Chapter II: Part II: Student Reports

ECONOMIC HISTORY OF VENEZUELA 31
Geographical 31
Political 32
Banks and Currency 33
Aids to Economic Development 34
Government 35
Prospective 36

POPULATION, IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION 37
Census Reports 37
Most Thickly Populated Districts 38
Need of Immigrants 39
Inducements to Immigrants 40
Educational Facilities 41

PORTS OF VENEZUELA 46
Coast Line 46
Major Ports 47
Minor Ports 48
Special Port Activities 49
Port of La Guaira 50
Pilotage and Towage 52
Lighterage and Cartage 52
Stevedoring 52
Port Charges 53
Wharves and Warehouses 53
Documents 54

OCEAN, CABLE AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS 55
Shipping Communication 55
Number of Ships Entering each Port 57
Nationalities of Ships Entering same Ports 58
Steamship Lines 60
Red "D" Line 62
Cable Communication 63
Wireless Communication 64

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES 65
New National Highways 66
Equipment and Care of Highways 67
Automobiles in Venezuela 67
Venezuelan Railroads 68
Waterways of Venezuela 71

AGRICULTURE IN VENEZUELA 73
Agricultural Zone 73
Products 73
Coffee 74
Cacao 74
Tobacco 75
India Rubber 77
Sugar Cane 78
Wheat 80
Cotton 80
Tonka Beans 81
Vanilla 82
Cocoanuts 82
Indian Corn 83
Beans 83
Indigo 83
Capital Invested in Agriculture 84
Forest Zone 85

CATTLE INDUSTRY OF VENEZUELA 87
Number of Cattle 88
Other Live Stock 88
Exports of Pastoral Zone 89
Facilities for Cattle Raising 90
Obstacles to Cattle Raising 92
Recent Developments 93
Centers of Animal Industry 93
Dairy and Canning Plants 93
Price of Land 95
Desirable Regions 95
British Investments 96

MINERAL RESOURCES OF VENEZUELA 97
Land Surface of Venezuela 97
Rocks 97
Gold 98
Copper 99
Iron 99
Coal 100
Salt 100
Summary of Ores Mined in Recent Years 102

PETROLEUM AND ASPHALT IN VENEZUELA 102
History of Petroleum 103
Mining Law of 1905 103
New Code of 1909 104
First Development of Petroleum Fields 104
Mining Law of 1918 104
Contracts Awarded 105
Opportunities for Development of Petroleum Industry 107
Petroleum Exported 108
Description of Asphalt 108
Occurrence of Asphalt 109
Asphalt Industry 110

CHECKS, DRAFTS, BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND TRADE ACCEPTANCES IN
VENEZUELA 110
Function of Credit 110
Extent of Check System in Venezuela 111
Clearing of Checks 112
Laws regarding Commercial Paper 112
Drafts and Bills of Exchange 113
Long and Short Time Credit 113
Foreign Drafts 114
Definition of Trade Acceptance 115
Extension of Usage of Trade Acceptances 116

COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS IN VENEZUELA 117
Importance 117
Climatic Conditions in Venezuela 117
Customs Duties on Samples 118
Catalogues 118
Knowledge of Language and Customs of Venezuela 119
Climate of Various Cities 120
Market for Various Products 120
Complaints Against American Methods of Packing 120
Roads and Highways in Venezuela 121
Tables of Distances Between Principal Cities 121
Freight Charges 126
Financial Conditions 126
Currency 127
Venezuela's Tariff 127
Opportunity for American Travelers 128

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND AMERICAN CAPITAL IN VENEZUELA 129
Venezuela's Public Debt 129
Foreign Banks 130
Public Utilities 131
Other Investments 131
Investment Opportunities 132
Proposed Railroads 133

FOREIGN TRADE AND AMERICAN GOODS 137
Foreign Trade in Venezuela 137
Effects of the World War 138
Imports and Exports 139
Summary of Venezuelan Foreign Trade--1917-1919 140
Market for American Goods 141
Complaints Regarding Packing 141
American Selling Methods 142
German Competition 142
Customs Collections 143
American Personnel in Venezuela 144