The bulk of the export and import trade of all of these countries is in the hands of the United States, due to our geographical position, and the fact that we have many citizens living within their boundaries, engaged in various enterprises. England, Germany and France are our closest competitors. Perhaps Germany has more real money invested here, and there is a great preponderance of German mercantile establishments throughout these nations. The following table gives the details for 1913:

IMPORTS TO CENTRAL AMERICA FOR 1913
CountryU. S.GermanyUnited Kingdom
Guatemala$5,053,060$2,043,329$1,650,387
Salvador2,491,146713,8551,603,846
Honduras3,463,662558,327751,651
Nicaragua2,549,026804,038939,290
Costa Rica4,515,8711,355,4171,303,187
Panama5,483,678970,2632,453,118
British Honduras2,250,0007,280300,000
EXPORTS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA FOR 1913
CountryU. S.GermanyUnited Kingdom
Guatemala$3,923,354$7,653,557$1,600,029
Salvador2,823,2511,699,694705,607
Honduras2,869,188176,11213,467
Nicaragua1,766,548702,265515,381
Costa Rica5,297,146509,8044,364,436
Panama2,130,000240,00086,000
British Honduras1,325,00055,000675,000

Each one of these countries requires cotton and woolens, iron and steel supplies, corrugated iron, tools, machinery, food-products, flour, wines, liquors, mineral waters, wooden ware and manufactures, agricultural implements, soaps, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, boots and shoes, hats, hardware, oil, candles, electric supplies, glassware, coffee sacks, socks, stockings, rubber goods, musical instruments and paints. In fact they are dependent upon the outside world for all the manufactured necessities of life.

American money is accepted in preference to any other throughout this part of the world, although each country has its individual monetary system.

In the Canal Zone American and Panamanian money is interchangeable, that is either United States or Panama currency is equally well received. The Republic of Costa Rica as well as the English Colony of British Honduras, are on a gold basis, while Spanish Honduras and Salvador are on a silver basis, the national money in common circulation in Guatemala being inconvertible paper, subject to daily fluctuations, dependent upon market conditions and the law of supply and demand. Nicaragua and Panama are on a gold exchange standard basis.

The following table gives the necessary data as to the monetary units and the respective value in United States gold:—

CENTRAL AMERICAN CURRENCY
CountryStandardUnitValue in U. S. GoldCondition
Costa RicaGoldColon46½centsStaple.
British HondurasGoldDollar100centsStaple.
NicaraguaGold exchange standardCordoba100centsStaple.
PanamaGold exchange standardBalboa100centsStaple.
HondurasSilverPeso39centsPractically staple.
SalvadorSilverPeso44centsPractically staple.
GuatemalaInconvertible paperPeso5centsSubject to daily fluctuation.

In all these countries the subject of commercial travelers’ fees may be dismissed briefly, by stating that British Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Salvador require the payment of fees and the others do not. By the exhibition of tact it is often possible to evade these charges, especially if proper arrangements are made with some local agent or merchant.

The following cities should be visited:

CountryCitiesPopulation
British HondurasBelize20,000
GuatemalaGuatemala City100,000
Quezaltenango25,000
Coban23,000
SalvadorSan Salvador70,000
Santa Ana60,000
San Miguel30,000
HondurasTegucigalpa40,000
La Ceiba10,000
NicaraguaLeon70,000
Managua40,000
Granada15,000
Bluefields6,000
Costa RicaSan Jose50,000
Cartago5,000
Puerto Limon6,000
PanamaPanama40,000
Colon20,000
Bocas del Toro10,000