Constitution adopted 1859; amended 1879. President is chief executive; legislative power in the hands of National Assembly; President and members of Assembly elected for 6 years; suffrage universal. Capital, New Guatemala; pop., 55,728.
The soil is fertile; cotton, sugar cane, coffee and tobacco are grown. Roads are poor. Coffee crop, 1884, over 42,000,000 lbs. Sugar, wool and fruit trade recently developed. In 1882, number of land-owners 5,334.
Imports, 1884, valued at $2,630,100; exports, $3,716,340. Miles of railway, 105. Miles of telegraph, 2,880; 1,100 miles controlled by the state.
Army consists of 2,180 men, rank and file; 33,000 militiamen. There is no navy.
In 1882, sum spent on education, $434,753; state contributed $323,860; in 1883 there were 844 primary government schools; number night schools, 48; pupils attending all schools, 42,021.
HONDURAS.Hon-doo´ras.
Republic established November 5, 1838. Area, 39,600 square miles. Population, 458,000. Capital, Tegucigalpa; pop., 12,000. Numerous mountains; between them fertile valleys. Coast line on the Pacific, 40 miles: Atlantic, 400 miles. Many excellent harbors; many rivers, some of them navigable.
Government consists of President, 6 ministers, and an Assembly of 37 Representatives. Finances badly disordered; foreign debt, $26,125,106; interest unpaid, $24,308,846. Standing army, 830 men; militia, 31,500. Navy, 2 steam corvettes, with 8 guns.
The products are mahogany, fruit, cotton, cattle, coffee, tobacco, indigo, India rubber and rosewood. Exports from Truxillo, 1883, $804,550; 26,000 head of cattle; mahogany valued at $88,000; hides and deer skins, $40,000. Total exports, 1883, $2,193,149; imports, $1,749,146.
Railway, 29 miles. Telegraph, 1,800 miles; offices, 23; messages, 107,730. Universities, 2; several colleges; 573 schools, with attendance of 20,518.