The population of Nicaragua may be estimated at 250,000. The civilized Indians, and those of Spanish and negro stocks crossed with them, constitute the mass of the population. The pure individuals of pure European stock constitute but a small part of the whole, and are more than equaled in number by those of pure negro blood. The entire population may be divided as follows: Most of these live in towns, many of them going two, four, and six miles daily to labor in the fields, starting before day and returning at night. The plantations, "haciendas," "hattos," "ranchos," and "chacras" are scattered pretty equally over the country, and are reached by paths so obscure as almost wholly to escape the notice of travelers who, passing through what appears to be a continual forest from one town to the other, are liable to fall into the error of supposing the country almost wholly uninhabited. Their dwellings are usually of canes, thatched with palm, many of them open at the sides, and with no other floor but the bare earth, the occupation of which is stoutly contested by pigs, calves, fowls, and children. These fragile structures, so equable and mild is the climate, are adequate to such protection as the natives are accustomed to consider necessary. Some of them are more pretending, and have the canes plastered over and whitewashed, with tile roofs and other improvements; and there are a few, belonging to large proprietors, which are exceedingly neat and comfortable, approaching nearer our ideas of habitations for human beings. A large part of the dwellings in the towns are much of the same character; the residences of the better classes, however, are built of adobes, are of one story, and inclose large courts, which are entered under archways often constructed with great beauty. The court-yard has generally a number of shade trees, usually orange, making the corridors, upon which all the rooms open, exceedingly pleasant. The State is divided into five Departments, each of which has several Judicial Districts, as follows: The population here given is the result arrived at, in round numbers, by a census attempted in 1846. It was only partially successful, as the people supposed it preliminary to some military conscription, or new tax. The principal towns of the State, with their estimated population, are as follows: It is a singular fact that the females greatly exceed the males in number. In the Department Occidental, according to the census, the proportions were as three to two! PROGRESS OF LIVERPOOL IN POPULATION AND COMMERCE. The model of Liverpool, forwarded to the Great Exhibition in London, is accompanied with the following tabular statement, illustrative of the population of Liverpool under three Queens, namely, Elizabeth, Anne, and Victoria : This great metropolis of the western seas, built upon more hills than Rome was, and, unlike her, built almost in a "day," contains a population of twenty-three thous and, who, attracted by the sparkling of gold, have come hither from every quarter of the habitable globe. From the sunny climes of Spain and Italy, from the fairy lands of Persia and Arabia, from the regions of snow and ice in Norway and Russia, from the corn and vine lands of pleasant France, from the British isles and colonies, from the green South America, from the imperial dominions of the near relative of the Sun and Moon, and from the golden islands of the Pacific, have they come in myriads to California. In our streets the fair European jostles with the swarthy Kanaka or the darker Hindoo; the pious Mussulman says his daily prayers, as he passes the churches of the Christian, the calculating German drives hard bargains with the volatile Frenchman, and the stiff-made Yankee daily deals with the long-tailed Chinaman. Such an omnium gatherum of humanity was never before witnessed in the world's history. The golden charm has spoken the " open sesame to the brazen gates and lofty walls that have heretofore inclosed a nation of millions, and the whole world has sent her representa tives in great convention to a little spot that four years ago was known only as a resort for whalers or merchant vessels who were on the Pacific coast. No man can accurately calculate the result of this union, but its effects must be grand and lasting. The southron of Europe will return to his home, the fur-clad northerner will again visit the cold land of his childhood; the light-limbed oriental will go back to his fairy land, the long tailed child of the sun will enter again his noble wall, the bearded Turk will once more listen to the muezzim as it is sounded from the minerets, and the unsophisticated children of the sea will return to their flowery islands. But all will carry back with them a knowledge of the English language, an idea of the American institutions and liberties, a portion of the energy and ardor of the great Anglo-Saxon race, and an understanding of the blessed principles of Him whose precepts will yet spread peace among the nations, and make the "wilderness bud and blossom as the rose tree." The discovery of gold in California has done more to advance the cause of civilization and the spread of enlightened and Christian institutions, than any other one fact brought to light within the last century.-Alta California. RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS. CANALS AND RAILROADS OF PENNSYLVANIA. The following statement of the canals and railroads of Pennsylvania is derived from the report of the Canal Commissioners. It only includes the public works owned by the State: The commonwealth of Pennsylvania has completed and in operation 6521 miles of canal and railroad, independent of feeders not navigable, as follows:— Delaware division, from Bristol to Easton..... Columbia Railroad, from Philadelphia to the basin at Columbia.. Juniata division, from the junction at Duncan's Island to the basin at Holli- Portage Railroad, from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown. Western division, from Johnstown to the Monongahela River at Pittsburg... land... ..miles 594 82 451 1271 36 1041 401 West Branch division, from Northumberland to Farrandsville. 76 721 Bald Eagle side cut, from the pool of Dunstown Dam, on the West Branch division, to Bald Eagle Creek.... Lewisburg side cut, from Lewisburg to the West Branch division Lackawanna feeder, at the termination of the North Branch division. Alleghany Branch of the Western division in Alleghany City... Feeder at the mouth of the Rayston branch of the Juniata Total miles .... 