The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-15
Railroad In New Granada-PrOgrcss Of In
tcrnal improvements.

have in your much esteemed journal q letter
ductivenes of projected road between Buenaventura
and Caly-and although an anonymous article always
bears within itself evidence Of malice or selfnerest
still will examine the with which he maintains
his opinion.
Your correspondent states thai. the political disturb
in New Granada from which the CaucA provinces
have suffered in particular render any improvement
public work exceedingly difficult Of execution, and his
first for believing that the road investment
"must he losing concern" is because the population
lis scattered wide extent of country, and Is In
sufficient to raise any large amount Of produce for ex
Is ga South American acquainted with the country
Does he know how many nha otants it containss Can
he inform us what are the productions of Caucay Or
His statements prove him to be entirely ignorant Of
what he treats else that acting under the influence
ca he critics merely for the sake Of inurng others.
In 1851 according to the official census the province
OF ropayan contained 100 naa az as having in
The province Of Cauca contained TO- 74S inhabitants,
having increased in the same eight years 16 1900
per cent. The province of Buenayentura contained
81 $50 inhabitants having increased Is 010 per cent
II Will thus be that the contemplated road for the
transportation Of produce raised by population of
179C03 inhabitants and which will in four years f 1t in
creases in the proportion that it has during the
last four years. contain 1872 42s inhabitants
The provinces Of Choco, Pasto Barbacoas and Tuquer
intimately connected in their inland commerce,
and these provinces contained in 1851 140S96 nhabi
Of increase during the eight preceding years. they
must contain 1690M inhabitants, which population,
united with the former, make 36l 5O2 Inhabitants
On the Of population, then, that country is not
so insignificant.
Limiting myself however, to the provinces mentioned
by your correspondent will say that they only
carriage road for the transpol ation Of producshe cul
vation Of which is neglected, account Of the
high feights and the risks on the Dagua river
The country in question is situated between latitude
e25' N and 80 22' N, and longitude rs S0 and ITO
go W. of Greenwich and between two Cordileras of the
Andes The climate in the interior is good, and land
very fertile The productions corn sugar cane, cof
fee, cocoa, cotton, tobacco and many fruits 1t also
ains rich gold silver, "copper" iron and coal mines and
timber Of all kinds for cabinet work and other
The temperature in the valleys varies from Ga to 78o
Farenheit In the Corderas It varies from 64e to 49,
and in several Of the mountains the Sotara Coconuco
Toma and others there is perpetual snow.
The first reason of your correspondent is, believe,
disproved by the above-and with such inducements al
the climate and productions offer, cannot why SIM
migration from Europe and the United States to these
provinces never take place. the impossibility of
which appears to be his fourth for not construct
ing the road.
His second reason appears to me so ridiculous that
cannot seriously occupy myself with is consideration
How he that road over which the produce ola
country containing 81 miles and 1872 42S nha
bitans 10 be transported win he Advantageous
His third is because slave labor having been
abolished in New Granada free labor Is insufficient
substitute from the natural azness of the people and
facility Of gaining enough to live" Let the road be
oJet ed encourage immigration and the stimulus that
will be given to agriculture and commerce will create
new wants and cause even the lazy to work
Your correspondent states thai the woods which
ply qrina nearly cut down, when they have scarcely
commenced TO be discovered and explored
We viii pass to figures; and assuming his own,
which, although incorrect and unfair towards the pro-
ect assume, in order 10 prove how FAR he is from the
truth.
"A South American estima tes the cost Of the road at
sloco0t0, The annual interest Of which, at six per
cent, is. 500, 600 90
Cost Of repairs and management ...,... 1900 90
Total annual expense. ................ s72 900 90
Expectation and importation OF Is, 900 loads
at 5i.. 2S, 900 90
Annual loss. s44 900 90