White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-03-30


Prepared by National Geographic Society
Washington, D. C.)-WNU Service.
DEACE has been promised to
- Nicaragua with the signing OF
pact recently between the rebels
who have caused turmoil for sew
eral years, and the central govern
ment.
Next to peace, Nicaragua's greatest
needs are improved means OF trans
portation and communication. AT
present the national railway system
consists of line, some $50 miles long,
running from the principal Pacific
coast port of Corinto, via Leon, to the
capital city, Managua, and On to era
NADIA and Diriamba. A 24-mile' line
linking Lake Nicaragua with San Juan
del Sur, few private lines, and
three-mile steam tramway swell the
republics total railway mileage to 1855
miles. In wet weather most OF the
roads Of the country are traversable
only by ox-cart, but some 5000 miles
Of surfaced highways have been com
pleted or are under construction.
Although Nicaragua is the largest
state of Central America-about equal
in area to New York state-its popu-
lation Is only equal to that of Pitts
burgh, Pa. Three-fourths OF the In
habitants live in the mountainous and
upland western half of the country.
The history of the republic Is
chronicle of the sufferings of the
masses, principally Of mixed Spanish
and Indian descent, under KALEIDOSCOPE
ic changes Of government. 1t is re-
corded that in one period of 16 years
1906 persons in succession exercised SUI
preme power-an average period OF
control of hardly more than two weeks
per ruler!
Among the most dramatic incidents
of Nicaragua's past was the William
Walker episode, which in measure
paralleled the Macmillan tragedy In
Mexico. During five years Of his tenn
pestuous career this young American
adventurer became in turn "liberator,"
virtual dictator, president, and a ref
ugee from Nicaragua. Twice arrested
and deported by United States forces,
he was finally made prisoner by an
officer of the British navy and was
surrendered to Honduran authorities,
who tried and condemned him to be
shot. He was executed September IL,
1850.
Twice has Nicaragua felt the pun
IT.. po,o, ~ T,,rrpaou pOwars.--in
1875, when Germany blockaded the re-
publc's principal ports to force The
payment Of an indemnity Of $4,000
for an alleged insult to German con-
sui. and in 1895, when Great Britain
: collected $4,000 damages for the. ar
rest and expulsion Of one of it's con-
sular officers at Bluetields, who had
been charged by Nicaragua with con-
spiracy against the government.
Should Prosper With Peace.
The United States has repeatedly
endeavored to bring peace out OF the
Nicaraguan chaos, and United States
marines were stationed in the repub
lie internationally for many years
/ When Nicaragua's political parties
eventually permit, or are coerced into
l permitting, the populace to settle down
, to cultivating the country's rich ba-
mana lands, her coffee plantations, her
cacao groves, and her cotton fields,
there is no reason why this largest of
{ the Central American republics should
, not become one of the most prosper
l Gus.
The agricultural wealth Of Nicara.
: qua constitutes only part OF her nat
, ural resources, for there is magni-
t ficent growth Of mahogany and of 9th
. er cabinet woods in her forests, and
1 her hills are rich in gold and silver,
+ while on the upland plains there Ia
: excellent pasturage for thousands OF
3 cattle.
!, The most striking physical features
y OF Nicaragua are her chain of volca-
: noes lying parallel to the Pacific sea.
r board, and her two great lakes, Man.
: aqua and Nicaragua, the latter be
8 ing the largest sheet Of fresh water
= Ia the Americas south Of Lake Michi.
8 gan and north of Lake Titicaca in the
d highlands Of Bolivia and Peru.
Nicaragua enjoys the advantage OF
: having almost at her door an eager
L customer for all her agricultural prod
0 ucts. The United States buys two
J. thirds Of all the republics exports, ant
e In return the latter purchases three
:, fourths of her imports from us.
y Three Of Nicaragua's cities have
d frequently basked in the news spot
IL lght-Managua, the present capital
e and Leon and Granada, each Of which
q have aspired to become the first city
particularly since the devastating
ca thquake which nearly wiped on
Managua In 1881.
Managua has population of an