ECONOMIC CONDITION OF HONDUEAS. 



260 



over the mountain passes between the Atlantic and Pacific slopes. The 

 two main highwaj^s are the interoceanic route through Comavagua, and 

 that running from Sensenti through Intibucat, La Paz, and Tegucigalpa to 

 Jutigalpa. 



The postal and telegraph services are still in their infancy compared with 

 those of Mexico, as might be expected in a country where the great mass of the 

 population is still absolutely unlettered. In 1887 not more than 19,000 adults 



Fig. 116.— Debt pee Head of Populatiox in Various Couxtbies. 



China .. 



Liberia 



Switzerland 



Norway 



Germany 



Japan 



N icaragua 



Salvador 



Me.xico 



Bolivia 



Sweden 



Haiti 



Guatemala 



Ecuador 



Colombia 



Turkey 



United States 



S. African Rep. 



Russia 



S. Domin 



Hawaii 



Roumania 



Denmark 



Servia 



Chil 



Brazil 



Costa-Rica 



Italy 



Venezuela 



Greece 



Austria-Hungary 



Argentine 



Paraguay 



Spain 



Belgium . 



Holland 



United Kingdom 



Peru 



Uruguay 

 Portugal 

 Francf!... 

 Honduras É^ 



1 



could read and write, and only 74,000 children were receiving any kind of 

 education. In the same year the periodical press was limited to four journals. 



The government of Honduras differs only in a few minor details from those 

 of the other Central American republics. The constitution has been frequently 

 modified between the years 1824 and 1883, during which period as many as forty- 

 eight rulers have succeeded under various titles to the supreme power. In normal 

 times the president is elected for four years by universal suffrage, and is assisted 

 by a council of seven ministers for foreign affairs, the interior, public works, war, 

 finance, public instruction, and justice. The legislative functions are discharged 

 by a congress of 37 members returned by the various departments in proportion 

 to the population. 



