The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-02
ALL ABOUT VENEZUELA.
Column Concerning the Country
We Are ChnmpiOninE.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The area of Venezuela is $4,000 square
miles, larger than that of any country in
Europe except Russia and larger than
that of any state in the United States.
The area of Texas is 265, 600 square miles.
The population of Venezuela by the last
census was 1850, Co., This is more than
Denmark's and less than Switzerland s.
1t is about the same as that of Massachu-
sets. The last official estimate of the
population of Massachusetts, made on
Jan. l. 1894, was 2,472.OO0. BY the federal
census of five years ago, the population
of Massachusetts, was 2,23S,O00.
Caracas, the capital and chief city Of
Venezuela, has population of 10000 or
less than that of Fall River. 1t is built on
an elevation of 5000 feet above the sea
level 1t was founded in 1867. Caracas
is an Indian name; the name of the In
Spanish pioneers affixed to the original
title of the new town, Santiago de Leon.
In 1872, the year of the latest American
in Caracas buried 1900 persons in the
ruins of part of the city. The date Of
this earthquake was March 26
There are 200,0OO.O00 acres of forest lands
in the republic of Venezuela. Rosewood.
satinwood, mahogany and white and
black ebony are found.
The distance from New York to La
Guayra, the port of Caracas, is 2, 200 miles.
In addition to coffee, gold and fine woods,
Venezuela exports hides, cocoa and cat
tie. The distance from La Guayra to
London is nearly 5000 miles.
The salary of the American minister to
Venezuela is $500. The rank of Vene-
zuela's representative at Washington is
that of envoy extraordinary and minis
ter plenipotentiary.
On the north shore of Venezuela. or
rather to the north of that republic, are
several islands of greater fame than
large area particularly the island of Gu
racoa, Dutch possession; the island Of
Trinidad. British possession; the island
of Tortuga and the British isle of ST.
George.
Some of the most picturesque and To-
quacious parrots and lively cockatoos
come from Venezuela.
The length of Venezuela from east to
west is 800 miles, and from north TO south
us miles.
keys in Venezuela and no euckoos. The
name Venezuela means Little Venice.
The coffee crop of Venezuela amounts
to $15,000,O00 a year in value. The average
crop is 10000 tons of coffee. Two-thirds
of this product is exported, mostly to
England. Maracaibo is one of the CEN
tiers of trade; Maracaibo coffee is known
everywhere.
Venezuela first made declaration of it's
independence in 1910. The present repub-
lie was formed in 1880, the same year that
Belgium became an Independent mon
archy. The rival political parties in Ven
ezuela are the unionists and federalists.
The former favor a centralized govern
ment; the latter are for home rule. Both
are opposed to foreign invasion, encroach-
ment or confscatiOn.
The army of Venezuela, on a peace
footing, consists of LOCO horsemen, 1000
infantry soldiers, and 1000 artillerymen
exclusive of local militia and irregular
troops. BY the law of Venezuela all citi-
zens between the ages of Is and As Doth
inclusive) are liable to service in the ma
tional militia.
The average gold product of Venezuela
in a year is $1,000,0O0. The standard of
value in the republic of Venezuela is the
~.
the value of it is the same as a French
franc-19.3 cents. Venezuela does not pro-
duce silver. Much of the foreign debt is
held in England. The exports of Vene-
zuea exceed the imports by s3,000o00 a
There are more than 200 lakes within
the boundaries of Venezuela, one of the
largest being LOCO feet above the level of
the sea. The OrinOco river, thei large st
in Venezuela, is 1l60 miles long. II 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. Communication
is difficult The government, however
has expended large sums of money for
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 fed
eral district, corresponding to the Dis
trict of Columbia, and there are several
outlying territories.
addition TO gold which English Vspecula-
tors are seeking by summary annexation
of Venezuela territory to the British pos
sessions, are iron, zinc, quicksilver, lead,
tin and antimony. There are also extern
sive products of SALT alum lime, sulphur
and asphaltum.
The summer season in Venezuela lasts
from November to April. The winter sea-
son lasts from April to November. The
climate Of the temperate part Of the coun-
try is the finest in South America, the
most equable and the most salubrious, out
side of Peru. The women of Venezuela
are of the Spanish type, and are cele-
brated for their beauty. The language of
the country is Spanish; no language is
sweeter. About 100000 persons alto
gether speak Spanish as their native Ian
guage. a majority Of them living in South
and Central America.
Venezuela imports from the United
States in a year about S4,10000 worth of
goods, chiefly manufactured articles
From Great Britain il imports 1896, 600
from Germany s., 10000 from France 81