F 
 
 El $alt)ddor 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 December 14, 1901 
 
Class £/4^^^3. 
 
 Book uiz^S- 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
 in 2010 witii funding from 
 Tine Library of Congress 
 
 littp://www.arcli ive.org/details/elsalvadorOOwasli 
 
^^3 
 
 
 SALVADOR< 
 
 In the Spanish tongue, Salvador 
 means literally " Saviour." What po- 
 tentialities this suggests! Little won- 
 der is there why Columbus, after a long 
 and weary voyage, gave the name to liis 
 first discovery in the New World. 
 
 But the little island of St. Salvador, 
 in the Bahamas, liad its restrictions and 
 limitations. Within a few years of 1492 
 it was forgotten, excepting by geograph- 
 ers and historians. In fact, to-day when 
 tlie name "Salvador" is heard, the world 
 thinks entirely of another grand divi- 
 sion of territory, the Republic of Salva- 
 dor. 
 
 HISTORICAL. 
 
 In the early summer of the year 1524, 
 an army led by Pedro de Alvarado, 
 swept southward from the City of Mex- 
 
ico and conquered what are, now known 
 as the Republics of Guatemala and Sal- 
 vador. The latter country became a 
 province of the vice-regal kingdom of 
 Guatemala, and remained under Span- 
 ish tutelage for nearh^ tliree centuries. 
 
 The year of 1811 witnessed the be- 
 ginning of an agitation for independ- 
 ence on the part of the province of Sal- 
 vador. However, not until the inhabi- 
 tants of Mexico, a decade later, had suc- 
 cessfully terminated their war for free- 
 dom from Spain, did this effort crystal- 
 ize. And then, in the autumn of 1821, 
 the territory comprised in the Kingdom 
 of Guatemala was proclaimed to be free 
 and independent, this declaration, of 
 course, embracing the province of Sal- 
 vador. 
 
 Three years later, as a result of a con- 
 stitutional convention, there was de- 
 clared the foundation of a federal re- 
 public called " The Central American 
 Confederation," composed of Guatemala, 
 Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and 
 Costa Rica. This form of government 
 proving impracticable, the federation 
 was dissolved in 1839. 
 
From that date onwards Salvador has 
 been a sovereign and independent re- 
 public. Its constitution was adopted in 
 1864, and amended on August 13, 1886, 
 in the form in which it is now in force. 
 
 GEOGEAPHICAL. 
 
 The Republic of Salvador is situated 
 between 13° V2' and 14° 28^ north lati- 
 tude, and 87° 37' and 90° 6' longitude, 
 west of the meridian of Greenwich. In 
 form it is rectangular. Seventy-nine 
 miles is the average mean breadth, 
 Avhile the whole State is one hundred 
 and ninety miles long, and contains 
 7,255 square miles, or is slightly smaller 
 than Xew Jersey. 
 
 One hundred and thirty-nine miles 
 is the extreme length of the Pacific 
 coast line; Salvador possesses none on 
 the Atlantic. 
 
 The Republic may be said to lie in the 
 northwestern part of Central America. 
 It is bounded on the west by the Pa- 
 cific, the States of Guatemala and Hon- 
 duras; on the north by Honduras; on 
 the east by the Pacific and Honduras, 
 while the Pacific is on the south. 
 
TOPOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 The countiT presents a varied aspect, 
 but is chiefl}^ mountainous. In the 
 north and northwest rises the principal 
 chain of tlie Sierra Madre. This sends 
 spurs to the southward, towards the cen- 
 ter of the Republic, and from these 
 mountains the land descends in undu- 
 lations. 
 
 At a distance of a dozen miles from 
 the coast line, and parallel to it, lies a 
 second range of the Cordilleras. 
 
 Intersecting both of these chains are 
 streams, which form fertile valle3^s. 
 
 At a point in the northern mountain 
 chain, beginning with the peaks of 
 Sociedad, Ilohasco, Dalce Nombre de 
 Maria, and Palma, is the first line of 
 water-parting. The river Lempa breaks 
 this range in three places; first, where 
 it receives the waters of the Torola ; 
 again at the entrance into it of the river 
 Sumpul, and lastly between the moun- 
 tains near Citala. All the streams pro- 
 duced by these mountains go to form 
 the Lempa, which flows into the Pa- 
 cific. 
 
The other dividing line of waters is 
 formed by the southern Cordilleras, 
 which extend from east to west, just 
 south of the central part of the State of 
 Salvador, and almost parallel with the 
 coast line. This chain consists of 
 Mounts Conchagua, Jucuapa and San 
 Vicente, and those beginning to the 
 east of the River Giboa, Mt. St. Ana, 
 surrounding the city of Santa Anta, and 
 others terminating in the peaks which 
 shut in Lake Guija to the south. Those 
 rivers to the north of this range flow 
 northward into the Lempa; thestreams 
 to the south descend to the ocean. 
 
 Of the rivers, the Lempa is the larg- 
 est and most important. Rising in 
 Guatemala it enters Salvador in the 
 northwestern part, near the town of 
 Citala. Following a devious course, it 
 flows three hundred and seven miles 
 into the Pacific. The stream varies in 
 width from fifty yards at Citala, to two 
 hundred yards where it unites with the 
 sea. The average depth is seven yards 
 and the mean velocity of the current is 
 one and three-fourth leagues per hour. 
 During its course within the Republic 
 5 
 
it receives the larger part of the waters 
 of the remaining rivers. In tlie latter 
 half of its course it is feci by the large 
 streams of Guarajanbola,the Torola and 
 Acaguapa. The Lempa, is navigable 
 for the larger draught steamers for half 
 its course across the countr3\ 
 
 Other important streams are the La 
 Paz, on the northern and western fron- 
 tier; the Goascoran, on the eastern 
 boundary; theRio Grande, to the east of 
 the Lempa ; and the Jiboa in the central 
 part.- The remaining smaller rivers 
 and streams are tributary to these main 
 w^ater-courses. 
 
