The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-09
FACTS ABOUT NICARAGUA.

bOHbtlcSS GcdUcTS OF nc lllDuut VIII
be glad of the information about Mica
ragua, (Which is now so much in the
public cye), that is contained in a
circular issued from the Bureau of
American Republics under the direction
of its President, Mr.. John Barrett
Some notifications and additions to the
circular were necessary in order TO give
the complete information that the pub
lie should expect These we have sup
piled, and present the matter as fol-
lows, it being timely and interesting
summary Of facts:
Everybody secms to be asking. in view
OF present developments. what. eH-
are Its resources, commerce and climate?
Some interesting comparisons and facts,
prepared by the international Bureau OF
American Republics Will heln to answer
these pertinent natural questions
There Is only four square miles differ
encc between the area of Nicaragua and
cut out OF New England and Nicaragua
would cover the rest OF It. II is ap-
proximately half the size OF the Slate OF
SMN69shlngton, SN6 To be exact 1t covers a.
Holland. Belgium and Denmark COM
blned. II has remarkable extent OF
coast line on two oceans. On the Carib-
bean, 1t reaches nearly 300 miles due
north and south, on the Pacific, 1t en-
tends 22j miles. Its greatest width is
2I5 miles. or approximately the distance
from Washington 10 New York. Its least
width is l25 miles, or approximately the
distance from Chicago 10 the Mississippi
River
II has the smallest population OF any
central American country. but is corre-
spondingly capable of great material de-
velopment There arc only about 10000
people, including the uncivilized Indians.
within its limits. or these, five e-slxths
are upon the western or Pacific side. The
eastern or Caribbean shore lies low and
is drained BY many rivers. The only In
bananas which We're shipped In 1905 TO
the number OF 1900 600 punches. valued
at so cents bunch. The principal town
GspG Is bayn 5GoG fe south OF tGs
llSb miles from New Orleans and $40
miles from Colon. The only other i'm
portant places on this east coast are
Greytown, at the southern point. with
1000 inhabitants. near the mouth Of the
San Juan river. which was to have been
the course OF the Isthmian Canal, II built
Dios, at the northern point, with only
1900 people on the populated Pacific
slope the chief cities are Leon tho his
toric and interesting old capital. with co.
600 hahiAnts; Managua, the present
capital, with 100000; Matagalpa, with 49,
600: Granada. with 1000; and several
other, towns of from 1000 TO 10000, The
principal port on the Pacific side Is CO.
rinto near the northern end. with only
about 1000 people. AT the southern end
is the harbor Of San Juan del Sur. The
army is rated at 1000 men on a peace
footing. and nominally at 10000 In case
OF war; but this is a mere nominal figure.
probably 10000 would be the utmost
strength.
There is one railroad In Nicaragua
which starts at CorInto and runs to
Manaeua and thence across TO Granada
on Lake Nicaragua, which Is the largest
inland body OF water In oil Latin
America. II one wishes TO go to Mica
ragua, he can take steamers on the At
lantic side from New York, New Or
leans or Mobile. Going by Pacific he
will take steamers from San Francisco
or from coast points OF other countries.
Perhaps the quickest way to reach II to-
day is either through Mexico by rail and
by steamer from Salina Cruz 10 Corinto.
or by steamer from New Orleans direct
TO Bluenelds. The latter journey generally
takes about four days. II. however, one
lands on the cast coast II Is practically
impossible to go to the west coast on
account OF the lack OF railroads and other
facilities. common way To go to the
west coast Is via Panama and the Pacific
side.
The total value OF the foreign trade Of
Nicaragua In 1908 amounted 10 $500, 900,
OF which exports were Si500. 900 and i'm
ports 5000 600. Nicaragua bought from
the United States. textiles, clothing. ma
sold to the United States, bananas. cof-
fee. rubber. mahogany. cattle, hides, etc,
valued at $1,000. 900.
Nicaragua has a President. a Cabinet
with five Ministers or Secretaries. thir-
teen Departments or States, and 1--WE di
visions like our Territories. It's National
Assembly consists OF only one chamber
which Is now In session,
Lying between 10 degrees 45 minutes
and II degrees. 80 minutes north latitude.
and between SS degrees. II minutes. and
81 degrees 40 minutes west longitude. II
is located all within the tropics but II
has a considerable variety OF climate. AL
though the east coast is ow-lying and
very warm, the central and western sec
tions are In parts so mountainous and
elevated that the temperature never
reaches high point and the climate can
be considered salubrious. The western
section. in which the greater part of the
population is located. has such a varying
altitude, and the country Is so broken
with lakes and so close TO the sea, that
II is not by any means as hot as II would
appear 10 be on the map.