On January 1, 1883, there were in the Republic 811 primary schools, in which 37,469 children were taught by 972 instructors, at a cost of $283,000. Evening schools for mechanics and working-women have also been established. There is a governmental School of Arts and Trades, numbering 15 professors and 150 scholars.
The Government is now encouraging immigration.
The mineral deposits of the country consist of gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, antimony, zinc, coal, gypsum, and marble. Most of the mineral wealth is found in the department of Chiquimula, where the far-famed Olotepeque mines are still worked. The department of Izabal contains auriferous gravel-beds and veins of bituminous coal. The latter are found near the volcano of San Gil.
The vegetable resources may be briefly described as follows: A large portion of the Republic is covered with dense forests; valuable woods, like ebony, logwood, walnut, India-rubber, and mahogany, abound. There are many medicinal plants, among which may be mentioned jalap, ipecac,
