Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-07-27
CATHEDRAL OF LION

y APitlL II, 1916, the con
4 gress of the republic of Mica
Y ragua ratified convention
which had been drawn up by
that country and the United States,
and which two months prior lad been
ratified by the congress of the United
States. The treaty grants to the
United States the exclusive proprie-
tary rights for the construction and
operation Of an interoceanic canal by
Nicaraguan route, the lease Of certain
islands, and the right to establish
naval base on the Gulf of Fonseca. In
return for these important concessions
the United States is to pay to the re-
public of Nicaragua the sum of 49,
100000.
The ratification of this treaty marks
a new milestone in the history of
Nicaragua, and is hailed with much
satisfaction not alone by that country,
but by it's many friends who have al
ways viewed it in the hopeful and OPP
timistic spirit of tomorrow-the land
of great promise when once it can en-
JOY new start ON it's journey Of prog
ress, writes Harry o. Sandberg in the
Bulletin of the Pan-American Union.
BY the terms of the convention this
sum is to be applied by Nicaragua up
on it's Indebtedness or other public pur-
poses for the advancement of it's well
fare And now that country can in a
measure commence to carry into exc
cution that plan Of Improvement and
development which should enable it to
mensurate with it's vast territory and
remarkable resources.
Called "The Beautiful"
Nicaragua is country bountifully
blessed with natures gifts. Writers
have called it "the beautiful" In
colonial times it's cities We're referred
to as the 'fairest jewels of the Span
isE crown" And now that tie fates
are again smiling kindly upon it there
is every reason to look forward to the
time in the not too distant future when
1t will again shine forth as one Of the
jewels of Central America. The coun-
try with all its natural attributes is
shall transform it's vast resources into
productive wealth. Its people are ready
and willing to lend helping hand to
those who will come to it's shores for
the purpose of colonizing or of con-
verting its broad piateaus and fertile
valleys, its immense forests and rich
~ laden mines into profitable enter
nriS
tai, and perhaps capital on a large
scale, but the attractive character of
that country, its favorable geographic
position, and it's natural physical quail
ties, combine to make it one Of the
most desirable countries for profitable
development. Although agriculture rep
resents at present its most prolific
source of revenue, in truth this phase
of development has not yet really COM
| menced, while the mineral wealth has
jest barely been touched.
| OF the five Central American coun-
| tries Nicaragua is the largest terri
| torially, with az. area of $4,000 square
! niles. about the size of the state OF
| New York. Its population is estimated
| at 100000, and the country conducts
an annual foreign commerce varying
| from seven to thirteen millions of dol
lars. II was just beginning to resume
Its normal trading capacity when the
snddel uphcavals caused by the Euro
| pean war gave it a setback. There is,
| however, one feature Of the CONNER
cial life Of Nicaragua that is especially
,, a
expression of the activity Of the peo-
| pie. 1t is the fact that in the com
| nlerce of the country there are en-
gagged large number Of native Mica
I raguans, and this is equally true in the
| agricultural and mining pursuits. They
own and operate land engage in retail
| trade, and display q solid ard substan-
tlal energy that is the best guaranty
for the future Ct the country.
Has TWO Coast Lines.
Like some of its sister c iantries Nica-
ragua boasts Of twd coast lines. one on
Tie Atlantic and tie other On the Pa
! ci1lc. On account Of the lack Of direct
and easy Communication between the
| two shores, the eastern and tile est
I eIH sectioiS OF tne country nave Mad a
different kind of development 50 that
the character Of the towns ana popu-
! lations Of @le coast differ materially
frcm these On TIE other. About 70 pei
cent Of the entire population live on
| the Pacific side, and the majority of
| this number is conferred around the
capital and the adjacent cities rs Leon,
Masaya, Granada and Rlvas. But
though the Atlantic coast does not
stand out especially strong in point
Of population, it is of great Importance
| commercially. On this coast nre the