Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-07-11
LIFE IN BRAZIL.
Something About the Questions That Occu-
py the Attention of Dom Pedro's Sub


py the Attention of Dom Pedro's Sub
jects.
Cleveland Leader.
"To foreigner visiting Brazil" salo
Mr.. III. S. Wetmore, in the course of an
interview yesterday, "the empire appears
as a poor rich country, if one might be
allowed to use that expression. Nature
has lavished her favors without stint on
the land, but the inhabitants sre slow to
avail themselves of the opportunity to
prosper. The gold and diamond mines
are hardly surpassed in richness, but are
located so far in the interior that they
cannot with reasonable outlay be de.
veloped to the extent which their great
wealth would warrant. They are mac
cessible by railroads, and to transfer
suitable machinery to the mines by
mules would call for an expenditure
wholly unproportionate to the gains.
The true natives are indolent and the
business of the country is all In the
hands of the foreigners. England and
Germany control the wholesale trade,
while France and several other nations
have charge of the retail business. A
large proportion of the natives are squat
tiers, the soul of whose contentment lies
in the possession of a mud hut and a
chance to exc out miserable existence
on bananas and such other food as can
be obtained without great exertion. Bra
iii produces mainly coffee, sugar, supe-
rior quality of rice, though not enough to
supply the home demand, and the finer
classes of wood, such as mahogany, rose.
mood opd vorio,a 6vowOOdSO
"What success has been met with in
dealing with the slavery question:" was
asked.
THAT is problem that seems hard to
solve" said Mr.. Wetmore. 'The coun-
try has adopted a system of gradual
emancipation, but owing to the poor
state of it's finances, is making slew pro-
gress. The planters are working vigor-
ously against the action of government,
but the feeling of the country at large is
decidedly anti slavery. There are now
over 100000 persons in bondage. 1t is
considered not unlikely in some quarters
that the position of the planters may re-
suit in revolt of the slaves. In the
province of Cerra the residents purchas-
ed the freedom of all the slaves held
there, and those in the province of Rio
Grande have also nearly al been freed.
question closely allied to this is the
labor problem. 1t is feared, and on good
grounds, that the slave will not work as
when free as he does now
under the eye of an overseer. The emf.
grants are of the lowest type of Euro
peans, principally from Italy and Portu.
gal, and bring no money to the country.
It is difficult to secure good class of EN-.
grafton, because the land is held in large
blocks by capitalists, and it is next to
for man to get good farm.
An energetic effort is now being made to
open up the country with railroads, but
,nly about 10000 miles are now in oper-
Ltion."
"The condition of trade with this
?" was the next query.
"The United States stands third among
he nations having commercial relations
With Brazil. The exports from here
mount to from $10,OOOOOO to $l2,OOO,-
100 annually, and consist principally of
lour, kerosene, and lumber. They in.
dude also some American cotton and a
ew manufactured goods. The trade
With this country for several years past
las been nearly stationary. Our country
axes about half the coffee crop of Brazil,
oughly estimated at $50, 100000, q large
quantity of sugar and large part of
heir rubber products. There is one
inc of steamships plying between the
United States and Brazil, with vessel
very twenty-five days. In the lines of
England, France, Spain, Germany and
Belgium there are several per week.
The people are more courteous to Ameri-
ans than to any other foreigners. Our
government took the tax of coffee a few
ears ago, but the Brazilians continue to
ak everything. There would perhaps
,e more trade between the two countries
American manufacturers had agents
with the language perman-
ntly located in the country. The re-
urns would at first be small and un-
satisfactory, but after time, with proper
there would be good
howing. It seems that there would be
good opening for tools, door trimmings,
Greens, nails, varnishes and the lighter
mineral oils. Gasoline stoves are well
dapted to the climate, but never saw
ne in the country and they would
find good market. American
ewing machines were once introduced
nto the country, but the trade is now in
be hands of the Germans, who can
uild the Machine cheaper than the
eople of this country. American roll
ng-stone is used on the railroads, and |
be street-railways of Rio de Janeiro
'ere established by Americans, citizen
Cleveland being one of the pioneers.
is essentially an agricultural country
side from the natural products. There
re perhaps half-dozen wooden and a
w cotton factories in the country, but
II the machinery is imported from
broad. Brazil is as large as this country,
xclusive of Alaska, and has q popula-
on of ten millions, but its manufac-
Tres are not so large as those of this
ty alone"
"What other great questions are occu-
wing the public attention down there?"
'ked the reporter.
zone that holds forth prominently in
le public mind" replied Mr.. Wetmore,
8 the question of succession to the
lrone now occupied by Dom Pedro
lis legitimate successor is the princess
nperial, but she is considered to be gen.
ally not acceptable. The emperor, al
lough but sixty years old, is broken
/ health, and his reign is rapidly near
g its close. There are great many
,publicans in the country, and the ques-
on of succession promises to take q &C.
ORC oepocf Tho finopooc of tho coup |