to all imaginable extent. The owner of a piece of land, duly registered in the office for such purposes established, can have the value of his property divided there into shares, and each share represented by a cédula, or bond, and arrangements are made so as to allow at any time, and with perfect safety for the bank or the money lender, funds to be raised on these "cédulas," and the latter to be used as collateral securities of the best character.*

GOVERNMENT LANDS.

The Government itself does not offer any special inducements to immigrants, but foreigners, as well as natives, can profit by very lib. eral laws in regard to the acquisition of lands, whether mineral, timber or agricultural.

To acquire the public land when not under concession, there are two systems, one by pre-emption and the other by bidding at public sales.

By the first anybody can take possession of fifty hectares (123 acres) of Government land, and by fencing it and giving notice of the fact to the authorities of the district in which it is situated, and of his intention to cultivate it, no one can disturb him in his possession and enjoyment of the same for two years, during which he is obliged to cultivate his homestead. Should he fail to do so, the place can be taken by some other person, who would have to pay him the value of whatever improvements he may have made, but if he complies with the requirements of the law, he becomes the owner of the land. Whenever fifty hectares are thus fenced in and cultivated by the same person, he can go to work on fifty other hectares, and so on, subject to the same conditions.

By the bidding at public sales, a person can ask of the Land Office the sale at auction of any Government land to an extent not exceeding 500 hectares (1,235 acres) for each adult, the person asking for the sale has the privilege of purchasing the land for himself at the price brought at auction.

The lowest price that can be bid per hectare is $5 for level pasture land; $4 for timber or wooded land, from which natural products (rubber, vanilla, dye woods, etc.) can easily be obtained; $3 for the

Ley Hipotecaria, 1565. Código Civil, 1887.

same kind of land without the last mentioned of advantages; and $2 for mostly uneven, marshy, stony or barren land.

Lands separated from a town of over 3,000 inhabitants, or from a railroad more than fifteen miles, are valued at one-half the price given; if distant more than thirty miles, at one-fourth, and if at sixty miles, at one-eighth.

The purchasers of public lands have the option of paying cash, or within ten years, at an interest of 6 per cent per annum upon the value of the purchase, with the interest payable at the end of every

year.

Whenever the purchaser can establish by sufficient evidence that he has made improvements worth twice as much as the interest on the land purchased, he shall be exempted from the payment of said interest due; and if the improvements amount to double the price of the land, he shall be exempted from the payment of the price or principal. The purchaser has to pay all expenses to the Land Office and for the surveying of the land.*

Any person taking possession of public lands and thereupon applying himself to the cultivation of India rubber and cocao, will receive another portion of land equivalent to double the amount already cultivated. And those planting the same products on property of their own, will receive in public lands an amount trebling that already cultivated.

Premiums ranging from $2,000 to $5,500 are awarded, by a jury of qualification, to those who cultivate ten manzanas (about 21 acres)† at least, with India rubber, or five with cocao, considering in the first place the best method of culture employed.‡

One can buy from private owners sections already cleared from $23.50 per acre upward. On the central plateau uncultivated land is worth at lea t $90 to $95, and that planted with coffee brings, in some places, as high as $700 to $1,000 per acre.

POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.

Costa Rica is a Democratic Republic.

The Government is administered by three distinct powers, legisla tive, executive and judiciary.

See the Código Fiscal, 1885.

+ One manzana =- 10,000 square varas; 1 acre = 4.840 square varas.

: Coleccin de Leyes, 1882.

The legislative power is exercised by one House, whose members are elected for four years. This body is called Constitutional Congress.

The executive power is vested in the President of the Republic, who is elected for four years, and is ineligible for a second consecu tive term.

The judiciary power is vested in the Supreme Court of Justice, and tribunals under it established by law.*

ARMS AND COLORS.

The coat of arms is composed of three volcanoes joined and placed between two seas, with a ship on each side, on the left, a rising sun on the top, five stars, and three flags on each side of the shield; and at the bottom a horn of plenty. On the upper part is a scroll, upon which is inscribed "América Central," and below "República de Costa Rica."

The flag consists of five horizontal bars, the outer ones blue, the next white, and the central red and of double width.

RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.

The rights of faiths, home and property are strictly observed, and have never been infringed upon in Costa Rica, nor have retroactive laws been framed.

The sacredness of correspondence, the right to meet in bodies and to petition, the right of habeas corpus, the liberty of the press—all are guaranteed by the Constitution.

Foreigners enjoy every civil right without being admitted to citizenship or being compelled to contribute heavy sums. Admission to citizenship may be applied for at any time and will be granted, as in most civilized countries, after one year's residence. Settlers are not obliged to become naturalized citizens nor to pay forced contributions. They can carry on business and manufacture, possess real estate, buy and sell, navigate the rivers and coasts, and, subject to the laws, may exercise freely their religious creeds, marry, and dispose of their property by will.t

* Constitución Politica, 1871.

+ Ibid.