The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
SOUTH AMERICAN COMMERCE.
Gigantic Operations ON the Acknowledgements
ton Of the National Bolivian Naviga-
tton Company-Its Plans and Pros
psets-0pening the Amazon Val
Icy to Commerce


Anthony and Representative Dixon, of Rhode
Island, 20 the National Bolivian Navigation Company
Wnich suddenly appears upon the stage with the
most gigantic enterprise In progress ON this conti-
nent 1t is headed by Colonel George e. Church, of
this city, and Colonel William H. Reynolds OF Rhode
Island. The former has had wide and varied ex-
perence In Mexico and South America his rare
adaptabllty carry forward the great measure
templated has led Bolivia and Brazil to entrust him
with concessions OF extraordinary value to pour
the commerce OF nearly three millions OF
people through the Amazon valley. The latter
gentleman is well known as one OF the foremo st
among the business men OF Rhode Island, clear head
ed and bold In his operations. He hit upon the idea
of charter for the company from the general gov
ernment and. despite the opposition, anu the fact
that II is the first ever given to private corpora
ton outside the District OF Columbia, 1t has been
pushed through.
The question which the National Bolivian Naylga-
ton Company Is undertaking solve is most curious
ana interesting 1t has been held In allegiance for
more than three and half centuries, sleeping
the discussions and rvalres between Spain and Por-
tugal In the New World, and the tenacious clnging
OF both parties to underlined territorial possessions
upon whose limits they never could agree.
Tie famous boundary line bull OF Pope Alexander
vi. gave but little satisfaction to the rivals; the
treaty OF TOrdcsllas OF 1874, had better result
that OF 1850 followed, after many bloody trial at
arms all along the lines Of the rival settlements in
South America, but without definite effect. The
convention OF 1901. and the famous treaty OF 1777
came AFTER but the boundary line, clearly defined on
paper, was never traced on the ground. Thus the
matter remained. The Spanish colonies threw Off
the yoke Of Spain; and Brazil through bloOdless
effort became an empire. Al that date she virtually
had no frontier, and ner Spanish American neghbors
were no better on II has since cost several desperate
wars to establish that between Uruguay and Brazil
There Is q hot dispute even now over small strip
OF land, between Brazil and Peru. The frontier or
Brazil with Ecuador New Granada, Venezuela and the
Guianas is not yet defined or all the great States on
the Amazon Bolivia Alone tenaciousiy aiming east
ward, has made statesmaulike treaty with the EN-.
pire and clearly defined her limits This she did in
1857 From the date OF this treaty Bolivia com
menced new life; for without it she could never
nope TO gain the Atlantic via the Amazon. And
here let me state that much OF the argument held
against Brazil Tor not opening the Amazon up to
ing condition OF affairs In tnat mammoth valley.
The territorial position Of the empire was too uncer-
headwaters Of the river failed 10 make
treaty defining their limits they kept
only pa tia opening Of the Amazon is based more ore
upon this undecided frontier question than upon any
Bolivia has, perhaps, made more serious effort
than any other OF the Spanish American countries
10 settle her vexed frontier question, and Brazil
1t. Since the independence Of both countries
several Ministers have been accredited back and
forth for the purpose but 1t remained for the able
Prime Minister OF Bolivia to conclude the matter
with the Minister from Brazil TO Bolivia-Dr. Felipe
Lopez Neto. BY this treaty, and by the subsequent
-
Bolivia gained the long coveted outlet 10 the
Atlantic Her whole population had been lying
conquest OF Peru and patiently awaiting 10 have
the question Of the Amazon decided tnat they might
reach the ocean to which they belong.
