The =Bolívar Railway=, farther west, the first in Venezuela, was built for the especial benefit of the copper mines of the State of Yaracuy. It runs from the port of Tucacas, northwest of Puerto Cabello, to Barquisimeto, 100 miles. The part built first is now a branch of the road, leading from La Hacha to the rich copper mines at Aroa eight miles distant. Both railway and mines are British properties, the latter bringing in handsome returns. A company steamer carries freight to and from Puerto Cabello, as Tucacas has no custom house. Another branch of the railway, from Palma Sola to the capital of Yaracuy, San Felipe, 25 miles, was opened in 1916. In this State are other copper mines unworked, and fertile hills and plains uncultivated. The Rio Tocuyo is navigable as far as Siquisique for steamboats, but traffic is not sufficient to make their operation profitable. The =La Vela-Coro Railway=, 8¹⁄₂ miles long, connects Coro with its port. In the State of Zulia are three more railways: The =La Ceiba=, 50 miles long, runs from that port on the Lake toward the city of Trujillo as far as Motatán. The =Great Railway of Táchira=, 75 miles long, goes from Encontrados on the Catatumbo River west of the Lake, south towards the capital of Táchira, now reaching San Felix or a little beyond. It serves the Colombian Department of Santander as well as Táchira. The many transfers of freight are a great disadvantage, while freshets on the Catatumbo threaten to destroy Encontrados. The =Santa Barbara-El Vigia Railway=, 37 miles long, is designed to serve the city of Mérida. Santa Barbara is on the Escalante River; and the road towards Mérida, which crosses several streams, has had much trouble from the Chama River from inundations. The =Guanta-Naricual Railway=, far to the east, leads from the port of Guanta past the city of Barcelona, capital of Anzoátegui, to the coal mines of Naricual. Guanta, though not a primary port, has an excellent natural harbor, but the opening to navigation in 1915 of the Neveri River on which Barcelona is situated has greatly diminished the traffic of Guanta. A few =private railways= exist, constructed for business purposes: A railway 27 miles long of the Asphalt Mines of Inciarte in Zulia. A railway of 10 miles of the Asphalt Mines of Guanoco, Sucre. A two mile railway of Asphalt Mines of Guanipa, Monagas. A railway 10 miles from San Lorenzo, Zulia, to oil wells of the Caribbean Petroleum Company. A railway 19 miles from Bobures, Zulia, to a sugar plantation. A railway 19 miles from Rio Limón, Zulia, to coal fields 40 miles west of Maracaibo, leased by the Caribbean Coal Company.