The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-08
THE TRIP UP THE ORINOCO.
MINISTER LOOMS WRITES OF THE RE
SOURCES OF INTERIOR VENEZUELA.

~ - va ANN
SOURCES OF INTERIOR VENEZUELA.
The River Twenty Miles Wide at Its Mouth,
but Loses Half Its Width Fifty Miles Up
Mines Rich in Iron and Gold-AmericRn
Company's Concession in tho Valley.
WASHINGTON. April THE Hon. Frank b.
Ioomis Minister to Venezuela. who recently
made a trip up the orlnoco and along part OF
the north coast Of that country In the United
States gunboat Wilmington. has sent an inter-
estinR account Of the voyage to the State De-
partment. He says in part:
The Orinoco River Is about twenty miles
wide at its mouth and flows over an immense
bar. which 1t took us an hour TO clear. Ths
muddy waters Of the river project many miles
seaward and are noticeable about the time
land Is sighted. There are no steering marks
or lights or lighthouses on this.coast OF Nene-
zuela. The river loses half it's width about
fifty miles above the Boca Grande. and the
banks on either side. very 10 g.throughout the
delta region. are thickly covered with trees
and plants. The tropical vegetation 10 sump-
tuously beautiful.
Il made n point OF stopping wherever there
we're ANY considerable American interests
near the orinoco. The first place of this char
acter was, Manoa. the seat OF the Imataca
mines. These como out almost to the waters
>fs Wv a"iiN w 10 sltuolCN oh Nv 1hlo-
taca River. about five miles above its confu-
ence with the Orinoco. The mines are rich In
Iron ore of a very desirable quality. and there Ia
at this time o fight over their possession In the
Venezuelan courts.
Santa Catalina. an ancient hamlet on the
Santa Catalina River. three miles from it's
junction with the Orinoco. Ia the headquarters
OF the Orinoco Company. Limited, an Ameri-
can company which has "A concession from
the Venezuelan Government authorizing it to
exploit some 1000 square miles Of territory in
tho Orinoco Valley. The company has erected
a large frame building.at Santa Catalina. which
1t uses as Offices and living rooms for its off,
GERS. Much work In the way OF research and
exploration has been accomplished. but no or
Eanized efforts at:colonization have beenlmade.
The main product from the lands OF the ORR
noco Company at.present Is balata. a'substitute
for rubber. There are great possibilities for
work and wealth on the concession OF the ORR
noco Company. and there Ia every reason to
think that the mineral deposits are varied and
rich. The soil is extremely fertile and the
climate as agreeable as It is anywhere in this
part OF the country. The .Orinoco Company
has a capital.stock OF $780, O0. 900.
The first town OF consequences at which we
stopped was Barrancas. about half way be-
tween the mouth OF the Orinoco and Ciudad
bOllNui II IL dlSO near tn6 mouth OF inc
Macareo. a delta stream which enters the
Gulf Of Paria not a great distance from the
Port OF Spain. and which furnishes the only
practicable inland route for river steamers
from Port OF Spain to the Orinoco. Barrancas
Is OF some commercial interest. for the reason
that 1t is an assembling and shipping p~oint;for
cattle. most OF which are sent to Cuba. This
trade has come into being since the war.
, The wilmington also st2pped. at st. Felix.
hours from Barrancas. in the direction OF Gu
dad Bolivar. This is the point Of departure
Callao gold mining district. 1t Is stated that
more than .S4O,oO9,O0O in gold has been
SHIPPED from st. Felix in recent years, There
has been Tor several years little activity in
this region, but there are indications that a
revival, Of interest is at hand. and American
t tho 70 build a railroad from 81, Felix e The
profitable in Sourh America. for ali the traiflc
t to a and tire fro% res the WINS Min so VIII have rsD e pass sss oyer
has communication by rail with the outside
At Guanta. the port for Barcelona. which ia
twelve miles inland, we found the President Of
ne State awaiting Us. He was entertained on |
guns was fired for his diversion. This gun.
vivid impression here. as 1t did elsewhere. 1
there were any army. officials on board. and
he result Is that an order has been sent to
't'V e." Nv sltltS " NcNtIdl u tneW. Ills is
the first order for artillery that has been sent
TO- theSt 9ited States:by.the:lenez uelap Coy
sFn peeor5 1 IF q ave very otb long time; indeed there is
Al, Guanta. saw a trainlond Of coal
hrought:from the:mines thirteen miles distant.
Government by an italian syndicate. This
.oal was recently tested by an Italian man.of-
of Guanta is a vast one. and there are thirty
Of water at the pier. These points, taken
rOOu coal M hand NAV muEa IN i'm mort nDt In n
The visit Of the Wilmington made a strong
in Venezuela; ,The.splendid condition and APP
peaIqnce q the men and the boat never failed
ASA result OF the trip. / think It will be found
nam AmeTdIca an Pr est a has been substantially
nqusly deepened and widsned. Practical re-
'uIts are coming. too; in the way OF increasing
merchants and manufacturers will take adj
'antage OF the favorable conditions that have
oeen created them they ought 20 profit very
Navigation has'benented blythe ,trip'of:the
hilmington up the OrinoGo. for the reason
hart OF the river, from the bar Off :Barima
'G yIn;for ci ~, Gom Bolivar o. was made under tIs
larter. the navigating officer Of the Whining
The extensive works and plant of the New
ted on the San Juan River. one OF the Orinoco
'elta streams. we could not visit. owing to
ack Ct time and adequate charts.. No charts OF
ng- need of them.
The New York and Bermudez Company IN
n. important American corporation. am
nformed BY its managing director that It ia
ably hampered in many ways, and its ships
harts and steering directions"
To Boom the Greater Chicago Bill.
CHICAGO. April 7.-Delegations from the city
'ounctl and tho Cook County Board Of Com
lissioners and from civic and social clubs and