Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-04
VENEZUELA SHOWS
LIGHT R. R. TRAFFIC
U. S. Consul Brett Reports
Few Lines Earning Fair Re-
turns on Investments.
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION

The railroads of Venezuela have
shown little growth and development
during recent years. according to a
report received here from United States
Consul Homer Brett, stationed at La
Guaira.
"On several Of the main roads traf-
fc is lighter now than twenty-five
years ago." the report states; and not
outstanding the fact that rail trans
portation is as costly as that by pack
mule, scarcely any of the railway en-
terprises have earned a fair return
upon the capital invested. though GER
tainly transportation has been quick
ened and rates have been steadied. if
not cheapened. 1t is probable that in
several cases capital investments have
been smaller and earnings greater
than the statistics indicate.
THE reasons for the conditions
shown lie In the sparseness of the
population and it's distribution in
long, narrow strip of territory skirt
Ing the seaboard. which leads to the
building of unconnected lines with
short hauls. in the moderate producing
and consuming power of the people and
in the general refusal of the lines to
grant low rates for commodities of
small value.
Steam Lines in Operation.
with $40 miles Of steam lines in
operation. Venezuela has seven feet of
railway for each square mile of terri
tory. and Ills inches per head of popu-
lation. The average freight rate is
30.5 cents per ton-mile. the average
passenger rate 6.57 cents per mile. for
first class and 4.6 cents for second
class. All lines are narrow gauge,
the various widths being three feet
six inches. one meter 1887 inches).
three feet and two feet. As a rule
there is no Interchange of cars between
the various roads. Freights are based
upon weights without regard to the
class or value of the merchandise. and
no reductions are made for carload or
other quantity shipments Upon the
more important lines the equipment is
OF European origin and type With
two exceptions all the roads are short
lines from port to city or a popu-'
lated district on the highlands not far
from tidewater.
Practically all the existing railways
( were built between 1881 and 1898, un-
der government subsidies. and guaran-
ties OF interest upon the capital in
vested This policy was greatly modi-
ned In 1892 and 1897. and as a result
not single mile of railroad was con-
structed. In 1912 the present Law was
passed. and in 1914 some extensions of
existing lines were begun.
In 1895 the government raised a loan
Of so 100000 bolivars (ss,650, 000), with
which three of the least profitable
roads were taken over. the accrued
debt upon the guarantees paid, and the
guaranteeing clauses cancelled in all
contracts except that of the Puerto
Cabelio-valencia railway. In 1915 this
company accepted 100000 sterling
l$924.6S5) in payment of all accrued in
debtedness and for the cancellation of
the interest guaranty for the future.
Total Cargo Movement.
In 1915 the total cargo movement
over all railways amounted to 2so,621
tons. which. on a basis of 800 working
days per year. gives a daily movement
of only one and three-quarter tons per
mile of line.
The Bolivar railway British capitaD
was the first road undertaken in Vene-
zueia Its object was to provide an
outlet for ore from the copper mines
in the state of Yaracuy Construction
was begun successfully in 1885, in 1852,
and for the third time in 1872 The
line was completed in 1877. 1t runs
from the port of Tucacas (nortbwest of
Puerto Cabello) to Aroa and Bar
quisimeto. and has contracted to con-
struct branch from Palma Sofa to
San Felipe. the capital of the state of
Yaracuy. OF this branch twenty kilo-
meters twelve miles) were built in
1915. The length is 1868 kilometers
010 miles) and the contract length
21S.5 kilometers- The gauge is two feet
and the rail runs forty-eight pounds to
the yard. The capital stock amounts to
$s.S22.550 United States currency. and
the investment to date is $5,974. 500.
The La Guaira-Caracas railway
British capitaD was opened to service
IL. fu -
running from the port Of La Guaira to
the city Of Caracas. and climbing from
sea level to a height of more than
1000 feet. Although in appearance a
ed and So carefully policed that there
has never been an accident involving
loss of life.
Investment Placed at %, SOC, TAO.
The capital investment is stated as
$3.j0s.740. and the capital stock of the
company is s1.70J.97 The roads best
year was in 1891
FL Gran Ferrocarril de Venezuela
German capitaD is the longest and
most costly railway that has been con-
structed in Venezuela. II was opened
to traffic in 1894. and cost $15,135,492.
or an average of $S5.226 for each of its
179 kilometers- This IL a length of Ill
miles. The road runs from Caracas
westward to Valencia. the second city
OF the republic. and it's construction is
much better than is justified either by
the necessities of the possible traffic
Two Built by British Capital.
The Puerto Cabello-Valen railway
British capitaD is thirty-three and a
half miles long. and runs from the port
of Puerto CabelIo to the city of valen-
ella. 1t climbs over a pass 1852 fee.
a uv,I I.a,
rack-rail section two and four-tenths
miles long with a maximum grade OF
per cent. the steepest gradient on the
smooth-rail sections being az per cent
The Central railway of Venezuela
british capitaD has 73.5 kilometers
norty six miles) of completed line and
23-1 kilometers yet to be constructed
70 complete It's. contract. 1t runs from
- in arol