 Lakes abound, of which the most 
 notable are Guija,on the western "bound- 
 ary, and Lake Ilopango, in the central 
 part. 
 
 SOIL AND CLIMATE. 
 
 In a general way, the slopes of the 
 mountains, the tablelands and valleys, 
 are overlaid with both diluvial and 
 alluvial soil, in part formed by the det- 
 ritus of minerals and decomposed wood 
 and vegetable matter. As a result, the 
 land is of virgin fertility. 
 
Tlie diluvial soil is found adjacent 
 to the two principal mountain ranges,, 
 while the alluvial is dispersed over all 
 the Republic, the greatest continuous 
 extent occurring in the State of Gotera. 
 The land which lies between the upper 
 and lower mountain chains, show the 
 natural result of time, together with the 
 descending precipitation of the waters 
 from the mountains. It is, in fact, diffi- 
 cult to trace the line of demarcation be- 
 tween the waters flowing in opposite 
 directions. The Upper Cordilleras does 
 not form a continuous range, but ap- 
 pears in groups. Between the two 
 chains are naturally plane regions, and 
 there are a great variety of level sur- 
 faces in the country. 
 
 The plains are, first, that passing the 
 city of San Miguel, in the eastern part 
 and extending north ; those parallel- 
 ing the Pacific, which are slightly in- 
 clined and descend from the mountains. 
 There are four smaller plains : Apopa, 
 enclosed by mountains in the state of 
 San Salvador; and Apastepeque, in 
 San Vicente; the remaining two being 
 unimportant. 
 
 7 
 
Travelers passing across Salvador 
 quickly learii of the existing climatic 
 conditions, and it is then a simple 
 matter for them to fall into line. 
 Salvadoreans a re exception ally health}^, 
 the mortuary record being about 1 per 
 cent, per annum. 
 
 Salvador has but two seasons, the 
 v^et, corresponding to our winter, and 
 the dry or summer season. Beginning 
 in May, the rainy season continues un- 
 til October. Occasionally the storms 
 are severe in July and August, although 
 there are two short intervals of sun and 
 clear skies. Tliese are called, respec- 
 tively, the short summer of St. John 
 and the Canicula (dog days). How 
 every one rejoices, too, at their coming ! 
 
 There are no endemic diseases in 
 Salvador, even consumption and catarrh 
 being unknown. 
 
 The lowlands near the coast are 
 generally hot, and there the rain}^ sea- 
 son is usually shorter than elsewhere 
 in the Republic. 
 
 But the people, the cities, in fact the 
 interests of the countr^^ all lie in what 
 is termed the temperate zone. This 
 
embraces the table lands, valle3\s, and 
 mountain slopes of the interior, and a 
 stranger passing from the coast finds 
 them coo], healtliful and delightful. 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 The latest census shows a population 
 of 1,106,848 people, of which 593,893 
 are males and 512,955 females. 
 
 Salvador is one of tlie most densely 
 populated countries in the world, for 
 there are 153.19 inhabitants to the 
 square mile. Forty per cent, of the 
 people are of European descent; fifty 
 per cent, belong to the mixed race, and 
 the remaining ten per cent, are Indians 
 of Mexican origin. Of the mixed race, 
 it is to be said that they are well-or- 
 ganized, perfectly assimilated to refined 
 civilization and possess unusual moral 
 and intellectual qualities. The Indians 
 are respectful and industrious, docile 
 and easily governed. 
 
 Salvador is compact and thickly pop- 
 ulated, so that it has not been difficult 
 for the government io follow out its 
 disposition to extend a paternal care 
 over the intellectual and material de- 
 
velopment of the people. This feature 
 will be recognized as unique among 
 the republics of the world. 
 
 As a consequence, the inliabitants 
 liave attained a degree of culture which 
 compares with that to be found in cities 
 of the United States.. 
 
 Spanish is the iiational language. 
 The Indians, who are chiefl}^ farmers 
 and laborers, in a few cases retain the 
 primitive Nahuat, a derivation of the 
 Mexican Nahuatl. A few of the tribes 
 speak the Lenca or Chutal. 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 The constitution of the Republic is 
 a dignified and conservative document, 
 and yet by its very liberality is excep- 
 tionally strong. The characteristic 
 feature of the instrument is its crisp- 
 ness and exactness. 
 
 Under "Title I," which in four 
 articles treats of " The Nation and The 
 Form of its Government," these ex- 
 cerpts are culled : Article 1. " The Sal- 
 vadorean nation is sovereign and inde- 
 pendent, and can never be the patri- 
 mony of any family or person. * * =? 
 
 10 
 
The sovereignt}^ is limited to what is 
 honest, just and useful to society. It is 
 vested in the whole body of the Salva- 
 dorean people. ^^ ^ ^ ■ j^w public 
 ■power emanates from the people. The 
 functionaries of the state are delegates 
 of the people, and have no more 
 powers than expressly given them by 
 laws." Article 4 states, " that the gov- 
 ernment is republican, democratic, rep- 
 resentative and alternative, vested in 
 three different powers, each independ- 
 ent of one another, the Legislative, Ex- 
 ecutive and Judicial." 
 
