The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-29
Affairs In Brazil.
OUR RIO JANEIRO CORRESPONDENCE.

Her Britannia Maesty's Basilsk left yesterday
for Kingston, ia.
Affairs In Brazil.
OUR RIO JANEIRO CORRESPONDENCE.
IxS JASnRo, Brazil, Aug T. 1862
Rdil,oay Progress Wegk the Don Pedro Sgundo Lime
Riuu'vy Of English and Americans. nnxx Of Nslibs
tevs1he United States Ship John Adams Condensed de-
have for some time past promised myself to write
you letter more general than any yet sent you
up to this date have had little time TINT could call
my that have been unable to do so. Just having
arranged my business upon the Don Pedro segundo rail
road, is called in Portuguese, estrada de ferro
de Don Pedro scgundo" have made my appearance in
the metropolis of Brazil for the purpose of resting
weary body and to satisfy hungry stomach for 1.-Two
on toncinha at pork and taao (back beans) upon the
railroad of course it is great pleasure to get 70 city
like Rio, where you at least eat eggs and bread and
drink tea sweetened with sugar. not quite full of rat
dirt as it is upon the road.
The ESTRADA de ferro de Don Pedro Segundo is the
point upon which all eyes the States resting
and upon this railroad wish locate you for few mi
nutes Mr. Price Gan Englshman) built the first section
Of this road running from Rio Janeiro place called
Belem (Bethlehem), forty miles in the interior
This portion of the road is badly constructed and during
the rainy is entirely useless it nearly all
last season. 1t is, however, under repair and as
the Brazilian company have very active man to su
pcrincnd the expect it will do better this
than the last.
The cars and engines used on the finished
portion of the road wholly English and they
the dsagreeable invention in this country espe
cially have The holds eight passen
gers II is square, with stats facing each other door
the right hand and the left which constantly
locked while the train is in motion These doors half
glass which slides down somewhat like the glass
omnbuses at home; but the road being very dusty the
glass seldom down. and the heat being intense North
comes within an inch Of being baked brown be-
fore he arrives at the town of Belem. went the
road some time past with my friend, Dr. D. of Virginia
The doctor had but recently arrived in Brazil and his
stomach had not recovered Its regular Tone and while
the way he became much affected and obliged to re-
eve himself in the This is out Of many similar
The train has three classes Of crsthe first class
from Rio to Belem five mlres, about equal 1856
of money: the second class four mreis, the third
class two mlres and half all passengers in the third
class must be without boots shoes their feet Bare
footed people in Brazil travel very cheap, but man
with patent leather must pay for the privilege of
ingit.
The American Company, who have taken the second
section of this road doing their best to complete it
within given time; but fear they have undertaken
something beyond their strength The section begins
Belem and only miles further into the
country but this seventeen miles equal any fifty miles
you pick out your State The road for the first five
miles runs like snake and forms perfect U, and
ed the intervening distance After the FIVE miles
passed the line takes acute angle for miles,
ends against mountain division seven, being
worked by d. II. Sampon, thorough railroad d.
vision seven is perhaps as heavy there is the
second four hundred and eighty and the third nearly
three hundred feet After this division is passed you
reach another tunnel division eight This division
very heavy one bnt is now nearly finished 1t is under
the charge of Dr. d., of whom mentioned the incident
that occurred in the Division nine is not quite
heavy as eight yet there is tunnel and several
very heavy rock cuts This last word calls my mind
sad thing that occurred division five last week This
division is nearly all rock cuts. The Superintendent, Al
person during blast in the cut Immediately below the
house. happened to be this division that day, and
after the accident mounted my horse and rode up the
mountain to Mr. Hawkins. knew him WELL but ! did
not know him when saw him that day. He died few
days after the accident and the company lost good man
in him.
There are thirteen tunnels on the seventeen miles,
the contract taken by the American contractors the
last and the largest tunnel Is mile long, and is
being worked by Robert Harvey, old contractor
and member Of the company hope he may finish the
tunnel in time but fear he will not The second tunnel
is located division fourteen, and being worked by
D. Muhlenberg, Of Pennsylvania who has large for
tune in the division. know 1t to be one of the finest
divisions on the line.
1t will be thing to lament should the American
pany fail to finish the entire second section The English
would gloat it, and they at all times the qui
for any event that may turn up by which they may
be able to make some capital They say our countryman
secondp The second section is i've times greater than
the first and takes more time, more labor money
and more men, Many Irish laborers, from the States,
here, some time past but they nearly all
back now, and Irishman is sight, at this time,
upon the line.
W. Miner Roberts the President of the company
reached here last week with his family. He comes with
the intention Of remaining during the time requires
finish the work.
The Americans residing in Brazil celebrated the 4h of
July at the " Club Flumineuse,' Rio de Janeiro, by
grand ball. which well gotten up, and finely carried
out saw in the nearly all the Imperial Ministry
and many fine ladies belonging the Imperial household
had the pleasure of heeing it over the floor with fair
and satisfied with effort Mr.. Meade,
Minister Scott Consul and several other Americans
acted as managers and everything passed oil very quietly
and genteely.
Do you know that the Brazilian government absolutely
believe that the States have designs upon her that
wish to occupy the country, and for that purpose
have work the railroad who after il finished
will remain and in time colonize the entire lands Pre-
poserous as this may seem TO you it is nevertheless
positive fact, which was mentioned TO me only few
days ago by gentleman who stands high here. He him.
self laughed at the idea but stated to that the
truth indeed have heard Minister say that the Bra
lillian government feared us, and looked upon
nation Of Gbusters God knows we never would think of
fibusterng in such country this. have been
In Nicaragua, but will venture to say that it is Para
disc TO Brazil and from what know OF think it emo
great shakes.p
The wet will commence in October and usually
lasts four and five months. The roads that time
impossible for pack mules wagons, and foot
has great difficulty to get along myself have been de-
tanned ten days going distance OF ten miles in the Sierra
Mountains taking consideration then the great diff
Guilty Of getting supplies from point to point what wonder
is If the American contractors fail to fulfil their contract
MARX you, 90 not mean 70 say pos1veiy tnat tey VIII
fail for know very little about their affairs and
less but viewing everything have DONE have formed
opinion and it is that they cannot build the road for
the money, and that the English would have been the
same tx had the contract been awarded to them.
The John Adams, United States man war, came into
this barbor few days ago. The commander, Murray
Mason called survey and had the vessel condemned
unseaworthy, she will remain her time until the
Department at Washington order otherwise.
Affairs I'm Buenos Ayres.
OUR SOUTH AMERICAN CORRESPONDENCE.
BuKyos AyRxs August II, 1869.