Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-10
CHANCES IN NICARAGUA
DIRECTOR BARRETT REPLIES
TO MANY INQUIRIES.
Smallest of Central American Coun.
tries, But Capable Of Great
Material Development.

In response to hundreds OF inquiries r.
garding Nicaragua. the Bureau OF Amer
can Republics, of which John Barrett is
director has prepared a memorandum
giving brief description OF geographical.
political and commercial conditions in
that distressed republic.
According TO this official statement
there is only four square miles difference
between the area of Nicaragua and tho
state of New York. To be exact it
covers approximately 40 300 square miles.
which is larger than Holland. Belgium
and Denmark combined. II has a re-
markable extent of coast line on two
oceans. On the Caribbean ii reaches
nearly 800 miles due north and south: on
the Pacific it extends 235 miles. Its
greatest width is 275 miles. or approx
mately the distance from Washington 10
New York. Its least width is 1:5 miles.
or approximately the distance from Chi
cago to the Mississippi River.
1t has the smallest population OF any
Central American country, but is cores
pondingly capable of great material de-
velopment There are only about 6v0.Oo0
people within its limits. OF these, five
siXths are upon 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 og bananas, which were shipped
in 1905 to the number of l.5O0,OUU punches,
valued at 30 cents bunch.
Bluefields Principal Town.
The principal town is Bluefields, 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 the
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 Dios. at the northern
point, with only 1,Jo0 people. On the
populated Pacific slope the chief cities
are Leon. the historic and interesting old
capital with 6o000 inhabitants: Managua.
the present capital with 10000: Mata-
galpa. with 5000. Granada. with 1000:
and several other towns of from 1000 to
10000 The principal part 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 10 Man
aqua and thence across to Granada on
Lake Nicaragua. which is the largest in
land body of water In all Latin America.
Perhaps the quickest way to reach Mica
ragua is either through Mexico by rail
and by steamer from Salina Cruz to Co
rinto. OF by steamer from New Orleans
direct to Bluetields. The latter journey
generally takes about four days. If. how
ever one lands on the east coast il 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 ana
the Pacific side.
Value of Foreign TRADE.
The total value of the foreign trade OF
Nicaragua in 1905 amounted to s7,Jo0,ooo
of which exports were 81 100000 and inn
ports S3,WaoO0, Nicaragua bought from
the United States textiles. clothing, ma
chinery. etc, valued at Sl,30b,0U. She
sold to the United States bananas. coffee.
rubber. mahogany, cattle, hides. ETC.. VAL
ued at $l,o5O.Vo0
Nicaragua usually has a president.
cabinet with five ministers or secretaries.
thirteen departments or states and nse
divisions like our territories. Its national
assembly consists of only one chamber
Lying between 10 degrees ~ minutes
and IA degrees - minutes north latitude.
and between - degrees Ill minutes and -
degrees 40 minutes west longitude, IL ii
located all within the tropics, but IL has a
considera BILE variety of climate. Although
the east coast is low-lying and very
warm the central and western sections
are in parts so mountainous ana eleNdttu
that the temperature never reaches
high point and the climate can be con-
sidered salubrious.
The western section. in which the
greater part of the population Is located,
has such a varying latitude and the coun-
Try is so broken with lakes and so close
to the sea that il is not by any means
as hot as it would appear TO be on the
map.