The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-12-24
VENEZUELA'S COAST.
Natural and Artificial Characters
tics About La Guayra.
A Point of Worldwide Interest be-
Can@e of Recent international
TrOubIew--surrOund COun-
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 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 a description OF
the natural and artificial characters
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 sur
dried brick, plastered 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
a spur of which stands the little. for
tification 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 its walls of such a 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 well 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 fiat
land.
East of La Guayra the mountain bases
are nearer the shore, with here and
there a 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 25 miles.
The railroad is the property of an
English syndicate, and was opened
for traffic in 1883. 1t iswell 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 Cardinal
and then, turning south and east, it
ascends, by means of steel viaduct,
to its 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 5000 feet in dis
tance of 222 miles and then descending
200 feet into the valley of the Guavra
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 vastly superior invading
force.