Nicaragua

ne-ka-ra'gwa, a republic of Central America. It is about the size of Pennsylvania. It extends from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. It lies within the tropics. The surface is covered for the greater part with low ranges but is crossed by the lowest pass between Alaska and Tierra del Fuego. Lake Nicaragua, a sheet of water 100 miles long, thirty to forty miles wide, and from fifty to 200 feet deep, lies twelve miles from the Pacific coast. Its surface is 110 feet above sea level. It discharges its waters through the San Juan River into the Caribbean. This lake and river form the route of the once proposed Nicaragua interoceanic canal.

A chain of active or dormant volcanoes follows the western coast. In spite of the danger from eruptions the chief cities of the republic are in this region. There are five cities having from 20,000 to 45,000 inhabitants. The cathedral of Leon, the old capital city, is one of the great buildings of Spanish-America. It would cost $20,000,000 if erected today. Thirteen volcanoes may be seen from its roof. Managua, the capital, has 40,000 people.

Nicaragua is rich in mineral and forest resources. Gold, silver, copper, iron, mercury, salt, sulphur, tin, nickel, and zinc are found in greater or less quantities. The forests yield mahogany, rosewood, ebony, cedar, Brazil wood, and other valuable timbers. The natives market vanilla, sarsaparilla, ipecac, wax, balsam, and rhubarb. Plantations of rubber trees, bananas, and coffee yield large returns. The seasons are such that two crops of cotton, three crops of indigo, and four of corn may be raised each year. Tobacco and aguardiente, or spirits, are government monopolies.

Corinto is the chief port on the Pacific coast. Bluefields is the chief port on the eastern shore. It is 1,156 miles from New Orleans. Steamers ply regularly between Nicaraguan ports and Galveston, New Orleans, and Mobile, with cargoes of bananas, coffee, rubber, hides, mahogany, ores, and herbs, and return with miscellaneous cargoes of such merchandise as may find sale in general stores. Crockery, tools, implements, furniture, machinery, clothing, and canned goods are conspicuous. The sales of United States goods to Nicaragua are about $2,000,000 a year. Exports, $7,000,000.

The population is over half a million. The people are chiefly of Indian descent. The Spanish element, though small numerically, is predominant. The banana handlers and plantation hands of the eastern coast are negroes.

Nicaragua has a president, a cabinet with five ministers or secretaries, thirteen departments or states, and five divisions like our territories. Its National Assembly consists of only one chamber.

A system of academies or colleges in the cities and two universities serve the needs of the Spanish citizens. Popular education has not been undertaken seriously. The country has been independent virtually since 1824. In 1856 William Walker of Tennessee and fifty-six associates, emigrants, subverted the authorities and set up a dictatorship. His government was recognized by the United States but he was soon driven out. On renewing the attempt he was captured and shot.

There is one railroad in Nicaragua which starts at Corinto and runs to Managua and thence across to Granada on Lake Nicaragua, which is the largest inland body of water in all Latin America. If one wishes to go to Nicaragua he can take steamer on the Atlantic side from New York, New Orleans, or Mobile. Going by the Pacific he will take steamer from San Francisco or from coast points of other countries. Perhaps the quickest way to reach it today is either through Mexico by rail and by steamer from Salina Cruz to Corinto, or by steamer from New Orleans direct to Bluefields. The latter journey generally takes about four days. If, however, one lands on the east coast, it is practically impossible to get to the west coast on account of the lack of railroad and other facilities. A common way to go to the west coast is via Panama and the Pacific side.