The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-03-06

Society. Washington. d. CO
INCREASE by Colombia of the ex-
port tax on bananas to three cents
bunch calls attention to coun-
try which contributes other impor-
tant items besides tropical fruit to the
consumers of the United States. APP
proximately twelve million punches of
bananas were exported last year,
practically all Of them to the United
States.
Colombia, which occupies the north
eastern corner of South America and
forms the southern "abutment" Of the
isthmus Of Panama, is typical of the
entire northern and northeastern por-
ton of the South American continent.
1t is tremendously rich in all sorts of
natural resources and very largely un-
developed.
1t has an area Of nearly half a mil
lion square miles, which means that
it is almost twice the size of Texas !;
yet it has only about one-tenth Of the
railroad mileage of that state. To put
1t differently, there is a mile Of rail-
way in the United States as whole
for every u square miles Of area
while in Colombia there is only mile
of railway for every go square miles
of area. Most of the Colombian rail-
ways are Of narrower gauge, by foot
or more, than those of the United
States. They do not form a system,
but for the most part are in lengths Of
&rr-nr Hxv<a 90 h,,r I,-a1 mil
scattered about the country.
Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is
situated between ranges of the Andes
on plateau at an elevation of more
than a mile and half. 1t is approx
mately 40 miles from the Caribbean
sea along the most accessible route,
and 200 miles from the Pacific across
the Andes. 1t has no rail connection
with either sea. To reach it one must
fly or travel for more than 500 miles
up the winding course Of the Magda-
lena river by boat, skirting rapids by
means of a short length of railroad,
and finally cover the last so miles
from the head of navigation by rail.
The land-river trip sometimes re-
quires several weeks. Transportation
of supplies throughout much of the
interior is by means of mule-back
along rough, narrow mountain paths.
The few carriage roads are in the
Magdalena delta near the coast and
in the vicinity of Bogota on the pla-
teau.
Vast Grazing Plains.
More than half of the area of Co
lombia lies east of the three ranges of
the Andes and consists of plains cOun-
try sloping toward the center of the
continent and drained by the head
waters of the great Amazon and ORR
noco river system. Covered with sue
culent grasses, these plains form an
unsurpassed stock-raising country. 1t
is largely unutiliZed and is to be COM
pared with the plains Of Rhodesia,
South Africa, as one of the richest
unoccupied regions suitable for cattle
raising remaining in the world. 1t Is
estimated that more than ten million
head of cattle could be pastured on
these "llanos'' of eastern Colombia.
Colombia's climatic vary from the
sub-tropical near the shores Of the
Caribbean, to Alpine in the higher
Andes. Forests cover millions of
acres. the deltas and river valleys
yield cotton, tobacco, cacao, bananas,
rubber and other tropical and sub
tropical products, while on the hill
sides coffee thrives. Annual coffee ex-
ports often reach a value of S75,0OO,-
900. while the yearly banana ship
ments have grown to value of ap-
proximately S1O,OOO,0OO. On the pla-
teaus grain and other temperate zone
products may be grown. The need for
railroads in Colombia is indicated by
the fact that, though considerable
quantities of grain are produced on
the interior plateaus, it has always
ben cheaper TO buy grain from the
United States in the Colombian coast
cities after it has been shipped thou
sands of miles, than to transport the
domestic grain the few hundred miles
from its place Of production.
Gold has always been one of the
important products of Colombia. Since
the coming of the Spaniards at the
beginning of the Sixteenth century ap-
proximately 100000 worth of gold,
it is estimated, has been mined from
the country. About 100000 worth
is produced annually at present. The
country supplies nearly half the world
production of platinum. Iron ore and
numerous other minerals are present
in paying quantities. Perhaps most
important of all, Colombia has vast
reservoir of petroleum beneath her
soil. In 1890 more than 20 million
barrels were produced.
Old City of cartagena.
Colombia was named for Christie
pher Columbus who in 1902 started in
the country, where the isthmus of
Panama meets South America, the
first settlement on the mainland in
the New world. This settlement was
short-lived. Cartagena, one Of the
chief ports, was established in 1888.
1t was hea-ily fortified by the Span
iards and served as the collection
point and olace of safe keeping for
the treasure from both coasts of
South America, preliminary to its pc
riodical shipment to Spain under con-
voy.
This old city lies on peninsula
Joined to the mainland by causeway.
It's gray and ivory stone and brick
houses with their corrugated red roofs
contrast with the green hills that rise