Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/874

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ECUADOR

pharmacy, and jurisprudence. Total number of students (1919-20), 744. There is also a law college at Loja. During the school year 1919-20 there were 1,664 schools in operation in the Republic, 1,359 oi' which were Govern- ment schools, 168 municipal, and 137 private schools. The total attendance at these schools in 1919-20 was 92,512 (50.502 males and 42,010 females). The Government schools had an attendance of 63,395 pupils (35,982 boys and 27,413 girls). The attendance in the municipal schools was 16,055 (8,610 boys and 7,445 girls). The attendance in the private schools was 13,062 (5,910 boys and 7,152 girls). These schools employed 2,307 teachers (1,002 males and 1,305 females). Total expenditure on elementary education, 1920, 200,4012 ; on secondary education, 90,817'.; and for the universities, 72,435?.; making a total of 313,7072.

Justice and Crime.

The appellate courts are the Supreme Court in Quito, which is the highest tribunal and consists of 5 justices elected by Congress for a term of 6 years. The six superior courts are located at Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Riobamba, Loja and Portoviejo. The first two are composed of 6 judges, the remainder of 3 judges each, all elected by Congress for 6 years. The Court of Accounts is empowered to audit and investigate all public accounts. In the Republics there are 359 parochial justices.

Finance.

Of the total revenue about 70 per cent, is derived from customs duties ; 1 1 per cent, from taxes on cocoa, real estate, white rum, and tobacco ; 6 percent, from salt and the remainder mostly from excise, rents of State property, and the postal department. The revenue and expenditure for recent yeais are given as follows in sterling (1 sucre = 24c?.), but the figures are not to be taken as representing the exact state of affairs : —

—

1917

1918

1919

1920 1 J 1921 1

Revenue Expenditure.

£

1,882,866 1,796,496

£

1,401,544 1,588,771

£ £ £

1,049,727 1,999.566 2,028,570 1,850,526 | 1,999,566 2,028,570

On December 31, 1919, the foreign debt amounted to 3,558,861Z. and the internal debt to 2,262,448/., making a total of 5,821, 309L

Defence.

The Ecuadorian regular army has an establishment of 597 officers and 4,855 men. This force is composed of 10 battalions of infantry, 1 regiment of cavalry, and 12 batteries of artillery which form the active army. Military service was made compulsory on May 24, 1921. The regular infantry have the Mauser rifle ; the artillery have Vickers Maxim, old-fashioned Krupps and now Ehrards. Military service is not obligatory. The country is divided into 6 military districts. Military schools are established at Quito.

The Navy consists of three vessels, the Libcrlador Bolivar, a torpedo gunboat, the Cotopaxi, an old destroyer, and the Tarqui y cl Patria.

Production and Industry.

Ecuador is divided into two agricultural zones : the coast regions and the lower river valleys, where tropical farming is carried on ; ana the hill country, the foothills, and the high mountain valleys, adapted to grazing,