The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-22
BRAZIL.
River Navigatiue-Thc Obstacles TO BE Over
come-A Reconnaissance by Enterprisins
charlottesville Falls Of Pnulo Alfonso.

which ID probably at this time being put into prac
tcal operation. The subject has assumed more i'm
mediate Importance since the virtual unsuccess Of
Brazil IN the Paraguayan war has forced upon Its
rulers and upon various intelligent and fur seeing Of
the ruled the desirability, nay, the absolute ne
cessity OF having facile communications with
the western region OF Brazil, passing alto
gether through Brazilian territory, inasmncf
az the war has established the very unsatisfactory
fact that the steam communication through thu
Parana and Paraguay is completely at the mercy o
the Argentines and Paraguayans and even ct that o.
the Bovtans should these erect batteries command
Ing the river channel, contingency which might also
occur In case OF war with Peru, In which THU
power, while invading Matte Crosse, might by tt
cruisers on the river Plate eectually cut OF assist
ance TO the west, since, in despatching brigade o.
troops from Mnas Geraes aud San Paulo overland t<
Matte Crosse 1t was only after i've months actua
journeying. and after experiencing much privatior
and disease that the troops succeeded In reaching
any part where their presence could avail in pro
tecting even its higher parts from the Paraguayar
raids.
Merely looking at the map. It would seem an easy
problem to any one uuacquainted with the real dim
cultes Intervening for one sees i've immense rivers
descending from the plateau into the Amazon, any
cently near for practicable defence from the richer
eastern provinces, iftne navigation could be utilized
and submitted to an organlzed steam regime. More
indirectly available would be the San Francisco
which nows nom Mnas- Geraes and enters the sec
upon the east IN Brazilian territory. Unfortunately
OF all the rivers now ing from the great Brazilian
plateau the long and valuable water course
which bears the name OF Paraguay above
Parana between, and La Plata In its lowest
part, IL the only one which Ia not en-
barrassed by great rapids or waterfalls near
the outlet; but al the lower parts OF this river
are In possession Of Powers which may become In
mca 81 AMY moment ana VINO PROVED can
available In case Of war with them, although I'M
doubleday the easiest communication In time OF
pendent communication with the vulnerable pro-
vince Of Matte Crosse the one most advanced to-
wards realization IL that which contemplates
Of Matto Crosse (which city s situated ct about the
head Of navigation from the Platel to the head Of
navigation Of the Arsguaya, or Rio Grande, as it rs
frequently called on maps, which Is freely navgable
even at low water by steamers OF three to four
feet draft 1000 miles down to the rapids Of the
T0cantns, some 400 miles from this rivers junction
with the Amazon for rather the Para, below which
rapids the TOcantins Is navtgable to Its mouth, and
by the Para, which Is really continuation OF the
river, to the ocean. Thus the only Interruptions OF
steam navigation with the capital Of MattO Crosse
and consequently with the head Of navigation OF
at the q the and Se cy Of
NJ e fIs ~ ths Ts @ & aD
part Of the Araguaya and that city, distance Of
some $50 miles over an easy stretch OF ground for q
The individual to whom Brazil win be Indebted for
the most important steps towards the realization OF
this valuable project IL Dr. Comic dc Magalhaens,
Of or material succeed in realizing Il ey
dint Of perseverance and continual hammering at
it In 1862 while President OF the province Of Goyaz
guaya, and publlshed an interesting work relating
his journey and strongly advocating the removal OF
the capital, now decaying town In an unhealthy
mining town, to the head Of navigation OF the Ara
guaya, where It might become the emporium Of
al that ., Trade !, WIN the Amazon , 1T, to which
removal OF the capita he was not successful but the
practical demonstration Of the navigability OF the
The 1ce Il with inc
tention Of allowing him an opportunity OF carrying
out his plans Of realizing its steam navigation. In
from England, one of which, although small, was OF
very great power, and was intended to ascend the
rapids and carry on the navigation above as tug
tain the service below. The vessels came, but
by tho time the attempt to ascend the falls
De me the ow was on
steamer, with DR.. Comic de Magalhaens and num-
Der OF engineers and others, assembled part OF the
rapids without much difficulty. bur In the explor-
ing and clearing Of side channel round the greatest
difficulty much time was occupied, and finally, an
0fficer being drowned and the Vice President.
barely escaping with his life after being carried
down the rapids through the upsetting Of his boat
while exploring, and a. the crew and workmen were
mostly disabled by agues and i was impossible 70
more favorable time, when the rise OF the river
would make the channels fuller. The new attempt
has however, not yet been made as pr. Comic was,
soon after the rst attempt relieved OF the presden
tia duties for reasons OF state.
In 1866, however, he was sent to Matte Crosse to
organize the provincial forces, and he utilized the
Araguaya SO far a. TO get up from Para by 1t various
heavy articles needed for the steam notilla OF the
province. In 1857 he reto0k Corunba from the Para
guayans but was forced by smallpox and the news OF
reinforcements from Paraguay 70 abandon 1t 1t
once, and returned TO the capital with the disease
ravaging the troops and extending over tue prov
ince until II swept away 5000 persons. During this
plague period he caused small steamer 10 be gutted
30 a. be made capable OF transport overland, and
these being put together at the Araguaya steamer
IL now there essaying the object OF hrs aspirations
the navigation OF the Araguaya, to which good road
In now making from the city OF Cuyaba. the improve
ment OF the rapids OF the Tocantins or the formation
OF q road around them Will be the complement OF
this virtual junction OF La Plata basin with That
Of the Amazon by q practicable course Of Internal
communication. The distance embraced on the
Tocantins includes 400 miles, but the rapids are de-
scended and assembled by nats.
the Cnngu ana Iapaos are also hs os sas
not far from their influx into the Amazon; but their
course Ii not 80 long nor so well known as the Ara
guaya's and that Of the Madeira, and some OF the
TAILS real cataracts. In fact, Of all the rivers
flowing into the Amazon the Madeira's head waters
approach nearest 70 those OF the Paraguay, so
near that In the wet seasons the Indians pass their
boats through channels connecting them This river
o Brazilian commission Is now examining, chieny as
to the cost OF making o road around the rapids,
which commence tonterrupt Its steam navigation
at about 500 miles from Its mouth tat the Amazon)
and disappear 800 miles further up leaving above
them o stretch which, although utilized In former
times by boats has n,l been sufficiently examined 70
decide upon It's naviCbty in all or large part OF
It's extent The utilizing OF the Madeira would have
the advantage OF opening up On outlet TO the
fIne river Benz. which Is supposed to be the
Madre de Dios Il the old Spanish maps,
and which is navigble far into Peru, but whose
mouth In the Madeira is situated between the falls Of
this river Although the extremes OF the rapids are
300 miles apart the Interrupted navgable part Of the
river above and below could be Joined by road OF
$50 miles, as the river makes q bend there and the
actual length OF broken water In the 900 miles y
only twenty miles, wae the height or the principal
fail that OF Theotonlo il about thirty nve feet. lhe
utilizing OF the Mateira IL strongly advocated by
Engineer Lieutenant Eduardo Jose de Moraes. who
is the author OF aprcposinon to Join the san Fran.
cisco, above its falls, with the unembarrAssed
Parnahyba BY means Of connecting the string
OF lakes and streams which run from
the head waters OF the Gurgucia 10 southern tribu-
tary OF the Parnahyba on toward the san Franc SEQ