The Holbrook news., 1911-04-28

venezuela Is 1eQeral republic nke
 the United States, Mexico, Brazil and
 Argentina, union of sovereign
 states. Caracas is the capital of the
 Union, and, like Washington. Buenos
 Ayres, Rio de Janeiro and Mexico
 City, is not located in any one of the
 states composing the union, but in federated district especially set apart
 as the seat of government.
 Caracas was founded in 1867 by the
 Spanish captain, Diego de Lozada- Its principal claim to historical dis tinction is that it Is the birthplace of Miranda and of Bolivar. Gen. Fran cisco Miranda, born in 1752, served with distinction on Washington's staff and with the patriots in the French revolution and organized and com manded the first serious attempt against Spanish rule in the western hemisphere. Gen. Simon Bolivar, the most splendid figure in South Amer ican history, born in 17S3. after first serving under Miranda, became the general in chief of the forces against Spain and the liberator of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
 Caracas is now a city of something less than 100000 inhabitants, neither very modern nor yet very ancient in appearance, less attractive in build; ings. but more beautiful in its en- vironment than most of the Spanish American capitals. Surrounded by picturesque mountains and in one of the prettiest little valleys, 1t has charm not possessed by more preten- tious capitals The valley of the Guaire is a garden spot and one of the richest in natural fertility in the world. The rich lands are under high state of cultivation, the cane and coffee plantations beginning at the edge of the city.
 The city is lighted with electricity and gas. It has a complete telephone system and other modern convent ences. Some of the avenues are broad and shaded by tropical trees, with here and there handsome build ings of modern architecture, bits of Caracas which compare favorably with the larger and more stately cap itaIs of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay. A little farther along and the solid built squat houses, with more or less repellant exteriors, car " one back to Paris in the days of the League or Rome under the last of the Tribunes, when a mans house was a fortress and his neighbor an en- emy.
 The principal square in Caracas is the Plaza Bolivar, in the heart of the city, and containing four handsome bronze fountains. The walks are mosaic and the intervening spaces are little gardens set out with tropical plants and flowers. In the center is the equestrian statue of Bolivar on a handsome granite pedestal. Plaza Bolivar is the place of rendezvous of Caracas society. Twice week and on holidays in the evenings mill tary band gives concerts.
 Washington square, opposite the church of Santa Teresa, with very pretty flower plats and some very fine trees. contains in the center statue of George Washington. Pantheon square, in the northern section of the city, is larger than either the Bolivar or Washington squares. It contains statue of Miranda, the martyr of in- who died in the Spanish fortress of Ceuta a prisoner of war on July 14, 1S16.
 The federal palace and the capitol together occupy the entire block to the southwest of the Plaza Bolivar They are the two most important mod ern structures in Caracas. The fed eral palace in Corinthian style occu- pies the northern half of the block. It is the home of several of the executive of the government and of the high federal court. The capitol is an imposing building of the Doric stvle of architecture. It contains the halls of the chamber of deputies and of the senate.