Venezuela is superior to Argentina, the other great cattle country of South America, in every respect except one, that of the amount of pasture land. This handicap, however, is not very important considering that Venezuela is not producing to capacity by 96 per cent and that it will be a very long time before it becomes necessary to look for means of extending the present feeding grounds. When that time comes, alfalfa may be planted on the mesas and highlands not bearing a natural growth of grass. It has been demonstrated that both alfalfa and elephant grass will grow in almost all sections of Venezuela.
Venezuela is a week nearer to Europe than Argentina. The vast importance of this fact is self-evident, for it means that Venezuela will always be called upon up to the limit of her production.
Land is cheap. A square league of meadow land may be had for $80.00. The best pasture land in a good location may be bought for $800.00 per square league. Land is abundant too, and but a small percentage is now in use.
Guanta is a port of the Carribean, in the State of Bermúdez, 12 miles east of Barcelona, with railroad connections. It has a protected harbor, with an easy and safe entrance 1998 feet wide, secure anchorage for large vessels, and a good wharf. Behind Guanto lies fine cattle land, a significant fact when it is recalled how very important is the shipment of live cattle.
Here would be an ideal spot for an American packing house, and the country behind would seem well adapted for the investment of capital in cattle-raising.
The regions just below Ciudad Bolívar would also be a good location for an American enterprise. Stock may be very cheaply bought and brought down the Apure and Orinoco rivers to the plain below the city, where they could be fattened and slaughtered. There is easy access to the Carribean and Atlantic, to Trinidad and other markets.
On the other hand, we may say that the future of the cattle industry depends primarily upon the political situation of the country. It is this factor which has retarded the industry in the past and which is now responsible for the hesitancy on the part of foreign capital. The profit to be derived from any industry here depends upon a firm, stable government. Under such a government the profits to be derived from cattle will be immense. If political wars again break out, however, heavy losses are almost inevitable.
The present administration has done more for the development of the country than any previous government and its attitude towards foreign capital is favorable. It has, furthermore, been firm and stable.
Still, beneath it all, one detects signs of a strange unrest. The observant traveler hears murmurings every day. There is no denying the fact that the present government is a military one. Yet, I believe that the intelligent and influential class of the nation realize the good it has done and feel that the country must never return to the old conditions of ceaseless revolution. I am of the opinion that Venezuela has fairly embarked upon a program of development and prosperity.