COLOMBIA 
121 
ably. Hides to the value of $2,661,721 were 
exported last year, the United States taking 
by far the greater portion. Some 30,000 alli 
gator skins are sent annually to the leather 
markets of Europe and America. 
Excellent hard, cabinet and dye woods are 
to be found toward the interior, but the poor 
transportation facilities retard the develop 
ment of trade in this field. 
Colombia’s chief wealth is in her mines. 
There is much gold, also iron, silver, lead, cop 
per and coal. In the production of platinum 
this country ranks next to Russia. Petroleum 
is found and the petroleum industry is rapidly 
assuming large proportions. Practically all 
the emeralds of the world to-day come from 
Colombia, this precious stone being worth 
more per carat than diamonds. The govern 
ment controls the exploitation of emerald 
mines, leasing them to operators. The chief 
groups of mines are the Muzo, the Coscuez, 
the Chivor and the Cuincha, the first named 
having a yearly output of 262,348 carats of 
the first water, 467,690 of the second, 22,700