Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/558

SALVADOR. 500 SALVADOR. healthful, ami most populous portion. Between, the Mcojid lanjie and the loast lies a series of ])lains broken by short rocky spurs that occa- sionally reach the shore. Theso plains are for the most part marshy and unlieallhful during the rainy season. In addition to the rivers men- tioned the La Paz and Goascorftn are of interest in connection with the boundaries of Guatemala and of Honduras. The lakes are almost wholly of volcanic oritjiM; Giiija, belonging partly to Guatemala, and llopanyo arc the most notable. Tile principal harbor. La Union Bay, an arm of the Gulf of Fonscca, is the best in Central -Vmer- ica. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common. Hot and cold mineral springs are found in all parts of the country. Cli.mate. The lower "areas below 2000 feet, designated as 'hot lands,' are torrid and generally .subject to fevers. J-ying between 2000 and 5000 feet arc the "temperate lands,' enjoying an even and delightful climate. The rainfall is somewhat less than in adjacent States, but sufficient, the rainy season lasting from May to October. For Flora and Fauna, see these titles under America. In general Salvador resembles the rest of Central America in its vegetable and animal life. Among its special flora may be mentioned the hoitziloxitl, whose product is known as 'Peruvian balsam;' the pita, whose fibre is used for thread, cordage, and cloth ; and the !/i(rc(i, utilized for the manufacture of starch. A moderate supply of cabinet and building tim- ber exists, and many important medicinal and dye plants are annually exported. Native rubber trees abound, but wasteful methods are em- ployed in extracting the product. Agricultube. The mountain valleys and table- lands are deeply covered by an alluvial soil which renders this section the richest agricultural re- gion of Central America. By far the most im- portant crop is eoflfee, which is grown everywhere in the Republic between the altitudes of 1500 and 4000 feet. The crop in 1901 amounted to 55,600,- 000 pounds. A fine quality of indigo, sugar for home consumption, tobacco, rice of the dry. up- land variety, a little cacao, and the usual beans, corn, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits for local use, constitute the chief agricultural products. The cultivation of cotton is being encouraged by a Government export bounty. There is excellent pasturage, and during recent years many im- provements have been made in the breeds of cattle. Manufactures. Aside from the simple house- hold industries the manufactures of Salvador are not important. There are, however, sugar refineries and distilleries, whose products are largely for home consumption, saw mills, starch factories, cordage works, and mills for cleaning eoflfee. TRANSPORTATIOiSr AND COMMUNICATION. A nar- row-gauge railroad of some 60 miles connects the port of Aeajutla with Sonsonate, Santa Ana, and San Salvador. Four steamship lines connect the ports of the Republic with those of the United States, Europe, and South America. Salvador has been a member of the postal imion since 1879 and enjoys a fair local service. CojiMERCE. The exports for 1900 amounted to $9,132,958, of which amount coffee contributed ■$7.132,9.58; other exports in order of importance •were indigo, balsam, silver coin and bullion, tobacco, and sugar. 0%ving to the absence of Atlantic ports, fruits arc not largely exported. In 1901 515 vessels entered the various ports and the same nund)er cleared; the value of dutia- ble inqiorts was $0,537,870, and the exports of the same year, subject to duty, were .$10,956,045. The chief imports were cottons, spirits, ironware, machinery, jewelry, drugs and perfumery, silks, woolens, earthenware and glass, and flour. Government. Salvador has a centralized re- publican government under a constitution last revised in 1880. The executive power is vested in a President, elected by popviiar vote to serve fcnir years, and assisted by a Cabinet of four Min- isters. The legislative branch consists of a single House, composed of three members from each of the fourteen departments, elected annually. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court at the capital, and in five district courts, with local municipal justices. Each of the fourteen depart- ments is in charge of the Governor, appointed by the national executive. The alcaldes and other municipal officers are elected by popular sufTrage, Finance. The Government receipts for 1901, largely from import and export duties and liquor excises, amounted to $0,556,722, and the ex- penditures for the same year to $7,640,891. The foreign debt in 1899, amounting to £726,420, was in that year assumed by the Salvador Railway Company; the internal debt in 1901 amounteil to $8,325,905. There are four banks of issue, with a total note circulation of $1,673,854. The Gov- ernment issues no notes, but in 1899 took control of the mint erected in 1892 by a private com- jjany. An attempt to introduce the gold standard in 1892 was unsuccessful, as was a later enact- ment in 1897. The Salvadorean peso varied in value from ,$0.46 in January, 1901, to $0.35 in April, 1903. The metric system was legally adopted in 1885, but the old Spanish measures are almost universally used. Defen.se. See under Armies. Salvador has one small cruiser. Population. The population of Salvador in 1901 was 1,006,848 (493.893 males and 512,955 females), an average of 139 to the square mile. Five per cent, of the ]iopulation is reported as white, 55 per cent, as Indian, and 40 ])er cent, as of mixed blood. The capital is San Salvador (q.v. ), a name often incorrectly applied to the Republic. The State religion is Roman Catholic, but other sects are tolerated. The elementary schools in 1893 numbered 585, with an average at- tendance of 29,427 ; above these are three insti- tutes for secondary instruction, and in the capital there are a higher college for women, a poly- technic school, two normal schools, and a uni- versit}', with faculties of pharmacy, jurispru- dence, natural science, medicine and surgery, and civil engineering. There are public hospitals in eleven cities, asylums and training scheols for orphans of both sexes, and the fine Rosales Hospital, costing .$3,500,000. in San Salvador. History. After the conquest of Central Ameri- ca by Alvarado in 1524-25 Salvador formed part of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala. When Mex- ico threw of!' the Spanish yoke in 1821 the Central American provinces accomplished the same result without blood.shed. For a time Salvador and her sister provinces formed a part of the ephemeral empire of Iturbide. After his overthrow and until 1839 it was one of the States of the Central American Federation, but since the dissolution