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 The PAN AMERICAN UNION 
 
 JOHN BARRETT : : 
 FRANCISCO J. YANES 
 
 Director General 
 Assistant Director 
 
 ##/##///#/#//////////###/#»#////#///##//////////////#///>//////////##///###/###///###//////#/#//###/#/###//#########///##/#////////< 
 
 COLOMBIA 
 
 GENERAL DESCRIPTIVE DATA 
 PREPARED IN SEPTEMBER 
 
 1914 
 
COLOMBIA IN BRIEF. 
 
 Area, 438,436 square miles (1,135,549 square kilometers). 
 Population, 5,472,604. (Census of 1912.) 
 
 Foreign Commerce, 1913. 
 
 Exports 
 
 Imports 
 
 $34>3i5.252 
 
 28,535,780 
 
 Total 
 
 $62,851,032 
 
 Principal Exports: Coffee, gold, cattle hides, bananas, tagua 
 (ivory nuts), Panama hats, rubber, emeralds, etc. 
 
 Principal Imports: Textiles, foodstuffs and condiments, metals, 
 railway supplies, pharmaceutical products, soft drinks, wines, and 
 liquors. 
 
 The climate along the coasts is tropical, but in the elevated regions 
 of the interior temperate and healthful. Bogota, the capital, 
 owing to its elevation, enjoys a delightfully cool and salubrious 
 climate the year round. 
 
 Chief physical characteristics: An extended coast line on both 
 the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Three chains of moun¬ 
 tains cross the country, one of these being the source of the 
 Magdalena River, which empties into the Caribbean Sea. The 
 Magdalena is navigable for over 600 miles (say 1,000 kilometers), 
 while the Cesar, Cauca, Nechi, Eebrija, and Sogamoso are navi¬ 
 gable for varying distances. 
 
 Means of approach: The principal ports of Colombia on the 
 Caribbean Sea are Puerto Colombia, at the mouth of the Magda¬ 
 lena River and connected by rail with Barranquilla, 15 miles (24 
 kilometers) distant; Cartagena,Santa Marta,and Rio Hacha. These 
 may all be reached by steamers from New York, or by transship¬ 
 ment to coast lines at Colon, Panama. The first three have been 
 added to the itinerary of the United Fruit Company’s steamers 
 from New York. They are ports of call also for several European 
 lines. On the Pacific Ocean, Buenaventura and Tumaco are the 
 most important ports, reached by all of the Pacific Coast lines 
 from South American ports and from Panama from the north. 
 There are regularly traveled roads between Bogota and Venezuela 
 to the northeast and Ecuador to the south. 
 
 If specific information in regard to Colombia not contained in this pamphlet is 
 desired, the Pan American Union will endeavor to provide it upon application to 
 the Director General. 
 
COLOMBIA 
 
 The Republic of Colombia covers an area of 438,436 square miles 
 (1,135,549 square kilometers), with a population of 5,472,604 (census of 
 1912), equal to 12.48 inhabitants per square mile (4.8 per square 
 kilometer). 
 
 Three chains of mountains which cross the country produce a variety 
 of climate and products, ranging from the temperate to the tropical. 
 Coffee, cacao, sugar cane, tobacco, and bananas are successfully grown 
 and largely exported, and the extensive forests contain a number of 
 valuable cabinet and other useful woods and medicinal plants. Vege¬ 
 table ivory and rubber are other products of export; also “Panama” 
 hats, in the manufacture of which the natives have acquired considerable 
 skill. The mineral wealth of the country has been but little exploited 
 although its emerald mines furnish the 
 world’s chief supply of these gems. Gold is 
 found in every department, and silver, plati¬ 
 num, mercury, iron, and lead also exist. 
 
 The emerald and salt mines and the pearl 
 fisheries are Government monopolies. Oil 
 has recently been found in paying quantities. 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 
 
 When Columbus, on his fourth and last 
 voyage, had discovered Cape Gracias a Dios, coat of arms of 
 on September 14, 1502, he sailed along the Colombia. 
 
 Colombian coast for a considerable distance, but did not make any 
 attempt to settle the country or conquer the aborigines. It was 
 left for Alonso de Ojeda, who in the year 1508 was granted the land 
 lying east of the Darien River, which was termed the Province of 
 Uraba, to attempt the conquest of the country. Ojeda succeeded 
 in establishing himself firmly along the coast, battling continually 
 with the Indians; but all of his attempts to conquer the Chibcha 
 Kingdom, situated on the high plateau, were fruitless. In the year 
 1536 Jimenez de Quesada undertook the subjugation of the Chibchas 
 and at the same time two other expeditions, for the same purpose, 
 started from other points, that of Frederman and of Pizarro’s first 
 lieutenant, Benalcazar. These three expeditions met on the plateau, 
 and it was due only to the tact and diplomacy of Quesada, that strife 
 was avoided. Having succeeded in this, he established friendly relations 
 
PROMINENT THOROUGHFARES IN BOGOTA. COLOMBIA. 
 
 Upper: Avenida de Colon (Columbus Avenue) which takes its name from the statue of Columbus 
 which adorns it. 
 
 Center: Electric illumination of Plaza de Bolivar (Bolivar Square). In the background is the Capitol. 
 Lower: Avenida de la Republica (Avenue of the Republic) 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 5 
 
 with the aborigines, a highly civilized people, similar to the Incas of 
 Peru. He established his capital, the present city of Bogota, at the 
 site of the old Chibeha capital and explored the country in all directions. 
 
 A governor-general was appointed by Spain and the name changed 
 to the Province of New Granada, and in the year 1718 it was made a 
 viceroyalty. The first viceroy was Antonio de la Pedrosa y Guerrero, 
 and New Granada was successfully governed by twelve viceroys until 
 the year 1810, when the last, Don Antonio Aynar y Borbon, was deposed 
 by the citizens of Bogota. Revolutionary movements had previously 
 been initiated in various parts of the country, but the war against Spain 
 took definite form in July of that year. On August 7, the patriots under 
 the able leadership of Gen. Simon Bolivar utterly defeated the royalist 
 forces at Boyaca. 
 
