310 



MEXICO, CENTEAL AMERICA, WEST INDIES. 



making them accessible to steamers. An embankment, forming part of the 

 Nicaragua Canal scheme, would have the effect of raising the level of the Eio San 

 Carlos about 50 feet, thus rendering it navigable by vessels of heavy draught to 

 the foot of the mountain. 



On the other hand, the interoceanic route between the ports of Chiriqui and 

 the Golfo Dulce, for which a concession was granted so far back as 1849, has not 

 even been begun, although the company received a guarantee of 244 square 

 leagues " with streams, rivers, mountains, and mines." 



Fig. 138. — Highways of CoinjuNicATiON in Costa Rica. 

 Scale 1 : 4,500,000. 



85* West oF breenwich 



Railways. Projected Railways. Roads. 

 ^^.«M» 50 Miles. 



Navigable Rivers. 



Apart from a few minor details, the political institutions of the republic are 

 modelled on those of the other Hispano- American states. The legislative power is 

 exercised by a congress, whose members are elected for four years, one-half 

 retiring every two years. A president, also nominated for four years, and not re- 

 eligible, is charged with the executive functions. He chooses his own secretaries 

 of state, and appoints the provincial governors, the military commanders, and the 

 political chiefs of the cantons. The municipalities are elected bj' popular suffrage, 

 "vhich is not universal, but restricted to all who are able to live " respectably." 



The laws are administered by justices of the peace, cantonal alcaldes, provincial 

 tribunes and a court of appeal. Criminal cases are tried before juries, and capital 

 punishment is abolished as well as all degrading penalties. Freedom of worship. 