 Title II is devoted to "Rights and 
 Guarantees," and contain.s forty articles. 
 No hereditary offices or privileges are 
 recognized. All property is transfer- 
 able in the manner and form prescribed 
 by law. No taxes shall be levied un- 
 less by virtue of law, and for the pub- 
 lic service. All state functionaries and 
 officials are immediately responsible 
 for the acts several]}^ performed by 
 them and the law provides for the en- 
 forcement of this responsibilit3\ Ever}^ 
 man in the country is free-. Slavery is 
 not permitted. Absolute religious free- 
 11 
 
dom is to be had. Salvador is a sacred 
 asylum for foreigners. Tlie people 
 may meet for any lawful purpose. No 
 person can be compelled to perform 
 work without his consent and full com-" 
 pensation therefor. No confiscation of 
 property is permitted. No person can 
 be deprived of life, liberty or property, 
 without due process of law. The dom- 
 icile is sacred and inviolable. All men 
 are equal before tlie law. Correspond- 
 ence by letter or telegraph is inviolable. 
 No censorship permitted. Teaching is 
 free. Primary instruction is compul- 
 sory. All industries are free. 
 
 Titles III, IV and Y, respectively 
 discuss " Salvadoreans," " Aliens," and 
 "Citizensliip." 
 
 In Title VI is treated the Legislative 
 Power. This is exercised by a National 
 Assembly of Deputies, composed of 
 three members elected from each of the 
 fourteen States, or Departments, 42 
 members all told. The legislative 
 powers are carefully defined in twenty- 
 five articles. 
 
 The Executive Power, of which Title 
 VII speaks, is vested in a President, 
 
 12 
 
wlio is elected for four years by a ma- 
 jority vote of the people, and who may 
 not be re-elected for tlie following term. 
 In like manner the Vice-President is 
 elected. The President appoints four 
 Cabinet Ministers who form the Coun- 
 cil. Nineteen articles are devoted to 
 the executive powers. 
 
 Under Title VIII are found sixteen 
 articles, touching on the Judicial Power, 
 which is exercised by a Supreme Court 
 of Justice, and three lesser courts, cor- 
 responding to the United States and 
 State Courts. 
 
 Title IX deals with " Local Govern- 
 ment."- Each State or Department is 
 provided with a, Governor, wlio is in 
 charge, also, of the municipalities under 
 his jurisdiction, Tlie Governor is as- 
 sisted by mayors and subordinate offi- 
 cials, according to population. 
 
 The remaining sections, comprising 
 Titles X, XI, XII, XIII and XIV, 
 respectively treat of Elections, The 
 National Treasury, The Army and 
 Navy, The Responsibility of Public 
 Officials, and Amendments to the Con- 
 stitution. Altogether there are 152 ar- 
 13 
 
tides. The constitution was modelled, 
 in a measure, after that of the United 
 States. 
 
 On September 27, 1886, a month after 
 the adoption of the Constitution, a series 
 of laws were passed relating to aliens. 
 These carefully define and elaborate 
 the privileges and duties of all for- 
 eigners residing within the Republic. 
 
 POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 
 
 Salvador has fourteen States, or De- 
 partments, as they are termed. In the 
 west and northwest are the Depart- 
 ments of Ahuachapan, Santa Ana, 
 Chalatenango, Sonsonate and La Lib- 
 ertad. All excepting the latter Stale 
 have capital cities of the same name 
 as the Department. Nueva Sail Sal- 
 vador is the seat of government for 
 La Liber tad. The city of La Lib- 
 ertad is a leading port of the Republic, 
 on the coast of the State of the same 
 name. It lies on an open roadstead. 
 The harbor is susceptible of additional 
 dredging and improving, and when 
 this is done La Liber tad will become a 
 competitor of La Union, which has the 
 14 
 
distinction of possessing the best Pacific 
 port of any Central American country. 
 
 Four States occupy the nortliern and 
 eastern portion of the Republic, namely, 
 Cabanas, capital city Sensuntepeque; 
 San Miguel, with capital of the 
 same name; Morazan, government 
 town San Francisco ; and La Union, 
 whose capital is La Union. This city 
 is the entrance of a large quantity of 
 the commerce coming to Salvador. It 
 possesses a safe and land-locked harbor, 
 entered from the beautiful Gulf of Foav- 
 seca, by a bay. La Union Bay, for so 
 it is called, has an anchorage of large 
 extent, capable of accommodating an 
 immense traffic. 
 
 The Pacific Coast States are, in addi- 
 tion to those already named, La Paz, 
 whose capital is Zacatecoluca ; Usulu- 
 tan, government city similarly named ; 
 and San Vicente, capital San Vi- 
 cente. The Department of Sonsonate, 
 previously named, possesses a coast 
 line, and the city of Acajutla is rapidly 
 becoming an important shipping point. 
 
 The State of San Salvador, in the 
 central part of the Republic, does not 
 15 
 
touch the Pacific. In this Department 
 is located the national capital, San Sal- 
 vador. 
 
 The fourteen States or Departments 
 named contain thirty-one counties, 
 twenty-eight cities and sixty-four 
 towns. They also have one hundred 
 and sixty-one villages and two hun- 
 dred and fifty-three settlements. 
 
