The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-08

teristics of the Country Its Importance il
the Central American Group-People and
Government.
The assembling of Congress and The
prospect of important legislation and ex
ecutiVe action with reference TO the Nlcar
aguan canal has served to attract IL
Washington an unusual number of dis
tngushed citizens from Cen raj America.
The most important of cur visitors is
President Iglesias of Costa Rica. The
details of the mission upon which this
gentleman came have not yet been
developed, hut il is understood that the
business III hand referred largely TO the
Isthmian canal and the relations OF the
United States to the enterprise. While
the canal is expected 10 psss. through
what has always been considered Nlcar-
aguan territory the Costa Rican Govern
ment claims that their boundary line
passes down the center of the San Juan
River. which is to be used for canal pur-
poses. What other matters Don lglesias
has on his mind will probably he dc
veloped in the course OF the Winter.
Don Iglesas left the city last week.
Costa Rica is the most southerly OF the
Central American States, and iii many
K
OF irregular pdTallelOgram lying between
Nicaragua on the one side and the United
States OF Colombia, in South America. on
the other side. and thus may be termed
the isthmus republic. Its people are IN
dependent and progressive, as Spanish
Americans go, and so far have refused 10
unite in the attempt TO effect a federation
of Central American states. which has
been under discussion and trial al various
times fer several years. The recent dis
solution OF the United States Of Contra
America through a reVo utiOn in San
Salvador seems 20 justify the refusal ci
Costa Rica 10 Join in the movement, as
being at this time premature and OF doubt
fui practlcahilty. The country. having a
long coast upon both the Atlantic and
Pacific, enjoys peculiarly advantageous
position so far as ocean commerce is CON
cerned, possessing one or two good har-
bors on the Atlantic side and quite a
number upon the Pacific coast.
The population OF The country is mostly
white. consisting of about $50 eco people,
descendants Of immigrants from Gailicla
in Spain. There are only about 4,000 OF
the native Indians left, but the blacks
descended from various tribes imported to
the West Indies originally from Africa are
quite numerous.
EDUCATION AND RAILROADS.
The people of Costa Flea rust he con
sidered as standing high Above those OF
the neighheEing countries in regard to
morals and civilization. The mass OF the
people are industrious, honest, sober,
clean, economical, obedient TO the author
tiles and respectful to Inc laws.
Costa Rica holds the first place of all
Iatin-American nations in regard TO pub
lie instruction. In 1923 there were 3ZT
primary schools with 1913 enrolled pu-
pills, or % per cent of all the children
OF school age. There are 7S4 teachers, Of
whom 537 are men and Az women. Their
average monthly salary is Is pesos. There
are more teachers than soldiers.
Higher education is given in the Liceo
de Costa Eica and in the Colegio Su-
perior de Senontas; also in the Provincial
Institute of Carriage, Alaiuela and Here
dla. For the higher studies the Govern
ment pays the expenses of 10 Cost :
Eicans in foreign Universities and High
Schools.
Port Limon, on the Atlantic, and Pun
arenas, on the Pacific side, are the prin-