about 22 miles in length. A branch from Chinandega to El Viejo, a distance of between four and five miles, is also contemplated. To bring the central portion of the Republic into communication with the departments in the northeastern section, a road has been projected from Momotombo, on Lake Managua, via Sébaco and Matagalpa, to a point on the Río Grande, the distance from Momotombo to Matagalpa being between 90 and 100 miles, while that between Momotombo and the Río Grande is from 240 to 250 miles. This is called the Northern Railroad. Its estimated cost of construction is placed at $10,000,000 gold, for several mountain-ranges, some of them 3,000 feet in height, would have to be surmounted, necessitating heavy gradients. A more feasible proposition is that known as the Atlantic or Rama Railroad, which is projected to run from the port of San Ubaldo, on the eastern shore of Lake Nicaragua, to the city of Rama, on the river of the same name, the distance between the extremities being about 102 miles. In order to make it a through line, an extension along the northeastern shore of Lake Nicaragua to connect with the National Line at a point called Sabana Grande, has been proposed, the total length of the main line and extension being 220 miles. The highest summit required is only 900 feet above sea-level. This route has been examined by competent engineers and its feasibility demonstrated. At Rama water communication would be opened with the important port of Blewfields. THE PROPOSED APPROXIMATE PRELIMINARY LOCATION. Starting at the Río Negro, near Palo Grande, the proposed location crosses the Río Villa Nueva by a bridge 200 feet in length, then the Estero Real by one 80 feet in length, and proceeding via La Virgen, reaches Chinandega, a distance of 38 miles (61.15 kilometers), the estimated cost for grading, masonry and bridges being $598,960 gold, an average of $15,762 per mile ($9,795 per kilometer). There are no special engineering difficulties in the way, long tangents being readily obtainable, and the ground, as a rule, is good except in the valleys of the Villa Nueva and Estero Real, where much embankment would be required. Having reached Chinandega, connection is made with the National Railroad, already alluded to, and its western division utilized as far as the junction near La Paz, whence the central division, yet to be constructed, would be taken advantage of to carry the line to the Capital; thence the eastern division, already built, would bring the line to Granada, on Lake Nicaragua. Starting afresh at the railroad-station of Granada, the line crosses the lower spurs of Volcán Mombacho and attains Nandaime, a two per cent. gradient being required for a comparatively short distance. Thence proceeding southward, the Río Ochomogo is crossed at Paso Real, next the Río Gil González, and thence, running via Pueblo Nuevo, Belén, and the important town of Rivas, the Río de En Medio, Las Lajas, and Limón are crossed, and Peña Blanca, on the Río Sapoá, and near the boundary between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, is reached, at a distance of 68.3 miles (109.92 kilometers) from the start at Granada. The cost for grading, masonry and bridges is estimated at $907,390, an average of $13,285 per mile ($8,255 per kilometer). From investigations made, Lieutenant Macomb is of the opinion that good railroad-ground for a location could be found for a line running from Paso Gallegos, on the Río Negro, via Somotillo, Villa Nueva, San Luis Mines, and Llano de Conejo to Momotombo, and thence along the lake-shore to Managua. He believes that such a road would be superior to the former across the low plains of Chinandega, as it would pass through a country awaiting better facilities for transportation and with natural resources which the advent of a railroad would develop. From what precedes, it is apparent that the total distance across Nicaragua from the Río Negro to Peña Blanca is 209.7 miles (337.48 kilometers), of which 103.4 miles, the distance between Chinandega and the railroad-station at Granada, may be considered as practically finished. The total distance from Ayutla to Peña Blanca, across the republics of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, would therefore be 683 miles (1,099.17 kilometers), of which 211.3 miles (340.05 kilometers) are either built or nearing completion, and hence may be considered as practically constructed. V. COSTA RICA. The Republic of Costa Rica is bounded on the north by Nicaragua, on the northeast by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by Colombia, and on the southwest and west by the Pacific Ocean. In common with the other republics of Central America, the President is elected for four years, and the administration is divided into four departments, viz.: that of the Interior; Foreign Affairs, Education, Justice and Worship; Finance and Commerce; and War and Marine. Although its boundaries with Nicaragua and Colombia are not definitively settled, the area of the Republic is generally estimated at 23,000 English square miles, and is divided into five provinces, viz.: those of San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Guanacaste, and two comarcas, Punta Arenas and Limón. As shown by a census taken in 1892, the population was 243,205, besides some 23,000, mostly aborigines. According to an estimate made in 1897, the population at present is nearly 270,000. The |