The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-09
Agricultural Opportunities. In rr..ia

Agricultural Opportunities In BraxiL
Readers OF the Farmers Review
who have been infected with desire
to develop the resources of South
America should read the following let
ter published in the Rio News of Rio
de Janeiro, concerning the induce
nents offered by Brazil to agricultural
immigrants. The letter is as follows:
"A letter has been laid upon our
table from the director of the agricul-
tural department in one Of the most
prominent institutions of learning in
the United States, in which he asks
our impression as to the desirability
OF Americans entering farm life in
Brazil. Although there are countless
openings here for labor and capital in
the development of agriculture, we
cannot say that they would be suitable
or congenial for young Americans. In
the first place, language, race, and in
st1tutions are all radically different
and would at first be obstacles; but to
these, OF course, an energetic, intel
llgent young man could adapt himself
If he tried. But farm life as he under
stands 1t does not exist in Brazil, nor
Will he find in this country the induce
ments for agricultural enterprise
which exist in the United States. Gil
mate and custom will stand in the
way OF personal manual labor; con-
sequently, he must bring capital to
enable him to play the role of a gen.
tleman planter, directing his laborers,
but not joining in their toll. Then,
too, the cultivation of tropical pro-
ducts involves new experience, He
Will have new type of labor to direct.
new conditions of weather to study,
new markets with which to familars.
lze himself. But the really seri
obstacles, in our opinion, are artifd
rather than natural-unsettled and Il
quently disturbed political condition
latent jealousies springing from inhel
Tied antagonism of race and religion
crude 1de?s of taxation by which tho
development OF general agricultural
Industries or small farming has been
rendered quite impossible, a depreci-
ated currency which unsettles values,
hampers trade, and nourishes specu>
lation, and, lastly, deficient protection
from the courts. There is no lack of
opportunity for enterprise, but the man
who devotes himself to the develop
ment of an industry is not appreciated
except as source of revenue through I
the imposition of taxes. And one of
the worst features of the system is the
imposition Of interstate import anGI
export taxes, which confne the pro
markets. An example Of this may b"
seen every day at our ferry station
where chickens, eggs, vegetables
plants, fruits, etc., are compelled to
pay an export duty to the state bt
Rio de Janeiro before they can reash
a market in this city. The result hEa
been that many vegetable gardens Of
the other side of the bay have bee
abandoned, because they are no longe
profitable. A year or two ago, som
Minas Geraes planters began produc
ing potatoes and found ready marke
for them here; but an export dut
was Immediately imposed upon them
and the industry was checked. Con
ditions like these will always operat
against the settlement of this coun
try by energetic planters until wiser
and more liberal counsels prevail IN, |,
southern Brazil the climate is not un-
suitable to Americans and north E11Rp-
peans, and there are ind
able which would ampl,
kha; ;to1 Iol
we cannot advise them