Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-18

acv Il Appears 70 llsino Man WIN
went from Augusta TO Build 1hsls
Iron Bsidgeo.

Mr.. H. A. Gaze, formerly OF this city.
but Who left here in the employ Of ths
Pc ,ix Bridge Company IS or 10 yea,s
no. hss been visiting friends and rslstivss
in the city. Saturday JoUaHAL reporter
had the pleasure Of meeting Mr.. Case and
talking sith him regarding his experiences
in the diferen. countries Of South America
where be has been engaged in business.
When the Pbenix Bridge Company Of
Phanixviils, Pa, Put up the first railroad
bridge in Augusta, Mr.. Case, vho was then
living here, entered their employ. Since
tbs. time be has worked on and had charss
Of constructing bridges In Canada, Nova
Scotia, New Bfunsvick and all but four Of
the states in the union. He has done .
GOOD deal Of work In the southern states
and in California, Nevada and Colorado.
For the past four years be has bad charge
Of erecting bridges in South America,
chiefly in Venezuela.
When asked what be thoushs Of the re-
sources Of that country, be said be thought
they we're improving steadily but not -
rapidly o might be wished. More progress
hiss been noticed within the past few yesrs
than previous to that time.
How DO you account for that, Mr..
Csse?'
"A great many Of the young men have
been engaged in business in the Unite1
States or in Europe ard return with new
ide.. Of doing business. Consequently they
make many Improvements over the old
methods
II suppose the Catholic religion 10 the
leading religion ,here?"
yes, and they are pretty strict, though
thu. depends somewhat upon the
president who may be in power at the time.
Jua now President Nunez Of Venezuela 10
q strong Catholic and what 10 known ~ the
Liberal party has very little power"
"You are believer In reciprocity are you
notY''
II an most certainly, with South Ameri-
ca, bui not with Canada. think We may
derive great benefits from reciprocity with
those states and the people down there are
much in favor Of it. They regard Mr..
Blsne a. most wonderful man. All tie
leading planters are Blaine men. They
have endless wealth in their mines and
forests but they are difficult TO reach. The
many railroads they are bulldog down
there will open some remarkably fine sec
tons. Already there 10 an immense trade
between Vene zuela and New York over the
Red" line, owned by Bliss & Daggett.
This line no. long ago consisted only Of one
or two sailing vessels. Now they have
three iine new steamers on the route. A
people who will work are needed in that
country"
1T would be a pretty good plan, would
/, not, 10 have some Of these Itslians that
are swsrming tovsrd our shores take pas
ssge to South American"
"1hs people down there do not take
kindly to that class. There are many Ger
man immigrants and they are 3 thrifty race
/, struck me a, peculiar. but do you know,
never saw while WAS there but two Irish
lsoorers. A good many immigrants come
from the Canary islands. aud while they
will not work IS day laborers, they are a
good class. for they are sure to get posses
sion OF a little home up on the mountain
side and settle down. Yes, Spanish is the
language. but English Is taught in some OF
the colleges in Venezuela. In that country
the revenue from the interior mails goes to
support schools. No, crops are uncertain
in the presen. condition Of things, owing to
many Of the farms being so located they can
not be irrigated ard when dry season comes
the hill.ides look o. though n ERE had
swept across them. A gres. deal OF corn
is raised and in the vicinity Of large towns
this is quite An industry for corn is used
largely in feeding horses. Corn fodder in
that climate grows the year round. Many
Of those fellows you know are too lazy to
plant.
The tariff down there makes my OF the
necssssries of lie quite high in price
Crude white sugar is worth from Is to 30
cents per pound. Common brown sugar
is eight cents pound. Coal is high but
there is plenty Of ii In the country. This
is unavailable however. just At present be-
Cause i; requires railroads to get it out to
market"
al presume the railroads You have been
Working on were constructed with q view
to opening up these mines?'
Yes, and to develop the coffee estates.
Here are some pictures of different bridges
that built in ven' z1els. Here is one $50
feet high across = fsvine. The country
down there is very mountainous and the
building Of q railroad is q gigantic under
nkirg. On enc of these lines there are
seven bridges and seven tunnels goir three
quarters Of mile. The grades too are
heavy sni good deal Of capital is uecss-
cary. These companies first get o couces-
sion from the government and then after .
certain number OF years the government
lakes the road. You eau see from this pic
'ufe Whist looks like very large groves of
trees. Thcse are c. fee estates. Perhaps
you don't know that it is necessary to grow
the clfse in the shade and that to do this
they plant trees on the coffee plantation so
that from distance it looks like an orchard
and the coffee plants are set out between
the trees. When came away in the
middle Of March the coffee plans
were loaded down with blossoms ant
there was every indication Of q
large crop. As soon ~ rsilosd is put
through coffee estates are cleared up The
best grade of coffee grows Oh the high lard,
the higher the better"
Reciprocity would open up lazy, ceun-
try for our -four would it not?"
Most certainly. The price Of -four
there now is from eighteen to twenty dol
lars barrel. There is large amount Of
smuggling too in this commodity. Under
reciprocity the foue could be taken down
the Mississippi and across The gulf almost
IS chesply 40 to New York"
What is the chance for young men down
there2"
"Well never bad any trouble in getting
along. The natives are inclined to look