 Three cities, respectively, San Salva- 
 dor the capital, Santa Ana, and San 
 Miguel, contain nearly one-ninth of the 
 total population between them, or ap- 
 proximately 100,000 people. Six cities, 
 La Libertad, Sonsonate, Aliuachapan, 
 Cojutepeque, San Vicente and Sensun- 
 tepeque, include 70,000 inhabitants 
 altogether, or an average of 11,500 
 each. The remaining capitals, La 
 Union, San Francisco, Usulutan, Zaca- 
 tecoluca and Chalatenango, liave ap- 
 proximately 30,000 inhabitants, or 
 about 5,000 apiece. 
 
 SAN SALVADOR. 
 
 In the United States, Washington is 
 regarded as a typical expression of the 
 results of the nation's progress, mor- 
 16 
 
ally, intellectually, spiritually, mate- 
 rially and artistically. 
 
 With especial significance is this true 
 of San Salvador, the capital of Salva- 
 dor. A picture of it is a representation 
 of the entire Republic, in miniature. 
 
 San Salvador is located on the River 
 Acelluiate, west of the central part of 
 the Re[)ublic, in the beautiful Valley of 
 Las Hamacas, at an altitude of 2,115 
 feet above the sea. High mountains 
 tower on all sides of this peaceful plain, 
 which is nearly -eight miles square. 
 
 Perhaps the first feature noticed by 
 the tourist is the streets, which are 
 well-paved and, at night, brilliantly 
 lighted. They are as straight as those 
 of Washington. Two large public 
 parks compare favorably with Central 
 or Fairmount, and of course are far 
 richer than the latter in brilliant trop- 
 ical foliage. Then there are several 
 plazas or scjuares ; and these, as well 
 as the parks, are maintained scrup- 
 ulously free from refuse, paper and 
 dirt. The trees and shrubbery are 
 trimmed as precisely as the boxwood 
 at Mt. Vernon ; the walks and drives 
 
 17 
 
are faultlessly clean. In Morazan Park 
 is an artistic monument of marble and 
 bronze, dedicated to General Morazan, 
 the last President of United Central 
 America. Throughout these parks and 
 plazas are scattered comfortable pavil- 
 ions, and here one may rest quietly, or 
 watch the children at play. 
 
 Salvador is a very old city. Don 
 Jorge, brother of Alvarado the con- 
 queror, founded it April 4, 1528, but 
 the site was placed a trifle nortli of the 
 present location. It was removed to 
 the ground it now occupies in 1539 and 
 four 3^ears afterwards was incorporated 
 as a city. In 1840 Salvador was desig- 
 nated the capital of the Republic and 
 lias since retained that distinction. 
 
 The government offices, including 
 the courts and national palace, are 
 grouped near together in the center of 
 the city. These buildings follow the 
 usual lines of Central and South 
 American architecture, being two 
 stories in height and rectangular in 
 form. 
 
 A traveler quickly learns to estimate 
 the condition of progress in the country 
 
 18 
 
he visits, by tlie cliaracter of the educa- 
 tional and allied institutions which it 
 contains. So, of the educational and 
 scientific institutions in San Salvador, 
 as representative of all others in the 
 Republic, much is to be said. In the 
 first place, eiglity per cent, of the 
 inhabitants of the country read and 
 write. Particularly is it true that 
 education is being greatly extended 
 among the younger generation. A 
 traveler rarely encounters in Salvador, 
 a child over twelve years who does not 
 read and write. Public instruction is 
 non-clerical, free and obligatory. There 
 are 590 elementary schools for both 
 sexes in the Republic, the average 
 daily attendance being 31,500. Rudi- 
 mentary instruction is also given in 
 the National Institute, at the capital, 
 which institution is provided by the 
 government with all necessaries. Too 
 much stress can not be placed upon 
 the great attention given to public in- 
 struction. 
 
 As an earnest of the culture of the 
 people, the tourist finds a high standard 
 attained by the Salvadorean press, 
 19 
 
which is tlie most higlily cultivated 
 and interesting to be found throughout 
 Central America. 
 
 Tlie magnificent building of the Na- 
 tional University especially delights 
 the eye of all college men from tlie 
 United States. It occupies a square 
 adjoining the government buildings, is 
 sixty feet high, one hundred and ninety 
 long, by ninety -five deep. 
 
 There are two stories, a court opening 
 from the interior. Over the main en- 
 trance, on the second story, is a balcony 
 which is adorned by four Doric columns. 
 Within the University are comfortable, 
 and well-lighted and furnished lecture- 
 I'ooms. The appointments are com- 
 plete. In the physical laboratory are 
 tlie most ap[)roved apparatus and in- 
 struments ; the museum of natural his- 
 tory is replete with rare specimens, 
 many of which the curator of one of 
 our universities would gladly })ossess. 
 The library is especially rich in works 
 on astronomy, mathematics, physical 
 and natural science, medicine, surgery 
 and pharmacy, jurisprudence, engineer- 
 ing, architecture, and art. 
 20 
 
Near the University building is 
 the normal school for nien, the poly- 
 technic institute, and the ladies' normal 
 school. Recently the government es- 
 tablished in the capital-city a national 
 collep"e for the hio-her education of 
 women. 
 
 As illustrating the manner in which 
 the government promotes the educa- 
 tional interests of the country, it is in- 
 teresting to read the following excerpt 
 from the message of the President to 
 the Congress, in February, 1893 : 
 
 " Profoundly convinced of the bene- 
 ficial influences which education and 
 instruction exercises on all social 
 classes, I have continued during the 
 past year to extend to this important 
 branch, the most energetic protection. 
 
