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MINERAL RESOURCES.
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in
the southern portion of which are found the principal deposits of
native platinum. Between important points good roads are frequently
lacking, and difficult trails over mountains and through valleys,
plains, and jungles have to be followed. Hence until means of
communication are vastly improved it is highly impolitic to ship heavy,
complicated, and expensive machinery over the towering Andes and
through the tropical wilderness. ''The companies," says the eminent
Colombian mining expert, Dr. Manuel Restrepo, "do not consider that our
roads are narrow, broken up, and everywhere difficult to traverse, and
that only light loads can pass over them; but they send out heavy
machinery whose massive pieces are doomed to lie rusting on the banks
of our rivers. Such masses of iron, mute witnesses of disasters due to
want of foresight, are frequently met with.''
Some
companies in the past have tried the costly experiment of putting up
fine buildings regardless of all expense. It is recorded, for example,
of one foreigner that he arrived with a store of wines and preserved
food and built himself a house full of conveniences in a desert region;
when his foreign provisions came to an end, lie took his departure.
Were
it not for the disastrous experiences of the past it would be
unnecessary to advise capitalists intending to exploit the platinum
districts of Colombia that they should first dispatch the most
competent engineers to make a careful survey of the territory in which
it is proposed to commence operations, and to make an exhaustive and
careful report on all local conditions. It has too frequently happened
that engineers have been sent out who could not handle a prismatic
compass nor distinguish ores one from another, much less assay them. In
this way millions of dollars have been squandered by foreigners on
mining undertakings which, managed with judgment and economy, would
have turned out well.
Mining
companies which are planning to establish themselves in the Republic
can not be too strongly urged to avoid engaging American or European
workmen for operations in Colombia. Not only must the cost of
transporting the men to their destination be incurred, but they must be
paid high wages and be maintained in comfort. Strangers in a foreign
tropical land, and unable to speak the language of the country, the men
grow discontented, become demoralized, and too often take to hard
drinking. "It is easy," declares Senor Restrepo, "to find in Colombia
workmen satisfied with moderate salaries, who are docile, strong, and
intelligent. Those foreign mine owners who have met with most success
have employed native labor even for the most difficult work. * * * To
make a fortune in a new country, it is necessary to put up with some
privations. * * * Finally, nothing more is necessary than to begin by a
careful study of the conditions of the country and of the special
circumstances of the undertaking. There must be no question of
bringing out machinery until everything has been thoroughly gone into."
For
the convenience of those who may desire further information in regard
to the platinum deposits of Colombia and the present state of the
industry, there is appended the following list, furnished by the
courtesy of Mr. Isaac A. Manning, American consul at Cartagena, of the
names and addresses of Colombian gentlemen who are excep-
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