The Holbrook news., 1912-01-19

of the American continents whicn possesses no seacoast. It ex- tends over an area of 708,195 square miles, and has a population of 2,267.- 935, or 3.2 per square mile, being the most sparsely populated of any of the American republics.
 The vast plateau, which includes over 40, ,OOO miles, at an average altitude of 12,000 feet above sea level, and on which are situated most of the larger cities of the republic, is the most noted typographical feature of the country.
 The mountains abound in mineral wealth Tin, silver, copper and bis muth, with rubber, are the principal exports. Coffee, cacao, tobacco. sugar cane and other products of the trop- ical as well as many of the temperatei zone are successfully cultivated; coca, from which cocaine is derived. is raised and exported in large quanti- ties, and the forests contain numerous species of valuable woods. including rubber and cinchona trees. the bark of the latter being used for the manu- facture of quinine.
 Under the constitution which was promulgated on October r. 1880. the republic has a democratic representa- tive form of government. Government al powers are delegated to three dis tinct and coordinate branches-legis- lative, executive and judicial
 The legislature consists of two houses, the senate and chamber of deputies, the former consisting of 16 and the latter of 75 members. both houses being elected by popular vote. the former for six and the latter for four years. Every male citizen over twenty-one years of age, whose name appears on the electoral register. who can read and write. and who has fixed independent income, has the right to vote The senate is renewed by thirds every two years and one-half of the chamber of Deputies is renewed every four years Congress meets an nually at La Paz, the actual capital. on August 6, the session lasting for a period of 60 days. which may be ex- tended for 30 days. It may also be convened in extraordinary session by the president of the republic.
 The president and two vice-presi- dents are elected for a term of four years and may not be reelected for the term immediately following. The annual salary of the president is 1S.000 bolivianos ($7.2OO).
 The republic is divided into eight departments, which are again divided into provinces. the latter into cantons or districts, and these again into mu- nicipalities Congress at the close of 1910 authorized the creation of an additional department to be known as the "Departamento de los Chiquites,' the capital of which will be Puerto Suarez on the Paraguay river. The de- partments are governed by prefects, appointed by the president for term of four years, while the provinces are governed by subprefects. also appoint ed by the president.
 Products and Industries.
 It is upon her mineral wealth that the republic mainly depends, and pres ent conditions all point to increased activity in the exploitation of these resources through the constantly in- creasing foreign demand for the min eral products of the country.
 The mineral wealth of Bolivia, in- cluding nearly all known metals. is widely distributed and very rich and abundant. Great veins of ore contain ing the precious metals are found in the mountains of the republic. and while their exploitation is carried on on a considerable scale. yet, due to the lack of labor capital and adequate transportation facilities. they are not fully developed. and in many instances remain entirely virgin. The tin, cop