BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, NO. 2 LAFAYETTE SQUARE, WASHINGTON, D. C., U. S. A. Director.-CLINTON FURBISH. While the utmost care is taken to insure accuracy in the publications of the Bureau of the American Republics, no pecuniary responsibility is assumed on account of errors or inaccuracies which may occur therein. I. COAL AND PETROLEUM IN COLOMBIA. REPORT TO THE BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. Mr. C. F. Z. Caracristi, C. E., has prepared for the Bureau of the American Republics, the following report on the coal beds and petroleum deposits of Colombia, South America: I have the honor to respectfully transmit my report on the coal beds and petroleum deposits of the Republic of Colombia, South America. In doing so, I associate myself with a pleasant labor and duty; and while serving Colombia, I hope to also serve the interests of the United States. The extensive surveys which I have just completed form the basis of this report. These surveys cover the territory embraced in the departments of Panama, Cauca, Bolivar and Magdalena. I shall give only passing notice, however, to the coal measures of the interior and speak with special reference to those that have an international bearing as the source of full supply for the merchant marines and navies of the three Americas. LAWS GOVERNING THE COAL DEPOSITS OF COLOMBIA. The coal deposits of Colombia are subject to and governed by articles 1116 and 1118 of the Colombian Fiscal Code, embracing the laws of 1868 and their amendments and constructions by the Supreme Court. Under these laws, it is held that all coal deposits that border on the Atlantic or Pacific oceans, or any tributaries thereof or within fifty kilometers of any navigable rivers belong to and are the property of the National Government of Colombia. These laws vest the "Executive Power" of the nation with the right to dispose of the coal deposits to any individaal or corporation; provided not less than 10 per cent of the total net profit of the mine or mines conceded shall be delivered by the lessee to the National Treasury of Colombia and the lease or concession shall be ratified by Congress. The same laws, it is claimed, apply to the petroleum oil springs or "seeps;" but a thorough research of the laws does not divulge anything to sustain this position, except the use of the word "carbon" in the law of 1868, which high legal authorities in Colombia claim to embrace petroleum as well as coal. It is also held by the Supreme Court of Colombia that lands conceded to freeholders by the Spanish crown or by the government, previous to the passage of the act of 1868, are not amenable to the above laws and are the free estate of the holder, exempt from any restriction as to the ownership of the "mineral right." COAL AND lignite of the DEPARTMENT OF PANAMA. In the early days of the Panama railroad, and later, during the canal construction period, numerous efforts were made to explore the coal regions of the Atlantic in near proximity to the ports of Colon and Panama. These researches led up to the discovery of bituminous shales and lignite near the port of Boca del Toro on the Caribbean Sea. Some hopes had been entertained that these deposits would give valuable coal, but an examination and analysis have convinced me that the veins are too small and the percentage of carbon too low to justify any expectation from this source. The largest vein I saw was about three feet thick and the analysis gave: Carbon 40.131 12.962 30.216 It will be seen at a glance that the coal has no commercial value, especially as some of the carbon was infusible and noncombustible "graphite." Considerable work was done at these mines some years ago, but little signs of the excavations now remain, the opening being filled with debris washed in by the waters of the rainy season. These deposits do not cover an area of over ten miles, and are not worthy of more than passing mention. On the Pacific, coal measures expose themselves near Punta |