St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-15
AWAY DOWN IN BRAZIL.
hR IN TERESI INC NMTERVisW WITH A
BRfZiLIAN E0BLEMAM.
PEIxorO AND ADmI1sALMELLO.

Something About Cotton Raising,
the Most Important Industry
of the Country-Rail Facilities
Expensive-Entert story
of the Situation in the South
American Republic.
c. Z. dc Morelra. a Brazilian gentle
man OF considerable distinction in his
OWN country, is in the city. He was
seen yesterday 1T the West hotel by a
reporter for the GLOBE. Mr.. Morelra' S
| title is count. During the reign of Dom
Pedro he held the position of "Moco
Fidolgo of the Imperial House." which
was conferred upon him by the EN-
peror Ill recognition of the services Of
his father, who for twenty years was
the chief repre- sentative of the Brazilian
government at Paris. Being royalst.
Mr.. MOrera suffered with the rest at
the hands of the Republicans, and now
is inclined to lean toward Admiral
Mello and his cause. He stated yester-
day that he hoped the insurgents would
win. though he was doubtful OF success
browning their efforts without more fight
ing. President PeiXoto. he said, is a
man o. courage, whose ambition Is as
boundlesS as the sea.
Several days ago." continued Mr..
Moreira, II received cablegram from
friends at Paris that PeiXoto had re-
signed, but it proves; 10 be wrong. From
what l know of him l can hardly I'M
aSlne him reSignlng the presidency. He
would commit suicide first, ana so tar as
that is concerned | am of the opinion
Mello would blow up his ship and every
body on board rather than submit to
capture or defeat. PeiXoto is a half
breed Indian, and though man OF
great ability, certain of the Indian char
acteriStics predominant. 1t will not be
long, even though Mello is not success
full, before the people of Brazil will de-
mand PeiXote'S removal, for he is fast
assuming the position of dictator"
From politics Mr.. Moreria branched
into general discussion OF his country.
He said:
Every one is now more or less inter
ested i'll Brazilian affairs, but very few
know what has been the most impor-
tant factor i'll the prosperity of the
country. That factor is cotton. Cotton
is indigenous to Brazil, but it was not
cultivated to any considerable extent
by the natives until tile Portuguese took
possession OF the country, when it be-
came very important business. At
the start it was only used for domestic
purposes. In 17l0 it was complained
That unless the expectation of cotton
cloth WAS prohibited, not yard of
cloth. or rather money, would be found
i'll MaranhaO, as balls of cotton thread
were USED as small change i'll business
transactions; besides thar, 1t seems that
Providence once more showed his gen.
crosby i'll giving such treasure to a
country whose inhabitants are obliged
by the climate 10 dress in clothing made
OF cotton.
For long time Pernambuco and
MaranhaO fought for the supremacy,
but at last Pernambuco exported in one
year, in the beginning of the nineteenth
century, more than 1l,05S.Sl5 pounds.
Cotton was also The product of Rio
Negro, Plauhy, Rio Grande do Norte,
Parahyba. Alagoas ana Serglpe.
This shows the extent of the cotton
culture at the end of the eighteenth
century; when, at the beginning OF the
next century. Brazil began to change
frOT. COLONY to an empire, the i'll
crease Of the business was great. The
ports were made free 10 foreign powers
and the decree prohibiting the use Of
the looms revoked.
"The territory Ill Brazil capable of
raising cotton is co-eXtensive with the
country itself. Throughout the country
cotton might be grown i'll almost un-
limited quantities; however, it is only
cultivated in the north and along tue
valley of Rio San Francisco, and i'll
nj ,,rONinan IF honaS
Geraes. The hardest thing for the
planter who cultiyateS cotton is the
transportation. Railway, which is the
quickest way of transport, is also the
most expensive. To transport cotton
from St. Paulo to the Seaboatd, dis
lance of about three hours by rail. they
were obliged to pay Is per cent. Along
the large streams, where it is impoS-
sible to ship cotton by water, it can be
removed with some facility, but usually
transportation is OIL horseback or mule
back, ami it is thus brought to market
for a distance of few hundred miles.
"'ihey cultivate different varieties,
among which are the crioulO, which
takes its name from the black color of
the seeds, the word crioulo being the
name given to negroes in Brazil. The
second variety is named quebradinho,
but the most usually cultivated is the
herbaceouS variety. 1t is all annual
plant, growing from three to five feet
high, and quite identical with the one
cultivated III the United States
"All the planters have to do to cult
vate the cotton Is to burn off the woods
and plant his seed at the proper season.
Rotation of crops is almost entirely I'M
known. Fields are seldom laid out with
any definite form, as they would be if
the pillow were in common use, but vary
in Sba pc 70 suit the convenience of the
planters, who adapt themselves to the
natural features of the surface and
character of the soil. If the place to be
planted is forest, whether heavy or of
only few years growth, the laborers
will use hooks for the underground,
and axes for the trees, and begin clear
Ing it from one side, Telling the trees
and underground and leaving stumps
of height thar may make the work
of clearing easier. This work is done
in the dry season, and the brush is
allowed to lie for several months, until
the approach OF the rainy season. when
the whole being thoroughly dried by
the long exposure to the rays of very
hot sun, is set OH fire. The laborers go
over the fields with large heavy hoes,
and with powerful blows open holes to
receive the seeds at intervals more or
less irregular. The cotton seeds are
planted in these holes and covered with
earth.
Most of the time this work is done in
the month of February or Match.
Shortly after the planting, the season of
rain sets in, and cotton weeds sprout
and all come up and grow with vigor
only to be seen on the tropics"
RACING AT NORMANNA.
The Ice Not in Good Condition