The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
Bolivia and Brnzii-Their Joint Progress
sive Efforts ON the Amazon.

the gigantic operations undertaken Dy the VA
tional Bolivian Navigation Company, just Or
ganized in this city under a charter lately
granted by the United States Congress. The
company has no less object than the turning
of the commerce of nearly the whole of Bolivia
into the markets of the world via the Amazon
river. The foundations of the whole enter
prise have been laid in South America within
the last year and half Colonel George e.
Church is at the head of the company, and
the governments of Bolivia and Brazil have
entered heartily into his plans. The former,
looking to an early development of her vast,
fertile and well populated territory, has
granted to him concessions commensurate
with the great works to be carried forward
the latter such privileges as will enable him
to span the rapids of the Madeira with rail
way one hundred and seventy miles in length.
For all these works the necessary capital is
pledged in Europe, and such is the careful and
solid basis upon which the whole enterpris
rests that we may soon expect to see it in full
operation.
This is the first great step towards the de-
velopment of the largest river basin on the
globe The commercial world appears to have
ignored heretofore the fact that Bolivia, at the
headwaters of the main branch of the Amazon,
contains five-sixths of the entire population of
the Amazon valley; that they occupy the
healthiest, most productive and richest slope
of the Andes; that their natural outlet is down
the Amazon to the Atlantic; that they have
heretofore only been able to force small mule
back trade with the world, at an immense cost,
via the Andean passes, nearly Is, 900 feet high.
Next to Brazil Bolivia is the most populous
State of South America. Within her borders
are found the great remnant of the Inca race,
which once extended its boundaries over line
of thirty five degrees of latitude and from the
Pacific coast to the present frontier of Brazil.
The world has heretofore been almost careless
of the existence of Bolivia, from the fact that
she has been hidden behind the Andes and had
no contact with the Atlantic It now speaks well
for her statesmen that they make bold push
eastward to remind the nations of their exs-
tence, and pour their unrivaled agricultural
and mineral resources into the channels of
commerce. Bolivia, only twenty-five days
distant by steam from Europe and the United
States, should add largely to the riches of
the nations trading with her. 1t is not much
to predict that instead of her 100000
annual importation she will, inside of ten
years, import $25 200, 900 of values, while the
exports of her rare products will give bal
ance of trade in her favor, instead of being
against her, as it is to-day
1t is seldom in the history of the world that
it falls to the lot Of one company to undertake
almost the entire commercial development of
nation-few geographical positions admit of
it few minds are daring enough to grapple
with all the elements Of such problem, and
furnish the patience and energy for
its successful solution. Two governments
opposite in politics, and heretofore oppos-
ing in interests, have had to be dealt
with, and yet the very ample concessions
made by empire and republic prove how deli
cately and well the enterprise has been
managed. The granting Of charter from our
general government was scarcely less import
ant, and under it the National Bolivian Navi-
CATION Company has broad field for ope-
rations.
Brazil has shown great wisdom in settling
her boundary line question with Bolivia and
cordially cooperating in the opening of Bolivia
as well as her own vast province of Mato
Crosse. 1t appears that Bolivia can furnish
nearly all the cereals and animal food required
for consumption in the Lower Amazon. Aside
from this, the interests of the two countries
will be one instead of being antagonistic,
as heretofore. Again, the commerce of
three millions of energetic people pour
ing through the Amazon must cause
great progressive changes in the lower valley
itself, enriching the empire and adding largely
to its wealth and importance.
Peru, recognizing the vast wealth of Bolivia,
is spending fifty millions of dollars in pushing
railway across the Andes to its northwestern
frontier on Lake Titicaca. The Argentine
Central Railway is to be extended several hum
bred miles northward to tap its southern Dor
| der These two great enterprises are wisely
planned, and must give great results. There
appears to be rivalry existing as to whether
Bolivian commerce shall flow through Peru,
| the Argentine Republic or Brazil. A glance
at the map shows that Brazil has the geograph-
ical advantage over her neighbors for by the
way of the Amazon and the three thousand
miles of navigable Bolivian rivers, the heart of
the country will be tapped in all dire ctions.
| THE Ice MoNoPoLIsTs The combination
of the ice companies of this city Suggested,
no doubt, by the extraordinary demands upon
them during the late heated term') and the
| fearfully high prices-three times the price Of
last Misunderstanding for the article, has
created something Of panic among the ice
consumers of the city and its suburbs, and the