The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-18
LIFE IN COLOMBIA.
A Country Free From Snow in Winter and
Free From Heat in Summer.

A Country Free From Snow i'll Winter and
Free From Heat in Summer.
Hon. Charles ID. Jacobs, United States
Minister to the republic of Colombia,
arrived in the city the other day on Il
short leave of absence. He was accom-
panied by his family. While here he
VIII 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
omb!an 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
to have greater influence than any for
cigners The city of Bogota, the capt.
tai, has a population of 100000. 1t
is beautiful city, situated on a pla-
teau Of the Andes mountains, 5000
feet above the sea level. The
temperature rarely ever varies the
season round, and averages SOC Fab
rcnleit. Just back of the city the
Andes rise, beautiful and sublime. The
scenery is enough to inspire any one
with its majestic Leauty. Bogota is
built up chiefly with adobe houses, that
have Il very unprepossessng appear
ance OH the exterior. But the interior:
of many of the houses are elegantly
furnished and equal in many respects tt
& Fifth avenue manson. 1t cost ST. O(
to pay the fire GIT on a piano to the city
yet nearly all the well-to-do people
have them. From the mouth of tho
Magdalena r..ver Il piano is transported
OH the backs of laborers to Bogota, /:
distance of seventy-tivc miles. This l.
one of the expensive items in freight
inc. There are no vehicles, the coun
try is too uneven. The city, however
has a system of strcet-cars that som,
cntcrprising American company built
They are drawn by small mules ant
make very good time. The fare is tel
cents in Colombian money. The cur
rcncy of the republic is greatly de
prcciated and ten cents there is aboll
equivalent to Il little over five cents il
tie United States. One great blessin!
Their street-cars is that no one is allowe
to stand. If there is no vacant seat tn
conductor will not let the car 90 unit
the superiluous passenger gets off.
The mail facilities are poor an
there are no lettcr-carricrs. The house
are not numbered, and it would be diff
T cult to direct letter, except to tn
, general post-ohice. The wealthy cit
!, Zens have boxes at moderate rentals fC
their mail, pretty much the same s
!, here. The way residences are found
u simple enough. The streets are laid o
in pEazas and named. John Jone
:. such and such u street, South plaz;
r Get in the neighboghool and make il
# uuries for John Jones. The hous
1 are entered through an area-way to Il
% SIDE, which admits first to an ant
!. chamber. The wealthy all have cour
"a yards beautifully laid oat.
~ THE police do duty only at nigh
a in the day the citizens take care
.r themselves. Four policemen are static
81 ed at the four corners of plaz
a Every fifteen minutes Il he'll ring
y, which causes the guardians of the ci
], to blow their whistles and change pos
a. 1t is impossible for them to sleep
h Their beats by this system. They a
ra armed with lassoes, and pinion
~ proving thief when he is trying
~ escape by the dexterous use of Il
,s formidable weapon. They also have
" short baGoas meta II additional weapc