The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-13

pitality of Mr. l.oomis aud his charming
aud accomplished wiicaldcd much to0tl
pleasure while in Caracas.
There is ~ much of interest To- be secI
in Crraca- that We could not accomplish
all oi it during the three days OF ou
stay. nor can space he afforded ina singh
letter to mention all theintercsting places
We visited
The residence of the prcsi lent-Gcn
Castro-is a spacious and imposingman
sion. with fine intcrinr court. adorned
with handsome flowers and heautiiu
birds An nimposing array of officers and
subaltcrns in snowy uniforms ARE to b,
seen in front Of the Presidents mansion
Mira flores). but access and cntranc,
may be- had without permission. This
was all Of a military character we saw in
Venezuela, and il was far from being war
like Nothing To- the outward eye indi
Gated impending hostilities.
The road from la Guayra to Caracar
was huilt 10y English capital and English
engineers. and is practically an English
railroad. the engines bearing the mark o
Leeds. England. From Caracas to Puerto
Cabello the railroad was constructed with
German capital, and is owned by Ger
mans. The engines bear the impress oI
Chemnitz. Germany. The German road
is much greater inextent than the English
road from La Guayra 10 Caracas, and l.
also a great feat OF engineering skill. Be
tween Caracas and Valencia, en route Ia
Puerto Cabello. eighty-six tunnels are
passed. Valencia, where we stopped for
n night. * n town Of 10000 inhabitants
but with no special features Of interest
except It's fine plaza, adorned by a statue
Of Bolivar and many fine shade trees
among which are number of royal trees
Of magnificent proportions and height
surprising any of the species To he seen in
Porto Rico.
At Puerto CabellO we found the good
steamer Caracas moored alongside the
dock: and the work of loading her with
coffee was progressing rapidly. Many
fine coffee plantations were passed on the
road from Caracas to Puerto Cabello
The coffee trees have to be shaded 10y
other trees, which are planted for that
purpose, so that the coffee plantation has
the appearance of aiorest, the smallcoii
trees, or bushes, growing among other
trees of large size
Puerto Cabello is n much finer town
than La Guayra, and indicates business
activity. Its plaza is adorned by fine
bronze column surmounted by a golden
eagle (the emblem OF the United States)
erected to the memory of ten citizens ol
the United States who came to that port
in 1906, on a sort ofpriyateering expedi
ton under General Miranda, and being
taken by the Spaniards were shot
Leaving Puerto Cabello at . O'Clock
in the afternoon we arrived on the
morning of the day following, about
3 o'clock, mt the QuainttOwn ofCuracoa
of about 30, 900 inhabitants, a substant
ial. clean and well-built city, OF the Dutch
style of architecture, possessing very at
tractive and interesting features. The
city is quite wealthy, business prosper
ous. and stores spacious, well lined with
European goods of finest texture, which
are sold at a very low figure.
About $50 years ago, when the Jews
were exiled from Spain and Portugal
they applied for refuge to the King o
Holland, who gave them a safe retreat in
the island of Curacoa. Their thrift and
energy has made them practically the
owners of the island and the masters o
it's business. The residences in Curacao
while quaint in appearance, are very line
and spacious, indicating wealth and lux
ury in living. The harbor, or roadstead
extends through the island from one side
to the other. The town is built on botl
sides. Pontoon bridges, or foot-pas
sengers, span the water, and as asteamel
or vessel approaches small steam-engin'
at one end of the bridge deity and quickly
swings it round, so that the vessel may
pass, and then speedily brings it back IN
place. This is even accomplished while
passengers are on the bridge.
Theretu trip to San Juan is made II
three days, the steamer stopping at La
Guayra only. The impression one gath
ers from this journey is that Venezuela il
a country of great resources and grand
possibilities, and that with stable gov
ernment, such as our people enjoy, il
would become n rich field Of enterprises
It's territorial extent is equal to that o
all the Atlantic and Gulf States OF th'
United States combined, and very littl'
OF the country has yet been developed.
J. r. Garrison.
San Juan. Porto Rico. April 1, 1901.