Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-23
CONSUL PR0SKAUER.
HE TALKS ENTERTAININGLY OF AN
INTERESTING COUNTRY.
THE REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA,
II, Great Natural Resources and
Recent Material Progress-Ihe Gull
tivation and Refinement OF It's
PeopIe-Wnshington News Notes.

/
the signal for newsgatherers to ascertain
the latest from that highly-interesting and
picturesque South american republic. Tho
| Venezuelan Commission is still laboriously
plodding over the boundary question. In
uxuriously-eauipped Offices in the Balti-
moro Sun building, on f street. but no.
| thing is known as % the result of Its in
vestigations, and it is more than probable
| that the matter will be settled by arbitra-
| ton before the commission makes its re-
port
Unfortunately for the assiduous scribes
here, Alr. Proskauer politely but positive
| " refused to talk politics" Whatever
he had TO say In that line was exclusively
for the ear of the Assistant Secretary at
| the State Department.
| Mr.. Proskauer. however, did talk. and
he proved a very prolific and entertaining
narrator OF all matters pertaining to
| Venezuela except the boundary dispute
| OF that he would say nothing. lie Is
| quite enthusiastic about the country 20
which he is accredited as the American
| Consul, and his reports to the department
/ have attracted the attention and favor
| country. To the Dispatch correspondent
he gave a very interesting account OF his
| Venezuelan experience. He saidl
LA GUAYRA AND PUERTO CABELLO.
The Venezuelan ports Of La Guayra ana
| Puerto Cabello are about l,sJO miles from
New York. the most direct and quickest
route being that Of the American Red -
Line. with its fine ships, excellent fare,
| Ia M
1t takes six days to reach the former and
eight days the latter place. Both are
equally distant, but the first port touched
at Is the small Dutch Island colony or
Curacao. al which place passengers for
La Guayra are transferred from the in
coming steamer 10 the outgoing one Tor
New York. and run over al night, while
passengers for Puerto Cabeho remain
aboard two days until tho discharge OF
cargo destined for Curacao and Mara
caibo.
on your arrival II Is amusing 10 see
five or six negro boys from Z 10 10 years
Of age swimming around the ship, some
I'm Father Adams garb, begging the pas
sengers In many languages to throw "a
cent. penny, centavO," &c, with which
the passengers have apparently supplied
themselves for the Purpose, having pre-
viousiy been Informed Of the wonderful
feats Of swimming and diving these
youngsters perform and their eXpecta-
tions. 1t is Incredible. yet such is tho
case, that not a single coin thrown over
board ID lost, and II is generally recovered
before touching bottom.
After the small coins and the desire for
this fun are exhausted, the passengers
land and for the next two days can
most enjoyably employ their enforced stay
taking In the sights"
N The history 1f Caracoe - as remarkable
a. It's languase. the latter being peculiar
10 itself. and said 20 be an admiXture OF
almost every known tongue.
Leaving Curacao. we run over to Puerto
Cabello during the nifht, catch our first
glimpse of South America. and are en-
chanted with the mornings view. The
seashore is fringed with groves Of lovely
cocoanut palms as far as the eye can
reach. There is the ancient fortress upon
the mountain peak and the one guarding
the mouth Of the channel 10 Puerto,
around which cluster so many historic
incidents. and the lofty mountain chain In
the background. setting of the peculiar
architecture Of the city itself. All make
scene that becomes indeNbly impressed
upon the mind
THE VENEZUELAN REPUBLIC.
You have in the mean while studied
the map. history. and geographical Nene-
zuela. The government Is republican, and
somewhat similar in form to that Of the
United States The country lies I'm the
northern part OF South America, with a
long coast line on the Caribbean Sea,
contains an area OF about 10000 SQUARE
miles. or about twelve times the area Of
Virginia. and has a population OF 2530OI0.
Il "a.
CabeIO. and haracaibo, through which
most Of its $50 900 worth OF commercs
enters and clears.
Within its area are very remarkable
and valuable resources. and as these un-
fold themselves TO the observer one is at
a liss which 70 admire most. the beautiful
scenery OF the country or the more ma
terial gifts OF nature, as seen In climate.
prolific vegetation. rich and highly priced
hard-woods, and precious minerals.
PRODUCTS.
I can conceive no country where agri-
culture can be more varied or profitable.
From the seashore 70 the high table lands
and mountain peaks the farmer has little
difficulty IN determining the crop he will
sow. ia the warm attitude he Will grow
his tropical products-lemons, oranges,
bananas. cocoanuts. cocoa. sugar-cane,
etc. Should his plantation rise gradually
or abruptly toward the mountaan-sldes, he
would in the more elevated regions plant
corn. coffee, ETC., and in the far interior,
near the snow-clad peaks, he would cul-
tivate excellent wheat for local consump-
ton.
The country is very mountainous, and.
being well watered. is adapted to this
varied agriculture.
Corn OF very fine quality Is grown, and
IL is difficult to realize that 50 near the
equator (the most northern latitude be-
ing 10 degrees north. within easy reach
OF the arm of commerce, one Of our own
staple grains and sources OF wealth Is
successfully cultivated; and II the trans
portation facilities were greater II
might become an item Of export.
Coffee. the chief source OF wealth, is
planted at an altitude Of 1900 10 1000
feet below the level OF the sea, requiring
a cool and even temperature, rather than
a warm climate. With a small outlay OF
money. and three years OF patience for
the first crop to mature, one can rea-
lie an annual and handsome income on
the outlay. Venezuelan coffee stands
high IN the estimation OF Europeans and
Americans. and brings an excellent price
I'm the markets OF the world.
Another item Of wealth is cocoa, OF
which the finest is grown in and about
Ocumare, near Puerto Cabello. Its cul-
tiyation is very profitable.
RAILROADS.
Until recently Venezuela had made lit
tie progress in railroad building. The
traveller OF ten years ago would be-
hold the improvements that have been
made in wonder and amazement Not
only are the large and important
cities connected by rail. but their