The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-01-29
A BIT OF HISTORY.
Some Facts About Venezuela Which Are
Not Generally Known,

budn D6Hudrh anu less imam SW1tZ6r- |
lands. 1t is about the same as that of
Massachusetts. The last official estimate
of the population of Massachusetts,
made on Jan. /, 1894, was 2, 472, 900.
By the federal census of five years ago
the population of Massachusetts was
2,238, 900.
Venezuela imports from the United
States in year about 81, 100, 900 worth
of goods, chiefly manufactured articles.
From Great Britain it imports So, $780,
900, from Germany So, 100000, from
France So, 900, 600 and from Spain $780,
900. This is the country from which
Venezuela imports most, and this is the
country to which Venezuela exports
most. Venezuela S exports to the United
States average $12, 000,0 600, to France
100000, to England So, 100, 900 and
to Germany and Spain 100000 each.
The summer season in Venezuela lasts
from November to April. The winter
season lasts from April to November.
The climate of the temperate part of the
country is the finest in South America,
the most equable and the most salubri
GUS 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 $4,000, 900
persons altogether speak Spanish as
their native language, majority of
them living in South and Central Amer
ica
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 Orinoco river, the lar
gest in Venezuela, is 1880 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 approaches
to some of the larger towns. There are
90 states in Venezuela, the official divi-
sion being based on the constitution Of
the United States. There is also feder-
al district corresponding to the District
of Columbia, and there are several outly-
ing territories
The mineral products of Venezuela,
in addition to gold, which English spec
ulators are seeking by summary annexa-
tion of Venezuela territory to the British
possessions, are iron, zinc, quicksilver,
lead, tin and antimony. There are also
extensive products of salt, alum, lime,
= sulphur and asphaltum.
The coffee crop of Venezuela amounts
tc $15, 900 year in value. The av-
erage crop is 60, 900 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, in the
same year that Belgium became an in
dependent monarchy. The rival polit-
ical parties in Venezuela are the Union
lists and the Federalists. The former
favor centralized government The
latter are for home rule. Both are oppos-
ed to foreign invasion, encroachment or
confscation.
The average gold product of Venezu-
Ella in year is 81 100000. The stand
ard of value in the republic of Venezu
ella is the bolivar, so called after Simon
Bolivar, and the value of it is the same
as a French franc-19.3 cents. VeneZu-
ella does not produce silver. Much OF
the foreign debt is held in England.
The exports of Venezuela exceed the i1n-
ports by So, 900, 900 year.
There are 300, 900, 900 acres of forest
lands in the republic of Venezuela.
Rosewood, satinwood, mahogany and
white and black ebony are found.
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
Curacao, a Dutch possession; the island
of Trinidad, British possession; the is
land 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 900 miles and from north to
south IT'S miles.