The evening times., 1899-11-05
A CHANCE FOR INVESTORS.
Opportunities for American Capita
in Southern Brazil.

in Southern Brazil.
Eugene Seeger. United States Consul
General at Rio de Janeiro, has transmitted
to the State Department a report on indus
trial conditions in Parana. one OF the three
great southern states Of Brazil.
1T Is to be regretted says Mr.. See
ger. that none Of the many pleasure-seek-
ers, travellers. tourists, artists, and stu
dents who annually migrate from the Uni
ted States to France, Italy. Egypt, Ger
many, and Switzerland find. it convenient
to visit this beautiful and highly inter-
esting American country. which could be
made SO easily accessible. Parana. like
the two other south Brazilian states, is
crippled for want OF capital and proper i'm
migration. Since immigration from Ger
many has practically ceased. the progress
of southern Brazil is retarded Serious mis-
takes were made in the colonization OF
Parana- Until recently, immigration into
Brazil was largely subsidized by the state
and the national governments; but it seems
the men who had charge Of that function
were not careful enough in the selection of
the material which they colonized. Large
sums of money were wasted and undesira-
bic elements brought to the state in great
numbers. Guided by the fear that any one
class Of immigrants might become too in
fuential by concentration OF its forces.
some of those formerly in charge of the
colonial system located the ninety colonies
in such way as to put the most hetero-
geneous elements into the closest proxim-
ity. intersecting small parcels Of one ma
tionality with small parcels Of another
Autrian Poles with Russian Poles and Ital-
ians. Germans with Russian Poles, Italians
with Prusian Poles, etc. Thus the colonial
map Of Parana presents the aspect of a
German-Latin Slavonic crazy quilt, fact
which is not conducive to homogeneous
development Of the commonwealth.
.'Of the 600 Inhabitants of the state.
about half are natives of Brazil 40, coo are
German, about 40. 600 are Italian, 81, coo are
Polish austrian, Russian. ard Prussian).
and the rest are of Spanish, French, and
other origin. The import trade is almost
exclusively in the hands of the Germans.
The export during 1897 consisted chiefly
Of yerba mate Paraguay teal. some hard
wood. and an experimental shipment of
hides and horns by Burmester, Thon & Co.
to France. Two-thirds of the yerba mate
exported Isl SOC. .o00) went TO Argentine and
Uruguay and almost one-third TO Chile
Unfortunately, none was exported to the
United States. For various reasons, the
import of mate into the United States ought
to be encouraged. From my observation
and personal experience, / feel justified in
recommending its use as an excellent stim-
ulant and nerve tonic. 1t is pre-eminently
temperance drink. and the temperance
societies in the United States could 90 a
very useful work by helping to popularize
it. Yerba mate. or Paraguay tea. as it is
called abroad, has all the stimulating and
sustaining qualities Of Chinese tea or COZ
fee, without the detrimental effect caused
by their constant and excessive use-affec-
ton OF liver and kidneys, irritation OF tbs
nervous system, etc--ard il Is very cheap.
The great masses in Uraguay and Argen-
tine, including the famous gauchos (cow-
boys) of the great prairies. who drink Of II
constantly instead of water. tea. or coffee,
hardly ever use alcoholic stimuiants. In
toxication is a rare occurrence there. II Is
almost incredible what hardships they un-
dergo and how vigorous they are. while
often for a successive number OF days they
use nothing to sustain them but mate.
Although the soil on the highlands is
fertile. containing excellent grazing land.
and the climate very favorable. the animal
hog. and sheep raising
Is very far from what II ought to be. For
want of systematic care and regeneration,
the cattle are degenerating and the past
ures are neglected. During my travels
through the interior Of Parana. 1 found.
even in districts with large herds Of cat
tie. milk or fresh butter a rare luxury
They would rather go without milk than
trouble themselves to milk the cows.
Agriculture and horticulture are in the
same state Of inertness. suffering from
want of capital, deficient means of trans
portation. bad roads. and scarcity of help |
Commercially and industrially, there is |
40 trace OF American influence in the state |
of Parana; it is therefore doubly crafty |
ng that American intellectually is repre- |
'ented, highly and ably represented. in |
mother direction-popular education. This |
'eport would be incomplete if 1t did not |
mention the splendid service rendered to
he cause of humanity. Americanism, and
sood education by the two ladies who
conduct the Presbyterian mission school in
Mary p. Dascomb and Miss |
clmira Kuhl. For over quarter of a CEN
ury they have devoted their high qualities
Il heart and mind to the mission work in
Brazil. and came pioneering to Curityba
'ver ten years ago. Their school now con-
aims 300 pupils Of all nationalities and is
prosperous and successful beyond antici-
'ation."
VIII Inspect the Massnchuxefts.