The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-18
THE AMAZoN.~-LETTER 8.


\ PARA, (South Amerca) July l. 1854
When is in Para speaks Of the Amazon, the first
thought suggested is either rubber the navigation of the
Amazon The high price which rubber has risen in the
United States coupled with the fact that its increasing
demand sustain and yet further raise that price
has acted very voraby upon the industrial feelings of the
people Of this country The demand for the material
for making applications of rubber is great that if
production of the Amazon could to-day be made twenty
times large and the supply regular the prices would
be materially permanently reduced in the United States
One who has given il his attention has but very little
conception of the muarous OF the seringa The de-
mand hitherto greatly exceeded the supply that the
impulse given to its production to have fully
vitalized the people The whole population in
way directly indirectly engaged in its production
trade. There said to be at least 10000 men now
Mani island and about the mouth of the Amazon pro-
ducing it, Some days since lawyer in Para, deserving
his profession, borrowed few thousand dollars and left
for the sernga districts So great the desire work
good seringa lands that 600 have banded 10 take
forciby the island Mexana, pronounced Hshe-ah-aa
IN the mouth Of the Amazon 1t is owned by private ind
ydua and has large cattle copos and low seringa lands
| II will require the military suppress it,
The rubber business has Hooded this country with Amer
lean gold The Indians bring the rubber from long dis
lance at times the interior rivers and receiving their
gold richly laden with the manufactures and pro-
ducts of the civilized But the intermediate raderthose
who purchase directly from the producer in the country
and traffic in fruits "domesticsr salt -four caixaca (pro
nounced ka-shah-sah) fish, rum, &c.-make money
The price paid by the foreign merchant to these and
such producers from the country is high that
unless it is sold in the United States at dollar per
pound they lose money We have, however, recent
case of handsome speculation. While rubber was low
last summer small dealer purchased lot which he
made this spring fifty thousand dollars clear money Other
houses each of which have done than two millions of
dollars business during the year. have perhaps not made
al Ia
good index to this country 1t has now swallowed up
thing else that may expect the United States
to do large business in the supply trade if get
mail line to New York and that rapid communication with
this country which large American trade demands.
The consumption of -four is already very great although
the profits small question very much the wisdom of
the Brazilian policy in attempting exclude foreigners
ard throwing nsurmountable barriers in the way of colo
nizaton and obtaining lands Just in the ratio that her
unbounded rubber developed will she pros
per everything ee and to develop these resources she
needs large increase of labor and large addition of for
eign capital. She will undoubtedly that where q
foreigners capital is there is his heart also and begin
relax her present unwise and unnatural restrictions
speak of the navigation of the Amazon That by
the first thing The navigation already establish
ed has not paid The production of the country must in
Then when there is profitable business to do the
Amazon will have steamers Brazans will them them
Selves foreigners through razans 1t is that few
trade wherever and in whatsoever the desired
the United States would very greatly encourage the people
effort when they the necesare and luxuries at
ainabe by the labor of few days This privilege will
trust be accorded Brazans before the present year
closes.
II is thought by that the whole rubber trade will
be changed After many attempts method has been dis
covered for preserving the milk it from the tree
in its fluid form which, believe is effected by the incor
poraon Of ammonia 1t is said that the soidied rubber is
wrought great by the manufacturer in reducing
again the fluid state and that the soidifying process
drives off the serum which, if preserved would be very
beneficial the rubber and in its manufacture 1t is also
said that in using the milk many foreign substances
be incorporated with it that materially improve it.
large New York company having this discovery obtained
from Brazil the exclusive privilege Of collecting and ship
ping the milk The province of Para opposes this monop
oily and has endeavored through the provincial assembly
Illustrate it. Although the assembly has power
lay the duty yet they determine the value of the
ce which the duty is calculated So taking state
of correspondent in the "New York Courier and
Enquirer for authoryit being there asserted that the
milk selling for twice much per pound the rub
berthe assembly have placed its valuation at twice as
much rubber that the duty is about twentsx cents
per pound 1t seems however, that the remonstrance
of the company the Emperor has determined that his
tracts and grants shall be thwartcd by the assembly
and viii arrange that the company shall have justice
1t thought that the export duty rubber will be
tirey removed, certainly it should 1t is laid the
plea that the government has other Of collecting
taxes from the rowing population who produce it
The agent of the company Mr.. Charles Armstrong of
New York. is now here with large party making extern
sve preparations for collecting the milk during the present
year The for making rubber commences with the
close of the winter rains in June The fabrics made Of
milk certainly very fine and beautiful while there is
no doubt that will be furnished the manufacturers in
great abundance the whole population prefer by all
collecting and preserving the milk to soidifyng it
The process of qualification very unheahful The milk
is taken into close tent when last other form
srepeaedy dipped into the milk and often held over
thick SMOKE Which sodides it, Mr. Armstrong has hum
dreds of applications by iborers interesting fact as no
ENTERPRISE n this country before this has found sufficient
labor The negro population for this reason Inns become
at least one-half of ee. The hire themselves rom
their owners at reasonable price, and themselves make
generally from 60 cents to 81 80 per day They thus pur
chase themselves greet numbers and freely aalga
mating into less sable race and exalted respeca
blity.
1t makes the voyage every three months The distance
about two thousand miles and the price hundred and
twentyone dollars. The steamers for the Rio Negro or
Barra leaves monthly The distance is hundred and
eighty miles, and the price hundred and dollars
The accommodations quite good for steamers
ANDES
Com John DoBpes, whose death occurred few DAYS
ago, was when twelve years of age it is said from