 Bolivar succeeded in effecting a union between Venezuela and the 
 former viceroyalty of New Granada, and on the 17th of December, 
 1819, the new Republic formally adopted the title of the Republic of 
 Colombia. On July 12, 1821, a constituent congress met at Cueuta and 
 elected Simon Bolivar as the first President of the “Greater Colombia.” 
 The “ Intendencia de Quito,” now the Republic of Ecuador, joined the 
 union in the year 1829, but when, on December 17, 1830, Bolivar died, 
 the union was dissolved, and New Granada adopted the title of the 
 Republic of New Granada on November 17, 1831. This title was 
 subsequently changed to that of the Granadine Confederation, later to 
 that of the United States of Colombia, and lastly to the Republic of 
 Colombia. The change of name indicates the various phases of the 
 development of the country, Colombia having finally resolved to adopt 
 the unitary republican form of government, which experience has taught 
 it to be the best fitted for the country. 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT. 
 
 By the constitution adopted August 4, 1886, the Republic of Colombia 
 abolished the Federal Union and the sovereignty of the several States 
 and adopted the unitary republican form of government, with legislative, 
 executive, and judicial branches. 
 
 The Senate and the House of Representatives, constituting the 
 National Congress, are intrusted with the legislative power, the former 
 chamber consisting of 35 and the latter of 92 members. Senators are 
 elected indirectly for a term of four years by electors chosen for the 
 purpose, and representatives are elected by direct vote of the people 
 for the same term, at the rate of 1 for every 50,000 inhabitants. Two 
 substitutes are elected for each senator and representative to replace 
 them in case of absence or inability to serve. Congress meets at the 
 
THE CATHEDRAL, BOGOTA, COLOMBIA. 
 
 This structure differs from some of the others in the mountains of South America, because the facade 
 is very lofty and bold. It occupies one side of the Plaza Bolivar in the center of the city. The 
 building was not completely finished until 1823. In the vault are the bones of Quesada, the founder 
 of the city. 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 7 
 
 capital, Bogota, every two years on February i, for a period of 90 days. 
 It may prolong its sessions indefinitely or be called in extra session by 
 the President. 
 
 The President is elected by direct vote of the people for a term of 
 four years. There is no vice-president, but two designados first and 
 second, elected by the Congress, succeed the President, respectively, 
 in case of his absence, death, or inability to serve. The President, the 
 designados, and cabinet (September, 1914) are as follows: 
 
 President, Dr. Jose Vicente Concha (inaugurated August 7, 1914). 
 
 First Designado, Dr. Marco Fidel Suarez. 
 
 Second Designado, Sr. Don Jorge Holguin. 
 
 Minister of the Interior, Sr. Don Miguel Abadia Mendez. 
 
 Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sr. Don Marcos Fidel Suarez. 
 
 Minister of Finance (same as Minister of Treasury). 
 
 Minister of War, General Isaias Lujan. 
 
 Minister of Public Instruction, Sr. Dr. Emilio FerrERO. 
 
 Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, Sr. Don JorGe Enrique 
 Delgado. (This new department in the cabinet was created by virtue 
 of Law 25, October 4, 1913). 
 
 Minister of Public Works, Sr. Don Aurelio Rueda Acosta. 
 
 Minister of the Treasury, Sr. Don Daniel J. Reyes. 
 
 The Department of the Interior (Ministerio de Gobierno) is intrusted 
 with the administration of the various departments and national terri¬ 
 tories, the post and telegraph offices, hospitals and charitable institutions, 
 sanitation, the maintenance of public health and the courts and penal 
 institutions, Colombia having no department of justice. This depart¬ 
 ment is also charged with the supervision of the press of the country. 
 
 The Department of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Ex- 
 teriores) has charge of the diplomatic and consular corps and the main¬ 
 tenance of foreign relations through them, as well as the settlement of 
 international boundary disputes. It also exercises a certain control 
 over the Roman Catholic churches in the Republic. 
 
 The Department of Finance (Ministerio de Hacienda) prepares the 
 annual budget, collects and disburses all public funds, and has charge of the 
 service of the public debt, the customhouses and internal-revenue offices, 
 the control of the valuable salt deposits, and the navigation of rivers. 
 
 The War Department (Ministerio de la Guerra) has charge of all 
 matters pertaining to the army and navy, and attends to the instruction 
 and training of citizens of the reserve forces. The military and naval 
 colleges are also under its control, as are also the national and rural police. 
 
 The Department of Public Instruction (Ministerio de Instrueeion 
 Publica) exercises supervision and control over the public schools, high 
 schools, colleges, and institutes for special instruction, among the latter 
 being the National School of Commerce, the National School of Fine 
 
8 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 Arts, and the National Academy of Music. It also has charge of the 
 National Library, the National Museum, and the Astronomical Observa¬ 
 tory, and through the various sanitary commissions and health boards 
 frequently intervenes in matters concerning the public health. 
 
 The Department of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Publicas) is 
 intrusted with the encouragement and regulation of manufacturing 
 
 THE PLAZA OF THE MARTYRS BOGOTA, COLOMBIA. 
 
 industries, mines, agriculture, public lands, trade-marks and copyrights, 
 the regulation and administration of railways, the maintenance of roads 
 and bridges, of public buildings, and other public works. 
 
 The Department of the Treasury (Ministerio de Tesoro) has charge 
 of the mint, the printing of bank notes, and the emission of bonds. 
 
 The judiciary comprises a supreme court, a superior tribunal for each 
 Department, and a number of minor courts. The supreme court is 
 composed of seven members appointed by the President for a term of 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 9 
 
 five years, while the justices of the superior courts are appointed for 
 four years. 
 
 The permanent army consists of about 7,000 officers and men. Mili¬ 
 tary service is compulsory, 1 and the total war strength of the armed 
 forces is estimated at 120,000. The navy comprises five cruisers, three 
 gunboats, one troop ship, and other auxiliary vessels. 
 
 STATUE AND PARK BERRIO, MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA. 
 
 There are about 700 post offices in the Republic, handling approxi¬ 
 mately 7,000,000 pieces of mail matter per annum. There are over 500 
 telegraph offices, with 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles) of Government 
 line in operation. The Government has the control of these systems. 
 Contracts have been concluded for establishing wireless stations at 
 Bogota, Buena Ventura, Medellin, Santa Marta, the island of San 
 
 ^he service is compulsory in the sense that the standing army is drafted, one- 
 third every year, so that the entire army is renewed every three years. 
 
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COLOMBIA. 
 
 I I 
 
 Andres, and Cartagena for communication with the West Indies, 
 Panama, and Venezuela. Plans are underway for wireless stations also 
 at Buearamanga, Cali, Cueuta, Manizales, Tamalameque or El Banco, 
 Tumaeo and Riohaeha. 
 