 "The large number of educational 
 establishments sustained in greater 
 part by the State, has rendered neces- 
 sary the investment of large sums in 
 the salaries of professors, and in the 
 purchase of supplies and text-books. 
 Knowing the difficulties under which 
 authors labor in a young country like 
 ours, I have ordered printed, at public 
 expense, various important works pro- 
 
 21 
 
cluced by some of the best talent of the 
 conntrv. Some of them unite intrin- 
 sic merit witli fitness for use as text- 
 bool-is in our educational establish- 
 
 Aside from the primar\^ education 
 alread_y alluded to, there is the second- 
 ary, and the professional. The former 
 comprises preparatory studies for a 
 university course, land surveying, ed- 
 ucation for teachers, and for commer- 
 cial life. 
 
 The professional education is regu- 
 lated by the law of 1886, and the cur- 
 riculum necessarv for graduation is 
 from three to seven years. 
 
 Last year the sum appropriated by 
 the government for public instruction 
 amounted to $388,552.00. 
 
 Not far from the National Universit}^ 
 is the Salvadorean Lyceum, a private 
 institution ; and adjoining it is the 
 Santa Teresa College for girls, also a 
 theological seminary. 
 
 The Academy for Science and Belles- 
 Lettres corresponds to our Smithsonian 
 Institution, and is located within a 
 stone's-throw of the Universit}^ 
 22 
 
The charitable and benevolent insti- 
 tutions, which are also under govern- 
 ment support, are regulated and con- 
 trolled by the Minister of Education, 
 Public Works, and Benevolence. Of 
 all the government hospitals })laced 
 throughout the Republic, tliat of the 
 capital city is the most interesting. In 
 a})pearance it resembles the National 
 University. It is thoroughly organ- 
 ized and equipped, has a distinguished 
 medical staff and is a great honor to 
 the country. Recently there has been 
 completed in San Salvador, the Rosales 
 Hospital, Don Jose Rosales having be- 
 queathed §3,500,000 to the institution. 
 This is one of the most magnificently 
 constructed and equipped hospitals in 
 the Avorld. It is interesting to observe 
 that much of the material used in the 
 building itself was imported from Eu- 
 rope, the iron and castings having 
 been manufactured in Belgium. 
 
 San Salvador has a good asylum, a 
 school for orphans, and a home for tlie 
 aged poor, all maintained by the gov- 
 ernment. Last year the Republic ap- 
 propriated for the support of the charit- 
 
able and benevolent institutions the 
 sum of $215,000. 
 
 Religion is absolutel}^ free ; civil 
 marriage legal ; and education non-cler- 
 ical. 
 
 Numerous drives into the suburbs 
 of tlie city, if availed of by the tourist, 
 tend to quicken his appreciation of the 
 Cjuiet beauty of the residences, the 
 trees, shrubbery and gardens. If time 
 permits the drive should be extended 
 to the splendid establishment on the 
 southern edge of the city, which has 
 natural baths of various degrees .of 
 temperature, and of great medicinal 
 properties. 
 
 San Salvador's policemen are intelli- 
 gent, and very polite and attentive in 
 giving directions to strangers. 
 
 It is worth while to note that the ho- 
 tels, cafes and restaurants compare fav- 
 orably with those in the United States 
 and Europe. The bills of fare give a 
 feeling of pleasure to a tired traveler ; 
 although after he visits the large, well- 
 appointed market, it is not difficult to 
 understand wdiy the hotels cater so suc- 
 cessfully to the hungry appetite. 
 24 
 
Salvadoreans are generously hospit- 
 able to strangers, and with the clubs and 
 national theatre, a fortnight's stay at 
 the capital ends all too quickly. 
 
 San Salvador does an extensive busi- 
 ness. In addition to nine banks are 
 several mercantile agencies, manufac- 
 tories of cigars, candles, soap, ice, brick, 
 flour, sugar and matches. There are 
 also 3'arn factories, the weaving being- 
 done principally on hand looms. The 
 product is scarfs of silk and flax, cotton 
 cloth and shawls. 
 
 A tourist obtains an appreciation of 
 the amount of business done in San 
 Salvador by observing the number of 
 business houses in that city. These 
 are : eleven booksellers and stationers, 
 seven boot and shoe dealers, thirteen 
 pharmacists, twenty-three grocers, six 
 hardware and cutlery sho[)S, eleven hat- 
 ters, three lithographers, four photog- 
 raphers, eighteen planters, nine print- 
 ing offices, twenty-eight jewelers and 
 silversmiths, seventeen merchants, and 
 ninety-three importers and exporters. 
 Among them one observes the names 
 of many Americans. 
 25 
 
Twelve newspapers and periodicals 
 are published in San Salvador, and 
 throughout the Republic are of course 
 many others. 
 
 The indications of progress and cul- 
 ture given of tlie inhabitants of the 
 capital suggest what may be found in 
 all other cities of the Republic. Wher- 
 ever the traveler journeys, he will find 
 those conditions which result from 
 peace and prosperity, and intellectual, 
 moral and spiritual development. 
 
 Telegraph and telephone lines con- 
 nect San Salvador, as well as all other 
 cities and towns, with the coast and with 
 one another. At La Libertad, these 
 lines make connection with the subma- 
 rine telegraph cable, which readies out 
 to all the cities of the world. 
 
