The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-18

the statistics:--
Geography Popu.
States 50. Ates lation. lndia,u WAies. Laiiaos4
zoo zoo SS 5So
sssrarna $4,000 100 600 10000 1900 1900
cesta kica.... 7es 10000 $4,000 $4,000 :
tory........ $4,000 10000 10000 20 600
Teal .s,eO5 / 900 600 es5 900 AIS 600 TAO 600
sChildren Of white fathers and Indian mothers, and
rice ersa.
There was dissolution of this union in
1889, and in 1912 treaty Of confederation
between Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador
and Nicaragua, and Gen. Rivera Paz was ele-
waited to The Presidency In 1916 there was an
unsuccessful attempt at revolt against Carrera,
a balf breed, who had been elected Captain
General, and war broke out between Honduras
and San Salvador. The last named State soon
after made treaty of alliance with Guatema-
Ia, and congress was held to settle the diff
culties between the States. 1t was unsuc-
cessful. Guatemala lin 1910 withdrew,
and Carera has since been hostile TO the other
States, although his time has been pretty weii
taken up in chastising the Indians in his terri
tory. They are very troublesome. Honduras,
San Salvador and Nicaragua have generally
been friendly. Costa RIGA is very much under
English domination.
Guatemala, the largest, wealthiest and most
populous of the Central American States, joins
Mexico on the north and Honduras on the
south. We find the population variously esti-
mated, but think the above table nearly cor
rect. There are only seven or eight thousand
whites; the remainder are natives, or mixed
races. Its principal source of prosperity is the
cochineal trade, but it exports silver, mabo-
gany, &c, to the amount of million yearly.
It's imports are about the same. It's exterior
debt, generally in bonds held in England, is
$500, 000-interior, SS00,000. 1t has stand
ing army of one thousand men, and militia
force of five thousand. It's government, ac-
cording to the new constitution adopted in
1851 is vested in President and Legislative
Assembly (ffty-nine deputies). The judges
and archbishop sit in the Assembly, which
elects the President once in four years. Ra-
phael Carrera, the present President, is of
mixed Indian and Spanish blood, and is said to
be military despot. He is good soldier
and stern ruler. He was great friend of
Santa Anna, and is terribly prejudiced against
the North Americans His sympathies were
entirely with the aristocratic party in Nicara-
qua, and he was preparing to march to their
aid when the democrats under Walker took
Granada and ended the war. He has, how
ever, succeeded in subjugating the party op-
posed to him in Honduras, and given that
republic q President of his own choosing. Car
rera is the worst enemy in the way of the pre-
sent government Of Nicaragua.
San Salvador is south of Guatemala, north
of Nicaragua, and west of Honduras. 1t is
the smallest Of the States, is divided into five
departments, and has trade nearly equal to
that of Guatemala. It's government is vested
in President and egislature-twenty-fv
members. This is quiet and peaceable little
State, and was for some time mediator be-
tween Guatemala and Honduras but finding
the task hopeless one, it was dropped, and
the authorities have since been engaged in the
more pleasing and profitable duty Of attending
to their own affairs
Honduras has Guatemala on the north, San
Salvador and Nicaragua on the west and
Costa RIGA on the south. 1t has extensive mi
neral and agricultural resources. Its govern
ment is vested in President elected by the
Legislature, which consists of two chambers.
General Trinidad Cabanas was chosen Presi-
dent in 1852, but he was recently ousted by
Guatcmalian troopswho named General Lindo
President. The fate Of Cabanas is unknown at
present The trade of Honduras in mahosa-
ny, hides, &c, is very valuable; but on account
Of the disturbed state of politics it has been
nearly all monopolised by the English, who o.
cupy a tract in the north called British Hon
duras or Belize. The English government has
also attempted to possess the Ruatan Islands
in the Bay OF Honduras, and this weak repub.
lie has thus been in danger Of extinction. be-
ing bullied on one side by England and on
the other by Guatemala; and having only the
little State Of San Salvador for its ally An
attempt has been made to build up Honduras
by railway to run across the Isthmus Of To-
huantepec This is purely North American
speculation. The road will be one hundred
and twenty-five miles in length, and will con
meet the Bay of Honduras on the Atlantic side
with Fonseca on the Pacific. The charter by
the government Of Honduras gives the com.
pany the right of way on each side Of the line
of the road for two hundred yards-the exclu.
sive right for seventy years--a grant of
l,25o,0oo acres Of public land. The company
agrees to finish the road in eight years, TO carry
the mails for one-third Of the postage and to pay
the State one dollar for each passenger.
The Honduras railway will be the best com.
munication with the Pacific, a. it has good ports
on both sides, and several hundred miles north
ofPanama. The surveys have been complet-
ed and the construction of the road will soon
be commenced.
Nicaragua has the Atlantic on one side and
the Pacific on the other Honduras Joins Il on
the north and Costa RIGA on the south. IT,
L. I ;sln