The evening times., 1899-05-05
CONSUL Ruu1H,s ADVICE.

CONSUL RUEYIN,a ADvIoBs
Excellent Opportunities fer Ameri-
can ImniErants In Paraguay
Considerable general information con-
cerning Paraguay is furnis1ed by John U.
Rufin. Consul at Asuncion. in respoHDs to
many enquiriss that have reached him in
regard to the offers of lasd to Immigrants
by the government of Paraguay.
Il would advise people of the United
States to come prepared. With money and
agricultural Implements. such as are used
on the most advanced farms In the United
States" says Mr.. Ruffin. Agriculture on
large scate would quickly repay invest
ments. Tomatoes. especially. produced on
large scale. and potatoes. which mature
earlier in this country than in those far
ther south. viii rsfpd profitable market in
Argentina and Uruguay. Spanish Is the
ofhcial Language OF the country. Tne people
are intelligent and hospitabie.
Tobacco has been painted for many
years with success, but, owing to the, fact
that ordinary seed was sown. export was
almost impossible. This year. the better
classes were selected, and the harvest
promises to be good. Cotton grows well.
but is raised Oniy In sufficient quantity to
meet the demand Of the people Tor part
OF their personal dress. Spinning and
weaving Is done in the most primitive way.
Corn may be raised tw,ce year. Tne
second crop. however, sown in December
and January. l61ll not be satisfactory
every year. There are several different
kinds of corn That used 70. bread max
ing. ETC., is easily crushed and may be
ground into meal by means OF coffee mi l.
The natives crush the grains with a stick
in an excavation OF a tree. Some COLO
nistS have made simple mill out of two
segments OF a tree. the upper one turning:
Instead Of grooves. the inner sides of the
'miilstones are furnished with nails.
which are not fully driven in. Another
kind OF corn Is likewise brittle, but tough
and gives more resistance to grinding: it
is broken into coarse pieces, which. when
cooked, make a delicious dish. Another
is the common corn, well known In the
United States. The -four mills In Asun-
cion grind only wheat-no corn.
''Mandioca is fruit peculiar to Para
quay and the adjoining parts OF Brazil
The stem Of the plant Is cut into small
portions which are planted like b. ans. and
yield a crop after four or five months
The fruit grows under ground, like the
Irish potato. but resembles in shape the
sweet potato. Mandioca is, called the
bread of the Paraguayans. as it Constitutes
their daily food. II Is largely used in the
manufacture Of starch.
Sugar cane grows everywhere. Peanuts
were raised in former years in considera-
Bile quantities, but now serve only for
making sweets. by being boiled with mo-
lasses. All sorts OF beans and peas known
in the United States grow well here. But
ter beans yield well during two years. The
variety known as '.senoritas" has a mar
velous production. Rice is not planted
sufficiently for the consumption of the
country. although there are many tracts
OF land suitable for its growth There
are a few coffee plantations. and others are
projected. The beans are sold without
difficulty. Irish potatoes were planted last
year with success by the European immi-
grants. They grow we'll and can De sold
at good price. as the imports are con-
siderable: but all potatoes in South Amer
lea are CT an inferior quality to those rails
cd in the United States. Egg plants Of
considerable size appeared this year for
the first time on the market. All fruits
known in the United States grow here.
but only those that cannot stand severe
frosts, as oranges. banasas. etc. thrive
we'll. The raising of cattle would be the
most productive and secure investment in
this country. as large numbers are i'm
ported from Brazil.
Carlos Santos. Chief of the Immigration
Bureau has replied to letters from Consul
Ruffin. in part. as follows:
Il have the honor to acknowledge re-
ceipt OF your note of the 18th inst, in
which you have solicited my opinion 1e-
specting the possible establishment cf
North American colonies in Paraguay. at
the same time asking some data relative
to the principal products and land which
would be destined for cultivation. In an
swer, l am pleased to state that the gov
ernment OF the republic believing that tie
future advancement OF the country de-
pends in great part upon the development
of agriculture. has tried every means in
its power to favor Immigration and 10 cre-
ate centres OF production with practical
and Industrial elements.
In the parts Of the north alongside the
River Paraguay. there are considerable
tracts of land adapted for agricultural and
pastoral purposes. excellent for the OBJ
ject which is in view, having the advan-
tage for expectation OF their products of
easy communication, the river being con-
tinually navigated by boats that connect
with the River Plata. There have been
recently founded here two Italian colonies.
one in Villa del Rosario. the other in san
Pedro. the government having given twenty
square leagues Of land to the first and eight
square leagues to the second. with the con-
dition that thirtysfive families should set
tie III edtu ihcSc iSNci'c basSoSC
free from the port of Monteviieo CT
Buenos Ayres. The same conditions can be
obtained by any colonizing enterprise.
Other facilities which the law accords are:
Exemption from taxes for ten years: free
introduction through the custom house of
baggage. furniture, domestic utensils.
seeds. iron tools. and agricultural machines
belonging to immigrants: expenses of dis
embarking, re-embarking: maintenance
board and lodging-for five days; also
transportation to the place which the coll
ony may have selected for its permanent
residence.
II think It unnecessary for me to refer
to the productive qualities Of the land in
general and to the salubrity OF the eli
mate. or to the favorable conditions. which
are already well known. In brief. permit
me to say that the position of Paraguay
and its temperature do not differ much
from the meridional States of the Union.
Titles OF property. according to re-
cent law, can be obtained in two years.
The titles do not cost anything. AS to
land sold in the colonies of the state. the
price is 81 (about IA cents) per $500
meters If in cash or 81 IL in ten annual
payments. II the government grants
concession to any individual. he must agree
with government upon the price at which
he would sell the land to the colonists.
Only colonies founded by the government
are entitled to pecuniary aid. house
containing two rooms, 13x15 feet each. will
cost from $120 to $3.50 paper ($17 to S23).
and will last six or seven years. The gov
ernment has the right to diminish the
number OF families required for each
league"
STEEL EXPORTS TO CHINA.
A Heavy Contract for the Extension