 A modern railway extends from San 
 Salvador to Acajutla, the seaport. 
 While the rails were imported from 
 England, it is pleasant for the traveler 
 to observe that the locomotives and 
 rolling stock were manufactured in the 
 United States. The receipts last year 
 were $212,560.00; the expenditures 
 $152,874.00, leaving a net profit of 
 26 
 
$59,686.00. A branch thirty-nine miles 
 long leaves the main line at Ateos and 
 extends to Santa Ana. 
 
 Between Sonsonate and Izalco a line 
 is also in operation. 
 
 An important road is that extending 
 from La Union to San Miguel. Shortly 
 this will be extended to San Salvador, 
 and it is proposed to connect the line 
 with tlie Guatemalan Railroad, thus 
 affording an Atlantic outlet. 
 
 A road is in course of construction 
 from the port La Libertad to San Salva- 
 dor. When completed, it will give the 
 capital city three outlets. 
 
 Four steamship lines ply regularly 
 between the ports of Salvador and those 
 of North, Central and South America. 
 
 Salvador's post-office system is per- 
 fectly organized and equipped. Letters 
 are dispatched as readily as anywhere in 
 the LTnited States, and money easily 
 and safely transmitted b}^ means of the 
 postal order system, which is in force 
 with the United States and Europe. 
 
 27 
 
CURRENCY AND BANKING. 
 
 The silver standard is in force, the 
 monetar\^ unit being the peso or dollar, 
 which is equivalent, also, to the French 
 fivefranc })iece. All internal commerce 
 and bu'^iness transactions are carried on 
 in silver and bank notes, there being 
 no government notes. 'J'he latter point 
 is significant, taken in connection with 
 the pros[)erous condition of the country. 
 By means of the customs receipts and 
 tax on alcoholic liquors manufactured 
 within the country, the expenses of the 
 government are paid. 
 
 August 28, 1892, the National Mint 
 of Salvador was formally dedicated 
 and opened. This mint possesses some 
 of the finest machinery in the world. 
 It is a great boon to the finance and 
 commerce of the country. 
 
 The banks of Salvador are the 
 Occidental, with a capital of $1,000,- 
 000.00; the Salvadoreno, with a capi- 
 tal of $1,000,000.00; the private bank 
 of Messrs. Blanco & Trigueros, capital 
 $1 ,500,000.00 ; the London Bank, which 
 has a brjnich in San Salvador. These 
 28 
 
banks pay large dividends and bave 
 brancbes and correspondents in all tlie 
 cities and towns of tbe Republic. 
 
 The consolidated internal debt and 
 government bonds amounted to $10,- 
 000,000.00 three years since. After the 
 present administration took hold of af- 
 fairs the debt was curtailed and to-day 
 equals but $7,588,978.74, which is 
 called the bonified debt. 
 
 One of the facts of highest signifi- 
 cance is that Salvador has no foreign 
 debt of any character. In years gone 
 by many foreign obligations were con- 
 tracted and always met promptly. Two 
 years ago, shortly after General Regal- 
 ado was elected to the Presidency, 
 800,000 pounds sterling was paid in 
 cash, and the balance of the foreign 
 debt was settled in bonds. The latter 
 are now being redeemed in cash. 
 
 INDUSTRIES. 
 
 The people are engaged principally 
 in agriculture and commerce, as the 
 great extent of mineral land has hardly 
 begun to be developed. The Indians 
 carry on many small industries and 
 29 
 
manufacture baskets, liats and other 
 articles which are largely consumed 
 within the countr3\ Agriculture has 
 alwaysbeen theprincipalindustry of the 
 country, and each succeeding year it 
 attains greater development, witli the 
 introduction of Yankee machinery, 
 modern methods, and fertilizers. The 
 important products are coffee, indigo, 
 balsam, sugar, tobacco, India rubber, 
 rice, cocoa, cotton, cereals and fruits. 
 
 The coffee plant was introduced 
 from Havana in 1852, and the first 
 plantations established were in 1876, 
 in the State of La Paz. To-day the 
 berr}^ is produced in all parts of the 
 country, wdierever the lands rise over 
 1,500 feet above the sea. It is prob- 
 ably the most important product of 
 the country and for years has formed 
 more than one-half of the total amount 
 of exports. It is the only article of 
 export on which a tax is levied. The 
 largest and most productive planta- 
 tions are in the States of Santa Ana, 
 Sonsonate, Ahuachapan, La Libertad 
 and San "Salvador. Recently, many 
 thousands of trees have been planted 
 30 
 
in the departments of Cuscatlan and 
 Usulutan. It is customary in starting 
 a coffee plantation to purchase two- 
 year-old trees from the nurseries at an 
 average price of $15.00 per 1,000. The 
 coffee is quite tender and should re- 
 ceive careful nurture and ])rotection 
 from the sun, from the time of plant- 
 ing until it has attained the age of five 
 years. For this purpose a quick-grow- 
 ing tree is planted between the coffee 
 rows, a tree like the banana or plan- 
 tain. The first crop is gathered after 
 the tree is three years old, but the 
 maximum bearing is not attained until 
 the seventh year. The Salvadorean 
 coffee has a rare flavor and is in high 
 demand among exporters. The cost of 
 production is about five cents per 
 pound, while the retail price ranges 
 from ten to twenty-five cents per pound. 
 500,000 bags is the average annual 
 crop to-day, representing a value of 
 ten million dollars. At the Salvadorean 
 exhibit at the Pan-American Exposi- 
 tion were displayed twelve samples of 
 coffee from the various States of the 
 Republic. 
 
