The New York herald., 1871-11-08
LAPAz Bo,iyta senr ao. ,a~

LA PAz, Bolivia. Sept 90 1871
II is seldom that Bolivia affords material for a
letter. This time, however, your correspondents has
no cause for complaint rue HERALD, with keen
interest In all thai concerns the movement OF cIv
zation In South America, aud FarticularIy in the
Valley OF the Amazon, has Kept close waLcn or the
operatiOns OF Co.onei Gnurcn for the past three
years. II appears now tlilt tnese operations ara
assuming no ordinary Inaguitaie, and promise to
change completely the entire commercial fortunes Of
this heretofore negiecteJ ciuItry.
TIE PHYSICAL FEATURE or THE COUNTRY. -.
The HERALD has expilined the trade con.
dition OF Bolivia and low all irs commerce has,
through political aud other reasons, been forced
up and over the Andes In ts unnatural connection
with the world via Cape Horn. The preparatory
steps to turn this trade through its natural cnenne
the River Amazon, have relulrea no ordinary
labor. The 3,00J niles OF nayigRblo streams
In Bolivia are interrunteA In their now northward
by the obstacle OF the rapids OF the River Ma
deira, which tound la bend OF go miles OF this
river ut the no.rhaasL corner Of Bolivi They are
situhtel almost enurely in Iradlan territory. Do-
lvia, and, before the OF independence, old
Spain, tried to negotiate the right OF transit; but
three centuries OF cforts made no impression on the
Portuguese and their Brazi,an descendants Ass
COLONEL cuURCH'S .EsOYATION5. t3
At last. IN 1862 tie Bolivian government requested
Colonel Church to ua.ie this Gordian Knot He pro-
eceded 10 Brazil arrived al Rio JaDeirO during the
great yellow lever season o 1910, aud arranged the
whole affair In seventy dass. About the same time
he mad made contract with the Bolivian govern
ment TO lend lis credit 10 the National Bolivian
Navigation Company of hcw lorx, for tho neg. Tia.
ton OF loan OF siU.o01, %, .arry out the works
contemplated by this co.npaay, Ls being appointed
special agent 81 tae govern, ,ent to negotiate the
loan IN the European money markets.
Despite the opposition D. the Interests OF the
Pacific coast, Tn. 9euInents offered by the Franco
Prusslan war ana nc Dad Impression caused by Q
Bolivian revolution, wDltn overturned the govern
loan was pushed forw ara 70 success SO great were
the merits OF The enterprise Ia Tile eyes ol European
ArPRoyAL OF TIE NAVIGATION SCHEME. b
This wnole matter has lately Deen brought before
the Bolivian Congress ~ Sucre aud after search
ing debate upon merits mas been warmly approved
by vote OF loriyiour 70 eInL Inc latter are given
over 70 local and Pacihc coast interests and
care little for the general good or t4eir country.
No enterprise In ocuih America nas ever been re-
celved with perfect enthusiasm IS this. Bolivia
feels that Is on tae eve VI realizing long cher
ishcd idea the opening o. It's VAST and fertile terri
tory TO the world Dy the easy roate Of the Amazon
RAPIDS OF THE MADEIRA
are to be avoided 10y railway 40 miles in length
eutrey within hrlzna "a territory: II mas been ne
company Tor this part OF the route. This was done
IN London last Aarca. Toe road Is now under ooh.
In Europe. aud is 10 ke finished cary IN 1874
Among its privileges and concessions is large and
that Brazil has also entered in,o this great enter
prise with lneral spirit ana appreciates the ma
reacn. Already Brazil mas twenty.two steamboats,
running upon bhe River Amazon, and these are tn-
It Is safe 10 say that Inc moment the Madeira and
MalnOre Railway Is open IL Will require twice the
that win be given 70 the world by these 2s06,OOs
Inhabitants OF Bolivia.
Let me give yon little idea OF wSat ticr ireIehs
ing costs them nOw. have y bill o. goods before
me, purchased in Europe, with all the numerous
via Cape Horn and Arlea:-
c ISL shipped at Liverpool. .................$3,0so
Freight transportation 1nd commissions. -. 9Sk
Total cost In sucre.... .................:.$ .$e,oos
Or very nearly one hundred per cent upon the org
nal value. ihe time occupied IN the transit was
eight months, mis- shipment arriving with greater
The ordinary fiei hit rom Tacua or from oobija
to sucre, the southern capital OF thts country, y
from S275 to $780, geld, per ton. The same iroln
-"s1' The HOPES OF THE ruruHH et
When 1t Is cred that this OF tranSporta.
ton to be reduced 10 one tnrd tho present price
one nfth time Europe to the centres OF
Iude OF the PROMISED results aud their effect upon
the valley oi the Amazon. me solution OF tins
Rso0s% for sS and news s sonSe HSs
riches winch the lo-mer stare can give % the world
are sas r me- s q
Peruvian bark, little copper and tin. Every pro-
duct given 10y Soutn America lies rottnz on the
Colonel ChurcA. accompanied from sucre by
Colonel Leopold MarSbreit the United states Minis
ter arrived IN C0cIia saaiOa on the 4h inst. Here
permit me to STATE ina the latter gentleman is one
OF the very lea representatives OF the intel States
who does honor 10 ms country IN South America
During the late rcyGlutlon, when Melgarejo was
bamba to La Paz. 20 miles. IN four days, passed
through the bcsieging lines and entered the
desperate assault spon tho woess sns ns
barricades, ana saved the lives Of many
owes MS life 10 Inc exerisOs Of Coons, Marxpreis,
who was only able 70 save him at great personal
aSseai from the State department ior the purpose
Of acYbmpanyi1g Colenel Church to SANTA Cruz do
lnueoack ride Tne latter gentleman Is having q
large expedition ntled out q this point, ana Will
Of sne Msera are Hero s Me caoes
Will be dragged ana pulled around or through the
2so miles Of falls and rapids unt the last obstacle
Is reached.
COLONEL cuuRcu's sxrnprrroN
At this point large and splendtdly fitted expedi.
tion OF sne National bolivian Navigation Company
awaits the ARRIVAL OF Colonel Church. 1t consists
OF two steamers IN pieces, one Of them OF
$50 tons. carrying capacity. Here, in the very
heart Of Soush America, the company has
steamers Ssa above the rapids be orc % the Madeira
and Mamore Railway Is commenced. since the
days Of Pzarro no Dodcr enterprise mas Dcen un-
dertaken IN this part OF the world, anu certainly
none that promises 10 make such great commercial
and political Changes In South America.
ROADS BUILDING.
Already. In view OF oil this the Bolivans are max
inH Efforts To connect their great cities with the
rivers, A company has just been organized and the
capital OF Sl2J, ,o0J raised TO Dld nrst class cart
road from La Paz 10 the river Benl Cocnaoambai Is
making similar effort to connect itself win nav-
gable point on the river Chapare, which IL v large
ailucnt OF the Manore i..vcr considerable capI-
tai has just been subscribed and work commenced
Tor road to connect the populous AMI wealthy
province Of MKoue with the navgable river Chi
more.
The reception of Colonel Church at Cocaapamba,
on the Atm inst. was perhaps the nncst ever given
" any foreigner In South America
TIE RECEPTION AT CUcHABAMBA.
The city contains not less than nlty thousand In.
habltants, oue.hau OF which At least welt out 10
receive him. Coacaes, horses. mules and every
service. Dozens OF American nags mad been made