Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-13
FREIGHT AIR line
Project DEPICTED
Geographic Society Outlines
Route From Chicago to
Buen0S Aires.

"If freight air line should connect
Chicago with Buenos Aires along the
route now being discussed, one Of the
most interesting sections OF the Journey
would lie over British, Dutch and
French Guiana" says bulletin from
the headquarters OF the National Geo.
graphic Society. This leg Of the pro-
posed route begins at Caracus. In Vene-
zucla. and ends at Cayenne. in French
Guiana. stretch Of South American
coast sighted by Columbus but still one
Of the least settled portions of the New
World
Guiana has been so little In the
worlds eye that It's name was confused
with Guinea on the African coast, and
the small rodent from Guiana was
christened the Guinea pig by mistake.
Three European Colonies Cited.
THE three Guianas are the only
European colonies on the continent Of
South America. The word Guiana Is
derived from the name of an old Indian
tribe which once inhabited the entire
country between the mouths CT the
Orinoco and Amazon Rivers as far back
as the Rio Negro and the Casiquiare.
This huge territory formerly went by
the name Of Guiana, but much of 1t is
now included in Venezuela and Brazil
Sir Walter Raleigh visited the region
in search of Ell Dorado, tabled land of
riches. but. discouraged by Indians.
heat, and swampS. he turned back. The
first actual settlements were made by
Dutch Colonists in the last quarter of
the sixteenth century. Paramaribo or.
as the Dutch call 1t. Surinam. the capi-
tai of Dutch Guiana, is interesting as
the city which was traded to the Eng
lish for the settlement of New Amster-
dam on Manhattan Island, present day
New York. Paramaribo now has a
population Of about 10000 people.
mostly negroes.
Labor Shortage Hindrancc.
French Guiana. perhaps the most
beautiful section Of the coast from a
scenic point of view. has long been
used as convict colony and has made
few attempts at agricultural or COM
nnercial development.
British and Dutch Guiana have had
struggling existence, the settlers being
crowded upon narrow strip Of agri-
cultural land between tropical junsles
and the Atlantic Ocean Much of this
strip is below sea level and has to be
diked and artificially drained. Sugar.
nlolasses. rum. molascuit. sort of cat
tie food made from the residue of mo-
lasses, and rice are the chief agricul-
tural products. Successful attempts
have been made to raise bananas. cacao
and rubber. but plant diseases and lack
OF labor have been a great detriment to
development Of the country. Following
freeing Of negro slaves the sugar in.
dustry. which had been q mainstay of
! the colonies. languished considerably
certain amount OF East Indian in
dentured labor was induced to iirmi-
CRATE. but the need for workers who can
stand the sun has never been met. ana
Is still one Of the vital problems OF the
CuianaS.
Tropical Jungle on Route.
Behind the coast Is a wide belt of
tropical jungle. after which the ex-
plorer reaches high. treeless plains or
savannaS. Farther still are great ranges
Of mountains, furnishing magnificent
scenery. ka!eteur Falls. in British
Guiana. are 400 feet wide and TAI feet
high. more than four times the height
OF Niagara. This region is reached from
the coast by following rivers inland,
first in larger boats and then in canoes.
Gold mines are worked in paying guam
titles and small diamonds are exported.
The Indians. who roam the country are
primitive in their mode OF life, but not
unfricndly. Bauxite and balata are
other Guiana products, as well as hard
woods from the jungle belt
In Paramarioo there is q street
shaded by mahogany trees said TO be
worth $4,000. Americans are inter-
ested In the fact that in Georgetown.
capital OF British Guiana, although
English pounds and shillngs are in CIR
culatiorl. accounts are kept in dollars at
the rate Of shilling pence per dol
lar. This Is said TO be for convenience
in exporting. much trade being carried
on between the United States ana
Canada"