The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-08
Pertinent Facts About
Nicaraguan Republic

only industry of this section is the grow
ing Of bananas which were shipped In
lyOS to the number of ], 10000 punches,
valued at 80 cents bunch. The principal
town here is Bluefelds, a little south
of the center, having 5000 inhabitants 1t
Is 1ls6 miles from New Orleans and 80
miles from Colon. The only other Inn
portant places this east coast are
Greytown, at the southern point, with
2000 Inhabitants, near the mouth of tho
San Juan river, which was to have been
the course OF the isthmfan canal, IL built
through Nicaragua, and Cape Gracias a
Dnos, at the northern point, with only
100 people. On the populated Pacific slope
the chief cities are Leon, tho historic
and interesting old capital. with 10000 in
habitants; Mapagua, the present capital,
with 10000; Matagalpa, with 5000; Ora
NADIA, with 12.0O0: 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 10 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 Granada
on Lake Nicaragua which is the largest
Inland body Of water in all Latin Amer
lea. II one wishes to go to Nicaragua
be can take steamers on the Atlantic sido
orleans Mobile.
Going by Pacific he will take steamers
from San Francisco or from coast points
of other countries. Perhaps the quickest
way to reach 1t today is either through
Mexico by rail and by steamer from Sa-
lima Cruz to Corinto, or by steamer from
New Orleans direct to Bluefelds. Tho
latter journey generally takes about four
days. IT, 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 com
mon 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 to $7,500,Oo0,
Of which exports were $450O.00O and Inn
ports 100000. Nicaragua bought from
the United States textiles. clothing, ma
chinery, ETC., valued at 81, 10000. She sold
to the United States bananas, coffee,
rubber, mahogany. cattle hides, ETC.. val
ued at s1,05o.00o.
Nicaragua has a president, q cabinet
with five ministers or secretaries. 18 de-
|, partments, or states and five divisions
| bly, consists of only one chamber, which
| Is now in session.
| Lying between 10 degree 40 minutes and
| IA degrees 90 minutes north latitude, and
/ between So degrees II minutes and 81 de-
| grees 10 minutes west longfture, It is
4 located all within the tropics, but 1t has
! considerable variety OF climate Al
! though the east coast is low-iyinx and
/, very warm, the central and western Sec
| lions are in parts so mountainous and
| elevated that the temperature never
reaches high point and the climate can
| be considered salubr1ous The western
| section, In which the greater part OF the
] population Is located, has such q 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 It
| would appear to be on the map.