Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-19
POINTS ABOUT LA GUAYRA.
tntsresting Features Of venesuela
City and roundlngs Lately
Threatened with War.

-, Threatened with War.
The recent state of Venezuelan af.
fairs in connection with the attempt
on the part of England and Germany
to force the immediate payment Of
certain financial obligations, and the
fact that this country is more or less
| concerned in these events through the
application of the Monroe doctrine to
possible complications of the situa-
ton, has aroused general interest to
such an extent that description Of
| the natural and artificial characteris-
tics of that portion of the country
near the scene of operations may be
of interest, says the Chicago Tribune.
Near La Guayra, the port of entry to
Caracas, the coast is high and rugged,
the mountains rising nearly perpen.
dicular, their bases washed by the
blue waters of the Caribbean sea,
their SUBMITS capped by huge masses
of billowy clouds.
The town of La Guayra is on the east
ern side of small bay, the natural
outlines of which have been extended
and improved by means of stone
breakwater and quay, which stretches
due west from the eastern extremity
of the bay.
The buildings of the town are most
ly one-story in height, built of sun
dried brick, plastered outside and
painted white or light yellow, and tho
roofs are of red, sun-baked tiles.
Back of the town, to the south and
east, rise the steep mountain sides, on
a spur of which stands the little for
LITIGATION of Lavigia, which is reached
by narrow path partly hewn out Of
the solid rock.
This fort is practically the sole de-
Tense of the town, and, as defense, is
of little or no value, as its guns are
old and it's walls of such a nature that
they would rapidly crumble under q
well-directed fire of modern rifles. A
landing, therefore, could be easily
made even against strong opposition
when effected under cover of war.
ships, which, on account of the great
depth of water we'll in shore, can
stand close in.
On the southern side of the bay
the mountains recede from the shore,
forming on the west somewhat ex-
tensive and very fertile area of fat
land.
East OLA Guayra the mountain bases
are nearer the shore, with here and
there small patch of land sufficient
ly level to admit of cultivation. A
short and very primitive railroad runs
along the shore close to the water, to
the little watering place called Ma
cuto, distance of about four miles
from La Guayra.
The distance from La Guayra to Cara
cas- in an air line is seven miles, but ow-
ing to the elevation of the latter city
$4,000 feet), the distance by rail is
about Is miles.
The railroad is the property of an
English syndicate, and was opened
for traffic in 1888. Itiswell construct
ed, and required great engineering
skill to surmount the natural difficult
| ties of the route.
FROM La GuayTa the roau runs west
through the little suburb of CARDINAL,
and then, turning south and east, it
ascends, by means of a steel viadnct,
to it's artificial ledge on the side of the
mountains, and thereafter following
the twists and turns of their precip-
itous sides, passing through three or
four short tunnels and over 18 steel
bridges, ascending 5000 feet in a dis"
lance of 222 miles and then descending
200 feet into the valley of the Guayrs
river, in which Caracas is situated.
The nature of the country along this
route is such that comparatively
small number of men could success
fully oppose a vastly superior invading
force.