1096

NICARAGUA

Tuiikey, Cuicuiiia and Pizpiz districts are showing increased activity Copper, coal, oil, and precious stones are also found.

The foreign trade of Nicaragua was as follows in 5 years : —

— 1905

1906

1908

1909

1910

Imports . Exports .

Gold pesos 3,407,204 3,541,815

Gold pesos 3,408,830 4,231,048

Gold pesos 2,958,878 3,647,984

Gold pesos 2,583,257 3,987,428

Gold pesos

2,856,305 4,545,076

The customs receipts (1911-1912) were 1,010,835 dollars.

The principal exports in 1910 were coffee (576,198Z.), mahogany (11,8-59?.), gold (104,637/.), rubber, bananas (22,090Z.), hides (49,922/.). Of the im- ports, more than half are from the United States, and the remainder mostly from Great Britain, Germany, and France. Of the exports, about a third go to the United States, and the rest chiefly to Great Britain, Germany, and France.

A treaty of commerce between Great Britain and Nicaragua, signed at Managua in July 1905, and ratified at London on August 14, 1906, provides mutually for the most favoured nation treatment, except that Nicaragua may accord certain advantages to other Central American States.

Total trade between Nicaragua and United Kingdom (in thousands of pounds sterling) for 5 years : —

Imports from Nicaragua to U.K. Exports to Nicaragua from U.K.

1907

£.

86

168

1908

£ 116 164

1909

& 108 154

1910

£ 123

127

1911

£

56 .378

Shipping and Communications.

Most of the trade of Nicaragua passes through Corinto. The tonnage is mostly that of the steamers of 4 shij^ping companies (2 American and 2 German) which regularly visit the port. Greytown is now a free port.

There are few good roads in the country, but contracts have recently been made for roads and transport from Momotombo to Matagalpa, 79 miles, and for 3 roads leading respectively from Matagalpa, from New Segovia, and from the Pis Pis mines in the Cape Gracias district to the head of steamboat navigation on the Cuco Wanks river, about 160 miles from its mouth. For the repairing and making of roads a tax varying from 1 peso (about 22fZ. ) to 10 pesos IS imposed on all male inhabitants over 18 years of age. The national railroad of Nicaragua is the only line in the republic, having a total length of 171 miles, in connection with which steamers ply on the Lakes. The line runs from Corinto to Leon, Managua, Granada, and Diriamba, with branches to El Viejo and Monotombo. Various other railways have been contracted for. There are 20 miles of private railway on the Atlantic coast near the Rio Grande, and, on the west side of Lake Nicaiagua, 3 private steam tramways aggregating 3 miles in length. Tlie steamers lunuing on the San Juan river and on the lakes now belong to the Government, as well as steamers for traffic on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The national railways have been leased to a company for 15 years and

the steamers for 25 years from January 1, 1905.