Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-31
DESPITE CONTROVERSIES YET
UNSETTLED UNCLE SAM HAS
NO STRONG COMPETITOR.
Y. s. CONSUL DEPICTS
COUNTRY As RICH
Cattle Raising Industry Gives Much
Promise - Abundance Of Land For
Pasturasc TO Be Had at Low Prices
Lack Of Transportation Facilities
in Interior Retards Development.
Especial Correspondence. 7


Washington Aug. 31.-Tho there has
been long standing controversy be-
tween Colon bia and the United States
because of the Panama canal and re-
+. lated questions, the United States has
the greatest share of the foreign trade
| of that nation
This fact and others of much inter-
est about the little known republic of
Colombia are set forth in report from
Cartegena by Consul Ross Hazeltine.
He depicts Colombia as wonderfully
rich region, with enormous resources,
sparse population, and great possibili-
ties
Among other things. it appears the
cattle raising industry gives much
promise in Colombia. The abundance
OF land for pasturage and the low
prices at which such land can be
bought. according to Mr.. Hazeltine,
lead one to believe that in future years
the cattle industry will be the greatest
natural resource. The lack of trans
portation facilities in the interior has
naturally retarded development Of
cattle raising and the closing of the
markets of United States and Cuba
by quarantine has exerted a depress-
ing effect on the industry. American
cattlemen of long experience have
stated that in some districts notably
the Sinu River valley, the cattle are
exceptionally fine. In other parts
Texas fever has decimated the herds
while the continued drought in some
sections has destroyed pasturage. The
expectation of hides is considera Bile
and the United States buys practically
all that are offered.
Based on statistics for the port OF
Cartagena. the United States last year
had about SO per cent OF the total for
eign trade Of Colombia. 1t supplied
43.5 per cent of the imports and took
70 per cent of the exports. The access
sibility of the field and the excellent
transportation facilities-that is. sea
transportation-were dominant factors
in the strong hold acquired by the
United States
Another factor was stoppage OF i'm
ports from Germany and reduction of
imports from Great Britain. Present
indications are the United States will
occupy an even better position in 1915.
Only Two Resources.
Colombia's foreign trade is based
upon agricultural and mineral re-
sources almost exclusively. The ex
ports from the port of Cartagena in
1914 in the order of their value We're:
Coffee. platinum, hides, gold. Panama
hats and sugar. The imports en-
braced a wide variety of manufactured
goods, with textiles pre-eminent, but
including fnndstnffs manufactures nf
metals, drugs and medicines, and many
other classes in smaller proportions.
Lack Of capital Mr.. Hazeltine says,
is the greatest drawback to develop
ment of Colombia. 1t is big coun-
try and contains 100000 square
miles, more than ten times the area OF
New York state and considerably larg-
er than the combined areas Of France,
Germany, Denmark, Netherlands,
Switzerland. and Belgium. The popu-
lation Is estimated at 100000 Of
whom so per cent is white, 35 per cent
negroes, and Is per cent Indians. These
figures show an average of eight per-
sons to the square mile.
Trade Still Growing.
Not only is the trade with the Unit
ed States growing. but singularly
enough, while Colombia is angered be-
cause the United States will not pay it
money to settle the Panama question.
the canal has been of great benefit to
Colombia Prior to completion OF the
canal, Colombia was divided into two
quite separate parts. The Pacific and
Atlantic-or Caribbean slopes-were
geographically and commercially inde-
pendent of each other Now, the Pan
anna canal has united commercial Co
lumbia. This opens UP tremendous
possibilities, in the opinion of Consul
Hazeltine. He says the construction
of railways from the interior plains to
Pacific ports will assure development
of one of the richest regions in all
South America