Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

|
| from the province. In 1847 a treaty Of
| peace was signed and Spain formally 40
knowledged the Independence OF the coun-
| try.
| Geography and Population.
Geographically speaking. Venezuela Ia
bounded on the north by the Antillean sea,
| on the south by the United States of Brazil
and a part Of the republic of Colombia and
on the east by the Atlantic ocean and Brit
| ish Guiana
According to the census Of 1895 there
| were in Venezuela $4,000 aboriginies OF
| this number 600 were independent, 10000
| subjugated and 100000 assimiated. Topo-
| graphically speaking. the territory OF the
| republic comprises three well-defined re-
| gions-the agricultural, the grazing and the
| forestal. The first occupies an area OF 134, =
$40 square miles and extends from the north
| to the northwest of the country In this re-
| g1on are to be found the coast range and
| that of the Venezuelan Andes, which form
| very fertile valleys. 1t comprises 81 1876
square miles of public lands, and 47.617
square miles belong to private parties. The
grazing lands form a great belt south of
the agricultural region. 1t has area Of
156, 496 square miles, Of which 5S,4SO are
public and 9S,O16 private lands.
Immense Grass Plains.
This region Is made up Of immense
ass-covered plains with navigable rivers,
which overflow during the rainy season and
inundate them. The third region. the for
estal. lies to the south OF the grazing belt
and extends to the southern limits OF Vene-
zuela. 1t has 30s.O95 square miles Of area,
Of which 3O3,345 are public and 4. $50 are
private.
1.-THE mountain systems comprise the
Venezuelan Andes and the coast and
Parma ranges According to the latest Of
fetal data the coast line OF Venezuela ex-
tends 1920 kilometers along the Caribbean
sea and the Atlantic ocean, and has thirty
two harbors fifty coves and numberless
anchorages exclusive Of those In the in
terror on the lakes Of Maracaibo and Valen-
cha. There are in the country five CULTS,
two large lakes and 204 small lakes. The
territory is bathed by ,O47 rivers and rivu-
let's of which 436 are affiuents Of the Grin
oco
Climate Is Mild.
1.-THE climate of the country Is mild the
extremes Of heat and cold of northern cu-
mates being unknown. The coasts of Ven
ezuela are tolerably healthy. Neither the
black vonit nor yellow fever Is considered
Epidemic although sporadic cases of ma
ugnant fevers are not unknown. The seasons
are dry and wet. The agricultural belt
grows coffee cacao, sugar cane, all kinds Of
cereals and edible tubers, such as the
potato, yucca, yam, ETC. The grazing sec
ton Is well adapted to the raising of cattle.
1.-THE territory of the republic is divided
into thirteen federal states Each state has
its president and legislature. The former
Is elected by direct vote every four years.
Each state by special law determines the
form and conditions for the election of the
members of the legislature. The federal
district Is dependent upon the president Of
the republic, who exercises his authority
through a governor of his free selection.
Caracas, the Capital.
1.-The capital of tie republic is the city
Of Caracas, founded in 1857 by Don Diego
de Logada, Spanish captain. who gave
the city the name of Santiago de Leon,
which 1t still retains in old and modern
the beautiful valley OF Caracas. twelve
miles in length, and according to the CEN
sus of 1891 had population not far from
$4,000.
angles and run lengthwise from east to-
west and from north to south. The capital
building occupies an area Of more than two
acres. All OF the public buildings are
the. capitol OF the republic. Tho principal
squares of the city are the plaza Bolivar
and the plaza Washington. The latter has
In its center q statue OF the father OF his
country.
La Gtaira in Verse
.sThe ancient city Of La Guaira, which
figures SO prominently IN the dispatches OF
at least by one man. an American consul.
who, like Pope on leaving London, has
embalmed his opinion o. the town In dog
gered verse, which quite: q
" .Adios to thee. La luaira, city Of the
dark-eyed genie.
And of tropic muchness and dolce far
niente;
Home Of the wailing donkey and the ALL
Astounding flea,
Manana, Gracias Daos, bid adios to
thee.
!" Farewell ye gloomy cacas. meier dicha.