Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-05
LIFE IN COLOMBIA.
A Country Free From Snow in Winter and
Free From Heat in Summer.

A Country Free From Snow i'm Winter and
Free From Heat in Summer.
Hon. Charles d. Jacobs, United States
Minister to the republic of Colombia,
arrived in the city the other day on a
short leave of absence. He was accom-
panied by his family. While here he
will make an official report to the
Government on the Panama Canal,
which he examined. A reporter met
him and succeeded in getting an inter-
view, but not on the subject of the Col
omblan Republic Or the Panama Canal
He said he could not speak about the
Government where he was Minister,
and that The canal would be duly written
up iii the report. Said he: Colombia
Is very wealthy in mineral products.
1t only needs enterprise to develop its
resources. AT present the French seem
to have greater influence than any for
eigners. The city of Bogota, the capt.
tai, has a population of 100000. 1t
is beautiful city, situated on n pla-
teau of the Andes mountains, 5000
feet above the sea level. The
temperature rarely ever varies the
season round. and averages 30 Q Fab
renheit. Just back of the city the
Andes rise, beautiful and sublime The
scenery is enough to inspire any one
with its majestic beauty. Bogota is
built up chiefly with adobe houses, that
have Il very unprepossessing appear
ance on the exterior. But the interiors
of many of the houses are elegantly
furnished and equal in many respects to
Fifth avenue mansion. 1t cost $1,000
to pay the freight on a piano to the city,
yet nearly all the well-to-do people
have them. From the mouth of the
Magdalena river a piano is transported
on the backs of laborers to Bogota, n
distance of seventy-tive miles. This is
one of the expensive items in freight
ING. There are no vehicles, the coun-
try Is too uneven. The city, however.
has n system of street-cars that some
enterprising American company built.
They are drawn by small mules and
make very good time. The fare is ten
cents in Colombian money. The cur
rency of the republic is greatly de-
preciated and ten cents there is about
equivalent to a little over five cents in
the United States. One great blessing
their street-cars is that no one is allowed
to stand. If there is no vacant seat the
conductor will not let the car 90 until
the superfiuous passenger gets off.
1.-The mail facilities are poor and
there are no letter-carriers. The houses
are not numbered, and it would be diff
cult to direct letter, except to the
general post-office. The wealthy citi-
zens have boxes at moderate rentals for
their mail, pretty much the same as
here The way residences are found is
simple enough. The streets are laid off
in plazas and named. John Jones,
such and such a street. South plaza.
Get in the neighborhood and make in
uuiries for John Jones. The houses
are entered through an area-way to the
side, which admits first to an ante
chamber. The wealthy all have court
yards beautifully laid out.
The police do duty only at night.
in tine day the citizens take care of
themselves. Four policemen are station
ed ut the four corners of a plaza.
Every fifteen minutes bell rings,
which causes the guardians of the city
to blow their whistles and change posts.
1t is impossible for them to sleep on
their beats by this system. They are
armed with Iassoes, and pinion the
proving thief when he is trying to
escape by the dexterous use of this
formidable weapon. They also have a
short baloas meta additional weapon.