The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-25
BRAZIL IN TROUBLE
WITH COAL FIELDS
Venture is not Proving the Sue
cess Expected
DlSSENTI0N IN THE CAMP.
AS a Result, Brazil Is Becoming All
the Time a Better Field for the
Sale of American
Fuel.

Washington, July 24-(SpeciaD.-Ac
ing to Mr.. George E. Anderson con-
sui general at Rio de Janeiro, present re-
ports are that the work on the govern
ment coal mine enterprise in southern
Brazil Is not progressing very satisfac-
torily, and people who have been es-
pecially interested in the success Of the
effort to establish a fuel supply in Bra
iii are not very much encouraged over
the outlook. Mr.. Anderson continues:
1t seems that there Is considerable fric-
tion In the actual management of the
work where the hole is being sunk, and
the attempt to manage American ma
chinery and mining plans upon a Bra
lillian basis has so greatly interfered with
the work that part of the time 1t is at
standstil. large amount of money is
being expended and the Brazilian govern
ment apparently intends to establish the
coal-mlning business upon a practical
working basis If 1t is possible to do so,
but 1t seems probable that the outcome
of the present situation will be the devel-
opment of such trouble that the enter
prise will be put in the hands of the for
eigners who have furnished the machin-
cry and understand working for coal up
on modern lines.
Opening for American Fuel.
American fuel producers who contem-
plate entering the South American mar
ket and Inquiries from the United States
Indicate that their number Is on the in
crease, should consider that even If this
mining enterprise Is as successful as the
American coal expert has expected 1t to
be, there probably will be much of au
opening In some respects for American
fuel as there Is at the present time. 1t
should be realized that the coal expected
to be mined In southern Brazil is not fit
for use in its natural state. In fact, Amer
lean mining men would not think of
mining such coal in the United States at
the present time. The coal veins prospect
ed are thin and the coal Is very impure,
the slices sent to Germany for examna-
tlon showing sulphur, slate, clay and sew
eral other impurities.
1t Is true that when this coal is man
ufactured into briquettes the fuel pro-
duced carries only from 10 to 10 per
cent of ash, but II requires wa@sr and
power to manufacture the briquettes
and while both can probably be had on
the spot II by no means follows that
the briquettes can be manufactured at
a cost which will bring them lower in
price. all things considered, than for
eign fuel now being imported.
Those familiar with the enterprise be-
lieve that the efforts of the government
in its development are directed mainly
from considerations for the protection of
national interests In case of war. That
such a plant is contemplated Will fur
nish some fuel to the nation may be
taken as a matter of course, and the plan
of the government to run its own rail-
way to the mouth OF the mine, to man
ufacture sulphuric acid from the by
products of briquette making, and to es-
tablish the whole enterprise upon as
sound an economic basis as possible, will
doubtless in time make itself felt in
fuel matters along the Brazilian coast.
In the meanwhile Brazilian ports are
importing British and other coal In con-
siderable quantities at prices which make
the business attractive to American fuel
men. The fuel business in Brazil is GER
tain TO grow very rapidly In the near
future. There is enough OF change I'm
Brazilian Industrial methods to promise
a more general use Of power machinery.
There are enough enterprises now on
foot to make some difference I'm fuel mat
ters. With the growing OF this fuel trade
American interests ought to grow. The
business already Is here, and 1t is simply
a question OF Wnetner American coal
at American prices can be made more
acceptable than the fuel now used.
Mining and Petroleum..
There Is prospect that the mining bust
ness generally in Brazil will be some
what improved In the near future, and
probably with the protection which the
present government desires to give there
will be enough serious work to develop
other mineral fields than those now be-
iiIs worked-a development which may
supply what Is now lacking In the Santa
Catharina fields. In discussing the sub
jects OF mining the President Of the re-
public in his message to the Congress,
says:
1t is my duty to insist on the necessity
of law which shall assure to the cap
ital employed In mining the peace and
quiet which attracts and retains 1t. We
possess mining districts of sufficient value