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San Salvador

This republic, which, unlike the sister states, does not extend from ocean to ocean, has an area of only 7000 sq. m., with a population of 651,130, or whom 9,000 are whites and 290,000 mestizos. A President is elected for four years, and a senate and house of representatives are chosen for two. The city of San Salvador is the capital of the country, which is divided in eight departments. Along the coast there is a narrow tract of rich, alluvial land. In the interior are mountain ranges whose highest peaks attain an elevation of 7,500 ft. The volcano of Isalco (4000 ft.) is active. The climate is unpleasantly hot along the ocean, but on the mountains and in the valleys of the interior it is pleasant. The productions are same as those of the other Central American states. Coffee, cacao, sugar-cane, tobacco, cotton, indigo, and corn are the chief sources of wealth. Oranges, lemons, pine-apples, and plantains are also grown. Large quantities of balsam are annually collected in the N.-W. Although the area of the state is so small, it contains much mineral wealth, no attempt being made, however, to utilize it. There are rich silver ores and some fine deposits of iron. The only manufactures are of coarse cotton goods and iron. There is a standing army of 1000 men.

NICARAGUA.

Owing to the fact that immediately after the discovery of gold in California, so many of the emigrants to the W. coast found their way there through Nicaragua, this country is better known than any of the other states. It has an area of 58,000 sq. m., and a population of 500,000, of whom 30,000 are uncivilized Indians; 550 out of every 1000 are of unmixed Indian blood. The President is elected for four years. There is a senate of 10 members, and a house of representatives of 11. The capital is Managua. Nicaragua has a long coast line upon the Caribbean Sea, but the only harbor is that at the mouth of the San Juan river. The country lying to the N. along the coast is known as the Mosquito reservation. It is generally low and swampy, inhabited only by a few wandering Indians. The Pacific shore line is 220 m. in length, the principal port being Corinto. Twenty m. back from the coast is a chain of mountains, among which are the volcanic peaks of Viejo (6266 ft.), Momotombo (7200 ft.), and Coseguina (3835 ft.). The latter, during the eruption of 1835, scattered ashes for a distance of 1500 m. Nicaragua is divided into three zones-a western one of a rich soil, a central one of grassy plains, and an eastern one of extensive forests. The longest river is the Coco, which separates the state from Honduras, and which is navigable for 140 m.; but the most important is the San Juan, which flows out of Lake Nicaragua, the largest body of fresh water in Central America, and empties into the Caribbean Sea. One of the earliest plans for the construction of a canal to unite the Atlantic and the Pacific contemplated utilizing this river, Lake Nicaragua, and Lake Managua, which lies to the N.-W. of it, on the cutting of a canal direct from Lake Nicaragua to the port of Brito on the Pacific. Work on this canal under American auspices was begun in the year, 1889. The natural resources of Nicaragua are great, but revolutions, wars with other states and the lack of industry on the part of the inhabitants, have stood in the way of their being utilized. Silver is found in many places, but the ores are little worked. The district San Chontales is celebrated for its gold mines, of which there are more than 300. Copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc, antimony, and quicksilver are also found. The vegetable products are cacao, cotton, coffee, indigo, rice, tobacco, and corn. So rich is the soil, and so favorable the climate, that two or three crops of sugar and two crops of corn are raised each year. The climate is intensely hot. The rainy season, which begins in May, lasts until January, and is followed by a dry season of three months. The extensive forests furnish rosewood, mahogany, dyewoods, and such valuable products as cinchona, sarsaparilla, cascarilla, copaiba, annatto, and caoutchouc. Among the other noteworthy products are ginger and arrowroot. The wild animals are the same as those already mentioned under the head of Honduras. Education is in a very low condition. In 1855 civil war broke out in the country, and one of the factions called William Walker, an American, to its aid. He soon defeated his opponents, but attempted to exercise arbitrary power and interfered with the inter-ocean travel. All parties in Nicaragua united against him, and he was captured with his men and sent out of the country. He then made a descent upon the coast, was seized, and put to death.