Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09
the inhospitable hills of Pennsylvania

time the rich deposits of gold and diamonds
in the foot hills OF the Andes, in Peru, Vene-
zuela and Bolivia, will attract to those un.
known regions a class of earnest, fearless and
determined people, who will penetrate the
1000 miles Of almost unknown interior, and
become the argonauts of South America,
and make California of the western inland
slope Of the continent.
INDIA RUBBER THE MAGNET.
The objective In the Amazon Valley is
India rubber, a most valuable product, indi-
genous to the forests of the equator only, the
demand for which in this electric age is in
creasing, perhaps beyond the supply. In
addition to its indispensable use as an insu-
lator for all Sorts of electric plants, it enters
largely into the manufacture of all descrip-
tions OF useful articles of trade, as well as of
shoes, clothing, etc.
There is a very important distinction,
however, that will be observed between the
hunt for crude rubber and that for gold and
oil. Figuratiyely speaking, the gold grows
on the trees of the Amazon Valley; all that
is necessary is to penetrate the dense forests
and tap the trunk Of the tree, with hatchet
for a wand, and the liquid gold, like oil,
almost magically drains into the clay re-
ceptacly, without any labor: at least. SO say
those who have never tried it But the
rubber gstherer who has to rise before day.
light, and trudge barefoot through swamp
and cane brake, up to his waist in water at
times, and often knee-deep in the ooze of the
tides or the mud OF the swamps, a journey
of five miles before breakfast to tap his 100
or 200 trees, labors under the impression
that he earns all he gets.
AN NExHAUsTIBLE SUPPLY.
1t is coagulated by dipping a wooden pad
die In the pail of milk, and then holding it
in the dense black smoke of the palm tree
called ''burity.' Thus one thin layer after
another is added to the paddle until ball
is formed which weighs from to so pounds.
The forests of rubber trees are said to be
practically inexhaustible. There are thou
sands OF miles of this territory which is
reached by rivers that are naTigable by
large ocean vessels But of the rubber bus
iness, more anon, after have made my ex-
ploring expedition TO the headwaters OF the
Amazon, and had an opportunity to person
ally study its different phases. and perhaps
illustrate the operations by the use of my
own camera.
To get down to the real business of the
Amazon, l present Jew cold facts and hard
figures. Probably The most valuable car
goes afoat on the broad ocean are those con-
tanned in the bottom of the steamships that
sail weekly from the Amazon, laden with
crude rubber. An average cargo for the
United States may be estimated at about
$500, 600.
WHAT RUBBER COSTS.
The present market price for fine rubber
is about 81 cents per pound, the coarser
grade being about 40 cents per pound. The
Brazilian export duty is 81 per cent of the
official value, which is determined weekly,
on the basis OF the prices paid during the
preceding week.
The only reliable income to support this
Government is derived from the Custom
House business. OF this 21 per cent ex-
port duty, on rubber, 9 per cent is for the
general Government at Rio, ard u per cent
for the State Government of Para; in addi-
tion to this, municipal tax is imposed at
the rate of II reis per kilo. For the nine
months of the present year ending Septem-
Der 30, the export of crude rubber from the
Amazon was TO- 9SS, ,629 kilos, equivalent TO
"a, l63, 9S4 pounds. OF this large amount
the United States received 6,693, LA kilos,
and Europe 4, 900, 515 kilos.
A CHANCE FOR RECIPROCITY,
It will be observed that the United States
takes two-thirds of the total exports; but l
have discovered, by an examination of the
Custom House statistics, that in the return
eargoes the conditions are reversed. Europe
QOOQS
used to pay for the rubber An idea NAV be
gathered Of the business by the fact that
over $500, 600 was collected at the Para Gus
tom House during the month of September.
All import duties belong to the general
Government at Rio. OF these duties for
some months recently, 20 per cent has been
paid in gold at par. A new tariff goes into
effect on the 18TH of November, which rather
increases the rates, as after that date all i'm
port duties are made payable in gold at par.
There are some hides, nuts, cocoa, and
tonka beans exported from Para; but prac-
cally everything hinges on this one indigo
nous product of India rubber, in its different
forms of "fine," 'sernamby" and the
''csucho," the latter being from the upper
waters of the Amazon in Para.
THE LAND ISN'T CULTIVATED.
Nothing is cultivated in this extensive
valley that nature has so bountifully sup
piled with a rich soil and the necessary
warmth and humidity, except, perhaps,
some sugar cane, which is consumed in the
manufacture of cachaca, or the native rum
OF the country, and the home consumption
of this exceeds the supply. A little tobacco
Of verv strong quality is also raised, and a
fractional part of the "farinns," or mandioca
meal of the country, and the tropical fruits.
About everything necessary to sustain
civilized life is brought from other lands,
and pays heavy duty. In a word, here is a
market for our products of almost all kinds
which is being monopolized by the English
and Germans Flour, of which the city of
Para consumes about 5000 barrels per
month from the United States, pays an i'm
port duty of 16 reis per kilo, which, with
some customs extra, brings the charges up
to about $50 reis per barrel of 80 kilos.
COMPETING WITH AMERICA.
The Argentines are now entering the mar
ket with their -four. The Brazilian Gov
ernment recently increased its duty on -four
in order to protect a -four mill established
not long since at Rio. Lard pays a duty of
4,040 reis per barrel of % kiIos. Bacon is
rated at 100 reis per kilo.
To collect from the so, 900 miles of inland
navigation this crude rubber, as well as to
distribute it, has developed a most extern
sive system of river transportation. The
major portion of this service has been az
ceptably performed for many years by the
Amazon Steam Navigation Company, Lin
tied, an English corporation, capitalized at
e625,000. This plant is managed by an
English gentleman, who, by long residence
here, has become familiar with the trade.
The principal manager at present is Mr..
Melville Ma-rack, a most courteous Young
igentleman, to whom, with Captain Pontet,
his assistant, 1 am indebted for numerous
courtesies gracefully extended to a stranger
In strange land.
A STEAMSHIP RACE
The elegant new steamer of the United
States and Brazil Mail Steamship Com
many which is now in norf and 1r;ll oorrr