Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1492

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VENEZUELA

In 1870 education was made free and compulsory ; at that time only 10 per cent, of the adult population were able to read and write. In 1891 there were, for primary instruction, 1,415 Federal and 151 State schools. The number of pupils receiving elementary instruction in 1889 was 100,026. The sum expended in 1890 on Federal schools was 2,503,797 bolivars. Besides these there are 9 barrack schools, 4 normal schools, and one school of arts and trades. Higher education is given in 2 universities, 22 Federal colleges, 11 national colleges for girls, 1 school for fine arts, others for music, 1 poly- technic school, 26 private colleges and 1 nautical school. These institutions have 436 professors and 4,882 students. The cost of the Federal schools (primary and higher) to the nation in 1890 was 3,345,720 bolivars.

In Caracas is the national library, with 32,000 volumes, and the national museum.

Justice and Crime.

Justice is administered by the Supreme Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal, by special local courts for civil and criminal cases separately, and by district, borough, and municipal judges.

Finance.

The revenue and expenditure, in the years ending June 30, have been : —

Revenue. Expenditure

1893-4

1894-5

1895-6

1895-7

Bolivars 51,421,875 51,919,795

Bolivars 48,656,797 43,891,525

Bolivars 51,459,947 65,959,787

Bolivars

48,313,540

103,904,780

The revenue and expenditure for 1897-98 were estimated to balance at 40,150,000 bolivars.

For 1898-99 the sanctioned estimates were as follows : —

Revenue

Bolivars

Expenditure

'Bolivars

Import duties.

Stamps

Transit duties.

Consulates

Caracas Waterworks.

Salt tax.

Various.

Total

24,838,000

3,196,000

3,290,000

800,000

501,000

900,000

1,017,000

Administration. Internal credit. External credit. Venezuela loan. Foreign claims. Public works. State subsidies.

Total

16,736,200 5,057,100 2,135,200 3,000,000 1,113,500 2,250,000 4,250,000

34,542,000

34,542,000

The foreign debt of Venezuela began with its assumption of its share of the old Columbian debt in 1834, amounting to 1,888,396?., and 906,400Z. arrears of interest; total, 2,794,796?. The arrangement at present in force was adopted in 1881, when new consolidated bonds were issued to the amount of 2,750,000Z. for the conversion of the external debt.

On July 1, 1897, the outstanding amount of this debt was 2,638,200?., while the 5 per cent, loan of 1896 for the settlement of arrears ot railway guarantees amounted to 50,000,000 bolivars, or about 1,949,742?.; total foreign debt, 4,587,942?. The coupons due February, 1898, on the debt of