The Coolidge examiner., 1933-04-07

NEACE has been promised 10
Nicaragua with the signing of a
pact recently between the reb-
els who have caused turmoil for
several years, and the central gov
ernment.
Next TO peace. Nicaragua's great
est needs are improved means of
transportation and communication.
At present the national railway sys-
TEN consists OF line, some 80 miles
long. running from the principal
Pacific coast port OF Corinto. via
Leon. to the capital city. Managua,
and on TO Granada and Diriamba.
A 24-mile line linking Lake Mica
ragua with San Juan del Sur. a
few private lines, and a threemile
steam tramway swell the republics
total railway mileage to 1876 miles.
In wet weather most OF the roads
Of the country are trayersable
only by ox-cart, but some 5000
miles OF surfaced highways have
been completed or are under con-
struction.
Although Nicaragua is the largest
state of Central America-about
equal in area to New York state
its population Is only equal to that
Of Pittsburgh. Pa. Three-fourths of
the inhabitants live In the noun
famous and upland western half OF
the country.
The history of the republic Is
chronicle of the sufferings of the
masses. principally of mixed Span
ish and Indian descent. under ka-
leidoscopic changes of government.
1t Is recorded that In one period OF
16 years 1896 persons In succession
exercised supreme power-an aver
age period of control OF hardly
more than two weeks per rulerl
Among the most dramatic Incl
dents of Nicaragua's past was the
William Walker episode. which in
a measure paralleled the Macmillan
tragedy in Mexico. During FIVE
years OF his tempestuous career this
young American adyenturer became
In turn "liberator." virtual dictator,
president. and refugee from Mica
ragua. Twice arrested and deport-
ed by United States forces. he was
finally made prisoner by an officer
of the British navy and was sur
rendered to the Honduran authori-
ties. who tried and condemned him
10 be shot. He was executed Sep
tember u. 1850.
Twice has Nicaragua felt the pun
tive force OF European powers
in 1879. when Germany blockaded
the republics principal ports to
force the payment OF an indemnity
Of $4,000 for an alleged insult to
a German consul. and In 1895,
when Great Britain collected S15.-
600 damages for the arrest and ex-
pulsion Of one OF its consular off,
GERS at Bluefields. who had been
charged by Nicaragua with conspir-
acy against the government.
Should Prosper With Peace.
The United States has repeatedly
endeavored TO bring peace out of
the Nicaraguan chaos. and United
States marine were stationed in the
republic intermittently for many
years.
When Nicaragua's political par
ties eventually permit, or are CO.
creed into permitting. the populace
10 settle down TO cultivating the
country's rich banana lands. her
coffee plantations. her cacao groves.
and her cotton fields. there is no
reason why this largest of the Cen
tral American republics should not
become one of the most prosperous.
The agricultural wealth Of Mica
ragua constitutes only part of her
natural resources. for there is a
magnificent growth of mahogany
and of other cabinet woods in her
forests. and her hills are rich in
gold and silver while on the up
land plains there is excellent pas
turage for thousands of cattle.
The most striking physical fea-
tures of Nicaragua are her chain of
volcanoes. lying parallel to The Pa
cific seaboard. and her two great
lakes. Managua and Nicaragua. the
latter being the largest sheet of
fresh water in the Amer cas- south
of Lake Michigan and north of Lake
Titicaca in the highlands az Bo-
livia and Peru.
Nicaragua enjoys the advantage
of having almost at her door an
eager customer for all her agricul-
tural products. The United States
buys twO-thirds of all the republics
exports. and in return the latter
purchases three-fourths of her i'm
ports from us.
Three of Nicaragua's cities have
frequently basked in the news spot
light-Managua. the present capital.
and Leon and Granada. each of
which have aspired to become the
first city. particularly since the