In today's post, in Santa Teresa Hoy we want to continue contributing to the reflection about the coexistence between Costa Ricans, born in Cóbano or not, and foreigners, around the development model that best adapts to the needs of the majority. From a document found in the National Archive of Costa Rica (ANCR, Secretary of War and Navy, 001574), we approach the issues of public investment in the Gulf of Nicoya, as well as the arrival of foreign professionals to the area, and discussions about the beauty of the landscape and economic potential.
In the second half of the 19th century, it was a common practice in Latin American countries to hire advice from European military technicians. In this context, in 1891, the government of José Joaquín Rodriguez Zeledón, through Rafael Iglesias, holder of the Ministry of War and Navy, commissioned to draw up a maritime map of the Gulf of Nicoya. That work was awarded to Eliseè Prosper Fradin, captain of the French Navy who arrived in Costa Rica in the 1880s and who during the following decades carried out mapping work in various gulfs and bays of the national territory.
In his final report on the Gulf of Nicoya, Fradin offers a very valuable perspective on the coasts of the current districts of Paquera and Cóbano. He pointed out that the Gulf "can rival the most beautiful ports in the world and Costa Rica can consider this part of its possessions as one of the richest crowns of its Crown". However, he also suggested that the Costa Rican government should order further studies that would “help captains and inspire confidence in insurers.”
Later in his report, Fradin describes his tour of the Island and Cabo Blanco and how, heading northeast, sailors would quickly reach Ballena Bay: “vast, safe and deep without exaggeration (which) can hold a large number of ships.” This should not surprise those who read our previous article, in the sense that there are environmental conditions that favored Tambor to become one of the first population centers in the history of the current district of Cóbano, and potentially the most important until 1950.
Regarding what members of the boats could find in the bay, Fradin pointed out that it was very easy to get fresh water, approaching, at mid-tide, the “Tambor River” (Pánica River), near which “the agglomeration of 10 to 12 houses that make up the Tambor village.” He commented that in Tambor there was fertile soil in which rice, sugar cane, bananas, and “the best fruits of the gulf” were grown. In addition, the abundance of Cedar, Mahogany and Cocobolo trees stood out. He suggested deforesting and marketing said wood, for which, however, “it would be necessary to open roads, capable of at least receiving rail carts” (that is, cargo carts that moved along rails).
Our first intention in rescuing this document that is more than 130 years old is to strengthen a sense of identity. In this case, through one of the oldest mentions found so far of Tambor: a beautiful and fighting town on the shore of one of the most beautiful bays in the country. Thus, we will share mentions and memories that make us question the approach that suggests that in the south of the Peninsula there has only been forest (in itself very disrespected for a long time). However, we are also interested in inviting reflection about the development model that should be followed in the region in which we live.
Fardin's report represents important symbolism: a foreigner with a classic developmental mentality who, with his words, aims to convince the local government to follow a path of exploration and insertion into global trade. This is done from a very favorable perspective on the beauty of the territory, which, it could be suggested, is above all a raw material for the desired path to better economic conditions. However, we are no longer in the 1890s and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge of reflections about what development and progress mean.
Currently, we have concepts such as sustainable development, inequalities, quality of life (beyond wealth), gentrification, among others. This is not the time to delve into them, but some questions we pose to the audience are: Do we still believe in the development of natural beauty through massive landscape modification? Regardless of the answer to the previous question, development is for whom? How to ensure a minimum of justice in terms of wealth distribution? Is it worth doing it? Why? The way we answer these questions depends on whether we are active and responsible citizens, or if we are more like a sailor who observes the peninsula from the shore, without delving into it and its less obvious realities.
We hope that our discovery of this French sailor's report invites you to continue an active reflection about how and in what direction to move towards the improvement of our area. In the next installment, we will share the reading of a group of teachers from the Carmen Lyra School, regarding the main social problems of the district in 1992.
By Jose Pablo Arguedas. Costa Rican, Cóbano resident, historian and professor.
English 
Español