The Washington herald., 1909-02-28

lAlE AEeu OF home UeEnlnU-
II the average Washingtonisn was
asked to give the chief items in the trade
Of Brazil. he would probably not get
much further than coffee. rubber. and
sugar. II he had given some thought to
the subject, he might add hides and
some Of the tropical hardweods. such as
mahogany and ebony.
But according 10 infOrmatiea in the
possession OF the Bureau Of Manufactures.
Of the Department Of Commerce and
Labor, rice trade and rice production
forms one Of the most interesting chap
ters in the industrial history OF Brazil
Some years back the raising OF rice had
almost a phenominal development in that
country. IN later years production de-
clined very materially and rice almost
stopped figuring largely IN reports on
foreign trade. Recently the rice trade has
had a redeveIopment, and Il is beginning
10 take a prominent place again among
the agricultural operations Of a large
part Of Brazil. and the new crop is now
trade between Rio Janeiro and the rest
Of the world.
shows Agricultural Conditions.
The Industry is Of especial significance,
says Consul General s. F. Anderson. in
that it illustrates agricultural conditions
IN the greatest territorial unit in South
America. Rice has been q great food
a- ~
grain was introduced from the Cape
Verde Islands early in the country's his
tory and at several times its cultivation
has risen TO the rank OF a national indus
Try and for many years the imports Of
rice have been among the chief items Of
the country's list Of purchases abroad. II
q general way both the import trade in
the cereal and the domestic production
Of the grain increased up to the beginning
Of the present decade. the maximum Of
consumption Of the grain coming about
the time Of the great coffee crop Of 1901
and the resulting prosperity in Brazil
The production OF rice in Brazil in 1900
probably exceeded 10000 tons consider
ably, though no reliable figures are 10 be
had respecting IT, The cOUntry's imports
amounted to about the same quantity
From that tine until 1866 the production
of rice IN Brazil decreased greatly, chiefly
because OF the increased cost OF prOduc-
tiOn asCribed 10 tariff and other changes
Of an economic nature. 10 deprecistion
OF the currency with attending conditions.
and 20 defective agricultural methods.
While no authoritative figures can be had
Il IS probable that the production did not
exceed 49,C00 tons in 1894 Increased i'm
ports supplied the demand until such i'm
ports were reduced by increased tariff.
duties
Production has again commenced TO re-
vive and in a way meets current demand.
though such demand at present is far be-
low What II once was owing 10 the pres
ent high prices for rice TOW obtaining in
Brazil markets, which keep the food out
OF the reach Of q large portion Of the
population Of the country.
Improvement Dae to Tariff.
The production OF rice in Brazil has
been made possible by protective tariff
The record Of decreased imports is meas
ured almost exactly by the record OF in
creases IN customs duties on the grain.
When the present tariff system OF Brazil
vas established in 800 the tariff on rice
was placed at 50 reis 0.0J0 reis equals /
1nilreis. equals 90 cents per kilo 90
pounds) on the basis Of an Official value
OF 600 reis per kilo and . Per cent Of
the duty payable 4n gold exchange. This
duty figured out at about eighty-four
hUndredthS Of q cent per pound varying.
OF course. with the exchange value Of the
milreis. which variation at that tine was
considerable.
This duty was maintained until 1903 at
the time of the greatest imports In 1891
the duty was raised 20 50 reis per kilo. on
the basis OF an Official value OF go reis
per kilo and . per cent payable in gold
exchange. a duty OF IL cents per pound.
more OF less. In 1S05 the duty was raised
TO $50 reis per kilO, with an official value
OF Less reis per kil0, % Per cent payable
IN gold exchange. with 2 per cent OF the
official value IN gold for port work and
the usual charges for statistics This
duty has been maintained ever since and
has, IN effect, amounted from to S.5
cents per pound actual duty, without
other Cust0m-hOuse expenses
Experts Aid Industry,
i is y difficult matter 10 measure the
increase IN the production Of rice IN Bra
I'll which has followed the decreased in
ports due 10 the increased duties It is.
without doubt. the case that the increase
n production is far less than the decrease
g. importation. The difference represents
the decreased consumption Of rice due TO
the fact that the increased prices have
taken rice out o. the reach OF g large
class Of the population Of the country. the
effect being much the same as Il the
prices Of potatoes in the United States
should become so high that the mass of
the population could not buy them and
had nc substitute There IS no reliable
data either as to local production or
consumption OF rice in Brazil It IS very
doubtful II consumption exceeds one-haIf
what it was in 1902, at the time Of the
greatest imports.
On the other hand an idea OF the ma
tstions Of rice production IN Brazil is
shown in the reported production OF Sac
Paulo, the chief rice-pTOducing state OF
the country. At the time of the imposi-
ton Of the original tariff act In 1850 the
rice production Of the state was placed
a. 59.224S50 Iiters, OF about &, COO tons. In
1902. at the time Of the greatest Imports.
the production fell to 1S.de,4 415 liters. or
about S.925 tons. remaining at about that
figure until the present revival
In general the increased production has
bean great In line with its policy Of
encouraging the growth Of the cereal in
the state the government Of Sac Paulo
n 1906 brought thither under contract q
rice expert from the United States. This
expert has given the industry 2 strong
impetus. not only IN Sac Paulo. but in
1iinas, Rio &c JanierO. and other States.
on impetus forcefully augmented by the
high prices Of the grain. The extent Of
this drvelonuenf ef rresenf T,ou-ava- -
he ascertained only by estimate
The vast mass OF rice production in
Brazil comes from small farms-rnere
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