 Under Decree No. 340 of 1910, and subsequent decrees, the Republic 
 has been divided into 14 Departments, 3 Territories or “Intendencies,” 
 and 8 “Comisarias” or special districts. Executive authority in each 
 Department is vested in a governor appointed by the President, while 
 the Intendencies and Comisarias are governed by special commissioners. ' 
 The provincial and district executive authorities are likewise appointed 
 by the President, but municipal councils are elected by direct vote of 
 the people. 
 
 The political subdivisions of the Republic of Colombia are as follows d 
 
 Departments. 
 
 Antioquia. 
 
 Atlantico. 
 
 Bolivar. 
 
 Boyaca. 
 
 Caldas. 
 
 Cauca. 
 
 Cundinamarca. 
 
 Huila. 
 
 Magdalena. 
 
 Narino. 
 
 Panama. 
 
 Santander. 
 
 Santander del Norte 
 
 Tolima. 
 
 Valle. 
 
 Medillin. 
 
 Barranquilla. 
 Cartagena. . . 
 
 Tunja. 
 
 Manizales. . . 
 Popayan.... 
 
 Bogota. 
 
 Neiva. 
 
 Santa Marta. 
 
 Pasto. .. 
 
 Panama. 
 
 Buearamanga 
 
 Cueuta. 
 
 Ibague. 
 
 Cali. 
 
 Capitals. 
 
 Populations 
 of capitals. 
 
 71,004 
 
 48,907 
 
 36,632 
 
 8,971 
 
 34,720 
 18,724 
 121,257 
 21,852 
 8,348 
 27,760 
 38,000 
 19,735 
 
 20,364 
 
 24,693 
 
 27,747 
 
 Intendencias. 
 
 del Meta, 
 del Choco 
 
 Comisarias. 
 
 Villavicencio 
 Quibdo. 
 
 4,774 
 
 15,756 
 
 Arauca. . . 
 Caqueta. . 
 Putumayo 
 Jurado. . . . 
 Uruba.... 
 Goajira. . . 
 Vaupes. . . 
 
 Arauca. 
 
 Florencia. . . . 
 
 Moeoa. 
 
 Jurado. 
 
 Aeandi. 
 
 Ouaraguarau 
 Calamar. 
 
 4,922 
 2 ,034 
 1 ,380 
 5,656 
 1 ,476 
 6,244 
 545 
 
 Colombia maintains as diplomatic representative to the United States 
 a Minister at Washington. It has a Consul General in New York; 
 Consuls in Mobile, San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, St. Louis, 
 Philadelphia, Norfolk (Va.), and in Ponce and San Juan, Porto Rico; 
 Vice-Consuls in Los Angeles, New York and Norfolk, and Consular 
 Agents in Gulfport (Miss.), and New Orleans. The United States 
 maintains a Minister at Bogota, and has a Consul-General in Bogota, 
 Consuls in Barranquilla and Cartagena, Vice and Deputy Consuls in 
 Barranquilla and Cartagena, and Agents in Medellin, Quibdo, Santa 
 Marta and Cali. 
 
 According to the official census of 1912. 
 
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COLOMBIA. 
 
 13 
 
 The money actually in use in Colombia is an inconvertible paper 
 currency, the exchange rate of which, considering the paper peso as the 
 unit, is 100 pesos to $1.00 gold. By a law passed October 25, 1903, 
 Colombia adopted the gold standard, selecting as a monetary unit a 
 gold dollar of 1.672 grams and 0.900 fine. Since then the incon¬ 
 vertible paper has much depreciated. There have been coined a Colom¬ 
 bian pound, valued at $4.8665 United States gold, and a half pound. 
 There is also a silver peso, a half peso, silver peseta (20 centavos), and 
 a real (10 centavos). 
 
 The capital of the Republic is the city of Bogota with a population 
 not much short of 125,000, in the interior of the country, on the tem¬ 
 perate plateau, at an elevation of 8,564 feet (2,610 meters). It lies in 
 a healthful and productive region, with higher mountain ranges surround¬ 
 ing it. As the valleys in the neighborhood are well inhabited by an 
 industrious people, an abundant and remarkably varied food supply is 
 one of the attractive features of the city. The difficulty of approach 
 from the sea, as will be explained under railways, is the only reason why 
 Bogota is not as regularly visited by foreigners, as it deserves. Among 
 the notable public buildings are the presidential palace, the national 
 capitol, the cathedral, several banks, and the museum. The city of 
 next importance in the Republic is Medellin, now accessible, except for 
 a short ride over a good road, by railway from Puerto Berrio, one of 
 the Magdalena River ports. Medellin is quite modern, although with 
 a history back to the early days of the country, and its commercial 
 activity, and the general energy and ambition of the people, make it a 
 most attractive city. Its population is approaching 75,000. Cali, with 
 almost 30,000 inhabitants, is the interior city for the Pacific port of 
 Buenaventura, and is considered one of the most advanced cities in the 
 Republic. The chief ports on the salt water are Buenaventura already 
 mentioned, destined to become, when the Canal is in complete operation, 
 important for all the western region of Colombia; Cartagena on the 
 Caribbean Sea, the classical port of the Spanish Main; Barranquilla, 
 head of the steamer service for the Magdalena River traffic, and Santa 
 Marta, now revived into great importance by the increasing banana 
 interests of this coast. 
 
 PRODUCTS AND INDUSTRIES. 
 
 The coasts and hot regions of the Republic produce corn, sugar cane, 
 sea-island cotton, rubber, cacao, bananas, fibers, tropical fruits, and 
 vegetables, while the mountains and uplands yield coffee, apples, peaches, 
 berries, potatoes, wheat, barley, and in fact all of the products of the 
 Temperate Zone. The entire country is suitable for stock raising, the 
 pastures in many sections remaining green the year round. Few 
 
14 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 countries contain the latent wealth and favorable conditions for develop¬ 
 ing it to such a degree as does Colombia. 
 
 On the Magdalena, an adequate labor supply is obtainable for large 
 plantations of bananas as well as of cacao and rubber, and with a suf¬ 
 ficient population the Santa Marta district could within a few years 
 increase its population tenfold. The valleys of the Atrato and Leon 
 have long been recognized as having proper characteristics for the 
 cultivation of this fruit. On the Sinu River there is also much good 
 banana land, as well as an area suited to the cultivation of oranges, 
 pineapples, alligator pears, and many other tropical products. This is 
 the great cattle belt, as it is also the source of the cedar and mahogany 
 exported from Colombia. 
 
 A COLOMBIAN EMERALD IN ITS BED. 
 
 Among the layers found in the various deposits of the mines and crossing the rocky strata the emeralds 
 are encountered in their natural state. The beds in which they lie are composed chiefly of a car¬ 
 bonate of salt. 
 
