Omaha daily bee., 1914-02-01
from va7hv uaa z0e Naahng for emerald club1a

Buenaventura and Temuco Neither Of
these has over $500 population. Most OF
| the other ports have no good landing
places, and at some YOU have to be car
ried on shore on the backs OF negroes.
Nevertheless, I am told that the harbors
are good, and that they will be improved
as soon as the canal Is in use.
Buenaventura will probably be the
chief port on the west coast OF Columbia
The town is built on an island. which
| lies at the head of the bay about eight
! miles from the sea, and at the mouth of
the Dagua river. BY dredging, the har-
Dor can easily be made an excellent one;
and the firm of S. Pearson & Son OF
London has just made a contract with
the Colombian government for surveys
with view to Its Improvement, In this
contract they are to get $4,000 for tho
plans and estimates OF the cost of con-
struction. The proposed improvements
include clearing and anchorage ground.
of more than mile long and about half
mile wide, and also a new city. in
cluding its waterworks and a system Of
sanitation and paving. All of the plans
are based upon a city of $1,000 inha abitants,
and by the contract they have to os
ready on or before August 10. 1914
The Buenaventura OF the present has
only 1900 people. so that this will give
you some idea of what is expected in the
way of growth from the opening of the
canal
Has One Railroad.
Buenaventura has already a railroad
which is being built over the mountains
into the sreat valley Of the Cauca river.
This road is owned by Americans. il
hegins at the harbor and will go over a
pass about 5000 feet high from where
there is an easy grade down into the val
ley. The valley of the Cauca is one of
the paradise spots of the South American
continent. 1t is several hundred miles
long and twenty OF more miles in width
IT begins near Ecuador and runs north
through a great part of Colombia. Al
together 1t is almost as large as Cali
fornia and equally rich The land is
high and healthful and the soil ia fitted
Tor coffee, cocoa and all sorts of semi
tropical fruits. There are some Ameri-
cans who have already lands there
Labor is plentiful and the chances tor
development are good. Parts OF the val.
ley are undertake with coal. some CT
"hlch is OF good steamng variety.
ana one OF the objects of the railroad
VIII be TO carry this coal down to the
tacihe ocean, where It will command a
nigh price. The road will eventualIv
connect with the other railroads of ,be
country and will probably some day he
Ae extended as to reach Bogota.
Opportunities for Americans.
foa people of North America have M
IDEA OF the possibilities right under vour
noses, Colombia is your next-door south
American neighbor and II will nav Won
70 cultivate 1t. Its people now have
stra'ned relations with the United States.
BECAUSE they think Uncle Sam took ad-
vantage OF them in regard to the Panama
canal 1t is very much a question
whether they have been equitabIy treated.
and II will pay the United States 20 make
treaty with such terms as will satisfy
them. James T. Du Bois, our last min
lister to Colombia, had such negotiations
well under way before the present ad
| mlnistration came in, and II they can
still be consummated It will be of great
oenefit to the two republics 1t would
also improve our standing with ali Of
the other South American countries
But before / go farther let me tell you
just where Colombia is and something OF
what 1t contains. 1t is just across the
Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico
The shortest distance between it and our
| country Is not as far as from Philadel-
phia to Chicago. Tampa, Fla. is as near
TO Cartagena as New York Is to st.
Louis, and from that Colombia port 10
New Orleans is only four days easy