National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-04-25
The City OF San salvador.

San Salvador, which has rccert ly suf-
fcred 30 severely from earthquakes, IN
the capital of the Central American Re.
public of the same name, and situated
on u small stream that runs into the
Pacific Ocean, 100 miles southeast of
Guatemala. II lies in latitude l3e a
south, and longitude 500 - west. The
earthquake shocks continued for full
month, eliminating in II disaster which
resulted in terrible loss of life, fully
800 persons having persisted in the ruins
of the devastated city. So violent were
the shocks that il is estimated that
property amounting in value 10 over
3l2, 900, 900 was destroyed.
To add 10 the horrors of the nilrighted
people, conilagration broke out M
soon as the earthquake subsidized, and n
large number of buildings were burned.
San Salvador was founded in 1923 by
Jorge de Alyarant of Cortes, on the site
of the Indian town Of Cuscutian, about
eighteen miles nor,hward, but in 1899
it was removed to Las Bermudas, the
position it now occupies. Under the
crown it was the capital of the province,
and afterwards of Central America until
its dissolution in 1889. The Republic
is divided into four federal districts for
nd illustrative purposes, and they are
called from their principal cities San
Miguel, San Vicente, San Salvador, and
Santa Anna. The Federal District of
San Salvador comprises radius of
eleven miles round the city, and on the
side of the PACIFIC tothe port of iibertad
is twenty-six miles distant. The city
is built in well watered vale, between
wooded heights several thousand feet
above the level of the Pacific. The
land is peculiarly adapted for agricul-
tural purposes, the principal products
being indigo, maize, sugar, etc, and
even cotton has been grown, but in no
considerable quantity. Tobaccofor do
nestle purposes is produced, not only
in the immediate vicinity OF the city OF
San Salvador, but throughout the entire
Republic, and wheat, barley, and other
productions OF the temperate zone are
in great perfection.
The climate is generally salubrious,
although its temperature, owing to its
less average elevation, is higher than
that of Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa
Rca. The heat is never oppressive,
and tho seasons are well defined, the
wet season commencing in May and ter
in November For the re-
mainder of the year the sky is clear and
beautiful, and, by comparison, the rain
fall is considerably greater than in any
of the adjacent States. The inhabitants
of the city fairly represent the general
character of the people of the State.
The ratio of the white population, or
those having a preponderance of white
blood, is probably one 18th one-third
are Indians, and ~ remainder are Ia
amos, or perso'.s of white and Indian
blood. Inc hnmber OF negroes and
mulattoes - insignificant. The Indian
lnhab't ants, though professedly Catho-
he, adhere to their primitive customs
and rites in the city to certain extent,
but IN the State, particularly in the
Balsam coast, they preserve them with
steadfastness. The Roman
Catholic religion is the religion of the
State, but there is n marked absence of
bigotry, and the private exercise of all
forms OF worship is guaranteed by law.
Educatlonis better fostered than in any
city OF the nelghborlng republics, and
1T contains numerous high schools and
one university, which is endowed by
the State. About three miles southeast
of the city is the volcano of San Saliva
dor, which presents u most beautiful
cone with gently-sloping summit,
crowned to the highest peak with thick
forests. The crater Is partially filled
with water, but IS perfectly well pre-
served, Is more than half league in
and rises about 1000
feet above the table-land on which it
stands. )
The other hills. including those which
belong to the volcanic range south. do
not rise to greater height than 800
feet above the level of the plain. At
different periods the city has suffered
from earthquakes. the most notable be-
ing those which took place in 1859 and
1854. There is no historical record as
to the destruction of life and property
in 1859. but in 1853. a wear nrevious to
the latest chronicled disaster. San Sal
vador CITY contained about 20 600 in
habitants, a large and beautiful catbe-
dral. eight other churches. a university
n female seminary. several bosnitajs
and two extensive acoueducts for nro.
=: Il - = N, - IN