Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18

49, of P o m near
Berlin. 1t would be
a fine building in Vienna, London or Wash
ington. 1t is an immense structure of two
stories, with walls so covered with s,ucco
that they resemble white marble, and a
tower like that of a cathedral rising from
its center. 1t has wide galleries or ar
cades about the greater part of it, and its
porticoes are upheld by Ionic pillars 1t is
one of the wonders of mans creation here
in the heart of South America, as far in
land from the sea- in a straight line as
New York is distant from Chicago, ard by
the route you must travel over the RIO de
la Plata, the Parana and the Par: uay
river, as far fromothe Atlantic as is our
own city of Omaha. The palace was built
by the tyrant Lopez. just before Para
guays war with the Argentine Republic,
Uruguay and Brazil, Lopez was livirs in
1t during the war, and his enemies almost
battered it to pieces with their guns. Since
then it has been repaired, and it now con-
tains the offices of the president and his
government ,.~
. A Call on the President.
The presidents name is Juan B. Egus-
Quiza. He is one of the practical business
men of Paraguay. If you saw him on the
streets of New York you might take him
for one of the milliouaires of the city, and
you would certainly think him a man of
Importance. He is, l judge, about fifty
years of age, and in features and form
reminds me of President Harrison's Score
tary of the Treasury, Charles Foster of
Ohio. He has the same practical IDEAS
which sparkle in the conversation of Mr.,
Foster. and the same enthusiastic hope for
the future for all things about him.
1t was in the reception room of the pal
ace that l met him. Our American consul,
Mr. John Ruffin, introduced me. Mr.. Ruiz
fin is a colored man from Tennessee. He
has q complexion light as that of the
average Paraguayan, and he has put in his
time 50 we'll on the study of Spanish
since his appointment that he was able to
act as Interpreter in the talk with the
president. The president says that Para
quay Is rapidly regaining it's old popula-
ton. 1t has now almost many people
as before it's terrible war. He estimates
that Paraguay has now 900 inhabitants.
but says that 1t could support seven mil
lion. He tells me that Paraguay is anxious
to have immigrants, and that there is
good chance here for those who have small
capital and wish to own good homes.
| asked President EgusquiZa to titles
and the security of property. He replied
that the titles were as good here as in the
United States. and that foreign property is
entirely secure. He said there would be no
tampering with foreign estates by the gov
have equal rights with Paraguayans.
An UndeveIoped Empire.
1 asked him where would be the best
places for Investments in Paraguay.
He replied that the country was an unde-
veloped empire, and that it had large areas
of natural pasture which were especially
fitted for cattle raising. These he said,
could be bought at low prices. He also re-
fa, tt,a he
manufacturing, and asked me to tell our
people that it would pay them to come out
and look the ground over. He seemed glad
of chance to have his country better
known In the United States, and asked me
to wait few moments while he die
tated letters for me to the heads of his
government departments and prominent
business men. These letters [ have since
used, and through them have secured the
best and latest data upon the different mat
tiers of interest.
One of my most intelligent informants
has been the secretary of state. Senior Jose
Decoud. Mr.. Decoud speaks English, Ger
man and Spanish. He has Travelled over all
parts OF Paraguay, and has published
number of books concerning it. He is
largely interested in the United States and
mis- library contains more North Americana
than you will find in the library of any of
our cabinet ministers at home. 1 spent one
afternoon with him at his residence in the
suburbs of Asuncion.i His house has only
one story but it must cover about a quar-
ter of an acre of ground. and the ceilings
of it are about twenty feet high. Its gar
dens are filled with tropical plants and it
is, all told, one of the most comfortable
and delightful homes l. have visited in
South America
ParaEnayan Lands and Stock Raising
AS a result of these talks. and also from
my travels through a large part of the coun-
try, 1 Judge that there must soon be de-
cided increase In the value of Paraguayan
lands. The best parts of South America
are being absorbed more rapidly than we
think. The Argentine and Uruguay have
but little good government land left Real
estate has gone up IN the countries south
of here and today cheap lands for
stock raising are limited 1 doubt whether
there Is much wild pasture in Paraguay
that Is not owned by some one but the
lands are still low.
The grass is green here all the year
round. There is water everywhere and
the cattle need but little care except at the
times OF the annual round-ups Every wear
the marketable stock is picked out and
driven to Asuncion for sale. There is a
demand for the meat as well as the hides
Para quay has about two million cattle If
has three Tor every man, woman and child
in the country, but it does not raise enough
meat for Its own consumption.
These people are beef eaters Thew eat
the meat fresh and they dote on II when n
is dried and safted. As You ride through
meat hanging upon poles and swayinc n,
and fro In the breeze as the red flannel
shirts Of our washings sway to and fro in
the United States The Air Is tho rafr;0or