Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
COLLIER SEES RAPID GROWTH
FOR SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS
Retiring Ambassador to Chile
Studies Resources of
Countries on Return.
Welcome Development of
Resources by Outside
Capital and Skill.

South America. now In the midst Of
a period of vigorous commercial anc
industrial expansion, forms great f1elc
for American capital and technical skill
and welcomes those who desire to &C
there to invest capital or to exploit The
national resources of the country, de-
clared William Miller Collier, former
United States Ambassador to Chile, or
his return to this city last night.
On his way back to this country Mr.
Collier spent nearly two months study
ing progress and commercial conditions
in Ecuador. Colombia and Venezuela.
He expressed amazement at the ire
mendous vigor displayed by the natives
of these three countries in developing
their natural resources, improving their
living conditions and expanding theil
domestic and foreign commerce.
Thousands of miles of magnificent
highways are opening hitherto almost
inaccessible country; railroads are ex-
establishing itself. Splendid private
and public buildings and parks, street
paving and lighting and other munich
pal Improvements are making the cities
of these three countries models for the
world, Mr.. Collier said.
Peruvian Cities Expand.
Leaving Valparaiso August 8, the for
mer Ambassador said, he first visited
Guayaquil, Ecuador, which is growing
rapidly. At Quito, he said, all the city
streets are splendidly paved, model
university Is being established which
mould f1a 0VAHif IA ~ ~
cellent hotels are being constructed and
there is a wholesome desire to stimulate
tourist trade.
New banks and commercial buildings
of all classes are springing up. The
/ country, however, is suffering COM
mercially as result of plaques which
are destroying the banana and COCO
nut plantations and a disease known
as "the witching bloom which is at
lacking the plant from. which chocolate
is derived and seriously injuring thu
chocolate trade
My trip to Colombia was extensive
covering 1000 miles," Mr.. Collier said
81 landed at the Pacific port o.
Buenaveptura, where there are vel
under way new port works. being con,
structed by an American firm. There
is every evidence Of active and increas.
ing commerce. / went by rail to The
famous Cauca Valley and noted the ex.
cellence of the railroads. which are vel
ballasted and maintained and with gooc
rolling stock.
Cali, the capital of the department
of the Vale del Cauca, where spen
several days, is rapidly increasing IL
population and is being fairly trans.
formed. Here, too, extensive public
i1Sal lnIa4
improvement of the water system, arr
in progress. A magnificent new hotel /.
nearly completed Many homes arr
being constructed by an American
builder for the artisan class.
Admires Energy.
"I travelled by rail and automobile
the length of the valley and was cspe
cially impressed by what found a
MsniZales, the capital of Caldas. No
where have I seen people more DARN;
in commercial projects more energeti
or more determined to make their cit.
an important commercial leader. Twt
years ago FIRE destroyed 40 blocks in tn
center of ths city, w.ping out ever.
business building. During the heigh
of the fire the municipal counCr pasSet
a resolution declaring any man VIII,
should give UP his residence or refuse t
aid in reconstruction should be branded
| publicly as a traitor. They are rebuild
| ing with almost feverish activity and IL
the most thorough and permanent man
ner.
This city is situated at an altitud'
| of nearly 5000 feet and is in the mids
| of many relatively high peaks ant
| deep canyons; but the people have tn
| faith that moves mountains and ar
using hydraulic engineering on hug
scale to wash the mountains into thu
canyons to provide parks and buildin'
sites A railway rises to the mountain
city but Manizales does not depend OIL
! rail, many aerial cable railways beinl
used. chiefly for the exporting of coffee
| the chief export of the region. Al
! aerial cable railway IS kilometers lonj
| is being built to the Magdalena Rive
at Mariquita, to the Caribbean Sea
several hundred kilometers away. ant
to the Pacific Ocean.
IT had the pleasure of travelling OF
one of these aerial cable lines, and tn
experience OF descending grade o
nearly 10 per cent. suspended in
bird cage in the air several hundre'
| feet over the abysses, is thrilling on
/ in comparison with which flying II
airplaIles is child's play.
Crosses Andes.
'T crossed ali three ranges CT tn
Andes that run north and soutl
| through Colombia partly by rail am
partly by automobile on new and mos
excellent highways. Within fou
months the highway system owe
the mountains will be completed AM
it will be possible to go iron
Beuenaventura, on the Pacific, :.
Bogota in two days, as compared Will
the IL or is days required up to re
Gently.
Everywhere there are signs of grea
and wholesome progress. / spent sew
eral days in Bogota meeting the Pres
ident of the Republic, the minister o
foreign affairs, nearly all members o
the cabinet. Americans engaged In bust
ness and leading citizens of the coun
try"
/ From Bogota Mr.. Collier went to Gi
rardot, an important stop on the ny
dropiane passenger service In the vale
of the Magdalena River from Barran
! auilla. near the mouth, to near tn
head of navigation. He few to Bar
fnto {e leUoin,aod in