Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-08

woods. There are a few tanneries
which are known to prepare an ex-
cellent quality of leather.
A dozen or more beer breweries are
operating in various sections Of the
country. There are three paper fac
tories. which are doing a. profitable
and extensive business. A splendid
grade Of cotton cloth is turned out
Cumana. Several mills are manufac-
turing various finished articles of
clothing. In Cumana there are sew
eral factories for the extraction of
expectation of these products has al
ready developed to promising proper
tons.
Is Federal Union.
Venezuela is officially termed the
United States of Venezuela and is one
Of the five federal unions of America.
having adopted the federal, repre-
sentative, republican form of gov
eminent, the various states being en-
tirely autonomous in their internal
government, with certain unlimited
powers invested only in the federal gov
eminent.
The present constitution became eff
fective five years ago. The federal
government consists of three branches
executive. judicial and legislative
president and a cabinet of ministers,
who act in conjunction with him. The
national congress elects the presi-
dent and he serves for a term of seven
years. He is eligible for reelection
for the period imm ediately following
that in which he holds office
There are only 5000 men in Ven
eZuela'S standing army, but in addi-
ton to this there is a reserve army
which is estimated to number 100. 900
he
rather modern cruisers. three gun
boats an army transport. a brigantine
and other small craft. The personnel
of the navy is about 600 men and Off
GERS.
Scattered throughout the republic
there are approximately 400 post Of
fees, $4,000 miles of telephone lines
and 5000 miles of telegraph lines
he total length of railways in opera
ton in Venezuela is a trifle more than
500 miles. with an invested capital of
approximately $45,O00,00O.
Caracas Principal City.
The principal city and capital is
Caracas. which has a population
over 10000. Other important cities
and their populations are Valencia.
$1,000; Maracabo. $4,000: Barquisi-
meta, $4,000: Ciudad Bolivia, $4,000.
$4,000. N' @ 1'-a' oei ''a'
Naturally. the greatest interest and
activity is centered in Caracas. the
+ about, 5000 feet in the beautiful
valley of the Guarie river, and pos
sesses climate and natural surround
lngs exceptionally attractive and
pleasing. 1t is modern in MANY re-
spects and renowned for its HOSPITAL
ity. 1t was in this city that the
great patriot. Gen. Simon Bolivar. was
born and it also is famous as the
cradle of South American indie
pendence: Among the points in the
capital city is a handsome statue of
George Washington.
Columbus Is credited with discov-
erlng Venezuela in 1893, on his third
voyage. The coast territory was later
explored by Ojeda, A1onzo Nino and
Amerigo de Vespucci. In that early
period the country was inhabited BY
no less than $50 tribes of Indians
speaking eleven different languages.
Following colonization. the King of
"ain in 1926 granted the province of
venezuela (Which was only a part Of
the present republic) to the Belzares
family, but they failed to bring il
under subsection and after various
forms of Spanish rule the movement
for independence was initiated in 1897.
The defeat of Carababo in 1921 nut
an end to the Spanish domination, al
though the republic had formally de-
elared its independence in 1911.