The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1943-01-01
Eel ADOR PLAYS
IMPORTANT ROLE IN
Pan AMERICAN PROGRAM

This is the sixth of series of ar
ticIes on Latin America released
through the public library
Ecuador. one of the smaller of the
South American nations, contributes
vital raw materials To the United Ma
tiOns war effort.
Three items are of extreme value
BalSa wood and kapOc for making life
RATS and life preservers, and castor
oil necessary 10 lubricate warplanes at
high attitudes in cold temperatures.
Shipments Of balsa wood have increas-
ed by leaps and bounds i'm recent
months. Part Of this wood is used in
making model aircraft 10 make civil
ians familiar with7plane types, but the
bulk is used for life RATS.
Ecuador is essentially AN agricul-
tural country, although she has rich
mining areas. Her major export crop
for years has been cacao, followed By
coffee and rice. Best known of her ex-
ports, SO far as most United States
citizens are concerned. is product
which bears the name of another coun-
try-the Panama hat.
The tagua nut, or vegetable ivory
nut, is directly taking part in the war
program. Buttons for United States
service mems uniforms are being made
from it, and great quantities are be-
ing used.
Ecuador is fanciful country BIZ
sected by an imaninary line. 1t Is posi-
toned where the equator, usually as
sociated in thought with tropical hest,
crosses the cold, snow-capped heights
% hn nd no Iar ffs,
name from that fact.
No one knows its exact area; eSu-
mates range from 10000 TO 337 900
square miles. Its population also Is q
| matter Of guess; some say less than
2.0OO.O00; others estimate nearly 81
100000 Within the Ecuadorian do
main are the Galapagos Islands, where
giant tortOises, found only in one 9TH
or place In the world, live and are
'farmed."
I Ecuador l. administered according
to the provisions Of the constitution
issued in 1879. Primarily liberal. this
instrument assures freedom of wOr-
ship, the same rights to foreigners Ms
to nationals. guaranteed public ere
dit. and freedom of the press. The
government l. entirely representative.
An especially Interesting feature Of
EcuadOr'S governmental system Is the
liberty afforded women in the admin
iStratiOn Of their affairs. When single
they may exercise every proprietorial
right. and, if married. they may re-
tain or secure them by a short judi
cial process.
Education Is free aud on-Secta rian,
primary Instruction being compulsory
for children between 6 and u. There
are lib primary schools in the re-
public with an average enrolment or
ISL ,63S pupils.
Although a country Of great natural
barriers. the republic has completed
highways and railways along strategic
routes and since 1920 has enjoyed
developed air service provided by the
Pan American-Grace system.
Ecuador Is playing an important
part In the great Pan American
scheme. She participated in the Pan
American conferences held In buenos
Aires and Rio de Janeiro, has broken
on relations with the Axis powers. and
has appropriated German owned busi-
nesses and plantations within her
'soundaries She has authorized the
United States to fortify and defend
the Galapagos Islands and the Santa
Elena peninsula, near the southern
end Of he Eenadortan coast The
peninsula i about 800 air miles from
the Panama Canal, and about 6po
miles due east Of tbe Galapagos' with
are, being fortified now as one Of che
hastions 10 defend the southwestefn
approaches to the Canal Zone, PreSi-
dent Arroyo del Rio Is. vigorously. ppr-
sliing "A policy Of proeecapx bis ma
tion from enemy penettafipn Of any
sort
Vivid descriptions Of the people and
customs Of Ecuador are found In ssTbf
All-America Front" by DUNCAN AK
man. and; inside latin america, By
John Gunther These books are 4yaA
able at the public library. -