Table showing the amount and value of exports from the port of Barranquilla, &c.—Cont'd. Tons. Tons. London 49 Liverpool... 341 Southampton Bremen 39, 420 72 39, 420 Hamburg 479, 305 Paris 15, 439 826, 550 459, 180 5,155 464, 335 16, 556 Havre 948, 450 9, 710 Marseilles 434, 810 104 Bordeaux 6, 240 2, 080 2, 080 New York. 657 Antilles 265,550 6,618,450 2,872,206 1,879 Carthagena. 125, 520 79, 920 43, 135 52 Colon 59, 331 18, 205 2,000 3, 541 123, 055 60, 421 20, 205 [From the report of Mr. F. J. Cisneros, director-general of the Antioquia Railroad.] The United States of Colombia are situated in the northern part of South America being included between 11° and 120 north and 40 and 5° south latitude, and 70° and 80° west longitude. Bogota, the capital, is situated on the parallel of 4° 36′ 6′′ north latitude, and on 74° 13′ 59′′ west longitude from Greenwich. The Republic is composed of nine States and five Territories; the States being Antioquia, Bolivar, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Panama, Santander, and Tolima. The names of the Territories are Boliver, Casanare, Goajira, Providencia, and San Martin. The population is estimated at 3,000,000. The form of government is democratic and the system federal. The general Government possesses, by virtue of article 17 of the constitution, the right of intervention in matters relative to lines of interoceanic communication at Value of produce. Value of treasure. Total value of pro duce and treas ure. present existing, or which may in the future be opened, in the territory of the union, and in the navigation of the rivers which lave the shores of more than one State, or which pass to or from a neighboring power. The total territorial area of the Republic of Colombia is 455,673 square miles; that is, 330,756 north of the equator and 124,917 south of it. The principal objects of commerce are gold, emeralds, tobacco, Peruvian bark,* gutta-percha, dyewoods, gums, and hats, called by the local name of "jipijapa." The principal rivers of Colombia are the Atrato, the Sinu, and the Magdalena. The leading ports are Rio Hacha, Dibulla, Santamartha, Sabanilla, Carthagena, and Colon, on the Atlantic. The river Magdalena is, from a commercial point of view, the water-way of most importance in the Republic, and by means of it the great portion of the country's trade is carried on. The Magdalena River rises in the Laguna de las Papas, and empties into the Atlantic at a point called Bocas de Ceniza. At 15 miles from its mouth, on the left bank, is the city of Barranquilla, a principal commercial center, the seat of an extensive import and export trade. Barranquilla is connected with the port of Sabanilla by means of a railroad 14 miles in length. The Bocas de Ceniza, which for a long time was obstructed by a sand bar at the entrance, is now open to easy access by vessels of large tonnage; and, on account of the privileges conceded of late years by Congress to the commerce of the country, it is frequently visited by steamers and sailing ships from distant parts and many nations. In order to aid the entry of sailing craft, the Government has established a tug-boat service. For the purposes of navigation, the Magdalena is divided into what may be called the Upper and Lower Magdalena. The former is included between the cities of Neiva and Honda, a distance of 200 miles, approximately; and the latter comprises from Caracoli to the mouth of Ceniza, or, more appropriately, to Barranquilla, which is the place where the river steamers depart and arrive. The distance from Barranquilla is 515 miles. NEW LIGHT-HOUSE.-The light set up at Rio Hacha is located as below: latitude 11° 33′ north, longitude 72° 55' west of Greenwich; visibility, 16 miles. Statement showing the exports from Barranquilla for the calendar year 1882. The writer has inadvertently omitted "coffee," which is one of the principal exports. Statement showing the export from Barranquilla for the calendar year 1882—Continued. Report by Vice-Consul Henriques on the trade and commerce of Rio Hacha for the calendar year 1882. The year that passes away to-day has been one of many privations and much suffering for this town and the provinces upon which it depends for its commerce; the principal cause being the invasion of the whole country by swarms of locusts, combined with a prolonged drought and consequent drying up of most of the rivers. Agriculture, which as yet, on account of the absence of roads, has been cultivated to a very limited scale, and that for the immediate wants of the population only, has this year been an utter failure. In districts where the sale of plantains and yams was formerly unheard of, everybody raising what they required, these necessaries of a tropical life, where bread is unknown, have completely disappeared, or at least become luxuries for those that can afford the exorbitant prices they now command. In many villages in the interior the poorer classes have been reduced to imported rice as their only food, and that often simply boiled in water and salt, glad to escape the immediate pangs of hunger, that have already claimed more than one victim. The raisers of cattle have also suffered heavy losses, seeing their beasts drop dead before them for want of pasture and water. The rich Goajira peninsula has, however, been the greatest sufferer by the locusts and scarcity of water. These vast savannas present a most pitiful aspect. Innumerable herds of cattle, famished by thirst, may be seen wandering over its waterless plains, now covered with dry and useless grass, baked by many months of a burning sun. Its vegetation, usually stunted, is now reduced to a few dried-up bushes without either leaves or shade, and its only product is now reduced to divi-divi. Goat farming, one of its principal industries, is threatened with total extinction, such has been the mortality among them for want of pastureand water. The Indians, usually so fond of rum, would think nothing of killing a goat merely to exchange its skin for means to indulge in drink or some personal ornament. Now the greatest necessity only obliges them to part with one. Commerce here is already feeling the effects of this precarious position, not only in the few transactions, but also by the total absence of all articles of exportation. It will be seen by the following table of exports that bones and horns of animals, that up till now have been completely overlooked by merchants here, are at present collected and exported in small quantities. The present critical position caused by the locusts, continued drought, and consequent absence of exports, together with the low prices they at present demand, may perhaps resolve itself into a source of positivewealth for this country. Already a few energetic individuals-rare exceptions among the generality of natives, who are indolent and little given to the monotonous routine of every-day life-have dedicated themselves to the exploration of the rich and extensive virgin forests of this department, in the hopeof finding some new article of exportation. Although these explorerslack both experience and funds, something has been done, and cinchona (hitherto unknown in this State) has been discovered, whose analysis. has so far stimulated the finder that six tons are now lying here for export. Others are wandering through the woods in search of copaiba, India rubber, minerals, and other available exports; and comparing the geological formation with the different temperatures of these regions with those in which these products are found, there is every hope that their efforts will be crowned with success. Others, again, are trying to farm paddocks or inclosed pastures for their herds, by means of artificial irrigation, principally wells, and have obtained through this office many hints on the best way of getting water, as also the prices of pumps and other articles for agricultural cultivation. So that the crisis through which these villages are at present passing may, as I remarked before, be a positive saving for this country by encouraging the exploration of the vast forests, promoting agriculture by the introduction of new implements, and in general stimulate a love for work among the lower classes. Notwithstanding the unfortunate situation of the country, the following import and export tables may prove interesting. They are compiled from the custom-house reports, and will, I think, give an exact idea of the commerce transacted in this place. Two important improvements have been made in the town lately. A powerful fixed light, visible for a distance of 12 miles, has been placed on the top of the tower of the only church in town. It only awaits the sanction of the national Government to come into operation. In the same tower a public clock of American make has been working now regularly for six months. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Rio Hacha, January 3, 1883. P. V. HENRIQUES, Vice-Consul. |