Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/525

 MONET, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES.

489

Trade and Industry.

The republic has but one seaport, the town of Cobija, or Cobija- Puerto, on the Pacific. Till within the last few years, the vast agri- cultural and mineral resources of the country were entirely dormant for want of means of communication, nearly all internal trade being carried on by packhorses and mules ; but more recently an attempt has been made, by English capitalists and engineers, to construct roads, and several lines of railway have been planned, and sanctioned by the government.

The total imports into Bolivia are valued at G, 000, 000 dollars, or 900,000/., and the exports at 5,000,000 dollars, or 750,000/. The total value of the merchandise sent to and received from Great Britain, in each of the five yeai-s 1865 to 1869, is shown in the subjoined tabular statement : —

Years

Exports of Bolivia

Imports of British Home

to Great Britain

Produce into Bolivia

£

£

1865

151,026

997

1866

173,855

12,907

1867

140,043

3,852

1868

163.359

3.425

1869

127,053

5,330

The principal exports of Bolivia to Great Britain are copper ore and guano, the former of the value of 106,913/., and the latter of 11,284/. in 1869. In 1867, the exports of guano to Great Britain amounted to 40,644/., and in 1868 to 26,393/. The British imports into the republic consist chiefly of coals, valued 614/., and of cotton coods, valued 543/. in 1869.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of Bolivia, and the British equivalents, are —

Money.

The Dollar, of 100 Centomas

= Approximate value 35.

The Bolivian dollar is theoretically worth 4s. 2d., that is, if of the standard weight of 418 troy grains, of \^ pure silver. But, for a number of years, the coins issued from the Government mint at Potosi have been 25 per cent., and more, below the standard.