122 SELLING LATIN AMERICA 
of the third and 17,800 of the fourth class. 
The Chivor group, it is estimated, is capable 
of producing $500,000 worth of these stones 
per year. 
Gold to the value of $6,634,914 was ex 
ported in 1913. Its production increases an 
nually. About $1,000,000 worth of silver and 
$600,000 worth of platinum were shipped 
abroad in 1913. 
Colombia is presumably on a gold stand 
ard, having as its unit of value a peso or dol 
lar equal in value to the American one. As a 
matter of fact, however, the currency in circu 
lation is an inconvertible paper dollar, which 
fluctuates in value according to the stability 
of the government. I have seen it take three 
hundred of these dollars to equal one of 
ours. Now a paper dollar is worth about one 
cent gold. Business transactions are usually 
done in United States dollars or English 
pounds. 
Much of the business of Colombia is in the 
hands of the Germans who maintain houses at 
the port towns and branches at other trade cen