The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-04-07

NEACE has been promised to
- Nicaragua with the signing of
i 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 en- to Ora
NADIA and Diriamba. A 24-mile line
linking Lake Nicaragua with San Juan
del Sur, a few private lines, and
three-mile steam tramway swell the
republics total railway mileage to 1876
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 a
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
396 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 a 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 ref
ugee from Nicaragua. Twice arrested
and deported by United States forces,
he was finally made a prisoner by an
officer of the British navy and was
who tried and condemned him to be
shot. He was executed September II,
1850.
Twice has Nicaragua felt the pun
tive force of European powersTin
1875, when Germany blockaded the re
public's principal ports to force the
payment of an indemnity of $4,000
for an alleged insult to a German con-
sui, and in 1895, when Great Britain
collected $4,000 damages for the ar
rest and expulsion of one of its con-
sular officers at Bluefields, 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
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
Gus.
The agricultural wealth of Nicara-
qua constitutes only part Of her nat
ural resources, for there is magni-
ficent growth of mahogany and of 9TH
er cabinet woods in her forests, and
her hills are rich In gold and silver,
while on the upland plains there is
excellent pasturage for thousands of
cattle.
The most striking physical features
Of Nicaragua are her chain of volca-
noes lying parallel to the Pacific sea-
board, and her two great lakes, Man
aqua and Nicaragua, the latter be-
ing the largest sheet Of fresh water
in the Americas south of Lake Michi-
gan and north of Lake Titicaca in the
highlands of Bolivia and Peru.
Nicaragua enjoys the advantage Of
having almost at her door an eager
customer for all her agricultural prod
ucts. The United States buys two
thirds Of all the republics exports, and
In return the latter purchases three
fourths of her imports from US.
Three of Nicaragua's cities have
light-Managua the present capital.
and Leon and Granada, each of which
have aspired to become the first city,
particularly since the devastating
earthquake which nearly wiped out
Managua in 1881.
Managua has population of ap-
proximately 10000, but it's Importance
is largely political. 1t is also the dis
turbing center for coffee from the hills
to the south, which constitute the lead
ing coffee section of the republic.
An ancient Indian village existed on
the site of Managua when the Span
iards arrived. The town was of little
importance until 1853 when the fill
clustering expedition of William Walk
er strangely improved its lot. The r.
val cities of Leon and Granada had
been capitals alternately. Walkers in
vasion united the factions and Man
aqua became the compromise capital
Making Managua Better.
The town is laid out in squares. Elk
cept for the National palace 1.-THE
Cax;<ol hu;ldfrol opd fha nroSidonfsc