The herald., 1897-05-23
pretty little city of some $4,000 or 10000
Medellin is the financial

pretty little city of some $4,000 or 10000
! Inhabitants. Medellin is the financial
center of Colombia, while BOgota is
the capital, the two towns occupying
IA similar relative proportion in size
and Importance as our own capital does
to San Francisco.
In the interior the journey extended
through the Cordilleras. which rise from
| 0,0C0 to 10000 feet, while Santa Marta,
peak of the same range, is $1,000 feet,
rsnow-capped.
| On the return trip the party met the
United States minister to that country,
Hon. Mr.. Mckenzie, on the same boat.
who, Ill and despondent, was returning
home, though he despaired of living
to reach New York Meeting his coun-
trymen buoyed up his spirits and he
seemed quite improved in health, but
unfortunately it did not last long, as
he died three days after reaching New
York.
| Mr. Entler and party spent thirty days
on muleback, and travelled by this meth
cd of transportation 1900 miles in the in
terror of the country.
AS to the country in general. Mr.. Ent-
Ter considers it rather an ideal place for
a rough trip, and as his object in taking
the journey was to benefit his health
and obtain relaxation from business, 1t
met the requirements he sought. The
mountain grades are so steep and SO high
in many places 1t Is impossible to use
animals. and relays of poems are en-
ployed to transport merchandise on their
backs. for which they are paid from four
to eight reals a day, which at the present
!rates of exchange is equivalent to &c
cents.
Colombia is neither silver or gold
country, but, on the contrary, the old
time greenbacker would find it his idea
in medium of exchange. The currency
Is fiat money, printed on demand. Last
winter the government finances ran very
low, and $12,O0OOO0 was issued with
nothing back of il. to make It good.
The only coins used are nickels and
quartillias. On the coast paper is re-
fused and half dollars pass current,
while the interior refuses everything but
paper.
| The products of the country are cof.
fee, sugar cane, cocoa, cacao, bananas
cocoa nuts, and plantain. Coffee planta-
tions have been very profitable, but the
time is fast approaching when the in
dustry will be much less so, as large
Quantities are produced by other coun.
tries of South America.
The mines. Mr. Entler says, are un,
lquestionably rich, but inaccessible. The
fever that turks In the interior marshes
is almost certain death to the golt
jseeker, even If 1t were possible to over
dcome the steep mountain grades to OBJ
tain the precious ore. The only method
of transportation is by mules; every
thing must be taken in and out Of TIL
country on the backs of these animals
which carry as high as 400 pounds
The people are hospitable, cordial an,
kind. always, glad to welcome stranger
and willing to take them in also whel
i it is any kind of a mining proposition
The country is several hundred year
behind the United States in development
land enterprise. and from; present indI
Ecations there ls no probability Of its eve
lcatching up. There Is some railroa
built in the country, the longest lin
measuring 81 kilometers. requiring 80
laborers- constantly. to keep the track /
repair. 81 -
As a specimen Of the enterprise an
Ienergy Of the people tits said to be a
actual fact that Il reqpfred eleven year
lte transport thirty h6rss power boile