n to and from the coast. In 1906, according to an official
statement, these lines were: (1) The Barranquilla and Savanilla (Puerto
Colombia), 17-1/2 m. in length; (2) the Cartagena and Calamar, 65 m.;
(3) the La Dorada & Arancaplumas (around the Honda rapids), 20-1/2 m.;
(4) the Colombian National, from Girardot to Facatativa, 80 m., of which
48-1/2 m. were completed in 1906; (5) the Girardot to Espinal, 13-1/2
m., part of a projected line running south-west from Girardot; (6) the
Sabana railway, from Bogota to Facatativa, 25 m.; (7) the Northern, from
Bogota to Zipaquira, 31 m.; (8) the Southern, from Bogota to Sibate, 18
m.; and (9) the Puerto Berrio & Medellin, about 78 m. long, of which 36
are completed. The three lines which do not connect with the Magdalena
are: (1) the Cucuta and Villamazar, 43-1/2 m., the latter being a port
on the Zulia river near the Venezuelan frontier; (2) the Santa Marta
railway, running inland from that port through the banana-producing
districts, with 41-1/2 m. in operation in 1907; and (3) the Buenaventura
and Cali, 23 m. in operation inland from the former. This gives a total
extension of 383 m. in 1906, of which 226 were built to connect with
steamship transportation on the Magdalena, 49 to unite Bogota with
neighbouring localities, and 108 to furnish other outlets for productive
regions. There is no system outlined in the location of these detached
lines, though in 1905-1908 President Reyes planned to connect them in
such a way as to form an extensive system radiating from the national
capital. Tramway lines were in operation in Bogota, Barranquilla and
Cartagena in 1907.

The telegraph and postal services are comparatively poor, owing to the
difficulty of maintaining lines and carrying mails through a rugged and
uninhabited tropical country. The total length of telegraph lines in
1903 was 6470 m., the only cable connexion being at Buenaventura, on the
Pacific coast. All the principal Caribbean ports and department capitals
are connected with Bogota, but interruptions are frequent because of the
difficulty of maintaining lines through so wild a country.

There are only five ports, Buenaventura, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa
Marta and Rio Hacha, which are engaged in foreign commerce, though
Tumaco and Villamazar are favourably situated for carrying on a small
trade with Ecuador and Venezuela. Colombia has no part in the carrying
trade, however, her merchants marine in 1905 consisting