The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-12
AMERICAN HOUSES
GROW IN VENEZUELA
Ranks, Shipping and Trading
Companies Established
at Caracas.
COUNTRY HAS 32 PORTS
variations Of Climate Afford
Wide Range of Products
Big Mineral Deposits.
n, DIR. JOSE SANTIAGO ROD
RIGUEZ,

n, DIR. JOSE SANTIAGO ROD
RIGUEZ,
s,eciai Agent from venesucia TO the
United states
s,,cioiiy irritten for the Latin Ameri-
cdn Section OF THE Sun.
Venezuela. as is well known, is sit
r,,ed in the northernmost part of South
America. All its north coast borders on
ira Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic
Dream. so that It Is the nearest Neigh
hor 10 the United States of any coun-
,-y OF South America. These shores Of
ysnezuela extend for 100 miles,
washed by the Caribbean Sea, and have
,hirty-two ports and fifty bays. Among
these ports the following are worthy OF
mention as the most important that of
La Gusyra. connected with Caracas, the
capital Of the Republic. by a railroad
uhich Is considered an engineering mar
vel; Puerto Cabello, also connected with
caracas by two lines of railway, one
that runs from Caracas 10 Valencia, COW
ering a distance of more than 102 miles.
and the other between the latter city
and the port, thirty-three miles dis
ant: Maracaibo, situated on the shore
NJ the lake bearing the same name and
lsrTely a commercial city; Cludad Boil
var. on the Orinoco. which is, next to
the Amazon, the largest river in South
America; Guanta. located In the east
ern part Of Venezuela and having one
Of the best harbors in the Republic.
The port OF La Guayra is only twenty
one miles distant from Caracas and.
moreover, is connected with the latter
BY an excellent highway constructed
across a mountain chain. SO that an
automobile trip between the two points
rNers 10 the traveller n most Interest,"
,nr spectacle for there is a rise of 5000
feet above sea level
Caracas Has Even Climate.
Between Caracas and Puerto CabeIio
the trip may also be made by another
excellent road, likewise built across
great mountain masses, for a long dis
lance, until one reaches the valleys OF
AragIa, where II follows along a pic
turesque and fertile plateau. The cli-
mate Of Caracas is delightful: during
the months OF December, January and
February the lowest temperature is fifty
degrees Fahrenheit, and the highest
sxty-four degrees. 1t is the most cele-
brated city of South America. for there
was born Simon Bolivar. the Liberator
not only OF Venezuela but also OF
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
The Republic Of Venezuela has an area
Of more than 100000 square miles.
Within this area are found more than
a thousand rivers, and there are two
large lakes and two hundred small ones
il mas eight photographic basins and
three great mountain systems. Among
these there are peaks reaching an alti-
;ude of Is. 900 feet above the sea. II
therefore follows that there is a great
variety Of zones in Venezuela, and hence
The varied character Of its products and
industries.
Yenezuela's soil and subsoil are ex-
l..dingly rich, ard II Is pity that the
extent Of this richness is not sufficiently
we'll known abroad. Cattle raising on
a large scale is carried on: an English
company has a refrigerating plant In
Puerto Cabello and has purchased ex-
lsnsive grazing lands. The breeding OF
sheep. hogs and goats is also carried
o. Coffee and cocoa, which constitute
he principal export products. are grown
likewise in abundance, as well as cot
Ton, tobacco. balate. india rubber, tonka
beans and medicinal plants.
IN the mountainous region OF the
Andes wheat is raised: the island OF
Margarita has great pearl beds. anc
throughout the whole country. one might
say grow lesser products, such as corr
and other cereals, in such abundance
that in these latter years they have beer
exported TO the Antilles.
Great Petroleum Deposits.
As regards mines the wealth of vene.
zueia is truly extraordinary. In the
States Of Zulia. Falcon and Merida. stu
ated in the western part. great petroleum
deposits have been discovered, some Of
which are already being exploited. Ir
this same State OF Falcon and in the
neghborhood of Guanta there are alsc
great coal beds, which will make tht
nearby ports two magnificent coalint
stations with easy access for ships com.
ing in 10 load. Many companies. Ameri
can British and Venezuelan. have &C
CURED some OF these petroleum conces
sions and are beginning to exploit them
i can be affirmed that the development
f these sources of wealth alone will
make the Republic of Venezuela. within
few years, a great industrial country
In the State of Bolivar, located to thu
south and crossed by the Orinoco, ar
found rich gold mines. some now beinl
worked. This State also produces rub
oer tonka beans and a great variet,
OF Gyewoods. Much foreign capital Il
employed in Venezuelan enterprises
La Guayra to Caracas railway. that from
valencia TO Puerto Cabello, from Bar
qls.meto TO Tucacas, La Guayra Hsr
Dor Corporation, the electric railway
and the Caracas Electric Light Com
pany are British companies. The cabl
y service is French enterprise.
American interests are daily becoming
more extensive. Two OF the most i'm
portant petroleum companies are Ameri
-an, and various American banks an
corporations have established branche
ana offices there, including the Nationa
NY Bank Of New York, the Mercantil
Bank o! the Americas, the America
a.ading Company, Grace & Co., tn
west India OH Company and many othe
nfms that are constantly broadening tn
I r,ope OF their business with Venezuels
resides these there is a branch OF tn
hoyai Bank Of Canada, and two nationa
ton