The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-19


proceed now TO show the present condition. with the
future and commercial capabilities of the great
South American water sheds.
will conhne my attention 10 the rivers Amazon and
La Plaato their tributaries and the valleys drained by
them.
First let US give our attention to the La Plata and
compare the extent OF country drained by il with the
tent drained by rivers in the northern hemisphere The
valley OF the Amazon lies in both hemspheres is the
largest river basin in the world, but il belongs exclu
siyely neither TO the North nor TO the South
The Mississippi, then, il will be perceived drains the
largest river basin in the northern, and the La Plata the
largest in the southern, hemisphere. Both these streams
from north 10 south, each embracing great
rety OF productions, aversng many diversss OF eli
mate.
The of the principal river basins which are drain
ed into that accessible ocean commerce may
be thus stated
In America-The Amazon-area Qncluding the 0ro-
noco) 2.04s,4so square miles.
In North Amsrica-The Misssslppl--area $50 900
square miles.
In South America La Plata-area sso 900 square
miles.
In Europe-The Danube--area 23i 900 square miles
In Africa-The Nle-area $4,000 square miles.
In Asia. China--The Yang-,se Keang-area $4,000
square miles.
In India-The Ganges--area 432 900 square miles.
II will be observed that the valley OF the La Plata in
is the third in the world that it twice large
the valley OF the Ganges, and than three times
large as the largest river basin in Europe.
The basin OF the La Plata embraces all the attitudes
and toolhat TO be found in the valleys of the
Indus, the Ganges, and the lrawaddy, the great river
basins OF India 1t has all the agricultural
capacities and more, that to be found in the climates
OF India These great Of the La Plata for the
part lie dormant They hidden in the bosom Of
the earth, or concealed in the OF the noun
tains.
The waters Of the La Plata flow through climates that
favorable to the growth sugar. of tea and coffee of
rice hemp, and tobacco, of cotton and corn, OF drugs,
woods, dyes and Spices and OF almost all the agrcultu
raj staples of the earth.
The Rio de la Plata lies wholly within the southern
hemisphere and it the greatest river that does lie
consequently has opposite with those OF the
northern. When the husbandman is sowing in the NORTH
then he who ls the earth in this beautiful river basin
will be gathering his crops and consequently the planter,
and the farmer. and the merchant OF the La Plata will
have control Of the northern markets for six months of
eve ny year without competitor.
The Rio de la Plata, properly speaking, that OF
the between the parallels OF 80 deg and SO deg of
south Latitude Its breadth is hundred miles more,
according TO the place OF measurement, and ii is formed
by the junction Of the Parana and the Uruguay | treat
OF all the country drained by these rivers and their rbu-
taries as the valley Of the La Plata.
The Uruguay beautiful stream. II takes its rise in
the Brazilian province Of Santa Calana," the west
ern slopes OF the Sierra do Mar the sea-range of
mountains. Its course is first weswardy and then
southwardly II is about TOO miles long drains rich,
FERTILE and iolerably weseded country For part OF
the way it is the boundary between Brazil with the
Banda Oriental side, and the Argentine confeder.
alton on the other
| The Parana is a majestic river. II is formed by the
junction of the two Brazilian streams the Rio Grande and
the Paranahba -syt
The former takes it's rse near the parallel OF 20 deg
SOUTH not far from the sea-shore, and in the wealthy
province OF Mnas Geraes The valley in which the
head waters of this river gathered into the main
is most magnificent II is about 200 miles broad
in the widest part, by 400 miles long.
The Of the Rio Grande through it is due west.
and for abou, 500 miles, until it meets the Paranabba
coming from the northward, where it's sources nterlop
and almost intermiRgle with those OF the Amazon.
The population OF the two interior provinces Of Msas
Geraes and Gosz. which these two tributaries OF the
Paana take their rise, and in which they le is for the
| former 600. 000 for the latter 10000.
| The Japanese.lke policy which has been observed
with regard 10 scientific exploration OF the La Plata and
its tributaries has kept the world in the dark to many
parts of that valley.
Dr. Fancia established in Paraguay. many years ago.
government founded upon the Japanese system. Rosas
attempted imitation Of this policy so long he was in
power and Brazil has always practlsed it, So that geog
raphers really know very little TO the Brazilian tb-
uarie OF the La Plata, their navigaby, and the com
mercal resources Of the countries which they drain
According 10 the map Do imperio do Brazil" pub
sh ed in 1885, under the auspices of the Geogra phical
Society," Rio de Janero, and which before me- the
Parana for the first 500 miles below the junction OF the
Rio Grande and the Paranahibs through unnhabit.
ed parts Of the provinces Gayaz, Mauo Crosse. and Sac
Pauo.
Passing these unnhabiied parts, il then runs through
and among the Spanish republics Of that on for about
twelve hundred miles to its entrance in the Plata
Along this part of the route the country is pref )
well settled; and according TO Montgomery Martini
whose authority is recent than that OF the maps oil
the Geographical Society OF Brazil, must be in high
state OF cultivation Writing last year upon this river, be
says
"During the six eight months that the Parana or
Plate rivers recently opened TO European commerce
upwards OF sixteen million dollars worth OF goods were
exchanged for produce and this without any previously
organized mercantile establishments or system.
/ 1.-Two conveys OF merchant ships--one OF one hun.
bred and and the other of sevenysix vesselscame
down the river with full cargoes. II lie that this ex-
OF trade partly attributable TO the accumulation
OF property owing 10 the previous introduction OF
merce by General Rosas whose exclusion policy an
imitation OF that of Dr. Francia he has himself boast
ed He is therefore entirely hostile to mercantile or
indeed TO any intercourse, especially with Europeans
Were Rosas to succeed, he would form a State such
Japan has been Tor the last two centuries"
| The commerce OF this river, know, il valuable; but
whether il be very valuable al this time the above
extract from Martin would make it, doubt.
But suppose il were million, instead OF sixteen,
that brought down through this unexpected free nav
raon for six or eip hi months what would il not be nm