Their peculiar geograph Cal position and the .opo.
pOgfaphlcal features OF their 100000 square miles OF
magnltcent territory give them but TWO natural
outlets. me one via the Amazon holds tributary
about three-fOurths Of the entire country and Its IN
dustrIous population. The one VIA the Paraguay
and La Plata drains the wild section Of Bolivia In the
but can hope for bul moderate Trade from some of
the most southern districts OF the country No
sooner had the Amazon been opened than Bolivia
entrusted Colonel Church with the solution OF The
great problem upon which she almost depends Tor
cession for the navigation OF her 5000 miles of
navigabe af1luents OF the Amazon. With it she gave
immense tracts Of lands al all the river ports. She
granted large subsidies privileges and exemptions,
with the right to build cartroads, ra.ioaus>oid cut
canals TO connect the great populated centres lying
within easy reach OF the streams win the poris
upon them. Bolivia, by a late, and "a yet unpuo-
lshed census VIII approach 100000 OF inhabitants
and 900 OF these are within commercial access
OF this iuv1al navigation. Almost their entire com
merce must flow through the channels of comrnunica
ton furnished to them by the National Bolivian Nav
CATION Company. To turn the products OF tue country
down the Amazon, extensive works have to be un-
dertakena line OF railway 10 miles IN length is TO be
constructed around the rapids Of the Madeira river
and 120 miles more Immediately undertaken TO con-
meet the great cen raj city OF Bolivia Cochabamba
with the head OF navigation on the Mamore These
however, are but little In comparison to the vast
field upon which the company has embarked TO
CIeaLe LOT bOHVla a cheap system or communication
with the outside world. Docks storeh0uses, piers,
m achine shops, and all the facilities necessary TO
Wen Organized system OF transportation aud trade,
have to he established to accoinm0 late the feet OF
steamers soon to ply upon Bolivian waters.
Something may be judged OF the vastness OF the
field opened to this company by looking az the pre-.
sent commerce OF the second great valley OF South
America-the Plata. This valley contains less popu.
l ta;S 'an Bolivia 49,, Aside from small part OF
and Palagaaa The argentine republic o alone me now
mas tfade, export and Import, OF s,9ooo,ooo an
principally hides and wool; It's population
, y more nG sn, a ana less industrious
Inferior III Agricultural resources, and yer from the
fact that IL has an easy outlet the trade per capda
shows about tilrty-nve dollars per head against
about two dollars and haf PEI. capita IA BOLIVIA
No country In the world stand the
price Of transportation for the transit OF goods across
the Andes through passes nearly $4,000 feet high 1t
costs Bolivia over $500 per ton, On average, for
every ton imported or exported AL the city OF Santa
Cruz de la Sierra, on a branch OF the Madeira iron
sells for $425 per ton after It's SIX or eight months
voyage from Europe, around Cape Horn and over
The mountains.
Not Only Bolivia but Brazil has entered heartily
into the plans OF Colonel Church. and the empire
has just conceded to MIN a splendid concession for
termed the MADEIRA and Mamorc Railway The
preliminary surveys for this road have already been
completed by the MeS5rs. Keller Two able Prlssian
engineers in the employ OF The government or Brazil
very thorough maps, plans and engineering reports
snow All the obstacles to be overcome. The capital
ior ts work Is already pledged In Europe, and the
road Is 10 be put under contract at early moment
Jhe gradients are easy, and no Formidable dtfficu
ties have TO be encountered.
over this road must pass greater part OF all the
future commerce OF Bolivia. Its peculiar and com.
mandng position will be lnme1 iately observed by a
glance at the map. 1t Is exactly at the junction OF
all the vast river system OF the Bolivian valley of the
Amazon. 1t was the original intention TO canallze
1hls line OF rapids, but the engineering report show
ing greater distance than was expected, more nu-
merous obstacles and an entire rise, from the lower
TO the upper rapid, OF 270 feet, railway has been
decided upon as more desirable.
The Bolivian Company intend TO run steamers
upon the rapids so as they can be built. They
already have two under contract. These are TO be
125 feet long, % feet beam, and draw 20 inches OF
water light; although for the nrst 500 miles above
the rapids 1t ia easy to carry ten feet of water the
entire year, The boats To be built OF iron and OF
the best workmanship and materials. They will be
town on the Mam0re river, In Bolivia, |
Steamers are already running on the Lower Ma |
deira, and the Bolivian Company's boats |
once at work, the rapids viii be traversed |