Guatemala
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Guatemala. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a republic of Central America, bounded by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, San Salvador, Gulf of Honduras, and the Pacific Ocean; area, 48,290 square miles; pop. about 2,000,000. Number of departments, 22; and capital, Guatemala la Nueva. Pop. 90,000. Topography. The country is exceedingly mountainous and elevated, the main chain of the continuation of the Andes traversing it S. E. to N. W., and sending off numerous branches. Along the main chain are a number of volcanoes, among which over 12,000 feet high, which sends forth torrents of water, and Tajumulco, 14,- 403 feet high. The country is well watered by numerous streams, none of much importance. There are several lakes, the most important being Dulce, through which a great part of the of the state is carried foreign gn trade on, Amatitlan, Atitlan, and Peten. Climate and Productions. - On the tableland, of which a considerable portion of the state is formed, the climate is mild; but in more elevated situations the cold is intense. There is much valuable timber. The soil generally is of great fertility, producing, according to altitude, soil, etc., maize, wheat, rice, cacao, indigo, vegetables, and tropical fruits in great variety. Fiber plants are numerous, including ramie, henequen, and others. In the altos or mountainous parts of the N. W. considerable flocks of sheep are raised, the wool of which is manufactured into coarse fabrics. There were in 1919 about 1,500 coffee plantations under cultivation, producing about 100,000,000 pounds annually. Over 50 per cent. of the coffee plantations of the country were owned by Germans. The yield of sugar, which is next after coffee, the most important product, is about 45,000 pounds annually. Other important agricultural products are bananas. beans and wheat. The department of Peten is rich in mahogany and dye woods of which there is a considerable trade in the United States. The chicle, or gum industry, also has its center in this province. About 500,000 pounds are obtained annually. Cotton is grown in small quantities. There are deposits of silver, gold, copper, iron, and lead, but these are little developed on account of the lack of transportation. Commerce. The total imports in 1918 amounted to £1,326,800, and the exports to £2,263,800. The most important imports are cotton, foodstuffs, linen, hemp and jute, paper, iron and steel, and leather. The most important exports are coffee, bananas, sugar, hides, timber, and rubber. The greater part of the trade is with the United States. The exports to the United States for the fiscal year 1920 amounted to $16,347,- 595, and the exports from the United States amounted to $10,309,233. In 1919 600 vessels, with about 700,000 tons, entered the ports of the republic. Communciations. The Guatemala railway, 195 miles in length; the Guatemala Central railway, ay, 139 miles; the Occidental railway, 51 miles; and the Ocos railway, 22 miles, were incorporated in 1912 as the International Railway of Central America. The main line extends from Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City, a distance of about 194 miles, then to San José de Guatemala on the Pacific Ocean, a distance of about 75 miles. A further addition to the railroad was purchased in 1914 and an extension was built in the same year. Additional railway construction was under way in 1920. There are about 5,000 miles of telegraph wire and about 535 miles of telephone wire. Education. Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 to 14. There are about 2,000 government schools, including primary schools, training schools, night schools, coffee, cotton, tobacco, sugar, cochineal, and rural schools, and about 60,000 pupils in the elementary schools. The University of Guatemala was established in 1918. The total expenditure for education is about $160,000 annually. Finance. The revenue in 1919 was $110,937,325, and the expenditure $77,- 666,023. The external debt was about $7,000,000 and the internal debt $135,- 799,843. Government. The country is governed under a constitution by which the legislative power is vested in a National Assembly, consisting of representatives chosen by universal suffrage for four years, and a council of state of 13 members, partly elected by the National Assembly and partly appointed by the president. The president is elected for a term of six years. There are departments of foreign affairs, government and justice, hacienda and public credit, public construction, fomento, and war. History. Ancient Guatemala was occupied by a race of Indians who had reached a high state of civilization at the time of the early Spanish invaders. It was conquered by tenant of Cortez, and until 1824 was Alvarado, a lieuunder Spanish rule, although independence was declared in 1821. Guatemala was a member of the Central American Confederation from 1824 to 1839, and several times since has attempted to bring all the Central American republics into a union cess, until 1897, when she signed a , but without suctreaty of union with Costa Rica, and the Greater Republic of Central America, which was, however, soon after dissolved. Manuel Estrada Cabrera was elected president in 1898. During his administration much was done to improve educational and economic conditions. He was re-elected in 1905, but shortly afterward was accused of endeavoring to become dictator and a revolt was organized by General Barillas. This threatened to involve all the Central American countries in war, but by the intervention of President Roosevelt and Diaz an armistice was arranged in 1906 which was later incorporated into a treaty between the Central American countries. Guatemala in 1907 joined in the Central American peace conference which provided for a Central American court of justice. Cabrera was elected for a third term in 1910. Difficulties arose with Great Britain in regard to the debt owed to British citizens by Guatemala, and in 1913 the United States undertook to arrange matters with Great Britain and took over the supervision of the finances of the country. Guatemala broke off diplomatic relations with Germany in April, 1917. The British minister to Guatemala had been active in stirring up plots and intrigues against the United States in all of the Central American States. President Cabrera was re-elected in 1917 for an additional six-year term. Guatemala City was almost completely destroyed in January, 1918. A treaty of peace was approved by Congress on Oct. 7, 1919. President Cabrera was deposed in a revolution which broke out in April, 1920. Dr. Carlos Herrera became provisional president. Cabrera was accused of being a dictator and endeavoring to use his office for personal ends. He had been in power for 22 years. The new government was recognized by the United States on June 24, 1920. Herrera was chosen permanent president on Aug. 29.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
gwa-te-ma'la, a republic of Central America . Its independence dates from 1847. It extends from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific, and lies adjacent to Mexico. If we except British Honduras, it is the most northerly country of Central America. The area is 48,290 square miles. The population in 1890 was estimated at 1,647,300. About sixty per cent of the inhabitants are Indians. The whites are engaged chiefly in the management of plantations, or in commerce. The chief exports named in order of importance are coffee, rubber, hides, sugar, timber, bananas, and cocoa. Other products are tobacco, molasses, wheat, corn, and beans. At the beginning of the century there were 279 postoffices, 4,000 miles of telegraphs, 280 miles of telephone, and 400 miles of railway. There are over 1,000 different schools with 75,000 pupils. Boats ply to and fro between the Caribbean coast, New Orleans , and Galveston. There is much mineral wealth. Gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, sulphur, salt, and other minerals exist, but the mines are little worked. The interior is mountainous. The larger portions of the country are covered with heavy forests, some of which have never been explored. Gigantic mahogany, ebony, and rosewood trees abound. As may be expected in tropical countries, the birds, insects, and flowers are brilliant. The roads of the interior are mere cart tracks, impassable during the rainy season. The latter begins in May and lasts six months, during which rain falls almost daily in torrents. The capital is La Nueva, a city of 125,000 inhabitants. STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: Land area, square miles 48,290 Population (1906) 1,882,992 Members of state senate 13 Representatives 92 Annual expenditure $35,000,000 Bonded indebtedness $12,000,000 Products-- Bananas, bunches 600,000 Rubber, pounds 392,100 Chicle, pounds 214,200 Tobacco, acres 2,000 Coffee, pounds (1909) 81,000,000 Exports $10,000,000 Horses 50,000 Cattle 196,000 Sheep 77,000 Swine 30,000 Miles of railway 480 Public schools 1,064 Pupils enrolled 36,477 Number postoffices 281