ECONOMIC CONDITION OF COSTA EICA. 



311 



decreed in 1870, already existed de facto, and tithes had already been abolished 

 soon after the declaration of independence. Convents and religious orders are 

 interdicted throughout the republic. 



Public instruction had formerly been much neglected, and even in 1883 not 

 more than 12 per cent, of the population could read and wriie. But primary 

 instruction for both sexes is now obligatory and gratuitous, and in 1886 as many 

 as 20,000 scholars were already attending the 260 public schools. Under the 

 Spanish rule, and down to 1830, Costa Rica had not a single printing-press ; there 

 are now over ten, and the number of letters forwarded through the post increased 

 from 600 in 1811 to nearly 3,000,000 in 1890. 



Costa Rica was free of liabiKties till 1871-2, when loans of £3,100,000 



Kg. 139. — Admestistrative Divisions op Costa Rica. 

 Scale 1 : 5.000.000. 



Guanacaste. Alîijuela. Heredia. San José. 



Comarca of Limon. Cartago. Comarcaof Puntarenas. 

 .^— ^_- 124 Miles. 



were raised on the security of the customs and railway debentures. In 1888 the 

 public debt was converted into a total amount of £2,000,000 at 5 per cent,, and 

 taken over by the Costa Rica Railway Company. The yearly budget is generally 

 balanced with an income and expenditure of from £600,000 to £800,000. Most 

 of the revenue is derived from the customs and spirits and tobacco monopolies. 

 The army comprises a standing corj)s of 1,000 men, 



Costa Rica is divided into five administrative provinces and two comarcas, with 

 areas and populations, tabulated in the Appendix. 



