The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-02
WHAT VENEZUELA Is LIKE.
CONTINUED From Sixth Page.)
keys in Venezuela and no cuckoos. Tn

keys in Venezuela and no cuckoos. The
name Venezuela means Little Venice.
The coffee crop of Venezuela amounts
| TO SIS, 000, 900 year in value. The aver
age crop is 1000 tons Of coffee Two
thirds of this product is exported, most
| ly to England. Maracaibo is one of the
centers of trade; Maracaibo coffee is
known everywhere.
Venezuela first made declaration OF
its independence in 1910. The present
republic was formed in 1880. the same
year that Belgium became an independ-
ent monarchy. The rival political par
ties in Venezuela are the Unionists and
Federalists. The former favor CEN
tralized government; the latter are for
home rule. Both are opposed to foreign
invasion, encroachment or conhsca ton.
The army of Venezuela, on a peace
footing, consists Of 1000 horsemen, 1000
infantry soldiers, and 1000 artillery
men, exclusive of local MALTA and IT.
regular troops. BY the law of Vene-
zuela all citizens between the ages Of
IS and 40 (both inclusive) are liable to
service in the national militia.
The average gold product Of Vene-
zuela in year is 81, 900, 900. The stand
ard of value in the republic Of Vene-
Zuel2 is the bolivar. so called after
Simon Bolivar, and the value of it is
the same as French franc-19.3 cents.
Venezuela does not produce silver.
Much of the foreign debt is held in
England. The exports of Venezuela ex-
coed the imports by $4,000, 900 a year.
There are more than 200 lakes within
the boundaries of Venezuela. one of
the largest being 1000 feet above the
level of the sea. The Orinoco river, the
largest in Venezuela, is 1,160 miles long.
1t is five times as long as the Hudson
river, but less than one-third the length
of the Amazon and less than one-half
the length of the Mississippi The roads
of Venezuela are inferior. Communica-
ton is difficult. The government, how
ever, has expended large sums Of
money for the improvement Of the APP
proaches to some of the larger towns.
There are twenty states in Venezuela.
the official division being based on the
constitution of the United States. There
is also federal district, corresponding
TO the District of Columbia, and there
are several outlying territories.
The mineral products Of Venezuela,
in addition to gold which English spec
ulators are seeking by summary an
nexation of Venezuela territory to the
British possessions. are iron, zinc,
quicksilver, lead, tin and anthony.
There are also extensive products Of
Sdlt, dlUlllg 4llIC, ookfhdA-
tuTn.
The summer season in Venezuela
lasts from November to April. The
winter season lasts from April to No
vember. The climate of the temperate
part Of the country is the finest in
South America, the most equable and
the most salubrious, outside of Peru.
The women of Venezuela are of the
Spanish type, and are celebrated for
their beauty. The language of the
country is Spanish: no language is
sweeter. About 100000 persons al
together speak Spanish as their native
language, a majority of them living in
South and Central America.
Venezuela imports from the United
States in year about s4.100,0G0 worth
of goods, chiefly manufactured arti-
cles. From Great Britain it imports
s., SOC, 900, from Germany 81, 10000, from
France s., 000, 900, and from Spain $780,
600. This is the country from which
Venezuela imports most, and this is the
country to which Venezuela exports
most. Venezuela's exports to the Unit
ed States average $4,000 900, to France
81, 600, 900, to England s2,100,000, and to
Germany and Spain $500, 1000 each.