The New York herald., 1869-04-14
COMMERCE. or YaE AMAZON.
Tho. Attempt TO Unite the Hcadwaterp Of the
Amazon and In Plata.
kfuea


Amazon and I.n Plata.
LOWELL, Mass, April 1859.
To THE EDITOR Or THE HERALD
In your issue Of tho 7th nstant you published O
very accurate paper upon Bolivia AMI the Amazon
valley and besides this some inform alton about the
enterprise OF Dr. Couto de on the waters
OF the Araguaya. With reference to the paper on
BOLIVIA. 1t would be dinicut Tor any To aha fur
ther details to those already furnished to you by
Colonel Church, but Deg leave to call your atten-
tlon TO the very important navigation OF the river
Araguaya. lately undertaken ,ssiuily by Brazil,
and the advantage thus oIcred to tho commerce OF
the world.
since an carly date Brazil has made serious effort
to find some water course which shaild unite her
Amazon valley with the valley OF La Plata The
shrcwd Old Portuguese too far-seelng to dcsplse
the solution OF s1ch momentous problem began
series OF explorations early III tue seventeenth
eiorts IN ts direction ami was then decided tnlt
the MADEIRA was the proper route, but further ex-
poraons proved the unitnes3 OF this river for such
purpose. The rapids were very serious obstacle,
and so chs route was aolndonei
Oflate the problem mas been taken up by soma
Young Brazliaus. who commenced Studying the
river Araguaya with view OF making .this the line
OF transit to the Argentine valley. Sac OF these
gentlemen, DIR. Couto de Magslhacls, has made
everything yield 10 his perseverance,. Whine others
were absorbed IN arranging the political Affairs OF
themselves aud their friends he liii a3Iic his law
books and MA literature and directed his encrgi cs to
the great work o linking together the two great val.
leysoi South America lie explored the Aragdaya,
anu soon convinced himself tnat that river would
not only serve the purpose, but would affor1
dependent route TO tle provinces Of Goyaz and
Matto crosse The visit vi Aga3siz TO the Amazon
encouraged the enterprise. Dr. Magaihaens wheu
removed 70 the Presidency OF Matto crosse explored
an overland route from there TO the Araguaya. 10
test the navigaDlllty of this stream he bought o
steamer OF the Old Parana line II In pieces and
through an extent OF amjst 100 miles carried 1t on
the backs OF mules aud by carts 10 tue desired point.
When we consider the difficulties OF this enterprise
we can hardly euoglze the energy OF the explorer
WHO personally proceeded to t1c confluence OF tho
RIO, ernelho, near Leop)ldno, about nty-onc dc.
grees west from Grecnwich.
The nayigatIon OF the Aragu,ya by steam is TO-
day bet Dr. Magahaens Is nov expected at
PARA abOut City geograohca degrees from the point
from which he started. having made his voyage via
tile Araguaya ani rucantins.
An impogtlht tact proven Is that tho cortfuerd
or range that snparntes the Two basins is by no
means 50 diflcult 10 bs traversed as has aiway3
been rcprc3entc,l. Dr. Magtlhacns SAYS it s rafhsr
n gradual ascent. and ne believes nriny that with
buL little dlicuty the head waters 81 the Parana-
hyDa--tle name OF the Pardna bfancn or the Piata
IN thar locAllty-and those OF tho Araguay branch
cf the rocaltin3 en- be unite W an Overland road
or y canal not liiis sixty or cighy miles m
length. These facts iigc APPEARED ~ ma g, TN DJr-
TAM that DO n)t hesitate 10 c)nnliicate them To