 The coffee crop of the Republic yields annually about 600,000 bags. 
 About 25,000 bags are retained for home consumption, the remainder 
 going to the United States and Europe. The principal coffee districts 
 are the Department of Cundinamarca, which produces the renowned 
 Bogota brand; the Ocana, Cucuta, and Bucaramanga districts, in the 
 Department of Santander, and in the Tolima and smaller valleys of the 
 Cordilleras. Exports of coffee for 1912 amounted to 55,993 tens, 
 valued at $16,777,908. 
 
 The gathering of ivory nuts, the fruit of the tagua palm, from which 
 the higher grades of buttons are manufactured, is one of the growing 
 industries of the country. The exports of this product during 1912 
 were valued at $754,707. 
 
EMERALD WASHING IN COLOMBIA. 
 
 The traditional method in preparing emeralds is still followed in Colombia. After removing the loose 
 earth covering the stones they are then washed in the abundant supply of water found within easy 
 reach of the mines. 
 
i6 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 In some departments, notably Antioquia, the mineral industry is well 
 established, while the Marmato and Sueio River gold deposits are said 
 to be equal to those of the Transvaal. It is said that the entire Pacific 
 coast of Colombia has been formed by gold-bearing alluvial, so that 
 with more effective development a great mining center will be estab¬ 
 lished. The great gold-bearing region is found in the Department of 
 Antioquia and in the mountain ranges that separate the Cauca and 
 Magdalena Rivers. In this large area of many thousands of square 
 miles, wherever there is gravel there is gold, and back in the mountains, 
 where the rock has been laid bare, veins are found everywhere. These 
 veins contain treasures of gold that can be extracted by the systematic 
 use of modern machinery and methods. Many hundreds of miles of 
 this rich territory have never been explored except by the Indian hunter. 
 
 Recent gold discoveries near Neiva, on the upper Magdalena River, 
 have opened up a new section of the gold belt. It is known that the 
 Department of Narino, bordering on the Ecuador line, is rich in the 
 precious metal. Gold nuggets are found in the gravel beds of all the 
 rivers of this section flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Discoveries have 
 also been made of rich gold-bearing quartz on the headwaters of the 
 Andagueda and Chirvigo Rivers, distant about 125 miles from Quibdo. 
 
 Copper ores are very/’abundant in Colombia, but owing to the richness 
 of the country in gold and silver little attention has been paid to the 
 common metals. When the value of the copper deposits becomes better 
 known and appreciated, Colombia will without doubt rank as one of the 
 greatest copper-producing countries of the world. Copper ores are 
 found in the Ocana and Velez districts, in the Department of Santander, 
 in the districts of Moniguica and Santa Rosa, in the Department of 
 Boyaca, and in the Department of Antioquia. 
 
 Russia is the only country whose platinum output exceeds that of 
 Colombia. This metal, which is always found mixed with gold, comes 
 from the gravels of the Choco district, its main source being the Platina 
 and Condoto Rivers, which are tributary to the San Juan River. It is 
 also obtained from some of the streams that flow into the Atrato River. 
 
 Coal is found in the Cordillera, lignite on the coasts, and coking 
 and steam coal in the interior. Valuable deposits have been discovered 
 recently between the Atrato and Leon Rivers; in short, the Colombian 
 coal fields are well located to take advantage of the market facilities 
 which will become available with the completion of the Panama Canal. 
 
 The petroleum deposits are said to resemble those of the Beaumont, 
 Tex., oil fields. The quality of the product is excellent and it was 
 awarded the first prize in the Centennial Exposition held at Bogota in 
 July, 1910. Refineries have been established for the elaboration of 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 17 
 
 gasoline, benzine, paraffin, and other by-products from the crude 
 petroleum. 
 
 Iron ores are abundant in the Republic, and shipments of high-grade 
 asphalt are made from Santander. 
 
 The principal manufacturing industries are those for the making 
 of textile goods, glass, earthenware, matches, and hats, iron foundries, 
 and flour and sugar mills. 
 
 A VERTICAL COAL SEAM, NEAR CALI. COLOMBIA, 
 4 FEET 7 INCHES THICK. 
 
 In the Cauea Valley, en route from Caldas to Cali, coal beds 
 running from a few inches to 6 or 7 feet in thickness are 
 found. It is believed that borings at Cali would show 
 coal underlying the floor of the valley which is about 25 
 to 30 miles wide. 
 
 All or very nearly all the emeralds mined today come from Colombia. 
 And, in spite of the supposed higher value of diamonds, the emerald 
 is the most precious of gems. Carat for carat, a flawless emerald 
 would bring perhaps three times the price of a flawless diamond in the 
 jewelry market. India, the storehouse of pereious stones, is credited 
 with produeingthe first emeralds, but the oriental emerald is not identical 
 
i8 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 with the modern gem, as it is a variety of the ruby, of a green color and 
 extremely rare. 
 
 “Smaragdus,” the Greek word from which emerald is traced, really 
 meant any green stone, and this led to some confusion in identifying 
 the true character of the jewels referred to under this name in ancient 
 writings. Now the name is only applied to that gem of the beryl family 
 of a bright green color (due to traces of a quantity of oxide of chromium), 
 a translucent hexagonal crystal with glass-like luster and uneven frac¬ 
 ture, composed of silica, alumina, glucina, magnesia, and soda. It is 
 brittle and comparatively soft when fresh from the mines, but hardens 
 on exposure to air. Today emeralds are found in Austria, in Siberia, 
 in India and especially in Colombia. 
 
 ANOTHER COAL SEAM NEAR CALI, COLOMBIA, 4 FEET 6 INCHES THICK. 
 
 On a trip from Cali to Juanchito coa from one of the openings in the vicinity was used, and 
 proved very satisfactory. Steam was kept up easily, and with small consumption a beauti¬ 
 ful, hot, white fire with a brown smoke was the result. There was little ash and the coal 
 appeared to be free from slate and other impurities. 
 
 Tradition has it that an Aztec gem appropriated by Cortez was 
 valued at 40,000 ducats. Another wonderful stone, the size of an ostrich 
 egg, was found in the Manka Valley, Peru, where the Indians worshipped 
 it as the Goddess of Emeralds. The Spanish conquerors opened up 
 the mines of Colombia in 1540. The richest mineral areas were those 
 of Muzo and Coscuez, about 75 miles (47 kilometers) north of Bogota, 
 and the Somondoco or Chivor group, about 80 miles (149 kilometers) 
 northeast of Bogota, at an elevation of about 6,500 feet (say 2,000 
 meters) above sea level. A curious fact in the history of these latter 
 mines is that they were closed and lost to the world in an enveloping 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 19 
 
 forest of jungle for over a hundred years and only rediscovered some 
 fourteen years ago. 
 
