Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16

well and to be contented. They think
Salvador is a good country in which to
make money. The trade situation, which
is DUH shows signs of improvement. The
government tax on coffee Is slight and
does not bear down on that industry.
The Monetary System.
The monetary system is conservative
and the fluctuations are not extreme. The
dollar of the United States is worth about
$3.50 in Salvadorean currency. The gov
eminent issues no paper money, but
grants that privilege to the banks These
issue it against silver reserve and
there was financial crash and most of
the banks went under. Since then there
has been conservatives nnanciering and
this Keeps the paper bills staple. large
amount of fractional silver is in circula-
ton. 1t comes from various countries but
the Peruvian sol is the standard. A curl
Gus c1rcumstanc Is the objection of the
natives to small silver pfeces-5, 10 and
20 cents of their own government stamp
have seen no Salvador silver coin of less
than half dollar. mint at one time
was established, but no bullion now Is
coined. AS the paper oils of the banks
are emitted against a silver reserve the
country is on a silver basis. Wages ap-
pear to be fair and the price of living
reasonable.
Salvador has an army and a good one,
by the accounts given me. The artillery
is especially fine 1t has the benefit OF
French instructors. One of the European
residents told me that the battery drill
was as good as anything he had seen in
France or Germany. Gen. Regalado, the
ex-president. who Is still a power in pub
lie affairs, has fine reputation as an
that the high state OF efficiency is cred
ited. Recently some army instructors
have been brought from Chile
very complete telegraph and tele-
phone system, controlled by the govern
! ment. spreads through all sections. This
! is true also of the other Central Amerf-
can countries. They take to the telephone
! as rural communities in the United States
have done.
The Capital City.
The capital city is handsome and enter
/ prising. 1t is growing rapidly. The census
figures usually credit it with 40. 900 to 45 600.
| but I was assured 1t could make good the
| claim to 10000 or 65OOO l drove out the
main avenue. or boulevard. which Is lined
| With symbolic statues. in the company OF
| an American. who said when he first came
| to San Salvador most of this avenue was
| coffee finca, over which he rode horse
| back. He has been here less than ten
! years
| The plaza is different from that in most
| of the Spanish-American countries 1t is
| like bit of English landscape gardening,
and has been beautified by popular sub
| scription. The cathedral and churches are
also non-Spanish. They are modern as
| to exterior and are clean. The native cedar
has been used in some of them with fine
| results. but In the more antique the old
| ecclesiastical spirit asserted ITSELF and the
beautiful national wood was gilded and
| daubed with gaudy paint.
One blur mars the otherwise fine asDect
| OF the capital city. This is the walls of
| the palace. or government building. They
cover an entire square. The edifice was
burned few years ago and the government
| has not yet felt rich enough to rebuild it.
| However. the DETACHMENT is temporary. In
! time new structure win come.
San Salvador has a local, or, better said,
! a national institution of which 1t is very
| proud. This is the band of eighty pieces.
| The bandmaster is German. who has been
drilling his pupils for thirty-eight years.
| and with the love for music which is the
birthright Of SO many of the natives. he
] has achieved wonders.
/ Something of the hopes and the public
policy of Salvador I learned during an
evening call President Escaion. The
| president is in the first year of his term.
| He speaks English like Yankee. which lis
1 natural for he was educated in Boston.
| DIR. Morales, the minister of foreign affairs.
also speaks English fuently. az do many