Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-10
aAisfsllansuus 8eaains.
THE STATE OF NICARAGUA.
Concise information About Trouble
some MOSQUITO Republic.

Concise information About Trouble
some Mosquito Republic.
Everybody seems to be asking, in
view of present developments, what
exactly, is Nicaragua, how large Is 1t,
what are its resources, commerce and
climate? Some interesting compari-
sons and facts, prepared by the Inter-
national Bureau CT American Repub-
lies, will help to answer these peril
nent natural questions.
There is only four square miles diff
ference between the area of Nicara-
qua and the state Of New York Take
Connecticut out Of New England, and
Nicaragua would cover the rest of 1t.
1t is approximately half the size OF the
state of Washington. To be exact, 1t
covers 49,20O square miles, which Is
larger than Holland, Belgium and Den
mark combined. 1t has remarkable
extent of coast line on two oceans. On
the Caribbean, 1t reaches nearly 300
cific, it extends 225 miles. Its greatest
width is 275 miles, or approximately the
distance from Washington to New
York. Its least width is 125 miles, or
approximately the distance from Chi
cago to the Mississippi river
1t has the smallest population OF
any Central American country. but is
correspondingly capable Of great ma
terial development. There are only
about 100000 people within its limits.
OF these, five-sixths are upon the
western or Pacific side. The eastern or
Caribbean shore lies low and is drain
ed by many rivers. The only industry
of this section is the growing Of bana-
mas, which were shipped in 1909 to the
number of 100000 punches, valued at
so cents a bunch. The principal town
here is BluefieldS, little south of the
center, having 5000 inhabitants. 1t is
1,1S6 miles from New Orleans and 80
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
If built through Nicaragua, and Cape
Gracias a Dios, at the northern point,
with only 1,500 people. On the popu-
lated Pacific slope the chief cities are
Leon, the historic and interesting old
capital, with $4,000 inhabitants; Man
aqua, the present capital, with 10000;
Matagalpa, with $4,000; Granada, with
$4,000; and several other towns Of
from 5000 to 10000. The principal
port on the Pacific side is Corinto, near
the northern end, with only about 1000
people. At the southern end is the
harbor of San Juan del Sur.
There is one railroad in Nicaragua
which starts at Corinto and runs to
Managua and thence across to Gran
ada on Lake Nicaragua, which Is the
largest inland body of water in all
Latin America. If one wishes to go to
Nicaragua, he can take steamers on
the Atlantic side from New York, New
Orleans or Mobile. Going by Pacific
he will take steamers from San Fran
cisco 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 Orleans direct to Bluefields.
The latter journey generally takes
lands on the east coast, it is practical
ly impossible to go to the west coast
on account of the lack of railroads and
other facilities. A common way to go
the Pacific side.
The total value of the foreign trade
of Nicaragua in 1908 amounted to ST.
100000, Of which exports were s4,500,-
900 and imports $3,0O0,000. Nicaragua
bought from the United States textiles,
clothing, machinery, ETC., valued at ST.
100000. She sold to the United States,
bananas, coffee, rubber, mahogany,
cattle. hides. etc. valued at $1,050,00O.
Nicaragua has president, a cabinet
with five ministers or secretaries, thir-
teen departments of states, and five
divisions like our territories. It's ma
tional assembly consists of only one
chamber which is now in session.
Lying between 10 degrees As minutes
and IA degrees 55 minutes north lati-
tude, and between S3 degrees II min
utes and 81 degrees 40 minutes west
longitude, 1t is located all within the
tropics, but it has a considerable va
riety of climate. Although the east
coast is low-lying and very warm, the
central and western sections are in
parts so mountainous and elevated that
the temperature never reaches high
point and the climate can be consid-
cred salubrious. The western section,
in which the greater part Of the popu-
lation Is located, has such a varying
latitude, and the country is so broken
with lakes and so close to the sea, that
it is not by any means as hot as 1t
would appear to be on the map.