 The Government of Colombia controls the exploitation of emeralds, 
 leasing the mining districts to the working companies. The Muzo 
 group, from which the finest emeralds come, has an estimated yearly 
 output of 262,548 carats of the first class, 467,690 second class, 22,700 
 third class, and 16,000 fourth class. The Coscuez group, named for 
 an Indian princess, which produced the variety of emerald called canu- 
 tillo, one of the most valuable stones, is now in the category of “lost 
 mines,” the exact location being unknown. The Somondoco or Chivor 
 group, not now being worked, is supposed to possess a matrix that 
 would yield a half million dollars’ worth of emeralds a year. 
 
 STREET SCENE, BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA. 
 
 Barranquilla, the most important commercial city of Colombia and capital of the province of the 
 same name, is situated on the Magdalena River 15 miles from its mouth. A railroad 18 miles long 
 connects the city with Puerto Cclombia on the seacoast, where there is an excellent pier. An 
 extensive commerce is carried on from the Barranquilla docks with the interior by river steam¬ 
 ers, and a large part of the foreign trade of the Republic passes through this port. The principal 
 exports are coffee, hides, tobacco, cacao, rubber, ores, etc. 
 
 The Cuincha group, across the Minero River from the Muzo mines, 
 forms a new field of much promise. 
 
 The emerald-mining country of Colombia is extremely inaccessible, 
 and the difficulties of transport force a recourse to the simplest methods 
 in order to extract the stones. The Muzo mine is in what seems to be 
 the bowl of an extinct volcano, and the method in use there is typical. 
 Twenty or thirty laborers with picks and crowbars break out the face 
 of the crater along a determined line, leaving a trail of green quartz 
 that contains the crystals; the quartz is then cut and separated with 
 the greatest care, for the gems are extremely fragile when in the matrix^ 
 
20 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 and the debris dropped into a sluiceway, where it it washed by a stream 
 of water coming with force from the higher planes of the mine; the water 
 is then drained off and the sediment searched for the green gems. It 
 was by just this method that the most valuable single emerald in the 
 world was found. 
 
 COMMERCE. 
 
 The only available figures for the year 1913 are the totals covering 
 the imports and the exports of Colombia for that period. These are 
 imports $28,535,780, and exports $34,315,252, a total of $62,851,032. 
 In all probability, however, the figures in detail, when received, will not 
 differ materially from those of 1912, as given below. 
 
 The foreign trade of Colombia for the year 1912, according to the 
 report of Senor Don Roberto Caycedo, Director General of Statistics, 
 amounted to $56,186,369.16, of which $23,964,623.00 were imports, and 
 $32,221,746.16 were exports. 
 
 INTERIOR OF A RETAIL STORE IN BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA 
 Display of imported goods. 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 21 
 
 Imports. 
 
 The imports, by countries of origin, were as follows: 
 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 United Kingdom. 
 
 United States. 
 
 Germany. 
 
 $5,838,789.69 
 
 5 . 404 . 975-96 
 
 3,242,634.90 
 
 1 , 7 i 8 , 747 - 8 o 
 
 $7,838,878.65 
 7,612,037.33 
 4,201,125.43 
 2,011,886.16 
 596,880.48 
 
 570,918.91 
 
 476,968.86 
 82,621.84 
 60,723.81 
 53,264.20 
 459 , 317-33 
 
 France. 
 
 T t a 1 v. 
 
 ReleFim 
 
 Spain. 
 
 Venezuela. 
 
 397 , 733-47 
 
 Dutch West Indies. 
 
 
 Panama. 
 
 Other countries. 
 
 31,790.68 
 
 1,474,190.86 
 
 Total. 
 
 18,108,863.36 
 
 23,964,623.00 
 
 The imports by major groups of articles for the years 1911 and 1912 
 were: 
 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Textiles. 
 
 $8,025,856.43 
 
 $ 10 , 547 , 134-45 
 
 Foodstuffs and condiments. 
 
 2,191,009.09 
 
 3,054,952.65 
 
 Metals. 
 
 Transportation: Railway cars, carriages, 
 
 2,004,081.63 
 
 2,916,924.80 
 
 wagons, etc. 
 
 726,048.34 
 
 1,031,711.07 
 
 Drugs and medicines. 
 
 762,208.83 
 
 838,348.53 
 
 Soft drinks, wines, and liquors. 
 
 628,595.70 
 
 835,772.25 
 
 Material for the arts and trades. 
 
 702,856.33 
 
 620,251.12 
 
 Lighting and fuel. 
 
 37 i, 447-17 
 
 564,063.38 
 
 Ceramics and stones. 
 
 457,381.19 
 
 503 , 579-03 
 
 Paper and cardboard. 
 
 453,701.60 
 
 477,522.20 
 
 Hides and skins, and manufactures thereof .... 
 
 3x0,440.50 
 
 459,606.95 
 
 Agricultural and mining products. 
 
 323,074.01 
 
 381,587.91 
 
 Woods. 
 
 226,372.79 
 
 317,401.97 
 
 Electrical material. 
 
 100,089■69 
 
 175,638.63 
 
 Oils and greases. 
 
 106,818.66 
 
 171 , 733 - 5 i 
 
 Perfumery and soap. 
 
 97 , 338.89 
 
 152,169.87 
 
 Varnishes, colors, and inks. 
 
 104,345-76 
 
 125,862.11 
 
 Rubber, celluloid, etc. 
 
 84,504.76 
 
 102,358.04 
 
 Explosives and combustibles. 
 
 38,419.53 
 
 94,116.21 
 
 Tortoise shell, horn, etc. 
 
 53,501.94 
 
 75,600.46 
 
 Musical instruments. 
 
 55,76766 
 
 69,622.64 
 
 Firearms, accessories, and ammunition. 
 
 48,991.98 
 
 57,438.88 
 
 Live animals.. 
 
 7 D 79-30 
 
 26,016.89 
 
 Miscellaneous. 
 
 228,781.51 
 
 365,209.45 
 
 Total. 
 
 18,108,863.36 
 
 23,964,623.00 
 
STATUETTES CARVED BY THE DESCENDANTS OF THE CHIBCHA INDIANS OF BOGOTA, COLOMBIA. 
 
