Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-01-11
ABOUT VENEZUELA.
Some Facts Not Published in the
Diplomatic Correspondence.

Some Facts Not Published in the
Diplomatic Correspondence.
i The area of Venezuela is 6s2, 600
square miles. larger than that Of any
country in Europe except Russia
and larger than that OF any State in
the United States.
The population of Venezuela by
the last census was ?, $4,000
The distance from New York to La
Guayra, the port of Caracas. is 1900
from La Guayra to London 5000
miles.
Caracas, the capital and chiefcityof
Venezuela, has population of 70, 600.
1t is built on an elevation of 5000
feet above the sea level. 1t was
! founded in 1867. Caracas is an In
dian name. the name of the Indians
of the neighborhood which the Span
ish pioneers affixed to the original
title of the new town, Santiago de
Leon. In1sI2an earthquakein Cara
cas- buried Il, 900 persons in the rufus
OF part of the city. The date of this
earthquake was March 26.
There are 200. 900, 900 acres of for
est lands in the republic of Venezuela.
Rosewood, satinwood, mahogany and
white and black ebony are found. In
addition to coffee, gold and fine
woods Venezuela exports hides,
cocoa and cattle.
On the north shore of Venezuela. or
rather to the north of that republic,
are several islands of greater fame
than area, particularly the island of
Curacao, a Dutch possession; the is
land of Trinidad, British possession;
the island of Tortuga. and the British
isle Of ST. George.
Some of the most picturesque and
loquacious parrots and lively cocka-
toos come from Venezuela.
The length of Venezuela from east
to west is 600 miles, and from north
to south us miles.
There are fourteen varieties of
monkeys in Venezuela and no cuck-
COS. The name Venezuela means
Little Venice.
The coffee crop of Venezuela
amounts to SIS, 900, 600 a year in
value. The average crop is 90, 900
tons of coffee. Two-t thirds of this
product is exported, mostly to Eng
land Maracaibo is one of the centers
of trade; Maracaibo coffee is known
everywhere.
Venezuela first made declaration of
its independence in 1870. The present
republic was formed in 1890. The ri
val political parties in Venezuela are
the Unionists and the Federalists.
The former favor centralized gov
eminent; the latter are for home rule.
Both are opposed to foreign inva-
sion, encroachment, or conhscation.
The army of Venezuela, on peace
footing, consists of 1000 horsemen,
1000 infantry soldiers and 1000 ar
tillerymen, exclusive of the local mi
litia and irregular troops. By the
law of Venezuela all citizens between
the ages of eighteen and twenty-five,
both inclusive, are liable to service in
the national militia.
The average gold product OF vene-
zuela in year is 81, 900, ooo The
standard Of value in the republic of
Venezuela is the bolivar, so called af-
ter Simon Bolivar, and the value of it
is the same as a French franc-Io.
cents. Venezuela does not produce
silver. Much of the foreign debt is
held in England The exports of
Venezuela exceed the imports by
| S., 900, 600 year.
There are more than 200 lakes
within the boundaries of Venezuela,
one OF the largest being 900 feet
above the level OF the sea. The ORR
noco River, the largest in Venezuela,
is LOO miles long. 1t is five times
as long as the Hudson River, but less
than one-third the length of the Am
azon, and less than one-half the
length of the Mississippi The roads
of Venezuela are inferior Commun-
ication is difficult The government,
however, has expended large sums of
money for the improvement of the
approaches 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
spectators are seeking by summary
annexation of Venezuelan territory to
the British possessions, are iron. zinc,
quicksilver. lead, tin and anthony.
There are also extensive products
/ of salt, alum, lime, sulphur and as
phaltum.
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