Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-12-20
attistettansn,ts &eading.
THE CASE OF VENEZUELA.

THE CASE OF VENEZUELA.
Developments That Led to the Pres
ent Embarrassing Situation.
The immediate cause Of Venezuela
dilemma has its origin in concession
and guarantees made by previous ad
! ministrations, and in the cases Of botl
Germany and England, the controver
sizes arise from railroad grants ant
guarantees in that country. The rail
way which is the cause Of Germany's
demands Is known as the Grand Fer.
rocarril de Venezuela, running from
Caracas to Valencia, distance Of III
miles. The concession was obtained ir
1887 by Herr, Krupp, of Essen, Germa.
ny, and the road was built under g
guarantee from Venezuela that the
bonds would realize per cent. The
company formed became known as the
Crosse Venezuela Elsenbahn Gessel-
schaft, and the road was completed
February, 1894, some time before the
term fixed by the government for COM
pletion.
In many respects 1t is one Of the
most remarkable railroads on the con-
tinent. In the short journey 1t makes
through mountains, it was necessary
to construct 212 viaducts and bridges
and eighty-six tunnels. It's declivities
radius Of curves and general superior
construction has jutsly exited the ad-
miration Of the engineering profession.
The road is supplied with eighteen To-
comotives, thirty-f1ve passenger coach
es, eight baggage cars and 155 freight
and cattle cars. The equipment Is prac-
tically perfect.
The road traverses a most romantic
section, making tortuous journey
through interminable mountain ranges.
over deep gorges and perilous ravines.
At certain places the line approaches
near yawning abysses upon one side,
while on the other great jutting bowl
ders swing out menacingly above. On
both sides of the road for fifty miles
after leaving Caracas Is one continu-
GUS garden Of coffe estates, shielded
by large shade trees. Now and then
this view is varied by vast fields Of
waving cane.
On the line Of this road Is the histor-
ic city of San Mateo, celebrated in the
annals of the country for heroic deeds
of early pioneers who sacrificed life to
ignite powder magazine to prevent it
falling into the hands of the Spaniards.
The city Is also noted for a miracle
working image of the Virgin, which Is
said to perform many marvellous
things. San Mateo was also the home
of the great liberator, Simon Boliver,
and here occurred the death of his
young wife.
the. road curves for many miles, is like
the Caspian sea, having no visible out
let. The shore line near the railroad Is
bleak and desert-like, having once been
part of the basin. The city of Valen-
cia, originally built on the lake shore,
is now five miles distant at low water.
On this line is also located Antimine,
an interesting resort valley Of the
Guare, where wealthy families Of Car
acas have built many large and ele-
CANT homes, and where they spend the
hottest months of the summer. Sur
the place and extending down
the valley are 1T coffee estates and
eight large sugar plantations.
The contention Of England is not so
clear: but concerns the railroad, the
little narrow gauge line, running from
Fort La Guayra to Caracas, a distance
Of twenty-one miles. The two places
are only seven miles apart in a straight
line. This road Is also an interesting
piece Of engineering, crawling among
the clouds above La Guayra, 1000 feet
in the first ten miles Of its course to-
ward Caracas. It was on account. OF
this road that the famous president,
Guzman Blanco, caused dirt roads and
bridges over the mountain to be de-
stroyed that traffic might be DETECTED
to the railway. It would seem, how
ever, that his successor, Castro, is not
so deeply concerned over the earnings
Of English bondholders.
In 1897, Bruznal-Serra, minister Of
state, effected a compromise with Ger
man creditors. refunded the debt and
created a sinking fund for semi-annual
payments. This was repudiated or dis
regarded by succeeding administra-
tions, and during revolutions the treas
lry has been looted and public claims