Ecuador
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Ecuador. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) a republic of South America, situated under the equator, whence it takes its name, between Peru and Colombia. It is of of triangular shape, its base resting mainly on lat. 1° 20′ N. and the Pacific, between tween 4° 50' S., its apex extending to about lon. bout 116,000 W.; area, about 00 square 71° 30′ W. miles, excluding the Galapagos Islands. eru, and Colombia Between Ecuador, Peru, there have been boundary disputes. That with Colombia was settled in 1917. Topography. The country is divided into 16 provinces and 1 territory, and falls, as regards the surface, into three sections; the comparatively narrow and low-lying coast regions, the mountain region, and the extensive plains on the E. The mountain region is formed by a double range of snow-clad mountains, several of them active volcanoes, which inclose a longitudinal valley or tableland, with a breadth of 20 to 40 miles, and varying in elevation from 8,500 to 13,- The most elevated of these 900 feet. mountains are in the W. range, Chimboacachi, Chimborazo, Pichincha, and Cotacachi, C 20,703 feet high. In razo being 20, In the E. range are Cayambe, Antisana, and Coto paxi (19,500). The cultivated land and the population of Ecuador lie chiefly in ated region, which extends along this elevated between the summits of the Cordillera, illera, and may be considered as divided by transverse ridges or dikes into the valleys of Quito, Hambato and Cuenca. The chief towns here are Quito, the capital (pop. 70,000); Riobamba and Cuenca, all situated at a height of 9,000 feet or more above the sea. The chief port of Ecuador is Guayaquil (pop. 65,000). The the Tigre, most considerable rivers, the Napo, Pastaza, etc., belong to the basin of the Amazon; and some of them, notably the Napo, are navigable for long distances. On the W. slope of the Andes the chief rivers are the Esmeraldas and the Guayaquil. Climate and Productions. -The climate on the plains, both in the E. and the W., is moist, hot, and unhealthful. In the higher regions it is rough and cold, but in great part the elevated valleys, as that of Quito, have a delightful climate. Here the chief productions are potatoes, barley, wheat, and European fruits. In the lower regions are grown all the food products of tropical climates, cacao, coffee, sugar, etc. Ecuador is comparatively poor in mammalia, though various kinds of deer as well as tapirs and pecaries are found in the forests. Parrots and humming-birds are also numermost remarkable of ous, but perhaps the the the birds is the condor, which dwells on the slopes of the Andes. Reptiles, including serpents, are numerous. The forests yield cinchona bark, caoutchouc, sarsaparilla, vegetable ivory, etc. Commerce. The international trade passes almost exclusively through the port of Guayaquil. In 1918 the imports for the the previous five years were valued at $8,345,360. Imports from the United States (1918) $4,766,215. Exports $13,- 745,265. Exported to United States $4,- 793,345. The principal articles imported are cotton and woolen textiles, furniture, hardware, cutlery, provisions, malt liquors and spirits, silks, jewelry, laces, wines, breadstuffs, leather stationery, win goods, and fancy articles; the principal exports are cacao (three-fourths of entire export), coffee, hides, vegetable ivory and caoutchouc. Industries. The principal product of Ecuador is cacao, and the cultivation of this article shows some increase in recent years. The cacao plantations are, for the most part, situated uated on the lowlying lands in the vicinity of the Guayaquil river. In 1919 the cacao crop was 22,474 cwt.; coffee (1917) 5,562,942 lbs.; rubber (1917) 239,018, ivory nuts 3,000 manufactured principally lbs. Sugar is manufa for home consumption ion and the same may be said of tobacco and cotton, though Pastoral industry some are exported. is practically confine confined to raising cattle to fill the home demand for beef. Hides mang are exported principally to the United States. Mining. Very little has been attempted in modern times in the direction of mining industry in Ecuador. In the province of Esmeraldas hydraulic washing of gravel beds is being carried on by an American company, and quartz crushing is also in progress at Zuruma, in the province of Oro. The Indians do some washing in the beds of streams and rivers; a small supply of gold is obtained from this source. The existence of petroleum has been proved in various localities, but nothing has yo been done to develop an industry in this product. Deposits of of copper, lead, iron, and coal also occur, but are not worked. In the province of Cuenca valuable lodes of silver-bearing ore are known, but are not exploited. Quicksilver is said to exist in the province of Loja. Careful prospecting of the mineral resources of Ecuador would doubtless disclose much natural wealth, but the difficulties and cost of transport have hitherto proved insurmountable obstacles to the practical development of the mining industry. Manufactures. Manufacturing industry is confined within very small limits. It is represented by the chocolate manufacturing concerns, some woolen and cotton textile mills on a comparatively limited scale, four sawmills, a biscuit factory, a brewery and ice factory in the city of Guayaquil, and a few soap factories. It is now proposed to extend the manufacture of woolen and cotton goods, and for this purpose to utilize water to obtain the required power. The manufacture of fine straw hats is anative industry in Ecuador, these hats being shipped abroad under the name of Panama and selling for high prices. Communications. The roads in Ecuador are principally bridle-paths generally impassible