The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-06-30
scoNsUL,s REPORT DESCRIBES
THE COMMERCIAL PRoSTRR-
TON RESULTING From
PRESIpENTs POLICIES.

NjSSFCItSIES. 49,
Washington. ,. c.. June sos-on
theSe eve OF the officially announced
triumphant return of President Cas-
tro to Caracas. July 5, the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor issues
report from the United States Con
sui at La Guayra giving an account OF
stheS depressed conditions to which
Venezuela has been reduced by the
Restaurador's policy. This Official
statement confirms the most alarm
ing reports from private sources.
Consul MoHat says:
War duties IN exports continue.
Provisions of all kinds. even such
staples as rice, beans, sailed fish, etc.
forming the principal food articles
consumed by the laboring classes
have advanced from Is to 100 per
cent In price, while at the same time,
the Opportunities for employment
are rapidly decreasing.
+ GOLD DISAPPEARS.
No public works are being con-
structed or contemplated with the ex-
gcepton of floating dock
which is being built at
Puerto Cabello. Since the an
Snouncement Of the contract organ
ling a government bank has been
made public, gold has entirely dis
appeared from circulation. and even
an exorbitant premium offered for it
fails to bring it forth from boarding.
which is the method generally re-
sorted to by those possessing it
The cigarette trust recently form
ed has taken from many. who sought
through their manufacture in a small
sor41oca1 way to obtain livelihood.
\ their only means of earning a sup
port The Hamburg Line OF steam
sSers, which has regularly scheduled
two steamers monthly for Venezue-
Ian ports, has withdrawn one steam
goes obtainable-
Even those Of the Weather class.
whose investments consist primarily
IN improved real estate. are feeling
&thesenects OF the commercial prostra-
ton. The cities give ample evidence
of this fact by the extraordinary num-
der of vacant houses. Rents in con-
sequence are generally cut in half
In order to obtain satisfactory ten
ants.
BUSINESS MEN NOT vENTURING.
The opportunity to keep in touch
with the foreign market for cocoa
end coffee the principal articles ex-
ported, has been prevented through
the severance Of direct cable COM
munication, which is Of the utmost
Importance to those who must keep
order to ship to the best advantage.
! The extended uncertainty as to the
adjustment Of foreign matters is re-
straining trade in other quarters and
compelling those who largely control
the financial situation, commission
gand banking houses, to be very pru-,
dent IN commitments involving any
ventures beyond actual and present
.The railroads and harbor corpora
tons with grave apprehension note
the decided falling of in earnings un-,
mfstakable evidence of the declining
conditions Several Of the conces
sions recently granted have been
abandoned through missivinss as to
the future, and the options paid there
son forfeited That underlying condi-
tions are prejudicial to prosperity, at
least for the present, is so apparent
as to cause anxiety on the part Of all
commercial interests"
Notwithstanding the direful results
ISOLATION CONTINUES ON OLD
LINES.
so[sthe policy of monopolizins for him
self and his friends all the industries
and resources OF the country. the &C
quisitive operations of the govern
ment ring continue to branch out in
directions Exactly the same line,
5of action followed in the case Of the
New York and Bermudez (Asphalt)
Go. has now been adopted in the case
sof the Orinoco Corporation This is
:a5west Virginia company formed to
exploit a concession granted by Pres
sfdent B1anco in 1883. The govern
ment is now preparing to bring a
suit IN the High Federal Court for the