Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-09
FENEZUELA'S COAST.
Natural and Artificial Characteris-
 tics About La Guayra.
A Point of Worldwide Interest Be- Cause of Recent International
 Troub1ey-Surround d nas C0uM-
 try and Features.

The recent state of Venezuelan af- fairs in connection with the attempt on the part of England and Germany to force the immediat 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- tlon, 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 summits capped by huge masses of billowy clouds.
 The town of La Guayra is on the east ern side of a 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, bnilt of sun dried brick, pIastered outside and painted white or light yellow, and the roofs are of red, sun-baked tiles.
 Back of the town, to the south and east, rise the steep mountain sides, on spur of which stands the little for tifcation of Lavigia, which is reached by narrow path partly hewn out of the solid rock
 This fort is practically the sole de- fense of the town, and, as defense, is of little or no value, as it's guns are old and it's walls of such nature that they would rapidly crumble under a 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 a somewhat ex- tensive and very fertile area of flat land.
 Eastof La 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, a distance of about four miles from La Guayra.
 The distance from La Guayrat to Cara cas In an air line is seven miles, butow- ing to the elevation of the latter city (3,00o feet), the distance by rail is about 25 miles.
 The railroad is the property of an English syndicate, and was opened for traffic in 1883. Itiswell construct ed, and required great engineering skill to surmount the natural difficult ties of the route.
 From La Guayra the road runs west through the little. suburb of Cardonal, and then, turning south and east, it ascends, by means of a steel viaduct, 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 IS steel bridges, ascending 3,2o0 feet in dis- tance of 222 miles and then descending 200 feet into the valley of the Guayra river, in which Caracas is situated.
 The nature of the country along this route is such that a comparatively small number of men could success fully oppose vastly superior invading force.