Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-05-18
Asrieultur.l opportunIsl.. In nr..s,.


Readers of the Farmers Review
who have been infected with a 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
inents 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
o; 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
stftutions are all radically different
and would at first be obstacles; but to
these, of course, an energetic, intel
ligent 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. Cli-
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 a new type of labor to direct,
new conditions of weather to study,
new markets with which to familiar
ize himself. But the really serious
obstacles, in our opinion, are artificial
rather than natural-unsettled and fire.
quently disturbed political conditions,
latent jealousies springing from inher
tied antagonism of race and religion,
crude idees of taxation by which the
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 a source of revenue through
the imposition of taxes. And one of
the worst features of the system is the
imposition of interstate import and
export taxes, which confine the pro-
ducer to purely local and restricted
markets. An example of this may be
seen every day at our ferry station.
where chickens, eggs, vegetables.
plants, fruits, etc., are compelled to
pay an export duty to the state OF
Rio de Janeiro before they can reach
a market in this city. The result has
been that many vegetable gardens on
the other side of the bay have been
abandoned, because they are no longer
profitable. A year or two ago. some
Minas Geraes planters began produc-
ing potatoes and found a ready market
for them here; but an export duty
was Immediately imposed upon them,
and the industry was checked. Con-
ditions like these will always operate
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 Euro
peans, and there are industries avail
able which would amply repay them
for their capital and labor; but as yet
we cannot advise them to come"