public debt in 1918 was 67,672,378 bolivianos, of this amount 21, 662,436 was internal, 39,808,759 external and 6,101,183 floating. The revenue for 1919 was 31,328,767 bolivianos and the expenditure 28,471,853.
mileage in 1918 was 1,689 kilometers and 571 kilometers more were under construction. An inter national line planned in 1919 between Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Formosa, Ar gentina, was to have 311 miles of its length in Argentina and 528 miles in Bolivia. The line will open up rich for est lands for development and is expected to be of great commercial advantage to both countries.
Government.—The constitution (Oct. 28, 1880) vests the executive power in a President, elected by direct popular vote, for a term of four years, and ineligible for re-election at the end of his term of office. The legislative authority rests in a Congress, comprising a Senate of 18 members, elected for six years, and a Chamber of Deputies of 64 members, elected for four years. There are also two Vice-Presidents, and a Ministry divided into the Departments of Foreign Relations and Worship, Finances and In dustry, Government and Colonization, Justice and Public Instruction, and War. The suffrage is possessed by all who can read and write. The republic is divided into eight departments and these into provinces and cantons. The Roman Cath olic is the recognized religion of the re public, and the exercise of other forms of worship is permitted.
History.—It is believed that the oldest civilized empire on the American con tinent existed in the Titicaca basin, and that it was disrupted about the 8th century, a portion of the people remain ing in the highlands of Bolivia till the 14th century, when they were subdued by the Incas of Cuzzo. In 1559 this region was formed into the audiencia of Charcas, or upper Peru, which was gov erned by judges under the direction of the Viceroy of Peru. Charcas was made a province of Buenos Aires in 1776. Under long existing discontent the people revolted in 1809, but the effort for free dom was speedily crushed. The country was frequently invaded by patriotic armies from Buenos Aires and Peru during 1811-1821, but all these move ments also failed. Under the direction
of SIMON BOLIVAR (q. v.), the Spanish troops in Charcas were subdued in 1825. On Aug. 6 of that year, the people de clared their independence and adopted the name of Bolivia in honor of their liberator, and made General Sucre their first President. In 1836 a Federal re public was established comprising the states of North Peru, South Peru, and Bolivia; but this confefltration was dis solved by a revolution in 1839. The country was agitated by revolutions and internal dissensions for many years. In 1879 Chile declared war against Bolivia. Peru came to the aid of the latter and the Chilians defeated their allied op ponents. As a result of this war Bolivia mortgaged to Chile the Littoral Depart 7—Vol.
ment, which has an area of 29,910 square miles and contains the important port of Antofagasta, thus losing her entire sea coast, and also gave Chile possession of rich mineral fields. In 1898 a dispute arose with Brazil in relation to the pos session of the Acre region. This was settled in 1903 by the cession of about 70,000 square miles to Brazil, in return for money indemnity and small territorial compensations elsewhere. The settle ment with Peru resulted in a long-stand ing dispute. Bolivia made the claim that the cession of the coast territory made in 1884 was provisional only. In 1904 a treaty was ratified recognizing the dominion of Chile over the disputed terri tory, but granting Bolivia free access to the sea with the right of erecting customs houses at designated points.
Bolivia for a time remained neutral during the World War, but on April 13, 1917, the German minister was handed his passport as a result of the sinking of a Bolivian vessel which was i sailing in neutral waters.
Jose Gutierrez Guerra was elected president in 1917 for the term ending 1921. On July 11, 1920, a revolution broke out and Gutierrez was compelled to renounce his office. He was sent out of the country and a provisional govern ment with a Junta was established pend ing a new election.