Established religion, Roman Catholic. Clergy are supported by the state. Compulsory education exists in several Provinces; 84 per cent. of population is illiterate. Total number of schools, 5,685.
BOLIVIA.Bo-liv´e-a.
A republic of South America, named in honor of Simon Bolivar; formed, in 1825, from provinces of Upper Peru; ceded all coast territory to Chili in 1880. Area, 842,729 square miles. Population, 2,300,000. Surface broken by two mountain ranges. Highest peak, Sahama, 22,350 feet; many volcanoes. Lake Titicaca is the largest inland body of water in South America; area, 4,000 square miles; Madeira river, with tributaries, navigable for 3,000 miles in Bolivia; La Paz chief city; pop., 76,372. Capital, Sucre or Chuquisaca.
President elected for 4 years. Legislative power rests with a Congress of 2 chambers,—Senate and House of Representatives. Universal suffrage prevails; Vice-President is appointed by President.
The climate embraces all degrees of heat and cold. The products of two zones are found in Bolivia. Ebony, rosewood, mahogany, cinchona, and other valuable trees abound. Manufactures limited to coarse cotton cloth, hats, cordage, leather and alpaca. Tin, copper, gold, and vast quantities of India rubber of the finest quality abound. Silver mines almost inexhaustible; annual yield of the Cerro de Potosi mines, $2,250,000. Two-thirds of exports are silver. Imports average $6,150,000; exports, $9,000,000.
Standing army, 2,421 men; generals and other officers, 1,021; two-thirds of revenue goes to support the army.
Roman Catholic the prevailing religion; other creeds tolerated; 4 universities. In 1884 but 12,000 pupils and students at schools and colleges. Three railroads open for traffic.
