The Washington herald., 1908-05-24
WAS HOME OF THE INCAs
It's Gold Mines Fascinated PizarrO
and Made Spain the Richest of
MOnnrchies-MinernI, Agricultural,
and Forest Products VIII Place 1t
in Front Rank of Nations.

repuOllc any foreign debt. BOLIVIA has
also the richest mining region in the
world. These facts explain the progress
sive foreign policy which to-day actuates
this people and will. within few years,
make the country modern. accessible,
and Industrial nation.
The lack OF seaport finds compensation
in the fact that Bolivia has three great
outlets 10 the consuming world There
are three routes to the Pacific. One Is
already completed across Lake Titicaca,
through Peru. on a railroad which carries
the traffic to the city of Mollendo. where
Bolivia has a custom-house Of her own.
The others, not yet completed. as far as
rail is concerned, go across the mountains
20 the Chilean ports Of africa and Anto-
fagasta.
A second outlet Is from the center OF the
republic southwark to the borders of Ar
gentina, where the railroad through Juiuy
finally carries produce OF all kinds 10 the
River Plate and the Atlantic markets, or
eastward TO the Paraguay River and
thence southwark 20 the Plate. The third
outlet is for the products OF the central
and northern portion OF the republic.
which will, TO an increasing extent. find
their way northward down the Madeira
River. the Amazon, and thus into the At
lantic. after traversing 1900 miles OF in
terror waterway
History Old; Industry Young.
Bolivia is historically one OF the Oldest
countries Of South America; industrIally
she is one Of the youngest. She is to-day
the third largest Of the ten republics.
Brazil and Argentina being greater in
area. The famous mines OF Potosi are In
Bolivia and from them came the fabulous
wealth OF the Incas which fascinated
Pizarro. and from them. by a tax Of one
fifth Of the output Spain derived for
nearly three centuries an income that
mace her the richest empire IN Europe.
or gold Bolivia has produced 81. 800. 900 900.
and the mines are still so rich that they
yield $4,000 a year. In silver Bolivia
ranks third among the nations of the
world, although at present silver mining
is not carried on TO anything like the ex-
tent Il formerly was
Bolivia Is eager 20 become the largest
tin producer in the world and Il Is not
impossible that eventually that position
may be attained. The wealth OF the
Bolivian tin mines is wonderful and the
striking feature is not that more is not
comes from her soil. when the distance
from markets. the altitude at which work
Is performed, and the scarcity Of labor
are considered. Near the town Of Santa
Barbara latitude 1871 feet. probably the
highest Inhabited place In the world the
principal tin mine is AZ an elevation of
1i,DO feet When the transportation ques-
tion is solved. this product alone will
make OF Bolivia a rich country.
Bolivia Produces Bismuth.
Bismuth is found more abundantIy in
Bolivia than anywhere else on earth. II
the republic wished. the bismuth market
could be controlled by the output from
these mines. Copper is also one of the
main products Copper and silver go to-
gether. yet recently some silver mines
have depended more upon their copper
for reward, and have not been disap-
pointed Interestingly enough. this asso-
citation is not a chemical. but geographic
one. The silver lies under the copper
and In places one metal or the other can
be worked, as suits the Judgment Of the
mining company.
Gold, silver, tin. copper and bisrnuth
are the evident and well-known sources
Of wealth in Bolivia. There are other
metals; antimOny, lead. and borax are
found. and coal and petroleum have been
commercially exploited. The mining laws
are modern. just. and impartial 10 citizen
and foreigner alike, so that any person
wishing TO try his luck in this great coun-
try need have no hesitancv in doing 90
But ii is a great mistake TO suppose that
Bolivia is a rocky. sterile. inhospitable
mining camp. Her inland areas have
some Of the most fertile and attractive
.1aN
Here Is the mysterious Lake Titicaca-
the highest navigated body OF fresh wa
ter; apparently its drainage Is toward the
southwest, but there are evidences that
part Of the watershed tends toward the
northeast, so that here seems TO be the
dividing line between the Atlantic and the
Pacific.
Here Lies Future Wealth.
In this northeastern region lies the f,,-
ture wealth Of Bolivia, for here can be
grown all that man wishes TO call forth
from luxurious nature. In the forests
that cover the valleys and ravines OF the
large rivers Rowing from here are several
species Of rubber. There are rubber trees
in plenty; sometimes forty trees 10 the
acre
This rubber area promises 20 equal I'm
value the possessions of Brazil and Peru.
and one great advantage Is as permanent
as the Andes. for the trees grow on the
eastern slope OF the mountains. thus be-
ing blessed with the most favorable con
dition possible, II has been estimated
that 50.OOO.0OO trees can be found In the
region OF the Upper Benz alone. and this
is scarcely one-third Of the territory.
Each tree is supposed TO yield annually
from three 20 seven pounds of rubber.
and when the whole area Is approachable |
Bolivia may be able to supply the world !
from her own forests. In 1905 she export |
ed $J00o00 worth Of rubber, and from
year to year this quantity will Increase.
Coffee and COcnO Grow Well.
There are prosperous coffee estates. fine
cocao plantations. and even sugar planta-
tions with profitable output Bolivia is
the home Of the llama. and exports con-
siderable quantities Of alpaca woods and /
the finest chinchila skins A scarcity Of /
labor is one of the drawbacks to rapid |
industrial progress. yet the native In
dians are more plentiful than IS usually /
reported, so that most enterprises can be |
carried on without fear Of a famine of /
Workingmen- Nevertheless, land is cheap |
here, and fertile, and much of the country |
invites immigration from other countries. |
The plan which Bolivia has prepared /
Tor the purpose OF opening these wide /
plateaus and valleys Is a fascinating one.
She Is ready 10 spend 100000 600 on rail-
road construction. An American company
is already at work on surveys, and in
some parts In actual track laying. A line
viii be built from La Paz to Tupiza. $50
miles; another from Oruro to Cochamba,
l8 miles. and third from La Paz to
Puerto Pando. 200 miles.
Authority has been given for line TO
the interior from the Paraguay River. the