Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-16
A FIELD FOR WORK.
Chat With Commodore Stegmann of
the United States of Colombia.
ALAED THAT NEEDS DEVELOPMENT
Pittsburg Boats Plying on the Swift Rivers
of the Interior.
PROSPECTS FOR A PROFITABLE TRADE

Commodore Arthur Stegmsnn, of the
United States of Colombia, who is now in
Pittsburg, is a young German who earned
his title by manning feet and materially
aiding in suppressing the insurreetion at
Cartagena against the Government five
years ago. The Commodore is short in
stature, too modest to be at all proud of his
title, but is rich in the possession of a good
head, that is packed with fine, undoubtedly
deeply eonvoIuted brains, that always pos
sess ability. The young Commodore is
interested in the development of South
American trade, and as the repre-
sentative of Geisiken & Held, a
wealthy firm of Germans of Barran
qu;lls, be is here to take light river boat to
the United States of Colombia. The boats
are made by the Porter Foundry and Ma
chine Company Of Allegheny, and Mr..
Douthett states they intend to build IL more
boats for this company.
THE PIONEER OF ALL.
The Porter company is the pioneer in this
business, and they have developed the trade
to such an extent that the Park Bros, Car
negie, the Linden Steel Company and others
lnsend to send men south of the equator to
look up the possibilities of trade. The time
has come when the South American traffic
with foreign countries should cease, and
Americans are beginning to bid for their
neighbOrs' patronage. The Porter COM
pany takes the contract ior the boats,
and the woodwork is built in Brownsville
under contract by another firm.
In chat Yesterday about Colombia Com
modore Stegmann said: Five years ago
found myself beseged in the works of
Cartagena by the rebels. The Government
was unprepared for the attack and we had
no food. Cats were in great demand and
sold for a premium. Ny board bill was
$50 per month, and as l was a poor man
and couldn't stand that looked around to
see what 1 could do. 1 had just put to-
gether a small river boat brought from
Pittsburg, and set to work to start a fleet
with what we had. 1 bored out cannon,
lined the boats with cotton and behind such
barricade we poured hot shot into the
rebels from the bay and the troops on the
land aided me. As a result of this COM
bined attack from water and shore the in
surgents were defeated
KNOWS THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
''Since then have lived in Colombia and
know the country thoroughly. The people
are bright, impulsive and much given to
reading poetry and literature. They get tn.
American magazines and literally devour
them They have heard of Pittsburg and
its natural fuel and other wonderful re-
sources, and with them Pittsburg has a
great reputation. What the country needs
now is development, and this can only be
done by the introduction of more capital.
1t is rich in gold, some iron and coal. The
land abounds in all kinds of hard wood, as
mahogany and ebony, but it costs a great
deal to transport them from the interior
Emery & Co., are engaged in the business,
and they float the timber down the rivers.
They told me they make money regardless
of the expense. Mahogany and cedar are
so common that we burn them in the steam
boats.
''The main river of the State is the Magda-
lena. 1t is navigable for 200 miles. The
streams begin in the south, rising in the
mountains, and run to the swamps toward
the north. The currents of the rivers are
swift, making from six to seven miles an
hour, and the beds of the streams are
frequently rocky and full of snags. They
rise very rapidly, and fall just as fast.
EASY TO WASH AWAY.
"a food is liable to occur at any time,
sweeping away the shore with trees and
other obstructions, and then suddenly fall
ing, leaving the channel in a state of block
ade. The boats we use on these streams are
of light draught, the biggest drawing IA
inches of water and the lightest nine. OF
course, we don't carry heavy freight, some
gold and passengers; that is all.
"The country along these side streams is
in the main rich but uninhablted. The
boats am having built here now will ply
on the Cauca and Lebrija rivers. These
streams rise up in the mountains and have
a heavy fall. They pass through elevated
plateaus covered with snow that are very
cold. 1t is difficult to travel in the south
western part OF the State on account of the
high mountains. Many people lose their
lives in these places owing to the scarcity
OF food. There are no railroads, and the !
pack mules are used entirely for transporta-
tion.
''The country is rich in gold deposits. In
the mountains are some fiue mines, and the
precious metal is also extracted from the
sands in the rivers. A number of people
are engaged in the business of separating
the gold from the river sands, and they
make good wages with very little work.
NV company buvs gold and other products,
and exports them. That is how we make
our money.
HARD TO TRANSPORT.
1.-The mountains contain coal and some
iron, but to transport coal to the place of
consumption on pack mules would require
800 per ton, and it is cheaper to import it,
though very little coal is used in the coun-
try. Away from the mountain regions the
climate is warm and Agreeable, so that not
much fuel is needed.
Zone drawback to foreigner is the pres
ence of poisonous reptiles, though you soon
get accustomed to them. Every day one
hears of somebody dying from bite. They
come into the smaller villages, but they
keep away from the larger towns The ma
tives kill them with sticks and small knives. |
The streams also are alive with crocodiles |
and alligatorS, even up to the headwaters in |
the mountains. Toward the North in the |
warm regions they are large and voracious, |
but they grow smaller and less dangerous as |
you travel toward the source of the rivers in |
the highlands. The streams also are full of |
Quicksands, and this makes it difficult to /
keep them open. 1t would be useless to at |
tempt to maintain slack water BY a series of |
dams. The foods would come and wash |
away everything.
A FREE-FOR-ALL COUNTRY.
ffThe Government of the United States of |
Colombia is a sort OF free-for-alI Republic. |
The President, Raphael Nunez, has held |
the office sinces 1876 by a serie of successful |
fiops. He is backed by the Ckurch. and is |
shrewd enough to stand in with the party
that is on top. The people at large don't |
like his policy, but somehow or other he |
manages to maintain his place and grip. He
is smart man, writes fine poetry, but is |
not progressive. 1t would be good thing |
for the country if they had more aggressive |
man. Last summer he made himself solid |