 31 
 
Next in importance after coffee is 
 sugar cane, wliich is cultivated in all 
 the Departments of Salvador. The 
 best sugar cane is the dark-colored 
 " Batavia." With the introduction of 
 more American capitjil and newer ma- 
 chiner}^ the sugar industry would take 
 nearly ecpial rank with coffee. The pro- 
 duction of sugar last year consisted 
 of 110,000 barrels of molasses, and 
 150,000 bags of sugar, the exportation 
 being but 15,818 pounds. Nearly 
 all the sugar product is consumed at 
 home. The exhibits of sugar cane at 
 the Pan-American Exposition, by Sal- 
 vador, were very attractive. 
 
 Cocoa is easily produced in Salvador, 
 although the present cultivation is 
 c{uite limited. 
 
 Indigo samples displayed at the Buf- 
 falo Exposition, represented the 7,000 
 sacks produced last year, which sold 
 for $1,500,000.00. The plant grows 
 on the high, rocky soils of Chalate- 
 nango, Cabaiias, and Morazan, and in 
 Santa Ana, San Vicente and San 
 Miguel. The methods followed in the 
 cultivation of this plant in Salvador 
 
 32 
 
differ from the care given the indigo 
 plantations in the East Indies. In Sal- 
 vador the underbrush and growth is 
 cut and burned, and then the seed is 
 sown, generally in Ma3^ By September 
 it is ready for harvest, and then the 
 flowering buds are about ready to open. 
 At this point it is richest in indigo- 
 yielding matter. The plant is cut close 
 to the ground, tied in small bundles 
 and taken to the factor}^, where it is 
 allowed to ferment in water, under 
 pressure. After going through a pro- 
 cess, the thick liquid is dried and 
 pressed into cakes for the market. 
 
 A great variety of tobacco samples 
 were shown in the exhibit at Buffalo. 
 The export trade is principally to 
 adjoining Republics, and amounted 
 last year to 399,965 pounds of leaf 
 and manufactured tobacco. Improved 
 methods of drying and preparation of 
 the leaves are being introduced, and 
 American planters going into Salvador 
 have brouglit with them modern meth- 
 ods of handling the product. 
 
 Nearly the entire corn crop is con- 
 sumed within the Republic, but 72,666 
 33 
 
pounds being exported last year and this 
 chiefly to neighboring countries. Corn 
 is tlie daily bread of Salvadoreans, and 
 there are many varieties of the prod- 
 uct, of which four were to be seen at 
 the Pan-American Exposition. 
 
 The other staple products are rice, 
 beans, vegetables and fruits. The latter 
 industry has received but little atten- 
 tion. The people are awaiting the 
 completion of the Isthmian canal, when 
 they anticipate doing a large export 
 business with the United States in the 
 fruit line. The fruits are rich and 
 luscious, and happily produced with 
 little cultivation and care. 
 
 Recenth" the government has under- 
 taken to stimulate the growth of im- 
 proved breeds of cattle. The mountain 
 slopes and foot-hills are rich in pasture, 
 and little attention is required to main- 
 tain stock. The government offers prizes 
 for the best breeds of cattle, horses and 
 sheep introduced into tlie Republic. 
 
 Cotton is very easil}^ grown, and the 
 building of cotton plants for the manu- 
 facture of goods would be among the 
 best paying investments in the country. 
 34 
 
Rubber, balsam and vanilla are ex- 
 ported, as yet on a small scale. Here 
 is one field capable of great industrial 
 expansion. The forestr}^ products are 
 valuable, including mahogany, cedar, 
 ebony and other tropical woods. Along 
 the coast are large areas of dyewood, 
 which is valuable for commerce. Many 
 saw mills are to be seen from the rail- 
 way, as there are quantities of timber 
 available for building purposes, min- 
 ing, etc. 
 
 From the fibre of the pita, is manu- 
 factured thread, twine, cordage and 
 hammocks, and among the prettiest 
 exhibits at Buffalo were those made 
 from this plant. 
 
 Salvador received a total of thirty 
 medals at the Pan-American award, 
 among which were 5 gold medals, 7 
 silver, 3 bronze medals, and 15 honor- 
 able mentions. The gold medals were 
 for collective agricultural exhibit, coffee 
 display, manufactures. Tobacco, choco- 
 late, India rubber, indigo, balsams, 
 minerals, soaps, leathers, all received 
 medals and honorable mention. Par- 
 ticularly interesting were the collection 
 35 
 
of sea shells, school songs, educational 
 and musical works, and collections of 
 antiquities, all of Avhich were remem- 
 bered in the awards. One unique ex- 
 hibit was that of castor oil seeds, wliich 
 took a gold medal. It is not difficult 
 to understand, now, why the little boys 
 and girls of Salvador are so healthy 
 and strong ! 
 
 During the twelve months ending 
 June 30, 1901, tlie exports from New 
 York City to Salvador were as follows: 
 
 Blankets $167,525 00 
 
 Machinery 55,222 00 
 
 ])rngs 41,466 00 
 
 Wire 23,297 00 
 
 Oil 9,061 00 
 
 Hardware 9,422 00 
 
 Electrical supplies .... 5,077 00 
 
 Cornstarch 4,518 00 
 
 Hides 4,549 00 
 
 Petroleum 882 00 
 
 Miscellaneous 48,683 00 
 
 Total $369,697 00 
 
 MINES AND MINERALS. 
 