in wet and winter weather. In 1908 a company formed in the United States completed the railroad (297 miles) from Guayaquil to Quito. There is also a Central R. R. from Manta to Santa Anna, 35 miles, les, and a road connecting E Bahia, Caracas and Quito, 168 miles. Other railroads are projected. The telegraph system covers 5,482 miles. There are six wireless stations. Education. The educational system of the country has been greatly improved in recent years. In 1916 new courses of study were introduced in the primary schools and these were extended in 1918 to the high-school courses. Primary instruction is free and obligatory for all children, beginning with six years. In 1919 there were 103 mixed schools, 241 primary schools, 122 grammar schools, 16 high schools, 385 fiscal schools, 57 municipal schools, and 40 private schools. In all these there was an enrolment of about 48,000. High-school instruction is given in the national colleges. Each of the provinces, with the exception of Esmeraldas, has one of these colleges. Religion. The Roman Catholic, under the constitution, is the only form of religion tolerated. Government. The executive government (since Dec. 1906) is vested in a President, elected for four years, who is assisted by a Council of State of five members. The Congress is the legislative body, and consists of two Houses, one formed of senators, two for each province, the other of deputies, one for every 30,000 30,000 inhabitants, both elected by universal suffrage. The Congress has extensive privileges and cannot be dissolved by the President. The seat of government is at Quito. In 1920 the estimated revenue was $9,997,830. The money unit is the sucre, equivalent to a 5-franc piece, but the coins of the United States, France, and Great Britain circulate. History. Ecuador at the time of the conquest of Peru by the Spaniards formed part of the great empire of the Incas. It was erected first into a viceroyalty of Peru, then (from 1564 to 1718) into an independent presidency. In 1718 it became part of the presidency of New Granada. During the revolutionary war against Spain, Ecuador, along with the neighboring territories, secured its independence in 1822, and was ultimately erected into a separate republic in 1831. Of the present population, the aboriginal red face forms more than half; the rest are negro and Indian blood, and Spanish Creoles or whites. The latter are the chief possessors of the land. Pop. 2,000,000. In April, 1920, an Italian military and commercial commission visited the country. A tobacco monopoly was arranged for an Italian company in Ecuador, in consideration of which Italy undertook the construction of public works in the country. On Aug. 31, 1920, Dr. José Luis Tamayo was inaugurated president.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
ek-wa-dor', a republic of South America . The name is Spanish, meaning the equator, under which Ecuador is situated. It lies on the Pacific coast between Colombia and Peru. The boundaries are in dispute. The present territory administered by the government of Ecuador comprises about 120,000 square miles. When Pizarro and his men invaded South America, the Indians of Ecuador and Peru were at war, thus facilitating the conquest of their country. Ecuador obtained its independence of Colombia in 1830. Like that of other South American republics, the present government is organized on the model of the United States . Free public schools have been organized; a university, thirty-seven colleges corresponding to high schools, and several hundred primary schools are maintained at public expense. The public schools are seldom held in schoolhouses. They are without proper school furniture. Quito, the capital, is situated at an elevation of 9,600 feet above the sea. It is the highest capital city in the world. For fear of earthquakes there is not a stove, stovepipe, or chimney in town. The cooking is done in pots and kettles over a charcoal fire. Guayaquil, on the gulf of that name, has an excellent harbor, and is the commercial city of the republic. A railway from the harbor to Quito is under construction. The engineering difficulties to be overcome are great. The surface is mountainous, exceedingly so. The railroad mentioned will pass in sight of the famous Mt. Chimborazo, and of Mt. Cotopaxi, the loftiest volcano known. The chief industries of the country are mining, stock raising, dairying, lumbering, and the production of cacao, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, grain, and grapes. There are also manufactures of pottery and hats. The women of Quito are famous for making exquisite laces. The leading exports are cacao or cocoa, coffee, hides, meats, and the Peruvian bark from which quinine is extracted. Vanilla, sarsaparilla, cotton, rubber, pearls, vegetable ivory , and straw hats are also exported. The population is given in the Statesman's Year Book as 1,205,600. Spanish is the prevailing language. The inhabitants are chiefly of the Catholic faith. STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest from trustworthy sources: Land area, square miles 116,000 Population, chiefly Indians . 1,400,000 Quito 50,841 Guayaquil 51,000 Cuenca . 30,000 Riobamba 18,000 Number of provinces 17 Members of senate 17 Representatives, about 70 Salary of president $6,000 Annual expenditure $7,500,000 Soldiers 5,000 Bonded indebtedness $5,000,000 Production of quinine, pounds 360,000 Ivory nuts, pounds 46,000,000 Coffee, pounds 5,700,000 Rubber, pounds 1,000,000 Rice, pounds 40,000,000 Sugar, pounds 16,000,000 Cocoa (1908), pounds 70,000,000 Total exports $11,000,000 Navigable rivers, miles 600 Railways, miles 200 Telegraph, miles . 2,500 Panama hats (1907) $1,200,000 Gold output . $125,000 Public schools 1,100 Pupils enrolled 69,000