The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-21
u. 5. CAPITAL
IN COLOMBIA
MINES ARE BEING DEVELOPED
AND NEW INDUSTRIES BEGUN
PRECIOUS METALS TO AMOUNT
OF $3,5oo,ooo OBTAINED LAST
YEAR. d, ~.-|,

New York Times: Reports from the
several consular agents In Colombia
indicate that United States capital is
reaching out into new enterprises in
that republic In steadily Increasing
amounts. Coineidently, these reports
show that Colombia is prospecting in
many directions, and making rapid
commercial progress.
Industrial growth looking largely to-
ward future development, writes Unit
ed States Consul Isaac A. Manning
from B~arranquilla, was the particular
feature of the commercial year of 1912.
The hydroelectric plant and dredge
for the Plate Mines Co., was COM
pleted at a cost $1,000 900. A number
Of American capitalists sent engineer
ing parties into the Cauca valley to
carry on prospect work. Coal depos-
its were located on the lower Atrato
river, and one American syndicate
purchased about 1000, 900 acres of land
supposed to contain petroleum and
coal.
Railroad Work.
Work was continued in 1912" adds
Mr.. Manning, ION the Pacific railway
between Buenaventura and Call on the
upper Cauca river, but was inteTfered
with materially by heavy rainfall,
which destroyed many miles of track
and greatly retarded the completion
Of the road. When finished this will
be n of the most important railways
Colombia. The Antioquia railway
between Puerto Berrio and Medellin,
was pushed forward steadily, and
much new rolling stock was added to
it's equipment. Owing to the entry of
capital into this scheme, this
was chiefly of German
although some new
American engines have recently been
mo new track was laid on either
the Puerto Witches or the Santa Ma
tia railway lines, which have come |
a standstill because of differences
between the government and the con
which have not been set |
tied"
Writing Of the commercial relations
between Colombia and the United
Mr.. Manning says:
Made With United States.
THE total OF declared exports to the
United States from Colombia during
yer that Of the preceding year,
amounting to $4.8O4, PAT, or a little over
per cent. In some items of import
ance there was a falling off in value,
coffee showed a heavy increase, |
over 81 per cent, the total being $10,- |
327 1863, as compared with $5,23U,S53 in
1911. Hides showed an increase eX- |
port value Of 20 per cent and platinum
Of sc per cent. Santa Marta bananas |
and Panama hats. each showed a de- |
crease in value, the reduction on the
former being about $157, 900, and in the
latter $95, OO0."
Gold and silver are among Col
Ombia's most important mineral prod
ucts, and mining operations are rapid
ly extending.
THE total production of gold and
n platinum in the department
Of Antioquia in 1872" writes. United
States Consular Agent Silas II. Wright
from Medellin, was approximately
SO, 500, 900, somewhat less than in pre-
years, but the activities of new
enterprises that were under way at the
end of the year point to an increase to
the normal average of about $4,000, 900
during the present year. Gold is OBJ
tined from quartz and placer mines
throughout the entire department of
and the mining districts of
Manizales, which is now part Of the
department of Caldas. Most Of this
gold goes to New York and London,
the monthly shipments of gold bars
from Medellin being $150,O00 to $780,
900.
Quartz Mines.
THE quartz mines of A%ntioquia are,
as a rule, in the higher and, more
healthy regions, While the placers are
found lower down, along the rich allu-
vial streams and rivers, where I'M
healthy conditions often prevail. Plat
mum is found in paying quantities only
in the Atrato region. 1t is collected in
desultory fashion by the natives, who
wash the sands of the bars n river
beds. Silver is mined only as found
with gold, as at the Zancudo mines
near here.
ION the Porce river, which has been
the best gold-producing region of late
years, about fifty miles from Medellin,
several hydraulic elevator plants arc
in operation, and more were under
construction at the beginning of the
present year. Only two of the proper
ties on this river are owned by Amer
lean companies, the La Clara mines
and the Hormihguero Hydraulic Min
ing Co, which adjoin each other. The
other Porce river mines are native
holdings, some having hydraulic equip
ments and Others only native wooden
wheels for keeping the pits dry by
pumping. One of these mines, the Ga
vino, has attracted particular attention
on account of it's richness, and gives
an idea Of the prospects still to be
found on the Porce river. This hold
ing covered two or three acres of a
small bar just below the junction of
the Porce and Rio Grande, or which
only a small part was worked. In two
years $4,000 in gold was taken from
this mine, which will be worked out
in another year. 1t is estimated that
a single pump in good ground on he
Porce produces an average of thirty
pounds of gold per month during the
season, but as the bars are usually
small and the gold Is found only in the
old channels, there is much variation
in the different mines" -
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