The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-12-30

The Sole Industry of Any Importance
Il. That of itassber-Coneictiag In-
terests OF Brazil and BoIivia-MiI-
lions Are Jnvoived-Laborers Are
of Psyo Classes.
Henry w Phillips, who says he is
the FIRST minister to the United States
from the new South American republic
of Acre. was recently on his way to
Washington to seek official recognition
of the new republic. Mr. Phillips land
ed in San Francisco several days ago
and was in Denver the other day. In
an interview he said the republic OF
Acre was proclaimed about II months
ago aud the capital established at Arie-
opolis.
From e. f. Wadbroot. who is con-
nected with the Crude Rubber com
pauy of New York, interesting infor-
nation about the Acre country and the
conditions which brought about-its dec
laration of Independence was obtained
by d representative of the New York
Times. The Acre country is great
rubber country. and the Crude COM
pany has extensive interests there. Mr..
Wadbrook visited the Acre country
about a year ago.
I'VE have known for over a year
past" said Mr.. Wadbrook, that there
was rather uncertain political situa-
ton existing in Acre. but there has
been no interference with the shipment
of rubber and as that was our sole in
terest we did not concern ourselves
much about governmental affairs. To
understand the conditions which led to
the people of Acre proclaiming a repub-
lie 1t is necessary to know the manner
in which the country was settled. Its
development has all occurred In recent
years. and the rubber industry is its
sole industry of any importance.
During the past decade the rubber
trees along the Amazon from Para to
Manaos. which is about 1000 miles
from Para. have been pretty we'll work
ed Out-that is to say. the trees close to
the river have been we'll worked. There
is still plenty of rubber to be had along
the lower Amazon If the natives would
go hack into the country for 1t. but this
they won't do. They prefer to follow
the course of the river, Many of them
worked up the Amazon TO the PurlIs.
which is tributary of the Amazon.
and then followed the Purus to the
Acre river. or Acquiry river. as it Ia
called by some. The Acre river emp
ties into the Purus river In the Brazil
ian province of Amazonia. but there is
only short stretch of the river in Bra
ZiiiaD territory IT runs nearly across
the whole northern section Of Bolivia,
and tho country which it waters is
known as the Acre country.
"This country Is rich In rubber. In
the past few years i has been exten-
sively developed by Brazilian capital,
and nearly all the men of standing or
influence in the country are BraZilians.
The laborers are of two classes. They
are Cabaclos. a mixture OF the negro
and native. and the Cearenses. The
CeareDseS are natives OF the province
of Ceara. in Brazil. who are frequently
compelled TO leave their own country
because of drought and who at such
times find the rubber industry the
most profitable Ia which they can en-
gage"
What is the total population of the
Acre country?"
"Over a year ago. when | was there,
II was estimated at from 5000 to TO-
600. The country was never explored
until the rubber hunters got up there.
1t is about 1000 miles from the mouth
OF the Amazon, which is its outlet to
the sea. The boundary between Brazil
and Bolivia has never been well de-
fined, and consequently when Brazil
ians settled and developed the Acre
country Brazil began to treat the eoun.
try as part of her possessions. For
awhile there was manrI can't recall
his name-who set himself up as die
tator in Acre, but when on one occa-
sion he went to Manaos he was put in
Jail. l never learned what was finally
done with him. About a year ago there
were reports of fighting in the Acre
country and of the intention of the peo-
pie to form a republic. At that time
there were also reports that Brazil
would send several gunboats up the
Acre river. Whether or not she did sc
do not know"
What kind Of a place is Arieopolis
the capital of the new republics?
Mr.. Wadbrook smiled. Il never
heard of the place." he said. 'The on
ly settlement I knew which could bt
called a town was Porto Bello.
'.BraziPs chief interest in the coun
try" Mr.. Wadbrook continued. 'fs thu
duty which she collects on the Acre
rubber which comes down to Para
Last year the shipments ran from 3,00'
to 1000 tons. This rubber is wortl
from 80 cents to ST pound. being O
the finest quality. That would make i
worth about $1,000 ton. Four thou
sand tons at $1,000 a ton would equa
$S,O00,OOO as the value of the annua
product of the Acre country. On thi
Brazil has been collecting an expor
duty at Para of from 81 to % per cent
Her revenue from this source ha
therefore approximated $1,750,0OO