The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-12-15

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Without
taking any side in the present dis
cussion regarding Nicarauguan poll
efcs the International Bureau of the
American Republics, an institution
devoted to the development of bet
ter acquaintance among American
nations, gives out some interesting
Data concerning Nicaragua:
People are asking, in view of the
present developments, what, exactly,
Is Nicaragua, how large is it, what
are its resources, commerce and eli
@ate? Some interesting compari-
sens and facts, prepared by the Inter
rational Bureau of American Repub-
las, will help to answer these per-
SIRent natural questions.
There is only four square miles
Inference between the area of Mica
ragua and the state OF New York.
Fake Connecticut out of New Eng
and and Nicaragua would cover the
sest of it. 1t is approximately half
he size of the state of Washington
20 be exact, it covers 49,20O square
miles, which is larger than Holland,
Belgium and Denmark combined. 1t
aas a remarkable extent of coast line
an two oceans. On the Caribbean it
reaches nearly 300 miles due north
and SOUTH on the Pacific it extends
225 miles. Its greatest width is 275
sales, or approximately the distance
from Washington to New York. It's
seast width is 125 miles or approx
mately the distance from Chicago to
he Mississippi river.
1t has the smallest population of
any Central American country, but
s correspondence capable of great
material development. There are
only about 100000 people within its
limits. OF these five-sixths are up
on the western or Pacific side. The
eastern or Caribbean shore, lies low
and is drained by many rivers. The
only industry of this section is the
growing of bananas, which were
shipped in 1908 to the number of
100000 punches, valued at so
cents a bunch The principal town
acre is Bluefelds, a little south of
the center, having 5000 inhabitants.
1t is 1,1S6 miles from New Orleans
and 80 miles from Colon. The only
other important places on this east
coast are GreytOWn, at the southern
Roint, 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 Cap Gracias a dos,
at the northern point, with only l.
800 people. On the populated Pa
cific slope the chief cities are Leon,
the historic and interesting old cap
ital, with 10000 inhabitants; Mana
qua, the present capital, with 49,
600; Matagalpa, with 10000; Gran
ada with 10000; 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 Nicara-
qua, 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 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 steam
ers 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 Orleans di-
rect to Bluefelds. The latter jour
ney genearlly takes about four days.
III, 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 ia
cilities. A common way to go to the
west coast is via Panama and the Pa
cific side.
The total value of the foreign
So