New-York tribune., 1903-08-30

est privacy so far the outer world OF the street
is concerned because of the high, windowless walls
There are teIegraphs and telephones. electric lights
streetcars ana newspapers away up there and yet
every bit OF freight has to be laboriously lugged
over the Serras the backs OF men or mules
None of tho Commodious coaches and omnfbuses
and not one of the agricultural implements were
manufactured here nor anywhere else in Colombia
They have all been imported from the United
States and England-brought to Honda by the river
steamers. then repacked into small sections and
carried. piece by piece over the mountains. One
peon will carry a wheel. another axle. third
a coupling pole singletree, while the screws and
bolts. packed in small boxes. carried by the
cargo mules. The upper body of the vehicle is
likewise taken to pieces and packed in sections
One man will sometimes be month in carrying
wagon wheel from Honda TO Bogota. his method
being tug il from fifty 10 one hundred PAGES and
then sit down for long rest barely making two
miles day. One scarcely knows which ought to
be the greatest marvel. the failure TO manufac ure
all these things in a country where wood and iron
and coal abundant or the obstacles that are
overcome in their successful transportation from
foreign countries Notwithstanding the enormous
of constructing streetcar lines this isolated
place-each rail being the load Of half dozen men
during several days of hard cIImbing-they have
proved profitable investment to the company of
New-York capitalists which owns them. There are
few carriages in Bogota. not only because the
stony streets would wreck the strongest
vehicle. but on account Of the great expense Of
everybody patronizes the horseCaTS and the tariff
charged for ride whether it be tor fve miles or
a block is a Colombian real coin which equals
IN value about ten cents American money
Colombia is rich in minerals, precious stones and
metals, and American capital and enterprise have
been exploiting these for years. The Coom-
bian Government Is the owner OF extensive
emerald mines, in which some OF the most masnih-
cent specimens of that precious stone have been
brought 10 light These are the Muzo and
Cosuez emerald mines. and the government Of
Colombia receives for them monthly rental Of
10000 American gold for a ten years lease. IN
addition 10 this the Colombian Government requires
the lessee Of the mines to deposit with the national
treasury a thirty days sight draft amounting 70
$4,000 in order protect itself against bankruptcy
Of the lessee Of the mines. There are manganese
mines at Nombre de Dios about forty miles east
Of Colon. The deepest workings are go feet below
the surface. The annual production when undis-
turbed by revolutions. is 1000 tons total Produc-
ton far 90 900 tons. The Caribbean manganese
mines are owned by citizens OF the United States.
The character of the mined is oxide. not sui
phide and the ore is found in a decompOsed shae.
At some points this rock has been metamOrphosed
TO a jasper.
Gold has been found in various parts OF Colombia.
There are gold mines in the Portobello range OF
mountains where the Antigua Indians. and after
ward the Spaniards, carried on mining N a cTude
and primitive way. They evidently secured con-
siderable quantities. but only What IS known as
free gold apparently not being acquainted with
any METHODS for the treatment OF sulphldes' i as
their workings stop " mere tlese come, INTO ne
vein in any quantities. The mines worked Dy 5hese
Indians are called the Santa Maria. Santa Cata-
lima. and RI Captain. American mine owners, ac-
corGing 10 a. consular report or oscar Mallnros.
American Consul at Colon, have begun mining
operations on the lines OF thtse ola HlihSs ne
from s. ~ 10 several hundred dollars per
ton; When the three mines are opened up and
equipped. it Is estimated they viii produce about
l"V,oo tons year