 The art of carving these little figures is said to be handed down from father to son. Not the least merit of the work is their fidelity to life; the figures are truthful 
 representations to the minutest details of typical Indian men and women as they can be seen daily trudging from the mountains down to the market place of 
 Bogota, carrying their ware to offer for sale. 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 23 
 
 The imports by ports of entry for the years 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912 
 were: 
 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Barranquilla. 
 
 $5 ,744.569-82 
 
 $10,060, 169.15 
 
 $9,613,555-27 
 
 $12,445,532.38 
 
 Cartagena. 
 
 2,264,469.52 
 
 3,977,477-94 
 
 4,335,805.75 
 
 5,084,306.89 
 
 Buenaventura. 
 
 1,031,941.00 
 
 1,278,380.65 
 
 1 ,853,537-45 
 
 3,839,770-5i 
 
 Tumaco. 
 
 764,761.04 
 
 970,546.29 
 
 1 ,052,494-22 
 
 1,171,372.83 
 
 Cucuta. 
 
 474,426.09 
 
 518,271.79 
 
 692,981.45 
 
 768,468.02 
 
 Santa Marta. 
 
 151,032.64 
 
 97,721.59 
 
 378,751.88 
 
 444,035.96 
 
 Ipiales. 
 
 36,674.25 
 
 45,030.20 
 
 57,593-09 
 
 69,706.74 
 
 Riohacha. 
 
 59,879.90 
 
 45,171.80 
 
 83,969.80 
 
 68,689.89 
 
 Arauca. 
 
 33,292.44 
 
 23,801.72 
 
 2 1 ,846.96 
 
 44,420.51 
 
 Orocue. 
 
 
 9,065.92 
 
 18 ,327.49 
 
 28,319.27 
 
 Total. 
 
 10,561,046.70 
 
 17,025,637.05 
 
 18,108,863.36 
 
 23 ,964,623.00 
 
 Exports. 
 
 The exports for the years 1911 and 1912, by countries and destination, 
 were as follows: 
 
 _ # ____ 
 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 United States. 
 
 $12,248,995.38 
 
 $15,832,882.08 
 
 United Kingdom. 
 
 4,596, i 37-8 i 
 
 4,376,182.31 
 
 Germany. 
 
 1,910,353-75 
 
 1 ,854,211.09 
 
 France. 
 
 769,189.48 
 
 625,198.88 
 
 Spain. 
 
 119,654.55 
 
 302,918.00 
 
 Panama.:. 
 
 42,977-25 
 
 73,470.10 
 
 Other countries. 
 
 2,688,591.34 
 
 9,156,883.70 
 
 Total. 
 
 22 ,375,899-56 
 
 32,221,74616 
 
 The exports, by classes, were as follows: 
 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Vegetable products. 
 
 $14 
 
 375 
 
 300 
 
 82 
 
 $20 
 
 792 
 
 418 
 
 38 
 
 Mineral products. 
 
 4 
 
 507 
 
 761 
 
 72 
 
 7 
 
 769 
 
 387 
 
 69 
 
 Animal products. 
 
 1 
 
 960 
 
 409 
 
 76 
 
 2 
 
 258 
 
 701 
 
 03 
 
 Manufactured products. 
 
 1 
 
 347 
 
 393 
 
 97 
 
 1 
 
 210 
 
 678 
 
 56 
 
 Live animals. 
 
 
 92 
 
 852 
 
 64 
 
 
 150 
 
 605 
 
 60 
 
 Miscellaneous products. 
 
 
 7 
 
 445 
 
 49 
 
 
 31 
 
 808 
 
 90 
 
 Currency. 
 
 
 84 
 
 735 
 
 25 
 
 
 8 
 
 146 
 
 00 
 
 Total. 
 
 22 
 
 375 
 
 899 
 
 56 
 
 32 
 
 22 1 
 
 746 
 
 16 
 
 l 
 
Top picture: An unusually gocd view of the Falls of Tequendama. The effect of the yellow' water as 
 it makes its great leap is, under certain sunlight conditions, like a mighty stream of molten gold. 
 
 Lower picture: Mountain scenery in the heart of the Andes, photographed by Mr. Arthur W. DuBois, 
 son of the former U. S. minister, during his io-day journey to vist the Muzo mines, the greatest 
 deposit of emeralds in the world. These mines are between the great Sabana of Bogota and the Mag¬ 
 dalena River and are a Government monopoly. They produce a handsome revenue each year. The 
 best emerald ever taken from this mine was valued at ^75,000. 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 25 
 
 Under the various classifications the principal exports were: 
 
 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 
 
 Quantities. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantities. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Vegetable products: 
 
 
 
 
 
 $16,777,908.28 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 ...tons.. 
 
 37.900 
 
 $9,475,448.89 
 
 55,993 
 
 Bananas. 
 
 . .do.. . . 
 
 109,786 
 
 2,172 , OOO . OO 
 
 105,263 
 
 1,996 ,999 07 
 
 1agua. 
 
 . .do.. . . 
 
 10,990 
 
 739,419.00 
 
 11,599 
 
 754,707.71 
 
 Rubber. 
 
 ..do... . 
 
 577 
 
 900,886.90 
 
 503 
 
 736,427.39 
 
 Leaf tobacco. 
 
 ..do.... 
 
 3 .911 
 
 332 ,935 00 
 
 3,262 
 
 442,461.15 
 
 Mineral products: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Gold in bars. 
 
 Gold dust. 
 
 kilos. . 
 
 ..do.... 
 
 7 .683 
 2,891 
 
 2 ,454.834 83 
 
 1 ,296,797.54 
 
 | 19,642 
 
 4,610,073.39 
 
 Platinum. 
 
 ..do.... 
 
 2 ,554 
 
 345,896.00 
 
 875 
 
 594,188.20 
 
 Animal products: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cattle hides. 
 
 tons.. 
 
 4.449 
 
 1 ,779,790.21 
 
 5.168 
 
 2,261 ,721.50 
 
 Manufactured products: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Panama hats (Tumaco) 
 
 . kilos. . 
 
 36,167 
 
 550,243.00 
 
 56,522 
 
 417,826.09 
 
 Panama hats (Suaza) . . 
 
 . .do.. . . 
 
 57,617 
 
 538,578.00 
 
 78,927 
 
 756,815.00 
 
 The exports by ports of clearance for the years 1909, 1910, 1911, and 
 1912 were: 
 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Barranquilla. 
 
 Cartagena. 
 
 Riohacha. 
 
 Cucuta. 
 
 Santa Marta. 
 