6521 Upon the completion of the North Branch Canal, from the mouth of the Lackawanna to the New York State Line, 944 miles more of navigation will be added to the above. The Erie extension, consisting of the Beaver division, the Shenango and Conneaut lines, and the French Creek feeder, 163 miles in length, and the Wisconisco Canal, 12 miles in length, which were nearly completed, have been transferred to private companies. The receipts from tolls have been nearly doubled within the last ten years, as the following table shows: $1,295,494 76 | 1849...... $1,633,277 72 1842.. $940,218 69 1846. 1,581,575 87 1850. 1844. 1,167,603 42 | 1848. 1,533,344 00 1851... 1,768,209 46 1,793,624 01 The gross receipts on the several lines of canal and railroad for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1851, amounted to $1,793,624 82, being an increase over 1850 of $25,417 36. The expenditures for the same period amounted to $1,054,893 99. Included in these expenditures are the following: The rebuilding of the Conestoga Bridge, $17,854 50; the rebuilding of the Clark's Ferry Bridge, $21,922 30; the rebuilding of the Shamokin Shute, $4,678 50; the extraordinary repairs to the planes on the Alleghany Portage railroad, per act of 1850, $15,420 06; the building of an addition to the wharf at Bristol, $1,500; the repair of road and farm bridges, $25,000; and new depot at Parkersburg, $10,000-not being fairly chargeable to the repair account of the year, are not included in the statement of expenditures. Receipts for all purposes on the Columbia Railroad. Main line of canal, from Columbia to Pittsburg North and west branch, and Susquehanna divisions. Total..... Deduct drawbacks paid at Philadelphia... $698,982 53 249,088 SS 375,204 75 253,873 43 239,941 05 $1,817,090 64 23,465 82 $1,793,624 82 Total gross receipts on all the lines...... The amount of anthracite and bituminous coal shipped from the several offices on the line of the State improvements for the year 1851, is as follows: The main line-Philadelphia and Columbia-is 82 miles in length, extending from the city of Philadelphia to the borough of Columbia. This division of the improvements has been in successful operation during the year. The freight passed over the road in 1851 amounted to 260,860 tons, being an increase over 1850 of 6,805 tons, exclusive of the tonnage from Reading Railroad in that year. The number of cars passed over the road was 146,226, of which 17,066 were passenger cars. Increase over 1850, 9,271 cars. Number of trips made by locomotive engines, 8,280. Number of miles traveled by passengers, 9,838,287-equal to 119,979 through passengers. Amount of toll received on passengers and passenger cars, $216,719 61. The motive power department is now in good condition, and fully equal to the business of the next year. Five first class locomotive engines were purchased during the past year. There are forty-six engines of all classes upon the road. Seven of these are undergoing repairs, and will be ready for service in the spring. There are twelve sets of trucks for section boats in order. As the transportation of boats over the road appears to be on the decrease, this number will be sufficient for present use. The Alleghany Portage Railroad is thirty six miles in length, and extends from Holisdaysburg to Johnstown. Transportation was resumed on this road on the 25th of February. There are twenty locomotive engines on this road; seven of these are of the first class, ten are adapted to short levels with light grades, and three are nearly worn out and of but little service. Two of the first class engines were purchased during the year. New ropes were placed on planes 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10, at a cost of $18,624 94 heretofore inclosed a nation of millions, and the whole world has sent her represents. tives in great convention to a little spot that four years ago was known only as a resort for whalers or merchant vessels who were on the Pacific coast. No man can accurately calculate the result of this union, but its effects must be grand and lasting. The southron of Europe will return to his home, the fur-clad northerner will again visit the cold land of his childhood; the light-limbed oriental will go back to his fairy land, the long-tailed child of the sun will enter again his noble wall, the bearded Turk will once more listen to the muezzim as it is sounded from the minerets, and the unsophisticated children of the sea will return to their flowery islands. But all will carry back with them a knowledge of the English language, an idea of the American institutions and liberties, a portion of the energy and ardor of the great Anglo-Saxon race, and an understanding of the blessed principles of Him whose precepts will yet spread peace among the nations, and make the wilderness bud and blossom as the rose tree." The discovery of gold in California has done more to advance the cause of civilization and the spread of enlightened and Christian institutions, than any other one fact brought to light within the last century.-Alta California. RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS. CANALS AND RAILROADS OF PENNSYLVANIA. The following statement of the canals and railroads of Pennsylvania is derived from the report of the Canal Commissioners. It only includes the public works owned by the State: The commonwealth of Pennsylvania has completed and in operation 652 miles of canal and railroad, independent of feeders not navigable, as follows:— Delaware division, from Bristol to Easton..... ..miles 594 82 Columbia Railroad, from Philadelphia to the basin at Columbia... Juniata division, from the junction at Duncan's Island to the basin at Holli- Portage Railroad, from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown Western division, from Johnstown to the Monongahela River at Pittsburg. Susquehanna division, from the junction at Duncan's Island to Northumberland.... 451 1273 36 1041 401 West Branch division, from Northumberland to Farrandsville.. 76 721 Bald Eagle side cut, from the pool of Dunstown Dam, on the West Branch division, to Bald Eagle Creek.. Lewisburg side cut, from Lewisburg to the West Branch division Lackawanna feeder, at the termination of the North Branch division. Alleghany Branch of the Western division in Alleghany City.. Feeder at the mouth of the Rayston branch of the Juniata Total miles. 652 Upon the completion of the North Branch Canal, from the mouth of the Lackawanna to the New York State Line, 944 miles more of navigation will be added to the above. The Erie extension, consisting of the Beaver division, the Shenango and Conneaut lines, and the French Creek feeder, 163 miles in length, and the Wisconisco Canal, 12 miles in length, which were nearly completed, have been transferred to private companies. The receipts from tolls have been nearly doubled within the last ten years, as the following table shows: |