New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-11

Of that great region. Some figures are gwen
showing the producnveness of the soil Inc
value of the timber of the Amazon Is dwet
upon.
A REGION WITH A GREAT FUTURE.
To me Edftor Of The tribune.
SIN. What an industrious class of laboreTs
oopld accomplish on the Amazon and Its
tributaries cannot be overestmated, no mat
fer what line of work they should pur-
sue But the restless spirit OF commerclai
enterprise, prominent part OF our ma
tioaa character has yet failed to penetrate these
regions so full of promise. No other country IN the
world affords like advantages for the establish
nent Of fisheries. The well-kuown volume OF Pro-
fessor and Mrs. Agassiz has surprised our commn-
nifty with wonderful descriptions Of fishing IN TINS
ocean-liko river; bat no responsive acton has
been taken i'm the matter of turning into praetlcM
account the specuatOns thus engendcred in the op-
erations Of preserving catching, drying and canning
fish we are far ahead of other nations on the ANA
ION this business carried on after the most prini-
tive fashion only IN reference to drying and salt
ing. and ON q comparatively small scale. The plTa-
ruci6 or 8Uds ggds of ichthyoogists, IS ABOUT the
only fish so preserved, Notwithstanding that nun
dred other species Of equally savory fishes swarm
in all the lakes, rivers and channels OF the region
Yet none of our active countrymen have gwen a
ThOuglt 10 the immense pIuui@ hVtlNdoi' AA"+4 -
organization of fisheries in this the fishing ground
par ercsllegoe In the capital of the Empire where
toe expenses are four or five times heavier, COM
pany which was incorporated some years ago under
The title of "Guanabara now Teaps enormous
profits from ITS fisheries the rivers and sea-coast
about Rio dc JanierO. The Imperial Government
offers the greatest facilities for this business FIVE
per cent interest on capital effectively en-
ployed in tho purchase of fishing implements
I'm the erection Of dwellings, and worNng-Aonses OF
the tradc is guaranteed by the Government for i've
wears FREQ gifts of land on the islands and river
banks. together with special privileges connected
with the right Of fishing in certain localities are
also granted. Freedom for twenty years from All
import duties on material essential to the orsanza-
ton OF fisheries az well as from the export duties
on produce exchanged between the different pro-
yinces. is sanctioned by law of the Brazilian Par
Hament and other privileges not less substantial
may be readily obtained on application The Presl-
dents IF the Provinces of Amazonas and Para are
enlightenel men, who will do everything in their
power 10 promote progress and civilization.
VARIETY AND EXCELLENCE OF TIMBER
Not less lucrative were the localities well selected,
would be the establishment Of saw-milS on an eN-
tended scale. No region surpasses that Of the ANA
zon IN the abundance, variety aud indus RAJ value
OF its timber; in cases, and more especially on
the Madeira, the current conveys the hageSt
LOGS of excellent woods, the sawyer hav-
ing no further trouble than that OF moor
ing and landing. At Scrpa near the mouth
of the Madeira a Portuguese Spectator had
formerly built a saw-mill, and the cedar carried
down the river supplied his concern in five months
with sufficient timber Tor a whole years work. So
well did mis- work prosper that this Spectator was
enabled to retire after few years Independently
wealthy although he had been assisted only by the
rndest machinery and unslulled, intractable work
men. Though situated on the confines of avast for
est Para consumes large quantities OF North Amer
jcsn timber, only a single saw-mill existing in
the city. A dozen boards of red cedar
Ia very common wood cost about $50 at santarem.
Within an area of half a square mile Agassiz
oonuted II different kinds Of wood many Of them
admirably fitted by their hardness, tiuts, and
beautiful grains for the finest cablnet-w0rk. Inc
p,l,irDa or tortoise-sheIl wood undoubtedly
The most precious wood IN the world, IS found IN
large quantity the tributaries of the upper ANA
zon. where the water can be most easily applied rs
motive power. The paO de Sangre, the rosewood,
the pao de fcrrO pron-w0od, OF ApV'e1d ltTrcd lhG
various species OF jaosrsDda known 10 natural
history students under the names OF Dgt-
hsrgiq mira, NcchaertRm rOiaceem- ana Itd-
tt7iodiav eL0ans. the white aud black maTaqua-
tiara the red macaeauba the paO santo or holy
wood and the sabuarana-b0th OF which are llVais
of the most beautiful walnut-are wasted yearly on
the Amazon IN amounts ample enough 20 veneer an
Brazilian Government is ready TO mpaTt 20 enter
missing industry. the export Of these commodities
would develop immense profits IN the shortest tline,
while Che capital invested need not DC enormous.
II is only necessary that these woods be
introduced into the market to OBTAIN
decided preference over those now most sought
after IN the two hoWisphercs. stu richer Is the
country in timber for the purpose OF construction
The acapu (VoHaoQp0aa AmericdRd) Is most plent-
fully found there and often III the most imposing
1Toportisns. / have diuingtables, SIX feet IN
width made wholly ont of one piece / hs wood
like al To- kindred maearanduba ana itauDa, or
rtrEfla sim l-f
feak The longer these remain IN water th9
stronger and harder they become. The former Will
osnpare the more favorably with the teak, mas
much as II is more compact. pistol bullet winch
will mass through III inch board OF teak WOOD VIII
net penetrate half an inchlnto Doard Oh acapu me
ltauba tree. too, offers many ADVANTAGES over teaN
IN branches of naturally into kees and RIBS OF any
sise and is lighter and mOre resistant
The advantages arising from the immediate proA-
smity of the FIRST materials, and from the govern
mental favor, would render the INFLAMMATION OF
5paiarubhey on any of the AmazOns afliuents most
Trofta bls vocation. Three million pounds OF INDIA
rubber are exported annually from Para 10 ,the
IJpited States. The Madeira and Purus produce
500 coo pounds each, paying IL per cent duty on
IL sxpoTt from the Amazon, and II per cent TO
defray the expenses OF Shipment TO me Uhted
States Europe Thirty-hye per cent VIII represent
the minimum expenses OF shipping ana ouIes
of iusiarubber goods entering Brazilian ports Inc
latest statistics reckon at about four hundred tOu-
sand pounds the rubber that returns thus manu1ac-
tur,d to Brazil and the neighborlng States, ana
have reason 10 believe that tins inquire II nythlng
but exaggerated. Indians particularly those IRON
Bolivia VINO nave MlSlatOI III iaI 10 luz ,o. ~
Rraz to collect the lnda-ubber, ana are more ac-
five and Intelligent than the Indigenous Inhabitants
might DO readily taught the trade at low wages and
the haal manufacture thus be operated on the sou
m uTr.iuctiep. The expenses on the Amazon might
i'm In, way be reduced by One-hali, comparing with
the cost undergone III London or New-1 YORK. HOW
conld the foreign trader compete with the Anna
zouian producer at least so far as concerns Bra
lillian trade if the latter could save close upon IOO
Der cent 1t seems Incredible that no one mas yet
fruitfuliy calculated upon this matter; but IL Is
nevertheless true else promising an opportunity
for making money" had not been overlooked
TIE VAST CHANCES or AGRICULTURE