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C H A P T E R E I G H T The Republic of Guatemala GUATEMALA CITY, although still relatively new in the 18405, was generally in need of modernizing. Muddy streets, partially constructed private and public buildings, and deplorable sanitary conditions characterized its appearance.1 The center of the city appeared substantially different than it does today. The central "Plaza de Armas" was surrounded on three sides by arcades, including the city hall on the north side (where the present national palace now stands), the old national palace on the east (where today there is a park and a bandstand), and the Aycinena palace and commercial establishment on the south side (today filled with small shops, the building having been rebuilt following the earthquake of 1917). On the west side of the plaza stood the new Cathedral of Guatemala (still standing today), a neo-classical design by an Italian architect. The archbishop's palace stands on one side and the parochial school, Colegio de Infantes, on the other. The plaza itself served as the central market with its wooden stalls, a pretty fountain in the center having replaced an equestrian statue of Carlos IV, pulled down at independence. The main street was the Calle Real (today Sexta Avenida), but other important commercial streets were the Calle del Comercio (today Septima Avenida) and Calle de Mercaderes (today Octava Calle).2 The restoration of peace allowed the conservative elite to pay more attention to the city's problems. Although liberal historians of Guatemala have painted the period as one of nearly complete stagnation, in fact the I?I 172 / The Conservative Citadel city grew notably during the Carrera yearsand experienced significant economic growth. Carlos Antonio Meany, a merchant closely affiliated with the leading families, as first alcalde of Guatemala City and as corregidor of the Department of Guatemala, in November 1842 published a new set of ordinances aimed at improving the police, security, sanitation, and appearance of the city. They outlined the obligations of property owners regarding policing of their property, disposal of trash, drainage, and so on; renewed the prohibition on carrying arms without a license; and prohibited the sale of fireworks, which had been known to start fires in the capital. These ordinances , with minor additions and revisions, were reissued periodically in the decades following.3 In the same year, the Constituent Assembly authorized the city to collect a half real (U.S. $0.0625) on the sale of each maquila of flour, pound of cinnamon, and bottle of aguardiente, and a quarter real per bottle of beer, wine, vinegar, oil, or any other liquor, for the purpose of providing street lighting.4 This project dragged on for years. Julio Rosignon, one of the city's most progressive residents, proposed several times that the city install gas lights. Instead, the city implemented a complicated system of candles, changed nightly in one of three sizes, depending on the stages of the moon. Not until 1862did gaslights finally replace the candles.5 With the collaboration of the Consulado, the city was able to pave the main commercial streets in 1843 and to beautify the tree-lined Paseo del Calvario with public benches.6 In early 1844 the Gaceta Oficial called the municipality's attention to the need forstreet names and signs.7 In the same year a British traveler observed that "the number of fine Churches, and the trees and gardens interspersed among the houses, give Guatemala a very handsome appearance when viewed from a short distance; but on entering the city the illusion isdispelled, for,although the streets are wide, straight, and very clean, the houses have a mean and dismal appearance, none having more than a ground story, and the windows being small, with iron gratings ."8 The city provided only minimal police protection and those with valuable property were for the most part obliged to provide their own security . In 1847 the municipal police department consisted of two chiefs and ten constables, chosen by and under the supervision of the corregidor of Guatemala. The chiefs received, respectively,salaries of fifteen and twelve pesos per month, while the constables received two reales ($0.25) per day, or $7.50per month.9 This provincial capital was the scene of considerable pomp and festivity upon the return of Carrera's troops following the Peace of Quezada. Bishop Viteri, the Salvadoran negotiator, preceded the military forces by about a week when he arrived on 18 August 1844, and after an elaborate...

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