The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-10

eral wealth, to give utterance to the
just sentiment of pride feel in being
i'll such a distinguished assemblage OF
men gathered here from all the states
of the Union, the representatives of one
of the industries which has done more
for the general progress of the world
than, perhaps, any other. Our chair
man, in his brilliant opening address,
made allusion to this fact, showing in
few, but telling words, how much has
been accomplished by the products of
the mines in the development of this
great country. as we'll as in all the
countries of the world.
p. Without the aid of those metals
which you extract from the bowels of
the earth, and their modern appliance
to the necessities of today, neither in
| dustry nor art, neither commerce nor
| navigation would have arrived at the
wonderful state of development which
| it has attained at the close of the nine
! teenth century.
Reasons of an accidental character
| have prevented Venezuela from send
| ing to your congress a man more con-
versant with the particular subject to
the development of which your labors
are devoted. But, DESTROYS of showing
her good will, and to be present as a
guest at this international feast, thus
| demonstrating the Sisterly interest she
takes in your affairs, she has appoint
| ed one of her sons, who, although most
willing to serve her interests and to do
all honor to your congress, lacks the
technical knowledge necessary to treat
On such subjects in a manner both
more adequate to the spirit of this con-
greSS, and more interesting to you ALL
l will endeavor, however, to make
brief sketch of the mining wealth of
Venezuela, along with a general de-
scription of the other resources of the
country, which it may, perhaps, be
of interest to some of you to develop.
Venezuela is one of the richest coun-
tries Of South America. Her resources
arc almost unbounded, and her geo
graphical position is such as to adapt
her most peculiarly to establish closer
| trade relations with the United States.
Lying. on the northern central part of
South America, her coast, where all her
ports are situated, is washed by the
Caribbean Sea. The distance from
Venezuela to New York is about $500
miles, and there are several lines of
steamers connecting her with the coun-
tries of both the new and the old
world. | must state here that the only
American line of steamers carrying
passengers or freight to any South
American port is the line that connects
directly New York with our main
ports.
Within it's boundaries the territory of
Venezuela covers an area of 39I 800
square miles. which surpasseS in eX-
tent that of France, Germany and the
Netherlands, or the combined states of
Texas, Colorado, Idaho and California.
The population of this vast territory
is not, however. in proportion to the
extent of the land, as it only amounts
to about 100000 souls.
The Typographical conditions of Ven
ezuela have been a drawback to her
more rapid progress in the develop
ment of her means of internal commun-
ication, because, like all countries which
are Sed by the mighty Andes, the
difficulties in the way of the interior
trade are measured by the obstacles to
be overcome. Lack of labor and cap
ital on the one hand, and on the other
the natural wealth of the country
covered by an eXuberant vegetation,
Will be the principal causes of her slow
development until population increases,
bringing with it necessities almost un-
known in Venezuela.
AGRICULTURE AND STOCKS.
Notwithstanding this condition, we
have several railroads in successful OPP
Grafton. and many highways and roads
in excellent condition, as we'll as mule
pa llS lie wealth. III lile It.
public is derived from agriculture and
cattle raising. Mining is yet an incip-
lent industry, although, according to
the latest statistical data, we have 226
known mines in the country furnish
ing AZ different kinds of minerals.
There is, perhaps, no country richer |
in minerals than Venezuela, nor one
that has made less effort to develop this
wealth. Aside from the old copper |
mines, whose products go almost ex-
clusively to Great Britain, and the well |
known gold mines of Guiana, particu- i
larly that one called Ell Callao, which !
astonished the world with its marvel |
Gus yield for several years, the other |
branches of the mining industry are as /
yet in their infancy.
The richest gold-bearing region of |
Venezuela is the region of Guiana. 1t |
was here, we may say, that the fabu- |
lous land of lei Dorado" was located, |
which attracted so many Adventures |
to the coast of Guiana since its discoy- |
cry in the fifteenth century.
LOST MINES.
According to old Spanish records, /
dating as far back as 1735-174O, gold and |
silver had been found in the then prov
ince of Guiana, samples of which were /
ordered to be assayed by the king. The
report OF the assayer submitted to his i
majesty showed that the samples sent !
were simply outcroppings, and that
they contained gold, silver and iron, the
report stating that were the diggings
deeper the mineral would be richer.
These silver and iron mines have been
lost. and out of the several gold mines
existing there at that time, only two
or three, perhaps, are known today.
RICH IN GOLD.
This section of the country, as 1 be-
fore remarked, is the richest in gold
mines, the report of this product
amounting, in four years from 1886 to
1880, according toNstatistical data, to
a little over nine tons of gold. In con-
nection with this an English authority
which surely cannot be accused of be-
ing partial, states the following: 1T
IS well known that Venezuela possesses
some of the richest gold fields in the
world, and it is probable that much of
It's auriferouS wealth is, as yet, undis-
covered. We do not allude to fields
which have recently been explored in
hat mo Mans Land" on the borders
IF the republic. and the colony of Brit
sh Guiana. the value of which was
one of the principal causes of bring
ng the boundary question to an