50 
VENEZUELA : 
The population of Venezuela is about two and one-half mill- 
ions, not including 260,000 Indians, and there are nine states, one 
federal district, and five territories. The country is still in a 
|)rimitive and com})aratively undeveloi)ed condition. Outside 
the principal cities it has made little or no progress since the yoke 
of Spain was thrown off, and the population is believed to Ije less 
than it was then. 
Agricultural and industrial development has been retarded by 
political revolutions and a lack of lalj)or and ca])ital, hut the 
])i’operty of foreigners who do not meddle with local affairs is sel- 
dom disturljed and the government offers lil^eral inducements 
for colonization and investment. IManufacturing estal.)lishments 
are almost unknown. There is little machinery in the country, 
and industry is generally carried on in the households and by 
the most primitive processes. There is an abundance of conven- 
ient water power, hut fuel is scarce and ex^jensive; therefore the 
future wealth of Venezuela, as well as her })resent prosi)erity, lies 
in the development of her agricultural resources, which are almost 
l)oundless, and her mineral deposits, which are among the richest 
and most accessible. Coffee is the great staple, and the product 
is unsurpassed. 
It has been the unhapjiy lot of Venezuela to have been the 
scene of almost constant warfare. There is not a country in 
the world whose history is more stained with blood. She is 
tlie Hungary, the Poland, of South America. There is scarcely 
a city or a settlement within the limits of the rei)uhlic which at 
some time or another has not suffered total or i)artial destruction, 
and scarcely a mountafti to]) from which some ])attlefield may 
not l3e seen. During colonial times Venezuela was cuffed and 
kicked about by Spain so that her peoi>le were in almost con- 
stant rebellion, and since her independence was estal)lished, three- 
([uarters of a century ago, her political leaders have ke})t her like 
an armed camp. Most of her rulers have l)een elected l>y l)ullets 
and bayonets instead of by ballots, and most of her great men 
have died in exile, to have their l)ones brought home in after 
years with tremendous honors and buried under monuments of 
marble and statues of hronz(\ 
The president of Venezuela is assisted in the performance of 
his duties by a cabinet of eight memljers. He receives a salary 
of a thousand dollars a month, a house to live in, honses and car- 
riages, servants and furniture, and, in fact, everything except Ids 
food. He conducts himself verv much like the President of the 
