1126
NICARAGUA
2,000 to 30,000 inhabitants. The capital of the Republic and seat of government is the town of Managua, situated on the southern border of the lake of the same name, with (1920) 60,342 inhabitants. Leon, formerly the capital, has a population of 73,520 ; Granada, 20,133 ; Matagalpa, 15,749; Masaya, 13,023; Jinotega, 13,899; Chinandega, 10,542; Esteli, 8,281; Matapa, 8,279 ; Somoto, 8,182; Boaco, 10,581 ; Jinotepe, 9,317; Dirianiba, 8,000; Bluefields, 4,706. Other towns are Corinto, and San Juan del Snr on the Pacific.
Religion and Instruction.
The prevailing form of religion is Roman Catholic. In 1914 the Republic constituted one archbishopric and ecclesiastical province (Nicaragua). The Seat of the Archbishop is Managua. There are three bishoprics, Leon, Granada and Matagalpa, the Bishop of Matagalpa being coadjutor to the Archbishop at Managua.
There are about 356 elementary schools and ten secondary schools. Secondary education is neither obligatory nor free, the secondary schools being carried on not by the state, but by private individuals. Nicaragua has three universities, in the cities of Managua, Leon, and Granada, called respectively, Universidad Central (Central University), Universidad de Occidente y Septentrion (Western and Northern University), and Universidad de Oriente y Mediodia (Eastern and Southern University). There are also a number of state normal schools.
A national Industrial, Commercial, and scientific Museum has been estab- lished at Managua.
Finance.
Revenue and expenditure for 5 years : —
-
1913
1915-16
1916-17
1917-18
1918-19
Revenue . Kxpeuditure .
£
764,431
765,275
£
418,019 357,SX3
£ 460,479 800,161
£ 480,891
351.
£
598. M 7 ■124,11.7
A five (formerly six) per cent, loan for 1,250,000/. was issued in 1909 for the construction of railways, &c, and for conversion purposes. Of this 254,580/. has been redeemed. Total debt, December 31, 1920, 995,420/.
Defence.
The active army consists of 2,000 men ; in war it may rise to 7,000. Military service is obligatory between 17 and 55 yeaW of age. The period of active service is a year. The marine consists of one very small boat, on the Pacific coast, capable perhaps of carrying a machine gat) and 25 men';
Production and Industry.
The agricultural, timber and in in in;; industries arc the principal source of national wealth. The area of cultivation in Nicaragua lias extended in recent years and would probably extend still further but for the scarcity of labour. The banana is the principal agricultural product of the eastern part of the Republic. Cocoanuts are also of sonic importance, and a few plantains, oranges, and pineapples, and some yucca are raised. Rice is grown to a small extent, and some wheat in the billy Nueva Segovia district, while tobacco is cultivated round Masaya. The products of the western half are much more varied, the most important being coffee, sugar cane, cacao, corn, and beaua. The annual average coffee crop is estimated at 22,500,000 lbs.
