3-065-614 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Opening festival of the new waterworks at Caracas, Venezuela, 1874. Engraving from a sketch by Mr. H. Bonnycastle. 'The city...has lately been the scene of great rejoicing, to celebrate the opening of the new waterworks, which have been constructed by the present head of the State, General Guzman Blanco, President of the Venezuelan Republic. The day chosen for the event was the anniversary of the liberation of the country from the Spanish yoke, which was accomplished by Simon Bolivar...and which day is annually kept with great solemnity all over the country. The dawning of this auspicious morn was announced by salvoes of artillery and the discharge of innumerable rockets, which fireworks seem to be the necessary accompaniment of all fetes in this country, both by day and night. "Epps's Caracas" had, when the sun rose, assumed a festive appearance which made it look exceedingly picturesque, every house being gay with flags and other decorations...the President proceeded in procession with his staff, the principal officers of the State, and the diplomatic corps, to the Calvario, a hill some 600 ft. high, to the top of which the water has been brought into reservoirs from a distance of some fifty kilometres along the flanks of the mountains'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.