The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-12-24
WHAT vENEzUELA is.
Something "A bout Our Neigbbor 10 tn,
South for Whom We May Have Z,
Fight.

: =
Something About Our Neigbbor 10 TIN
Fight.
, Venezuela is federal republic an,
includes an area 632,807 square mile
embraced between $40 deg. and 73,
deg. 30m. west longitude and l deg
4m. and IL deg 26m. north. latitu,I @
Ga tho southwest it claims territor,
which is also claimed by Colombia anS
Ecuador and on the east is the laud
which is claimed besh by Venezuels
aud Great Britain, which holds that /,
is part of BRITISH Guiana.
The total population of the republic
is 2, 1913, ,320. The pure white popula-
tion is estimated to be only about per
cent. of the whole. The religion is
Roman Catholic and the number of the
pupils in the schools of the republic is
99,4 AGO.
The total value of imports of vene-
zuela in lSS5-S6 was 2,49S, 1876 pounds
sterling and the exports amounted to
1922, Ill pounds. The principal ex-
ports are coffee, cocoa, tobacco, cotton,
sugar, hides and animals. The foreign
commerce of the country are principal
| ly with the Upited States, Germany.
France and England. The chief sea.
ports are JIaguayra, Puerto, Cabello.
Maracaibo, Cindad Bolivar, Puerto
Sucre, Puerto Guzmau Blanco, La Vela
and Guiria. Caracas, the capital city,
is an inland town with population OF
70,509 in 1883.
The total length Of the railways of
the republic in 1886 was IA miles, but
since that time several hundred of
miles of new roads have been built.
These lines connect the principal sea-
nOrfa with tho i,,lo o,,l
and seats OF mineral production. There
are several thousands OF miles of tele-
graph wires connecting the principal
cities Of the republic.
The republic Of Venezuela is made
up OF eight states, eight federal terri
tories, the federal district and two
colonies.
The states are Carabobo, Guzman
Blanco. Lara, Los Andes, Zamora, Fal-
con, Bolivar and Burmudez. The
names of the territories are Alta Ori-
noco, Amazonas, Yururari, Coura,
Goojira, Colon, Armisticio and Delta.
The colonies are Guzman Blanco and
Bolivar.
Armistico, Alto Orinoco, Yururari
and Delta include all OF the disputed
territory.
The revenue of the republic, derived
chiefly from customs duties, amounted
in 1856 to 1,093,644 pounds and the
expenditures Of the government were
|, ,239, 400 pounds. The public debt at
the eno Of 1856 was 1850, $50 pounds.
The debt bears interest at per cent.
The constitution of the republic is !
modelled closely after that of the |
United States. The president is as
sisted by eight ministers and federal |
council. The law-making authority is |
vested in a congress of two houses--a
senate with twenty-four members and |
a chamber OF deputies of ffty-two
members. The deputies are elected |
every four years directly by the cleo
tors of the states and districts and the |
senators are elected by the legislative |
oodies OF the different states. Congress
elects the federal counci and the |
federal council chooses the president.
The term of the federal council and .
the president is two years.
The Venezuelan republic declared |
its independence of Spain in 1911 and |
was at warfare with the mother couu-
try for nearly ten years thereafter. |
Bolivar, native of Caracas, was the |
leading spirit of the revolt. The in
dendence of the republic was not re-
cognized by Spain till 1S45. In 1916
there began series of civil l evolutions |
which lasted till 1870. During thes,,
struggles, in 1854. all the slaves held |
in tho republic were liberated. In |
December, 1870, Guzmau BlancO was |
declared provisional dictator and acted |
as dictator till 1873, when he was
Elevated constitutional president for
four years. Since the election of
Blanco several presidents have admin
lstereo the affairs of the republic. The
sitting president is Ferdinand Crespo.