit Company several years ago. He had married Cristin, daughter of the late Jose Maria Castor, former President of Costa Rica, in 1893 and long had been identified with public improvements of that country. Under the laws of New Jersey he organized the Guatemalan Railways, which be- came the International Railways of Central America in 1912. In recent years his most important business connection was th financing by this of the Republic of Sal- vador. The country, requiring a loan, sought Mr. Keith's aid at a time when the republic owed two years' back sal- aries to emplyees, labored under a heavy internal debt and was in default of its loan in London. He excersied keen foresight after sev- eral months of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate the 8 per cent bonds in the United States and Europe. As a last resort the International Railways borrowed cash on their three-year notes in London. The bonds all were sold and the loan repaid in four months. Negotiated Refunding of Dept. He also negotiated the refunding of Salvador's exterior debt and as the re- sult of his aid the republic was enabled to pay its internal debt, other indebt- edness and entirely to re-establish its credit at home and abroad. Since the negotiation of the loan the republic's revenues have more than doubled. It has been said that Mr. Keith did for Central America what Cecil Rhodes did for South africa. Mr. Keith maintained offices at 17 Battery Place, New York City, and was president of the Atlanta &St. Andrews Bay Railway Company, directo of the Empire Trust Company, president of the Guatemala Central Railroad Com- pany, president of Minor C. Keith, Inc., vice-president of the Preier Gold Min- ing Company and presiden tof the St. Andres Bay Lumber Company. His Lone Oak poulty farm, near here, is one of the largest in the country. His clubs included the Explorers, the New York Yacht, the Whitehall and the Metropolitan, of New York; the Sampawam Shore and Country Club of Babylo, and the Royal Automobile Club of London. He also was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London, and was a trustee of the Mu- seum of the American Indian, Haye Foundation. Several years ago he gave a collection of Indian pottery and other relics, obtained in Cost Rica, to the american Museum of Natural History, New York. His wifre survives. They had no chil- dren. Funeral services will be held at his home at 10:30 o'clock Sunday morn- ing, with the Rev. Edward J. Burling- ham, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, West Islip, officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. -------------------- [From the obituary section:] KEITH-On Friday, Jun 14, 1929, inor Cooper, beloved husband of Christina Cas- tro Keith, in his 82 year. Service at his residence, Babylon, L.I. sunday, June 16th at 10:30 a.m. A special car will be attached to the train leaving Pennsyl- vania Station at 9:15 a.m. sunday ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! 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