The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-09-13
Colombia as . Field of Venture.


facturers, exporters and capitalists OF
the United States turn their eyes to
Colombia, says our minister to that
republic, Mr.. John Barrett, in recent
report, but all men who are students
Of international politics or who care
to keep informed on remarkable
achievement ard possibilities beyond
the confines of the United States
should watch Colombian progress.
Then there is particular reason,
growing out of the recent Panama I'M
pleasantness, why the government ana
people of the United States should lend
Colombia a helping and sympathetic
hand in her efforts to develop new
era Of prosperity Making a simple
calculation for the future, Colombia
will presently experience a material
development like that of Mexico, which
has astonished the world aud attracted
the investment of $6OO,0OO,OOO gold of
United States money. After having
visited nearly all the Latin-American
republics from Mexico to Argentina.
Mr.. Barrett holds that Colombia, in
proportion to area and population, is
the richest of all in variety and extent
of undeveloped resources and Oppor-
tunities. To quote:
It especially behooves the trade, invest
ment and political interests of the United
States to give heed to Colombia's poten-
tialities without further delay. because
the corresponding interests of Europe are
already aroused to their appreciation and
legitimate exploitation. Although Colon
bia Is at our very doors, nearer to all the
principal ports of the United States than
any other South American country. we
are almost in the attitude of listlessly
watching the distant nations of Europe
develop her internal resources and control
her foreign commerce This can be real
ized when only a few days ago a great
English corporation completely bought
out the principal American railway,
steamboat and development company In
Colombia. And this followed the sale by
another American company Of one of the
best railroad concessions in the country
to a European corporation. Such trans
fers cannot indicate lack of confidence in
study that phase of the situation even
more carefully than Americans. They are
rather due either to a desire to make i'm
mediate profits by selling out or to lack
of familiarity with the ultimate possibili-
ties of the country.
The geographical proximity Of Co.
lombia to this country is often over
looked. The least distance between
Colombia and the United States is only
$50 miles, From Cartagena to Tampa,
Fla, is less distance by sea than from
New York to St. Louis by land. From
Cartagena to New Orleans is only 1,400
miles, or four days easy steaming.
From Barranquilla, another Colombian
port, to New York is almost straight
line due north, less than 1900 miles,
bia is nearer than Panama to the ma
jority of Atlantic and gulf ports of
the United States.
Colombia's strategic position in COM
merce and international relations is
demonstrated by the fact that she is,
| for practical purposes, the only South
American country bordering on both
the Atlantic and Pacific, and there
fore having immediate and direct ac-
cess by the great highway of the sea
| to the markets Of the entire world
The completion of the Panama canal
will, moreover, strengthen this ideal
position. She has nearly 500 miles
reach Of coast respectively on the At
lantic and Pacific, and the canal will.
| benefit her even more than 1t will the
United States or Panama. Minister
Barrett also calls attention to the fact
that the area Of Colombia is larger
than that OF Germany, France, Holland
| and Belgium combined 1t Is also
| larger than all the coast states of the
United States from Maine to Florida
united, with West Virginia and Ohio
added. 1t could support 100000
| souls, whereas it now comprises only
about 100000 inhabitants.
| After treating of the climate, soil,
mineral wealth, trade and transporta-
ton facilities of the republic Mr.. Bar
rett concludes with a word upon the
| attitude Of the government and people
Of Colombia toward Americans on ac-
count of the Panama affair. Although
tinged with the strongest optimism his
argument upon this important point is
not wholly assuring. 1t runs as fol-
lows:
Strong feeling against the United States
still exists, but the passing Of years and
| generous, fair treatment Of Colombia and
| Colombians by the United States and it's
| citizens ID international relations and
| friendly social and commercial inter-
course can effect Its gradual disappear
ance. Such feeling does not take the atti-
| tude of personal enmity toward Ameri-
cans. The Colombians, high and low are
| too polite and sensible for that. 1t is a
| feeling In the minds and hearts, based or
the high political and patriotic grounds,
which, however, with commendable phi