 Tumaco. 
 
 Buenaventura. 
 
 Arauca. 
 
 $5,689,017.37 
 
 4,548,895.75 
 
 146,422.06 
 
 1,211,453.90 
 
 1,310,755.63 
 
 1,293,368.16 
 1,171,405.00 
 84,434.96 
 57,573-40 
 
 $7,139,083.42 
 
 5,178,441 63 
 
 161,507.29 
 861,918.20 
 
 1,770,067.96 
 
 1 ,164,561.57 
 
 1,153 ,523 00 
 83,068.22 
 84,272.85 
 28,708.60 
 
 $8,244,491.99 
 5,927,15930 
 234,460.60 
 
 2,087,654.70 
 
 2,303,223.33 
 
 1,573,340.16 
 
 i,780,742.04 
 92,836.48 
 70,519.50 
 61,416.46 
 
 $12,231,609.08 
 6,665,159.20 
 4,861,511.70 
 2,992,9I7.74 
 2 ,453,630.69 
 1 ,417,153■19 
 i ,342,966.69 
 121,IOI.20 
 67 ,964.81 
 67,731.86 
 
 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 15.513,346.23 
 
 17,625,152.74 
 
 22,375,899.56 
 
 32 ,221,746.16 
 
 RAILWAYS AND INTERIOR WATERWAYS. 
 
 The peculiar geographical features of the Republic have rendered the 
 construction of extended railroad lines a very expensive and difficult 
 undertaking. The chain of the Andes divides the southwestern part 
 of the country into three distinct ranges, the middle one of which ceases 
 some 150 miles (242 kilometers) from the northern coast, thus permitting 
 the Cauca River, which rises between the central and western range, 
 to unite with the Magdalena some distance above its entrance into the 
 Caribbean Sea. To reach Bogota from the west coast, which would 
 be by far the shortest route from the ocean, a railroad would have to 
 traverse not only the western and central ranges, but mount to the 
 plateaus of the third range, on which the capital is situated. 
 
 The Magdalena River, which is at present the only available outlet 
 from Bogota to the Atlantic coast, is impassable at several points on 
 account of rapids and has a bar at its mouth which impedes navigation. 
 Barranquilla, at which point the river journey to the capital begins, is 
 about 15 miles (24 kilometers) by rail from the seaport of Savanilla. 
 
26 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 The traveler can also make the trip by rail from Cartagena to Calamar 
 65 miles (105 kilometers), taking the steamer at the latter point. A 
 journey by water is then made to La Dorada, where a change is made to 
 the railroad, and a second river trip commenced at Puerto Beltran, and 
 the final stage of the journey made by rail from Girardot to Bogota, the 
 total time consumed being about seven days. 
 
 CALDAS STATION ON THE PACIFIC RAILWAY. 
 
 This is at present the termination of the Ferrocarril del Paeifieo, which runs from Buenaventura. 
 The train leaves that seaport at 7 a. m., arriving by noon at Caldas. If an early start is made 
 from here the next morning, Cali can be reached in the afternoon. 
 
 BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF CALI FROM SAN ANTONIO HILL, AT THE WEST SIDE OF 
 
 THE TOWN, COLOMBIA. 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 27 
 
 There is as yet no continuous railroad system within the Republic, 
 but there are many short lines at present engaged chiefly in local traffic, 
 which, when their plans are fully carried out, will connect the coast on 
 both the Atlantic and Pacific sides with the centers of production. 
 Those lines which tap the valleys of the Atrato and Cauca Rivers will 
 probably at some future date form a part of the proposed Pan American 
 railway system. 
 
 There are two short lines in the northeastern part of the Republic, 
 but the interests of most of the lines now in operation are bound up 
 with those of the capital, the whole eastern and southern territory from 
 Bogota to the Venezuela and Ecuador boundaries having no rail con¬ 
 nection with the more settled sections of the country. 
 
 The length of railways in operation in the Republic is 988 kilometers 
 (614 miles). 3 The following table shows the lines in actual operation 
 
 and the mileage of each: 
 
 Kilos. 
 
 Barranquilla Ry. 27 
 
 Cartagena Ry. 105 
 
 Santa Marta Ry. 94 
 
 Cucuta Ry. 71 
 
 Great Northern Central (Puerto Wileh.es) Ry. 32 
 
 Antioquia or Puerto Berrio R} r . 142 
 
 Amaga Ry. 8 
 
 Dorada Ry. 119 
 
 Girardot Ry. 132 
 
 Sabana Ry. 40 
 
 Colombian Northern Ry. 62 
 
 Southern Ry. 29 
 
 Pacific (Cauca) Ry.*. 94 
 
 Cali tramway. 8 
 
 Espinal or Tolima Ry. 25 
 
 The lines from Barranquilla and Cartagena, as already stated, run 
 from the north coast and connect with the steamer routes on the Mag¬ 
 dalena River. The Santa Marta road also starts on the north coast and 
 runs to the town of Fundacion, on the river of the same name. It 
 is the outlet for a large banana district, and the railroad company has 
 contracted for extensions into new territory which are expected to 
 materially increase the output of that fruit. The bay of Santa Marta 
 offers a safe anchorage all the year round; there is a wharf with accom¬ 
 modations for large steamers and a depth of water of 30 feet. 
 
 3 About 48 kilometers (30 miles) completed in 1912, should be added to these figures. 
 
28 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 The Great Northern Central line starts from Puerto Wilehes, on the 
 Magdalena, and is under construction toward Bucaramanga, with the 
 ultimate expectation of being built to the capital. 
 
 The Dorada Railway was constructed in order to afford a means of 
 easy transportation around the rapids of the Magdalena, which here 
 make navigation impossible. The line extends from Ta Dorada through 
 Honda to Ambalema, but passengers leave the train to take the steamer 
 route to Puerto Beltran. 
 
 The Girardot Railway starts at the Magdalena and joins the Sabana 
 line at Facatativa, the latter line running direct to Bogota and thus 
 
 PORT OF AMBALEMAN, ON THE MAGDALENA RIVER. COLOMBIA. 
 
 completing the line of communication between the Caribbean Sea and 
 the capital of the Republic. These two roads are, of course, of the 
 utmost importance to Colombia, for previous to their completion it was 
 necessary to take a long trip by muleback over the mountains to the 
 river. The Tolima Railway is a short private line running from the 
 Magdalena at Girardot to the town of Espinal. 
 
