The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-15
VENEZUELA.
About the Republic Now Excit-
ing Public Observation.


ing Public Observations.
Chicago Times-Herald.
The republic has enjoyed a federal Con-
stitutian since 1864.
There are 407 miles of railway and 1856
miles of telegraph lines.
Gold has been the most important product
next after coffee. For five years ending in
1886 the annual output was s., 700, 600, but 1t
has greatly increased since then. The pres
ent dispute with Great Britain relates to
territory in which the gold mines are rich
est, though they have not been worked TO
their full extent owing to the political un-
certainty.
Boots and hats are chief manufactures
The venezuelans make hats from a mater
il called jipija1a pronounced hee-pee-ha-
PAL, which are often sold in the United
States for Panama straw.
Venezuela is one of the important mar
kets for American petroleum, though ii has
important oil fields of its own.
The Roman Catholic is the state religion,
but freedom of worship is guaranteed by
law. and popular education is well provided
for.
of the Latin convention-France, Belgium,
Italy and S~witzerland-the unit being the
bolivar, which takes the place of the franc.
The metric system OF weights and meas
ures is legal.
The public revenue is derived chiefly from
customs.
The Constitution is modelled, TO some ex-
tent. after that of the United States.
Venezuelans celebrate July ii as their day
of independence. On that day, in 1910, they
rose against the Spanish rule under Boil
America.
Caracas. the principal city, took its name
from the Spanish captain general In lb5o
Spain recognized the independence of the
republic In 1845, after a thirty years war.
OF the last eighty-ive years nearly one
half have been spent in war:
An important article Of diet among the
common people is arepas, a kind of cake
made of coarsely ground Indian corn.
Coffee and cocoa are important and in
creasing crops. Fruits and melons are
abundant. and the coast towns enjoy an
endless variety Of fish.
1t was the first American mainland sight
f "a by Columbus o" his third voyage in
1t was under Spanish rule until early in
the present century.
Among the snakes are r~attlers, beacon
s~trictors and anacondas.
Yellow fever is almost of annual recur-
renee in the coast towns.
There are dry and rainy seasons, as in
California, the rainy season occurring dur
ing the months of our summer.
Swarms of locusts sometimes commit
great ravages among the fields and planta-
The boundary question" has been peren-
NAL since the founding of the republic, Co.
lombia. Ecuador and Great Britain having
been the chief contestants.
The republic comprises eight states and
nine territories, besides two colonies
Gu3man Blanco and Bolivar.
Though situated on or near the equator,
the country has a moderate climate. In
Caracas the mean temperature is II de-
| grees. the extremes being IS and So degrees
This Is due to trade winds.
The hottest weather is in April and mid
August.
The vegetation Is tropical in character.
1t has about twelve times the area OF
the State of New York.
The town OF Merida is 5, 400 feet above the
| sea-20 feet higher than Denver.
1t has a mountain, Picacho de la Sierra
10, 900 feet high.
1t claims territory exceeding its territory
| under its actual government by 1873, 0O
square miles.
The territory east and south of the Mari
time Andes was called a sea OF grass
| because il was entirely without trees, but
now il is well wooded.