The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-27
ny PHANoR J. EDER,

Ky PHANOR j. EDER,
Written especially for the Latin Amer
con Section OF The SUN.
Colombia is now in a more prosperous
condition than ever before in my recol-
lection. After an extensive trip of six
months through the country, including
every important commercial centre,
am convinced that the whole country
Is now on the eve of unprecedented de-
velopment. Its present prosperity may
be accounted for mainly by the great
increase In its exports.
Coffee, the chief export crop, is being
produced in ever increasing quantities,
the recent crops have been good and
the prospects for the coming ones stiii
DETER. In the part of tho country l
last visited--the Cauca Valley--never
nave the trees been known to flower in
such profusion. Selling at high prices
In foreign markets, substantial profits
have accrued to the planters and to all
connected directly or indirectly with the
business. Other exports have also in
creased either in volume or value, for
instance. hides, sugar and minerals.
especially platinum. of which the codn-
try is at the present time, owing to
the situation In Russia, the sole pro-
Queer.
The consequence Is that Colombia has
an unprecedentedly large trade balance
IN her favor and as dollar exchange
has almost reached its normal level in
the last few months since the restric-
tons on the export of gold from this
country were lessened, prosperity Is
general. Merchants have prospered
equally with planters Imports have
been naturally stimulated by the in
creased purchasing power abroad, but
the country's requirements, owing to the
delay In deliveries by our manufacturers
are still far from being filed mer-
chants shelves are empty, and many
articles of prime necessity cannot be
obtained.
With the Increase in imports and the
consequent Increase in customs duties
on which the Government under the
present system mainly depends for
revenue. its difficulties, which not long
ago were acute-are disappearing.
Cattle Industry Important.
Even more remarkable to nv mind
than the growth of Columbia.s foreign
trade Is the development of her internal
commerce and manufacture OF goods for
local consumption. After coffee, cattle
raising is tho chief industry; perhaps,
in fact. 1t should be placed first. though
reliable statistics are not available. The
cattleman has been getting high prices,
and is looking forward to the establish
ment of a packing house by an Ameri-
can company on the Atlantic coast to
further help the industry. In many
parts OF the country attention is at last
being paid to improving the breed of
animals; the recent exhibition held at
alaf H. II
ment that has taken place In the breeds
of cattle and horses.
believe there are splendid opportuni-
ties for scientific stock breeders, with
suficient capital to introduce imported
stock. and willing to devote their perso-
nal attention to the business. Colombia
owing to lack of transportation facilities
and other circumstances, is still, and
may continue for some time to be, Diff
cult country within which to do business
ty proxy. A current maxim is Eel ojo
del dueno eugordo la vaca" 1.-THE owners
eye fattens the cattle).
Manufacturing, too. is making strides
There are several textile mills at Bar
ranquilla, Cartagena> Medellin and near
Bogota, which have been doing well. and
a new company has been recently or
ganized to establish a mill at Manizales
Nearly every manufacturing enterprise
that has started up has been successful
shoe, shirt, match. cigar. cigarette. nail
chocolate. biscuit, jam, glass, crockery
factories rb ewerles, tanneries. flour mills,
&c have bosn making money.
An encouraging sign Is that in most
sections of the country labor is now re-
ceiving higher pay. No country can eX-
pect to progress where laborers are kept
on the pauper scale that used to pre-
vail everywhere in Colombia. In many
regions there is some scarcity of labor.
while again in the densely populated
plateaus of the Eastern Cordillera there
is still an abundance, coupled with a
great deal of poverty, the Indians, who
constitute the mass of the population
there, being too firmly attached to the
soil or else too ignorant to move to other
sections where labor is needed.
Transportation Is gradually improving
and some progress. though slow, is being
made in railroad building. With the aid
of American capital, important develop
ments can confidently be looked forward