The evening times., 1900-01-08
ENTERPRISES IN BRAZIL
A Report on Them by United States
Consul kenneday.
Many Opportunities for Investments
Omercd-RIoh Territory Ia Re Open
River aud in the Rubber Belt.
Federal Government Guarantees.

Brazil. long communication. regarding
the railroads and other enterprises in the
northern part of that counuy He writes
as follows:
In the upper part Of the Madeira Riv-
er, one Of the principal afluents Of the.
Amazon. there is a most excellent Oppor-
tunity for the investment Of capital. 1
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 &c be only 100 miles long
Its principal object is to avoid the fails
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
204 miles. is the natural exit for Bolivian
products.
Bolivia has no seaport; il lost Cobija,
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. 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 concession was obtained by
Frenchman. who, on account OF the en-
ployment Of impracticable methods, soon
exhausted his limited means. 1t is reported
that his entire interest can be purchased at
a great sacrifice. This appears % be a
rare opportunity for the safe Investment Of
capita
\ Rich Rubber BcIt.
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 syndicstes 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
tifcial port and docks at Manaos. This is
a very important port. with steamship
service 20 the United States and Europe
every ten Coys. Hundreds Of river steam
ers are forbidden by law TO 20 up OF down
the Amazon or 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 TeCedes 500 10 1000 metres
from the city. preventing vessels from
coming up to the quay or docks Tho city
OF Mdnaos 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 b so constructed as 10
permit vessels 10 come up 10 the docks
At any time Of the year. The federal
government is willing to guarantee 20 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 whicn
come TO the docks. also on the cargOcs
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
az about S2,500.0OO
storage Houses Needed.
Building storage houses would be rsmu-
nerative. 1t is an everyday event to see
steamers from the United States aL1 Eu-
rope for ten days in port, waiting for room
70 store their merchandise. nd 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 MaHaOs. the river front IS filled gj-h
storage houses. There is no room for moro
there. and the commerce being in tic
hands OF the Portuguese, who are ultra-con-
servative no effort is made to const-uc;
others.
An island just across the river would he
available for this purpose. This would
neCessitate the acquisition Of a fleet o.
lighters to do the transportation.
For the building Of the port. it is nee
essary to obtain authority from the fed
eraI government The contract would be
given TO the State OF AmazOnas and then
10 any party or syndicate willing TO un-
dertake the execution of the concession.
The Brazilian Government. and espe-
cially the states Of Para and Amazonas,
are always ready TO aid enterprises con-
tributing 10 them.
THE Government OF the State Of Para
Is about to build railway 10 connect Pin !
heiro with Para. Bids are asked TO build /
and operate this railway. which would be /
Of importance in connection with the /
building OF a dry dock in the port Of |.
Para.
'PinheirO is a seashore village. seven /
miles from Para, where the wealthier part !
of the population of this city spends the /
summer and where the public employees |
and laboring people (who are very poorly
paid here) reside all the year round The
fresher air Of Pinheiro induces the former
class to visit Il: the cheaper rents compel
the latter TO live there.
"Pinheiro Is destined 10 a prosperous fu-
ture. The Amazon River is low when is
reaches Para, Is filled with sand banks. 1
and is dangerous 10 navigation. The masts
Of sunken ships can be seen here and I
there above the water. Farther up the !
river the vessels can lie in deep water. /
hence the reason for choosing Pinheiro as
"A situation for the custom house
THE capital Of the railway company is |
guaranteed certain interest by the Gov /
ernment OF the State OF Para. American |
capitalists interested in investments Of this I
nature should lose no time, as advance |
agents Of English syudicates are on the !
spot.
The conditions OF he contract are as |
follows: % The bidder will place in the J
treasury. as a bond, 81 500. II his proposal
is accepted, he must deposit another 81, 800 /
as a guaranty that he will fulfill the con-
tract ~ The bidder will state the period !
he wishes TO exploit the road, after which |
the railway will become the property OF the |
government. ~ The company will state
the capital needed. which must not exceed
$4,000 CD The bidder must state what
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