The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-31
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

[ 7. d. Holmes Of Allegheny, Pa, civil en-
glneer of mote, is in the city and has lust re.
turned from Bogota, Colombia. He saws that
on July 20 two new railroads were opened In
that country, and besides that date was also the
anniversary Of Colombia's Independence OF
the TWO railroads mentioned the Cartagena and
Magdalena is the most important, it being 81
miles long and connects the port OF Cartagena
with the village OF Calmar, on the Magdalena
River. American money built the road, Mr.
Holmes says, and its value lies In the fact that
II connects by rail the best bay In South
America with the Magdalena River The
mouth OF this river is not navigable. owing to
shifting sandbars, and 1t is thought that the
n ost practicable way OF opening IL is by the
construction of a canal which would cost from
Sl,500,00 to S2,000,000. UnIil this is done
(and 1t Will be many years before It will be, Mr..
Holmes says the Cartagena- agdaena Rail
road Will be one OF he best Investments In
South America OF It's kind. The other road
which was dedicated on The day mentioned was
the Northern Railroad. from the city of Boeora
TO section of the country where the "Salt
Mountain" is found, which supplies salt TO the
most of Colombia. This road is twenty-one
miles long and was built by a local company,
and will, Mr.. Holmes says, be paving invest
ment, owing to the fertility of the country
which 1t traverses. 1t is built on plain $500
feet above the level OF tile sea, and. contrary to
what may be said of The Cartagena road, it Is
located 10 healthy climate.
Hord VIM. the genial night clerk at the
Occidental, was. several years ago, hotel pro-
pretor in Huntington, w. Va. The bellboys
In that section of country are almost exclusively
coIored, and Mr.. VIM was last night giving
some OF the peculiar experiences he had had
with that class of employees. A guest at the
house one night was a prominent politician
who was billed TO speak at town down the
river the next day, aud who was compelled to
take an early boat in order to I'LL his engage
ment. The colored porter was instructed to
call the guest promptly at A. n, but forgot
his instructions until few minutes after that
time. In hastily rushing up the stairs he be-
came confused as TO the guests room, and in
order TO find it he knocked at the door OF every
room he passed, and inquired IL it contained
the gentleman who wanted to take the early
boat. Amid numerous volleys of profanity
from disguised and angry guests he finally To-
Gated his man. SIS you the gentleman goin'
on the boat?" he asked In tremulous tones
Eyes, Pm the man," said the guest; ais 1t time
TO get up?" You needn't mind now, sah,"
said the porter, II jest wanted TO tell you, sab.
that the boat dun gone"
j. d. Denton OF Sibley, Iowa. is at the New
Western. Tie town where Mr.. Denton lives Is
on the old Sullivan farm, comprising 10000
acres originally, and which was at one time
quite celebrated in the East 1t passed into the
control OF Hiram Sbey, the great Rochester
IN. W scotsman. after whom the town was
named. Some years ago. at time when Mr..
Sibley believed that the place would one day
be 4 thriving city. he established a newspaper
In the place and gave Mr.. Denton charge of it.
The latest improved presses and all the ma
chinery OF first-cass Office were purchased
and paper published In an up-to.daIe style.
AS the town only had 800 Inhabitants the
papers subscription list was naturally not very