 Two other lines, the Colombian Northern and the Southern Railway, 
 run from Bogota through the extensive savanas, the former to the 
 north and the latter terminating in the town of Sibate, toward the south¬ 
 west. The Colombian Northern is now in operation toNemocon and is 
 expected to continue on to Chiquinoquira, 66 miles (106 kilometers) 
 farther, where it will meet the Puerto Wilehes line to be extended from 
 Bucaramanga. If the plans for this route are carried out, these two 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 2 9 
 
 roads will form a great trunk line from Bogota to the Magdalena, which 
 will not only shorten the distance and the time consumed in the journey 
 to the coast but will open up a vast extent of territory now but little 
 developed. 
 
 The Cucuta Railway is a short line connecting the city of that name 
 with the port of Villamizar, the head of navigation on the Zulia River, 
 with an extension to Tachira on the Venezuelan frontier. 
 
 The Pacific Railway, which, starting from Buenaventura on the west 
 coast, runs to the prosperous city of Cali and thence through the Cauca 
 Valley. Cali was also connected with the Cauca River in July, 1919, by 
 a short steam tramway. The Pacific line is expected to follow the 
 
 AT THE JUANCHITO TERMINAL OF THE CALI TRAMWAY, COLOMBIA. 
 
 From Cali a narrow-gauge railway runs to Juanchito, about 7 miles (11 kilometers) distant and situated 
 on the Cauca River. The line was constructed mainly for freight service between Cali and the river, 
 but the passenger traffic has developed as successfully as the freight. 
 
30 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 Valley of the Cauea for a considerable distance, and will furnish an 
 outlet to the sea for the increasing commerce of that district. With 
 the completion of this line and the railroad connecting the Cauca with 
 the cities of Amaga and Medellin, also that between Medellin and 
 Puerto Berrio on the Magdalena, the products of a large part of the 
 Republic will be much more easily and quickly transported to foreign 
 markets than at present, so that the commerce of the country should 
 receive an impetus it has never before known. 
 
 Colombia has a fine system of waterways, the most important of 
 which is the Magdalena, navigable by vessels of considerable draft for 
 a distance of over 600 miles (966 kilometers) and by smaller craft 300 
 miles (483 kilometers) farther. The Atrato is navigable for 200 miles 
 (322 kilometers) inland and the Sinu for no miles (177 kilometers). 
 The Cauca, the Zulia, the Cesar, the Nechi, the Lebrija, the Sogamoso, 
 and some of the smaller tributaries are also navigable for various 
 distances. 
 
 The steamer service to Colombia is obtained on both the Atlantic 
 and Pacific sides. To Buenaventura on the Pacific, local steamers of 
 all lines running south from Panama make regular passage, the distance 
 being 355 miles (571 kilometers); express steamers, however, do not 
 stop at Colombian ports. Cartagena and Barranquilla (in reality this 
 is Savanilla, for Barranquilla is rather the city on the River) are regular 
 ports of call for steamers between Colon and European ports, on such 
 lines as the Royal Mail, the Hamburg-American (Atlas service), the 
 Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, the Veloce and the Compania 
 Trasatlantica. Santa Marta, farther to the east, is now in direct con¬ 
 nection with New York by the steamers of the United Fruit Company. 
 
 Some of the interior highways, especially from Bogota and Medillin, 
 are so well built that automobile service is conducted on them, but much 
 of the travel from place to place must be restricted to cart road of a 
 rather primitive character, or even to mule paths, too narrow to admit 
 a wheeled vehicle. The pleasures of these journeys fully compensates, 
 however, for the lack of some of the luxuries easily at hand of the 
 traveler in more thickly populated countries. 
 
 Colombia is a land of contrasts, from the tropic coast to the temperate 
 plateau and even to the snow clad mountains of the Cordillera. It has 
 not yet become a tourist country, although every attraction of natural 
 beauty can be found there. Near Bogota are the Falls of Tequendama, 
 higher than Niagara but not so voluminous; a miracle spring is worth 
 visiting, and many interesting remains of the aboriginal inhabitants 
 can be found in the neighborhood and studied. As railway facilities 
 increase, Colombia is sure to become better known to the transient 
 visitor. 
 
COLOMBIA. 
 
 31 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 Education in Colombia is under the control of the Minister of Public 
 Instruction. There are five subdivisions, designated as follows: Primary, 
 secondary, professional, artistic and industrial. In 1913 there were 
 reported to be 5,225 schools with an attendance of about 335,480 pupils. 
 Although primary instruction is free, it has not yet been made compul¬ 
 sory, but the Government is taking active steps to place the schools and 
 the school system on a modern basis. Many of the schools for secondary 
 education are entrusted to religious bodies. There is a university at 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF MEDELLIN, MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA. 
 
 Bogota, founded in 1572, with faculties in letters, philosophy, law and 
 political sciences, medicine and natural sciences, and in mathematics 
 and engineering. A university at Medillm was founded in 1822, and 
 in 1913 the University of Magdalena was founded at Santa Marta. 
 Great effort has been made to establish schools of arts and crafts for 
 the working classes, and gratifying success has been the result. The 
 art schools in the larger cities are always well attended. Normal schools 
 to the number of 21 have been founded in 13 departments, and Medellin 
 and Pasto have each a mining school. 
 
T HE PAN AMERICAN UNION is the inter¬ 
 national organization and office maintained 
 in Washington, D. C., by the twenty-one 
 American republics, as follows: Argentina, Bolivia, 
 Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Domini¬ 
 can Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, 
 Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Salva¬ 
 dor, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It is 
 devoted to the development and advancement of 
 commerce, friendly intercourse, and good under¬ 
 standing among these countries. It is supported by 
 quotas contributed by each country, based upon the 
 population. Its affairs are administered by a Direc¬ 
 tor General and Assistant Director, elected by and 
 responsible to a Governing Board, which is com¬ 
 posed of the Secretary of State of the United States 
 and the diplomatic representatives in Washington 
 of the other American governments. These two 
 executive officers are assisted by a staff of inter¬ 
 national experts, statisticians, commercial special¬ 
 ists, editors, translators, compilers, librarians, clerks 
 and stenographers. The Union publishes a Monthly 
 Bulletin in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, 
 which is a careful record of Pan American progress. 
 It also publishes numerous special reports and pam¬ 
 phlets on various subjects of practical information. 
 Its library, the Columbus Memorial Library, con¬ 
 tains 30,000 volumes, 15,000 photographs, 100,000 
 index cards, and a large collection of maps. The 
 Union is housed in a beautiful building erected 
 through the munificence of Andrew Carnegie. 
 
 Press of Gibson Brothers 
 Washington, D. C.