Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-15
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WEALTH OF THE AMAZON.
It IL Not Such as Could Be Utilized
by Colonists.

1t 10 Not Such as Could Be Utilized
by Colonists.
There Is popular impression that
the River Amazon, that mighty chan
mel which drains tropical area near
~ as large as the whole of the United
States, and is navigable for steam
ships for more than 900 miles, flows
through land of richness which only
awaits development, says the Philadel-
phta Ledger. 1t has been assumed
that the tropical products of the vast
Amazon basin. comprising territory
OF 2.oOO,OOO square miles, would be
conveyed TO the outside world by
means of the great water highway Of
commerce, and that the manufactures
and products of the temperate zones
would be returned to the economic de-
velopment of Brazil, the country chief
~ concerned. This pleasing prospect
for commercial expansion has been
held up before enterprising Americans
III commercial handbOoks, as well as
In consular reports. until the average
reader who thinks about the subject
at all has gained the idea that the
Amazon and its tributaries. besides
being the greatest source of the
worlds rubber supply, present field
in which In the future fortunes await
the farmer, the lumberman. the miner
or the cattle raiser who risks the ven-
ture.
All this, however. is 4 Pigment Of
the Imagination. II we are to believe
the statements sent from Para to the
department of Commerce by Consul
Ayme, who has recently made voy-
age on the Amazon to AIanaos, at tho
junction of the Negros. the most i'm
portant crude rubber market on the
river. There is no reason. indeed, for
doubling Mr.. Ayme's conclusions. for
his long service in the consular corps
and his wide experience as a traveller
entitle him TO a respectful hearing as
trustworthy observer OF commercial
conditions. His reply 10 the many
inquiries received at Para is that
such miserable existence as would
u'sS uS' bieser ihu' Mo"'u W
nardiy obtalnaple by one man III ten
Thousand OF such as are thinking OF
coming here" This is strong state
ment, but MIR. Ayme rthearses the
facts upon which he bases his opinion,
ana he makes out. a very good case.
The entire Amazon valley, in Peru
rs well as In Brazil. is elevated only
rev inches above flood level. and Is
covered with vast forests WHICH,
growing up out of the water. form the
so-called banks" What little grazing
land there Is, Is all held by private
owners; and the inhabitants of the
Few struggling villages are not posi-
BILE consumers of anything colonisi
might produce. The beautiful AM
valuable woods in the Brazilian for
csts are found. not in great groves OF
clusters, like our pine or oak forests
but are as rare as diamonds in the
gravel or gold nuggets in the trees
These trees are solitary; when two OF
them are only quarter OF mil,
apart In thick-matted. almost impene
traDle forest swamp. they are consid
cred close together. Nor does this
huge forest produce any great guam
hty of food for human beings. The
staple articles of food for the jewellers
on the Amazon are dried fish and the
starch OF the manioc root. Mr.. Ayme
thus sums up the situation:
Grant that the colonist could gel
land. grant that he could raise vege'
tables, grant that he could raise cattle
grant that he could ind, cut and hau
to the river bank valuable cabinet
woods-andi 4 assert that he can de
none OF these things-grant that liz
could 10 them all; grant that he spoke
loEtuguese nuently, grant that lie
pad become instantly accilmated
grant all TINS ana more. he would
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