Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-11-13
,nifest Destiny-ValIey OF the
Amazon.


sanifest Destiny-valIey OF the
Amazon.
01y attention has been turned to the
siect embraced under the above heading.
the recent intelligence from Brazil, and
universal sentiment of the people of
United States that all the South A
arican Republics and Provinces will, 500
j, or later, came under the control of the
american government. 1t may be tho't
4 Sir Standstill and Squire Yesterday,
/ a this is matter so far in the misty fu-
me, that to seriously discuss what Shall
b what shall not be the destiny of these
Iapublics and Provinces, is Improbable if
| 5t altogether chimerical. 1t may be a
\ rue remark that what lies in the future
! e cannot enthusiastically we may not
now but practically we do not know
yery action in life is baseless if tried by
he truism.
Before discussing what is the duty of
American people in regard to these
mtries, let us see what they are geogra-
+ phioaDy, and why they are matter of i'm
ehate solicitude. The South American
9ublics are among the richest countries
the globe. 1t is no disparagement to
he valley Of the Mississippi, to say that it
more than equalled by the valley of the
4 eighty Amazon-that great arm of the
% which reaches across a continent almost
bur thousand miles. The area of this val
is nearly 100000 of square miles,
Commencing on the West at the foot of
be Andes, within 60 miles of the Pacific,
affords uninterrupted navigation to the
atlantic On the south, it drains the f.
best portions of Paraguay, and its tributa-
hes intermigle with the La Plata. On
be north three leagues Of canal would con-
Rct it with all the country to the Carrib-
ean sea. This wonderful formation of
|ountry is not equalled for Commerce on
]le face Of the gloee. The restless spirit
the Anglo-Saxon race will not be con-
nt with conquering the north of the west
lemisphere, but before the close of the pre-
emit century, will look about for new fields
commercial and civilized proves. The
mer restrictions upon the navigation of
Ine Amazon have recently been removed,
nj CIR government sent a Lieut.. Hern-
ion, to survey the almost unknown regions
tnoplcal South America. His report
Gci0Ses vast amount of valuable infor-
nation in regard to the climate and pro-
octIons OF this country. We copy from
| he report:
This land is of unrivaled fertility; on
Nomt Of its geographical situation and
biographical and geological formation, it
Induces nearly everything essential to the
amtort and well-being of man. On the
/ 7p and eastern slope of the Andes lie hid
|nmaginable quantities of silver, iron, coal,
Topper and quicksilver, waiting but the ap-
lcation Of science aud the hand of indus
|ry for their development. The successful
|Torklng OF the quicksilver mines Of Hua1l-
2vel1cs would add several millions of sill
a to the annual product of Cerro Pasco
'o0e, Many of the streams that dash
ION the SUBMITS of the Cordilleras wash
nd from the mountain side, and deposit
in the hollows and gulches as they pass.
barley, quinua and potatoes, best grow in
cold, with wheat, rye, maize, clover and
9tacco products Of q temperate region,
lecS the mountain-side, and beautify the
valley; while immense herds of sheep, la
mas, alpacas, and vicunas feed upon those
plains aud yield wool of the finest and len
g2st staple.
descending toward the plain, and only
9F a few miles, the eye of the traveller
nom the temperate zone is held with won
Der and delight by the beautiful and
Aange productions of the torrid. He sees
or the first time the symmetrical coffee
lush, rich with its dark-green leaves, its
pure white blossoms, and its gay, red fruit.
ne prolific plantain, with its great waving
mike leaf, and immense pendant branch
y Of golden-looking fruit, enchains his at
Rnflon. The sugar cane waves in rank
4zunance before him; and if he be famil-
Isl with Southern plantations, his heart
wells with emotion as the gay yellow bios
@n and white boil of the cotton sets be-
1'e his minds eye the familiar scene of
tome.
Fruits, too, of the finest quality and
most luscious flavor, grow here; oranges,
snons, bananas, pine-apples, melons, edi-
qnaoyaS, granadillas, and many Others
'alch, unpleasant to the taste at first, be-
@ne with use exceedingly grateful to the
4, %.cuStomed palate. The Indian gets here
us indispensable coca, and the forests at
%rtain seasons are redolent with the per-
ame of the vanilla.
"The climate of this country is pleasant
I'd healthy; it is entirely free from the
anoyance of sand flies and mosquitoes,
'hch infest the lower part of the tributa-
les and nearly the whole course of the
Amazon. There is too much rain for a.
{eeability from August to March; but no
ing could be more pleasant than the
Seather when | was there in June.
The country everywhere in Peru, at
,ae eastern foot of the Andes, is such as |
nave described above. Further down we
nod the soil, the peculiar condition, and
DEDUCTIONS of a country which is occasion
' t overlooked, and then subjected with
.~' occasional showers, to the influence Of
U,opcal sun. From these causes we see
sN'undity of soil and a rapidity of vege-
@Q0n that is tnnnrunlln,,s and To which o.