New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-20

BIAS sEIzUREs-THE THREE
AMERICAS RAILWAY.
r,HosAsrArr CORRESPONDENT rRrnrSKl
Cartagena. March l3.
The United States Of Colombia Is one
Of the most populous and largest OF tne
South American republics. In population
IL ranks next 10 Brazil. the Official estimates
crediting IL with 3,s7s,60O inhabitants Inc
Argentine Confederation. with n population OF
$500. 900. makes n close approach 10 it, and with
the Immigration movement in its favor VIII I'M
douhtedly outstrip IL in n few years. In extent
of territory IL has either the fourth or hfth place.
Peru claiming n slight advantage over II. only
official surveys can determine whether Colombia
or Peru is entitled TO the fourth place al'er
Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia COLOMBIA mas
1000 miles OF seahoard 600 on the faclhc ana
400 on the Caribbean Coast Two great CULTS
are formed by the arch or curve of the lsthmus
the Bay Of Panama. which is at least 90 marine
miles broad Al i,s mouth. and the Gulf OF Daricn,
which is over 200 miles wide from the headland
Of Point San Bias 70 Cartagena. The PacIhc
seaboard has few open roadsteads, but no Hour
ishing ports. From Cape st. Helena the north
crn headland ~ the Gulf Of Gunyaquil, and from
Cane ST. Francisco near the Equator. the coast
makes long detour 10 the east curvng backward
toward the sOth meridian at Panama The west
Coast steamers would lengthen their routes more
than onc-thrd il they followed the shore ana
called at the Colombian ports; and hence they
make no stops between Guayaqul ana 'he
Isthmus On the Caribbean side the man INES
avoid a similar dctour by crossing the Gun OF
Darien at the outer rim from AspinwaH ~
Cartacena. Here there is fairly protected
anchorage, but along the shores of the unii
there are no harbors and only few Indian settie-
ments and fishing villages. East OF Cartageha Is
Barranquilla, with population OF 2O,ooo ana
the most important commercial centre with the
exception Of Panama. II lies a short distance
from Tne coast. hut is connected ny railway VIII"
Savanilla It's port. The Magdalena RIVER nows
from the heart Of Colombia TO the CaTlopean, near
Rarranouilla and being navigable for light
draught steamers. is the principal TRACE route W
the interior. Bogota, the capital with popula-
tion of nearly 100000. lies al an elevation oil
0 600 feet above the sea- and is approached by
,he NagdaIena Cartagena and Barranqulla are
the only Caribbean ports of any commercial i'm
portancc
Panama and Aspinwall are free ports outside
NJ the customs line Of Colombia. No duties are
levied AT either side Of the lsthmus. and the
transit trade has acquired great importance
exceeding SsO.0O0,OO0 in annual valuation
Two-thirds Of this trade is stated to he from the
Pacific 10 the Caribbean. and the remaining thlro
in tie opposite direction; but commercial Sud
tistcs at the Isthmus are not trustwor'hy' anu
must be taken with reserve. Panama ana aspin-
wall are we'll stocked with European ana Aiherl-
can merchandise and produce at low Prices
Elsewhere in Colombia the customs line is drawn
and imports are dutiabe. The carrying TRACE
an the Pacifc Coast is largely controlled by the
nowerfnl English steamship line, the racine
Navigation Company. II employs two steamers
in this service. which call regularly at Buena-
ventura. Tumaco Esmeralda and other COLOMBIAN
ports between Panama and Guayaqnl- Dueha-
ventura is the most important of these ports pu'
IL is an insignificant town, with perhaps %Vo
houses and sheds These coast landings are the
outlets for considerable commerce and the dis
tributing points for imports destined for towns
and villages on the slopes of the Cordilera. On
the Caribbean side the coasting trade is shared ny
various European lines The Royal Mail lEng
lshl maintains a monthly service with Colombian
md Venezuelan ports, and also sends steamers
alternately 10 Port I4imon in Costa Rca and 70
Savanilla The West Indian and Pacific ana the
Harrison lines call at Savanilla and Cartagena IL
their voyages between Liverpool and AspnwaI'
and as they maintain an addltionM service W
New-Orleans from the lsthmus. afford lacllites
for American trade from the Gulf. The Atias
linz which is also English, dispatches steam
prs from New-York alternately by way OF
Jamaica and Uaytian and Colombian ports. The
Hamburg American steamers from New-iork also
run up the Colombian coast from Venezuela, ana
share with the Atlas Line the direct American
trade with Savanilla and Cartagena. Inc
French STEAMERS running between the Isthmns ana
ST Nazaire, Havrc and Marseilles call at Carta~
gem and Savanilla, and the German steamers IN
the direct trade between Hamburg ana Aspih"ai
also collect freight in the same ports
While direct steam communication WIN the
Isthmus has been maintained by the Pacific Mail
from New-York and San Francisco, the coasting
trade Of Colombia within the customs line has
remained under the control of English and other
European lines The Magdalena waterway, by
which the most populous sections Of the interior
are approached has been Systematically neglected.
No effort has been made to compete directly by
steamshin under the American flag with maritime
Europe for the commerce Of Savanilla and Carta-
pena On the Pacific side the field has been
abandoned altogether. American sailing vessels
have conducted fairly brisk trade along inc
Caribbean coast, but with numerous steam lines
under foreign flags offering superior facilities
OF transportation this display of energy has oceh
Ineffective IL the development of American trade
with Colombia has disappointed expectations
which were formed when the Paclhc Man nhe
was established, the default is largely TO De
attributed to the lack of steam communication
with ports east and south Of the lsthmus The
extension Of the successful and well-managed
Bovton Line from from Curacao TO Savanlli'
and Cartagena, or the employment of steam ten
ders by the Pacific Mail for collecting freight in
tbose norris and also in Buenaventura, would
exert a strong stimulative effect upon American
trade Rut oven with all the drawbacks the
shorter lines of communication with the United
States have operated to promote the extension OF
American commerce In 1887, out of total
volume Of 81 100000 pesos, exports and imports
lthe transit trade at the Isthmus not being In
cluded), the United States was credited with
lO,O65, s04 pesos, 6,ll4,04l in exports to, and
aah0ah2 in imports from Colombia. England