Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1085

 FINANCE — DEFENCE — PllODUCTION AND INDUSTKY l)6t>

Finance.

Ordinary revenue and expenditure in currency (61 paper dollars = £1 in 1907 ; 76 = £1 in 1908 ; 77 = £1 in 1910) :—

Revenue

1907 ' IftOS [ 1909 1910 1911

dollars dollars ' dollars i dollars | dollars

^ . 35,297,823 137,335,958 ,49,239,722 51,571,440 ;62,047,475

Expenditure. |44,560,222 149,929,752 |70,544,261 |45,959,410 |69,161,969

The budget for the fiscal year 1912-13 shows an income ot 37,500,000 dollars, of which 26,500,000 are derived from customs. The expendityire is 42,720,332 dollars, distributed as folloAvs : Government and justice, 4,724,170 dollars; foreign relations, 2,408,239 dollars ; finance, 2,374,922 dollars; public credit, 22,000,000 dollars; A\-ar, 5,267,268 dollars; public instruction, 3,199,035 dollars ; pensions, 511,093 dollars.

On December 31, 1910 (according to the report of the Council of the Corporation of Foreign Bondholders) the outstanding amount of the 4 per cent. External Debt of 1895 was 1,482, 800?. ; certificates in respect of unpaid interest, 1898 and 1899, 29,656Z.; arrears of interest (1899-1911), 712,000?.; total, 2,221,456/. On July 13th, 1911, the Council of Foreign Bondholders accepted a proposal made by Guatemala for a settlement of the long default upon her external debt. But the default continued, and the British Government was requested (in 1912) to take some action in the matter. The interest coupons of Guatemala have now been fourteen years in arrears. On December 31, 1908, the outstanding amount of the gold debt, according to the Finance Minister's Report, was 13,694,445 dollars gold. Currency debt (1909), 71,976,214 dollars currency.

Defence.

The military force of Guatemala, as reorganised, numbers 85,535 officers and men when mobilised. The reserve army consists of 40,575, divided into 81 battalions. All male citizens are liable to conscription from 18 to 50.

Production and Industry.

By the National Land Law of 1894, the State lands (except those on the frontiers and the sea-shore) Avere divided into lots for sale, the maximum allotment permitted to one person being 15 caballarias (or about 1,687 acres).

Uncultivated lands may be granted gratuitously to immigrants or to immigrant companies, to municipalities, villages and schools, or as assis- tance towards road-making. The forest area has an extent of 526,593 hectares.

The soil in general is exceedingly fertile. The most important crop is coff'ee, of which the yield in 1911 amounted to 785,551 quintals (100 lbs.), valued at 1,117,000?. There were in 1911 2,156 plantations, comprising an area of 880,320 acres, and trees to the number of 68,161,626. The largest coffee plantations are in the hands of Germans. The crop for 1912-13 is expected to yield 650,000 quintals. About 1,680 acres are devoted to tobacco culture. Tlie sugar crop amounted in 1910 to 166,234 quintals, valued at 110,500?. ; bananas, 1,225,684 bunches, valued at 70,000?. ; wheat, 260,000 quintals, valued at 156,110?.; maize, 3,344,000 quintals; sweet

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