The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25
The business Is Very 'FRONT.'
able. and other Lines of Trade
Yield Handsome Returns.
BRAZILIAN TAX ON OUR SHIPS
STREET RAILROADS AND HOW THE
LARGE CITIES ARE LIGHTED.
German Syndicates Working Indus
trfousI and Securing Many of
the Desirable Franchises.
Copyright. 1899. by Frank G. carpenter.l

Copyright. 1899. by Frank q. carpenter.l
PARA, Brazil, May 15.-In closing my
letters on Brazil 1 give you here the re-
suit of my Investigations of the trade con-
ditions and Of the chances for American
capital. During the past few months 1 have
visited the chief cities Of this republic. l
have travelled in the neighborhood of 5000
miles and have seen the principal Industrial
| centers of the empire.
L believe that Brazil is in the infancy of
its development. 1t will support a hundred
people some day where 1t now supports one.
1t will be one of the richest countries of
the globe, and it will pay Uncle Sam TO cul-
tivate 1t, and to insist that he gets his
rights in it as one of the great traders of
the world. Brazil has a territory almost as
large as the United States, and one which
includes more cultivable land. 1t contains
more than half the people who live in South
America. Its population is increasing and
it is steadily growing as a goods consumer.
At present it's exports amount TO 100000
more than its imports, and still its imports
figure up the tidy sum of $10o, goo. 900 a year.
We take about half of all that Brazil sells.
We buy the most of her coffee and tens of
millions Of dollars worth of her rubber. We
get but little in exchange. Our exports to
Brazil are only about one-ffth our imports.
and we pay her a balance of about $iS, O00, 900
a year.
If we should stop buying the officials Of
some of the best States would go hungry.
Para would have a famine, and Sac Paulo
would have to patch its pantaloons. The
officials of these provinces rely upon their
revenues from the export business. These
pound at the present rates on rubber, and IL
per cent. on coffee. The duties are, of
course, paid by the consumers. so that every
American who rides a rubber-tired bicycle
had had to pay Is per cent. into the treas
uries of Para and Manaos and every one
who drink a cup of coffee adds thereby to
the support Of the government of the coffee
growing States of Brazil.
PETTY TAXES ON AMERICANS.
You would think that Brazil ought to be
grateful to US for this enormous trade. She
may be so, but she has a queer way of
showing 1t. She charges us a tariff on
everything we sell to her, taxing US on
some articles as much as 100 per cent. At
times she makes what are called reciprocity
treaties. Some Of our goods go in nominally
free, but indirectly every ship carrying
American goods which comes to Brazil has
to pay toll. In most of the harbors there is
what is called expendiente taxes. These are
levies for some excuse or other. At Bahia
the officials will ask the ships to pay so
much for a new hospital. AT Pernambuco
they want something for a sailors home.
and at Rio they blackn.ail you for harbor
improvements.
Such taxes are levied not by law, but &C
cording to the ideas and tastes of the local
officials. They are really a sort of black
mail. and the probability is that most Of
the money goes into the pockets Of the men
who levy the taxes. In fact" said a lead
ing railroad official to me the other day.
every one down here seems to be lying
awake at night to think how he can squeeze
a few milreis out of the foreigner without
working for them"
, Every man who comes down here to go
into business must expect to pay a tax for
the privilege. There is not a merchant: or
mechanic in Rio who does not pay a tax.
The bootblack pays for the right to LACK
your shoes. Every store pays for the
privilege Of opening its doors, and every
contract, note and check must bear it's
stamp.
1t seems TO me that the United States has
} been Disseminated against as to govern
ment contracts. At least, this has been the
) case IN the past. Brazilian coal until now
: has all come from England, and 1t was only
5 last year that American firms were allowed
} to compete for government supplies. Then
Minister Bryan and Consul General Seeger
} secured the right to competitive business.
and 1000 tons of coal were put up for de-
cision in this way. Our coal companies
! should study this market. Brazil uses So
s 100000 worth of English coal annually.
} The Brazilians are rapidly adopting cleo
\ tt. - a.
; thousand in southern Brazil which have
electric lights. The city of Sac Paulo. which
) has 2Oo. 600 population, is we'll equipped in
Z this respect. There is a good electric
s light system here in Para. although the
} poles are placed in the center of the side
{ walk. / find that the Brush arc lights are
} used in Manaos, a thousand miles up the
Amazon.
} Rio is still lighted by gas. 1t Is a city OF
( 10000 people, and a good electric-light
} plant could make a fortune for its owners
AT present the gas company has. 1 believe
an exclusive franchise, but this could easily
be set aside or compromised.
Petropolis, which is in the mountain.
back of Rio, and which is a favorite sum,
( mer resort OF the BraziliGns, has an electric
|. plant, the power of which is generated By
a mountain stream. This plant not only
lights the city, but many OF the houses
and, among others. that of Minister Bryan.
STREET RAILWAYS.
At present nearly all the railroads OF Rio
dc Janeiro are moved by horse or mule
power. The electrical franchise would b,
worth a great deal. The city is surrounded
by suburbs and the Brazilians would pat
ronize the electric railroads well. They are
a lazy people. The climate is such that nc
enc cares to walk two blocks if he can ride
and in proportion TO the population the
street-car travel would be very great.
Sac Paulo Goo. oW) still has horse cars
Para is arranging for an electric railroad
although at present the street cars are
hauled by mules Manaos has about com
, pleted an electric railroad. This is owned
by an American firm Bahia (2oo.000) still
relies upon horse cars. although the Ger
mans are scheming to get hold OF the cleo.
trio railway franchise.
/ am told that there is a big German syn,
dicate which has agents going about
through Brazil and picking up everything
good in the way OF electricity. They have
J already cot their hands to a certain ex,