The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-31

lance ul ABOUT three miles from lHel
banks, and, in order to reach the so
called UNEMPLOYED rubber forests still
? farther inland, it will require mucl
more time and necessitate three time!
as strong a force. Owners of rubber
farms inform me that milk drawn from
rubber trees five years ago possessed
twice the strength contained in that ex'
tracted from the same tree to-day. The
Islands near Para are all overyorked
Good judges can easily recognize rub
Der drawn from overWorked trees by its
peculiar color.
On the banks of the famous Purus
River are the most magnificent rubber
forests | have ever seen. They form a
part of a vast belt which has scarcely
been touched Along the Purus and
Jurua Rivers and their ati1uents grow
a greater number of the trees than in
all the other regions of the country
combined. The extent of these forests
is so far beyond estimate that it is i'm
possible to obtain even an approximate
idea of the area of this rubber belt.
The Purus River is one of the most
important tributaries of the Amazon on
its southern side. 1t rises within the
confines of Peru, passes through small
portion of Bolivia continues in north
easterly direction through Brazil, and,
after draining several plains, joins the
Amazon 1t is said that it's channel is
about 200 miles in length. The only
settlers | saw We're located near the
mouth of the river.
The River Madeira is the chief tribu-
tary of the Amazon on the south. Not
many years ago the outer world was
/ supplied with rubber taken principally
from the trees in this region, though it
produces the smallest portion of high
grade ruber. A boom, however, may be
started here soon, as ] hear that
scheme is on foot to build a railroad
around the falls some distance up
stream, thus opening up communication
with the upper river. Reports say that
the surveys are almost completed, and
that several miles of the road are under
way. A Belgian syndicate is said to
have charge of this enterprise, the same
one which is interested in the Para cleo
tric-light plant, the proposed water
works, and the harbor improvements
here.
The Jurua River, another southern
tributary of the Amazon, rises in Peru
and crosses a portion of the State of
AmazQnas. Ii is said to be about 1900
miles long, navigable by steamboats, for
600 miles. This river is very crooked,
and the channel frequently changes. In
every direction it is bordered by endless
forests. The rubber fields of this dis
trict equal those of the Purus. You also
see in some places a promising under
growth of young rubber trees, which is
likewise observed on the Madeira.
Great quantities of precious woods are
seen everywhere beyond Manaos, and 1t
is said that up the Madeira there ara
large tracts of mahogany, walnut. |
cedar cherry, ebony and many other
valuable trees
The River Negro, which empties into
the Amazon at Manaos, is also a large
stream The water discharged from
this river is black, hence its name The
chanel is very deep opposite Manaos, |
mere than seventy fathoms In many |
places. Large quantities of Brazilian
nuts are raised up this stream and
brought down to the market; cocoa
trees are also plentiful some distance
up the river Very little rubber, how
ever, is produced here,
The Amazon River above Manaos Is
called the Solimoes as far up as Iquitos,
when it retains to its source. The Ma
deira and other rivers below Manaos
which city is 1000 miles up the Amazon
from Para, and beginning to be settled;
but when the upper Amazon is reached,
some distance above Mauaos. many
ha |
single hut 1t was quite a treat after
many hours of contemplation of those
powerful but deserted streams and thick
andloonoeQosome woods to suddenly dis
cover yacht with few people on board
from some of the affiuents.
One is not only Impressed with the mag
nificent rubber trees of the country, but
also with the enormous cocoa fields
that are seen far beyond Manaos and
he wonderfully thick forests of rich
woods. I noted high tracts of land
above Manaos suitable for cattle raising.
IN view of the extraordinary scarcity
IF meat at Para and surrounding coun- |
ry, the opening is good. Occasionally
saw a good-sized cattle ranch, espe-
tally as we drew near Iquitcs. | con-
'ider the cattle industry in these re-
gions equally as profitable as the
luest for rubber, and much more I
1ealthful. Horses. sheep, hogs, cattle
md, in fact, every variety of animal
vas seen on our voyage I mention this
n order that it may be shown beyond
loubt that such animals can be raised
we're: and, more important still, ready
market can be found for all the cattle
nd sheep that can be brought to this I
market, and one can get his own price. 4
can not say too much on this subject,
s ii seems such an exceptionally rare 4
opportunity. / know too well how often
Para is entirely out of meat, and also 4
he serious difficulty encountered by
hose who are attempting to bring cat a
lie here from Buenos Ayres 1t Is
aid, that out of 500 shipped here a few
avs since, nearly half were lost; this
as occurred not only once, but many n
ines. Texas is nearer than Buenos 4
.Yres, and it should pay to send cattle
rom Galveston. 1t seems almost in =
redibe that the scarcity of meat in the
larhets on Manaos and Para has not
ttracted the attention of our exporters
Gold is found at the limit of naviga-
on of the Alto Maranon. The explor-
ton of this region is rather difficult,
acauee the Maranon above Turimaguas
NOT inh a hitoJ INV firth Of