The Arizona sentinel., 1886-08-21
LIFE IN COLOMBIA.
A Country Free From Snow in Winter and
 Free From Heat in Summer.

A Country Free From Snow in 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 VII 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 in the report. Said he: ''Colombia is very wealthy in mineral products. It only needs enterprise to develop its resources. At present the French seem 10 have greater influence than any for eigners. The city of Bogota, the capi- tai, has a population of 100000. It is beautiful city, situated on a pla- teau of the Andes mountains, 5000
 
 temperature rarely ever varies the season round, and averages 55 Q Fah- 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 a 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. It cost S1, ,000 to pay the fre;ght on piano to the city, yet nearly all the well-to-do people have them. From the mouth of the Magdalena river piano is transported on the backs of laborers to Bogota, a distance of seventy-five 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 a 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 tic 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 go until the superf1uous passenger gets off.
 "The mail facilities are poor and there are no letter-carriers. The houses are not numbered, and it would be diff | cult tO direct a letter eXcpnt 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 of in plazas and named. John Jones, such and such street, South plaza Get in the neighborhood and make in- quiries 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 the day the citizens take care of themselves. Four policemen are station ed at the four corners of a plaza. Every fifteen minutes a bell rings, which causes the guardians of the city to blow their whistles and change posts. It is impossible for them to sleep on their beats by this system. They are armed with lassoes, and pinion the prowling thief when he is trying to escape by the dexterous use of this formidable weapon. They also have a short baGoas meta D additional weapon.