The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-01-03
BEAUTIFUL vENEzuELA.

Because Of the presence of war
ships along her coast, and the posi-
bility of an assailment of the Mon
roe Doctrine by England and Germa-
ny, Venezuela has for "A fortnight
pastbeenthe subject OF public thought
and many man, who heretofore has
read or thought but little of our sis
ter Country of South America. has
been looking up his atlas of the world
and cleaning from it's pages a par
tial description, at least. of the land
now governed by President Castro.
venezuela is not a large country.
being only about eight times the
size OF Missouri and having a coast
line OF only $50 miles. In 1891.
when the last census of the little re
public was taken, its population was
only 1926, 05f. While the Ven
ezuelans are noted for theirindustrv.
the country does not develop very
rapidly. Its government is planned
largely on the lines of the United
States, having eight States. Fede-
raj district, territories and colonies.
The legislative power of the Ven
ezuela government is vested in Sen
ate and a House of Delegates. the
two houses being known as Congress.
The executive power is vested in the
President, his Cabinet and Fede,
raj Council, composed of a Senator
and a Deputy from the Federal Dis
trict, who are chosen for a term ri
two years by Congress from anon.
its own members. Thus it will b.
seen that Venezuela is governed large
ly by its own people or their chos-
en- mouthpieces. The principal cit,
OF Venezuela is Caracas, the capital.
with over 10000 population. The
remaining cities OF the little republic
average from &, 900 to IL 900 in pop-
ulation. Caracas lies seven miles
south OF the Caribbean sea. and is
3,O1S feet above the level of the sen
The city is regularly laid out. has
several fine parks which are lighted.
and planted with choice trees and
flowers. Caracas is a great society
centre and it is nothing unusual Oh
summerevenings to see great num-
bers OF handsomely dressed men and
women promenading through her
public parks.
The Plaza Bolivar in the centre of
the city is the most popular of all
Venezuelan pleasure grounds. Here
the Government bands discourse fine
music every day and the beauty and
chivalry of Caracas are to be seen on
these occasions.
In 1910, this capital city had
population of $4,000, so NAV read
lily be seen that while there is more
OF less thrift among the people, il
appears that the growth of Venezuc-
la s capital has been slow.
However it must be said for Cara /
cas- that hers has been an unfortu-
nate lot In 1912, the great earth
quakes that swallowed up La Quay
"a and wrought fearful havoc in 9th
er cities and towns of Venezuela al
most entirely destroyed Caracas.
Again during the war of independ-
ence from 1913 to 1921, it was
plundered and depopulated by the
Spaniards, besides being visited by
cholera, and in the subsequent revo-
lutions it has always suffered. Since
1880, however, the population of
Caracas has increased nearly 90 per
cent. and new era of prosperity has
set in. 1t is evident therefore that
the war clouds now lowering over
the place are not welcomed by the
business men of that city.
Indeed war, be it ever so insignifi-
can't, is a destroyer OF prosperity
save among those who hold con
tracts for the supplying of food,
or ammunition for the sol
diers.
1t is to be hoped that the shadows
which are now darkening the pros
poets OF Venezuela may soon be dis
pslled and that the beautiful sun of
prosperity may continue TO shine
over our South American neighbors.