The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-11
FACTS REGARDING
ZELAYA'S COUNTRY
Nicaragua About the Size of
New YOrk-CIimate, POpu-
latiOn and Resources.

Washington, Dec. 10. - Everybody
seems to be asking, in view Of present
developments, what, exactly. is Mica
ragua, how large IS it, what are its re-
sources, commerce and climate? Some
interesting comparisons and facts, pre-
pared by the International Bureau of
American Republics, will help to an
swer these pertinent natural questions.
There is only four square miles differ
ence between tie area Of Mic ra5ua
and the state Of New York. Take Con-
neCticut out of New England, and
Nicaragua would cover the rest Of it..
1t is approximately half the size Of tbs
state of Washington. To be exact, it
covers 1920 square miles, which is
lar8er than Holland, Belgium and Den
mark combined. 1t has a remarkable
extent Of coast the on two oceans. On
the caribbean it reaches nearly 800
miles due north ana south; on the Pa
cific, it extends 225 miles. Its greatest
width Is 275 miles, or approximately the
distance from Washington to New
York. It's least width is 125 miles, OF
approximately the distance from Chi
| cago to the Mississippi river.
1t has the smallest population Of any
/ Central American country, but is cor
D
development. There are only about $780,
/ 600 people within its limits OF these,
tive-siXths are upon the western or Pa
cific side. The eastern or Caribbean
shore lies low and is drained by many
rivers. The only industry of this sec
ton is the growing of bananas, which
were shipped, in 1908, TO the number of
/ 1 800 600 punches, valued at 90 cents a
bunch. The principal town here is
Bluehelds. a little south OF the center,
having 5000 inhabitants. 1t is L1S6
miles from New Orleans and SO miles
from Colon. The only other important
| places on this east coast are Greytown.
at the southern point, with 1000 in
| habitants, near the mouth Of the San
Juan river, which was to have been the
course of the isthmian canal if built
! through Nicaragua, and Cape GTaCias
DiOs, at the northern point, with
only 1880 people On the populated Pa
/ clfic slope the chief cities are Leon, the
historic and interesting old capital with
10000 inhabitants; Managua. the pres
ent capital, with 90 600; Matagalpa,
with 10000; Granada. with u 900. and
several other towns of from 5000 to
10000. The principal port on the Pa
cific side is COrintO, near the northern
end, with only about 1000 people At
the southern end is the haTbor of San
Juan del Sur
There is one railroad in Nicaragu
which starts at COrintO and runs to
Managua, and then across to Granada,
on Lake Nicaragua, which is the lar
gest inland body Of water in all Latin
America. If 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 it
today is either through Mexico by rail
and by steamer from Salina Cruz to
/ COrintO, or by steamer from New Or
leans direct to Bluefields. The latter
journey generally takes about four
days. If, however, one lands on the east
coast, it is practically impossible to go
to the west coast on account Of the
lack Of railroads and other facilities. A
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 1903 amounted to ST.
500, 000 of which exports were $4,000 900
and imports $4,000 0O0 Nicarag ua
bought from the United States textiles.
clothing, machinery, etc, valued at
S1,3OO,O0O She sold to the United States
bananas, cOHeet RUBBER, mahogany,
cattle, hides, etc, valued at 81, O5O,O O0
Nicaragua has a president. a cabinet
with five ministers or secretaries, thir-
teen departments or states, and five di-
visions like our territories. It's national
assembly consists of only one chamber.
which is now in session.
Lying between 10 degrees As minutes
and IA degrees So minutes north lati-
tude, and between 50 degrees II min
utes and 81 degrees 40 minutes west
longitude. it is located all within the
tropics. but it has a considerable varie-
ty of climate. Although the east coast
is low lying and very warm, the central
and western sections are in parts so
noun famous and elevated that the
temperature never reaches a high point.
and the climate can be considered salu-
briOus. The western section, in which
the greater part Of the population is
located, has such a varying latitude.
and the country is so broken with lakes
and so close 20 the sea, that it is not by
any means as hot as it would appear to
be on the map.