 The mineral veins of Salvador are 
 found chiefly in the northern Cordil- 
 leras, whicli extends east and west and 
 reaches into Honduras and Nicaragua. 
 36 
 
The veins generally are parallel with 
 the direction of the range, altliough 
 often much interrupted. In the east- 
 ern part of the Republic are more gen- 
 erally found deposits of gold, silver, 
 copper and lead; iron in the western; 
 and coal at various points along the 
 River Lempa. 
 
 The various minerals produced are 
 building stone, gypsum, silver, lead, 
 tin, rock crystal, iron, limestone, quick- 
 silver, antimony, gold, coal, copper. 
 
 In the Republic, tliere are three 
 principal mining districts: San Miguel, 
 Cabanas, and Metapan. 
 
 The best ores of the San Miguel 
 district belong to the Department of 
 San Miguel, La Union and Morazan. 
 This region is very rich in precious 
 metals, especially in sulphide and 
 chloride of silver ores. The leading- 
 gold mines are the San Bartolo, Cope- 
 tillos, and the Eva group. 
 
 The District of Cabaiias is consid- 
 ered richer than the preceding one. 
 In the county of San Isidro are the 
 gold veins of San Enrique, La Cola del 
 Toro, El Compaiiero, El Cerro de Avila 
 37 
 
and La Pepita. Copper and magne- 
 sium are produced in Charlatenango. 
 
 In the District of Metapan are pro- 
 duced chiefly iron, and some zinc, 
 grapliite, lead, copper, silver and gold. 
 
 The best seams of coal are those 
 known as Ilobasco and El Lempa, and 
 is called the brown coal. 
 
 The mining laws of Salvador are 
 very liberal. 
 
 PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY. 
 
 The President of Salvador, in his 
 message to the last Congress, delivered 
 February 20, 1901, submitted statistics 
 relating to the country's progress,which 
 afford much food for reflection. Like 
 the messages of American presidents, 
 this one deals largely with the economic 
 condition of the country. President 
 Hegalado refers to the completion of 
 the Occidental Railway, which was 
 open to traffic early in the year, and 
 states that the debt contracted by the 
 government for the building of this 
 road has been completely liquidated. 
 
 He dwells at length on the condition 
 of the higher institutions for learning. 
 38 
 
The Nationul University has been en- 
 larged, lie adds, by the addition of a 
 dental department, a school of com- 
 merce and finance. 
 
 The receipts of the government dur- 
 ing tlie year 1900 were $6,337,729.06, 
 as follows: Imports, $3,473,162.03; 
 exports, $550,410.86; liquor tax, $1,- 
 827,961.76; other sources of income, 
 $486,194.41. The increase over 1899 
 Avas $1,857,274.45, as follows : In cus- 
 tom duties, $1,573,678.59 ; tax on liq- 
 uors, $233,325.74; miscellaneous, $50,- 
 270.12. 
 
 Adding to the $6,337,729.06, the re- 
 ceipts from loans, $269,098.82, and the 
 balance on hand from tlie previous year, 
 $177,923.43, the available fund in 19U0 
 is $0,784,751.31. 
 
 The disbursements amounted during 
 the year to $6,751,027, leaving a bal- 
 ance of $33,732.44. 
 
 The exports from the ports of the 
 Republic during 1900 consisted of 365,- 
 499 packages, valued at $9,142,690.00. 
 The imports for the same year were 
 $6,000,570.00. Excess of exports over 
 $3,000,000.00. 
 
 39 
 
Jaiiuaiy 1, 1901, the report of .the 
 Board of Directors of the Banco Salva- 
 doreno of San Salvador sliowed an au- 
 thorized cai)ital of $6,000,000.00. Of 
 tliis amount, $4,200,000.00 is subscribed 
 and 12,500,000.00 paid in. Tlie re- 
 serve fund is $500,000.00. The net 
 profits for the half year ending Dec. 31, 
 1900, were $44,230.36, of which $42,- 
 000.00 was applied to the payment of 
 dividends, and $2,230.00 placed in the 
 reserve j'und. 
 
 These figures reveal a satisfactory con- 
 dition of commerce and finance, which 
 when analyzed indicate the extent of 
 the general prosperity of the Republic. 
 
 The |)ress of the country is full of 
 references to the excellent condition of 
 the countr}^, the Democrata of Santa 
 x'Vna, in a recent issue, bestowing gener- 
 ous praise on the faithful administra- 
 tion now in ofiice for the good work 
 accomplished by it. 
 
 Salvador is a prosperous country and 
 strives to maintain the most friendly 
 international and commercial inter- 
 course with all nations, particularly 
 with those nearest to it. 
 40 
 
To develop trade and these industrial 
 facilities, and to improve agricultural 
 methods and processes in use, has been 
 and is the purpose of the present ad- 
 ministration, headed by General Re- 
 galado, the President of the Republic. 
 He is ably assisted in these disinter- 
 ested efforts by the members of his 
 Cabinet Council. 
 
 The problem of furthering progress 
 and enhancing prosperity in Salvador 
 resolves itself into two principal factors, 
 viz : immigration and foreign capital. 
 To attract these, liberal laws are in 
 force; abundant guarantees are ex- 
 tended to Americans to invest capital 
 in the country. For sucli, the rewards 
 are remunerative and exceptional. 
 
 Tlie assured completion of an Isth- 
 mian canal in the near future means 
 more to Salvador, perhaps, than to any 
 other Central American state. Salva- 
 doreans look forward to the time when 
 their country and the United States 
 will interchange a commerce vastly 
 greater than it is to-da3\ 
 
 41 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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