The evening times., 1900-01-08
ENTERPRISES In BRAZIL
A Report on Them by United States
Consul kenneday.
Many Opportunities for Investments
0nercd-Ricb Territory to BE Open
ed to COmmerce-0n the Madeira
River and i'm the Rubber Belt.
Federal Government Guarantees.

United States Consul X. X. Kenneda!
has sent the State Department from Para
Brazil. a long communication, regardin,
the railroads and other enterprises in th'
northern part of that country. He writes
as follows:
I'm the upper part of the Madeira Riv-
er, one Of the principal affluents of the
Amazon. there is a most excellent oppor'
tunity for the investment of capital.
refer TO the building of a railway from
Santo Antonio do Madeira to Marmore
This road was first projected some thirty
years ago and is to be only 100 miles long
Its principal object is to avoid the falls
of the Madeira River, which interfere with
navigation, and its Importance can be un-
derstood when il is considered that the
Madeira River. which can be navigated for
l,2o4 miles. is the natural exit for Bolivian
products.
Bolivia has no seaport; il lost Cobiia,
in the Pacific, during the war with Chile,
and all its export and import trade would
be done by this railway. The Madeira
River is quite deep, and vessels of any
draft can navigate it. Once the road is
built. direct navigation with Europe and
the United States can be established.
After the overthrow of the
Brazilian Empire the republican gov
ernment gave the concession for
the enterprise TO an English
firm. A company was formed but not
knowing the region or the peculiar Gus
toms Of the people, il failed and abandoned
all the material ii had taken there, includ-
ing locomotives, rails, machinery, etc. Soon
afterward a concession was obtained by
Frenchman. who, on account Of the en-
ploymenJ OF impracticable methods, soon
exhausted his limited means. IL is reported
that his entire interest can be purchased at
a great sacrifice. This appears to be
rare opportunity for the safe Investment of
capita
4 Rich Rubber HcIt.
Arich rubber belt surrounds this road,
and the agricultural possibilities of the
country are excellent. The Bolivian Gov
ernment would also, / am informed. grant
a subsidy. Engineers. representing several
large syndicates have passed here recently
on their way, il is said, TO the Upper
Amazon region. Ii is currently reported
that Mr.. Charles r. Flint is behind the
chief syndicate which is investigating the
advisability Of completing the railway.
Another good opportunity for the invest
ment of capital is the building Of an ar
tficial port and docks at ManaOs. This is
a very important port. with steamship
service 20 the United States and Europe
every ten days Hundreds OF river steam
ers are forbidden by law TO 90 up or down
the Amazon OF its tributaries without first
entering the port at Manaos and obtain
ing permission from the authorities.
During the dry season or low tides. the
Rio Negro recedes 500 TO 1000 metres
from the city. preventing vessels from 4
coming up TO the quay or docks. The city
of Manaos is situated five miles above
the point where the Rio Negro empties
into the Amazon The largest vessels in /
the world can ascend the Negro.
The port must be so constructed as to 1
permit vessels TO come up 10 the docks /
st any time Of the year. The federal /
government is willing TO guarantee to tue .
builders the use OF the grounds acquired /
from the river to make the artificial port; .
the right TO collect a given amount ac
cording TO tonnage on the ships which .
come TO the docks. also on the cargoes I
loaded or unloaded In the port; the right
TO build warehouses and collect storage
fees. and to repair shops shipyards. etc.
The cost Of the works may be estimated (
at about $500 600.
storage Houses Needed.
Building storage houses would be remu-
nerative. 1t is an everyday event to see
steamers from the United States and Eu-
rope for ten days in port, waiting for room
to store their merchandise. and the delay
in waiting for lighters to take cargo for
Europe and the United States is as long
These delays are due not only to the lack
of storage houses, but of lighters as well:
and Para suffers from the same conditions.
In Manaos. the river front Is filled gj.h
storage houses. There is no room for more
there. and the commerce being in tie
hands OF the Portuguese, who are ultra-con-
servative, no effort is made TO construct
others.
An island just across the river would he
available for this purpose. This would
necessitate the acquisition of a feet OF
lighters to do the transportation.
For the building Of the port, it is nee
essary TO obtain authority from the fed
eral government. The contract would be
given to the State of Amazonas and then
% any party or syndicate willing to un-
iertake the execution of the concession.
The Brazilian Government and espe-
tally the states Of Para and Amazonas,
Ire always ready to aid enterprises con-
ributing TO them.
The Government Of the State of Para s
S about to build a railway TO connect Pin
-
nd operate this railway. which would be
4 Importance in connection with the c
,uilding Of a dry dock in the port Of j
'ara +
'Pinheiro is a seashore village. seven
niles from Para where the wealthier mart
{ the population of this city spends the
ummer and where the public employees
nd laboring people (who are very poorly
aid here) reside all the year round. The \
resher air of Pinheiro induces the former c
lass to visit it; the cheaper rents compel a
be latter to live there q
"Pinheiro is destined to prosperous fu- a
IRE. The Amazon River is low when it a
caches Para, is filled with sand-banks, X
nd is dangerous TO navigation. The masts
sunken ships can be seen here and n
here above the water. Farther up the Il
ver the vessels can lie in deep water. T
ence the reason for choosing Pinheiro as n
situation for the custom house. /.
THE capital of the railway company is II
laranteed a certain interest by the Gov Al
-nment Of the State of Para. American | :;
lpitaiists interested in investments of this h
ature should lose no time, as advance
gents of English syndicates are on the al
pot -
The conditions of the contract are as :;
blows: % The bidder will place in the ..
easury, as a bond. 81 500. If his proposal n
accepted, he must deposit another 81. 500 .,
; guaranty that he will fulfill the con-
act. 90 The bidder will state the period
p wishes TO exploit the road, after which | :,
lie railway Will become the property Of the =,
overnment. 90 The company will state s,
e capital needed, which must not exceed =
., 000 ~ The bidder must state what y
g0S1ETTEPs weak az :s'i stomach 4 4 4