The Detroit times., 1911-09-25
LIBERATED SLAVES
GETNOASS|STANCE
Scientist Finds That Half People
Cannot Read in Brazil, Country
Of Great Wealth.

PALO ALTO. Cal, Sept. 25-Dr.
John c. Branner, head OF the depart.
ment OF geology OF Stanford univers-
ity, q recognized authority on Bra
lillian AFFAIRS attributes the failure
of many American business enter
prises of the southern republic In re-
cent Years TO ignorance OF Industrial
conditions there.
DR.. Branner headed a geological and
geological expedition to Brazil this
summer. In the last IL years DR..
Branner has made frequent visits to
the South American republic and Ia
thoroughly conversant with condi-
tons there.
There are amazing opportunities
for Americans to become wealthy
through Brazilian exports and i'm
ports, but the business man must I'M
derstand Brazil first." says DR.. Bran
ner.
Most American enterprises In the
past have failed because manufacture
ers and importers expected too much.
They hoped to make q fortune In q
few weeks and have been disappoint-
ed through their failure to understand
existing conditions.
Half the American manufacturers
send Spanish-speaking agents TO
Brazil. They do not even know that
Portuguese Is the language or the
country. Failures result.
Brazil has a far better claim as
the Land OF Manana' tomorrow
than Mexico. Payment OF bills ts very
slow, which discourages Americans.
European merchants understand con-
ditions far better and are more sue
cessful.
ITO illustrate. on the Upper Anna
ron, I found cheap British calico
crowdIng superior American goods on
the market. The reason was this:
The merchants knew the American
goods were superior, but the British
goods were put up in small bolts that
sold better. The natives liked the
sound OF buying a bolt OF goods. IL
the Americans understood Braziiians
they would cater to this fancy.
"Brazilians have pianos and cash
registers OF the latest patterns, Dut
continue to haul their goods In wag-
ons with large wooden wheels drawn
by oxen. Plows have not been oper.
ated successfully by Brazilians ana
the native engineers burn up their
boilers and permit machinery to be
ruined through lack of oil. due direct
" to ignorance.
"The country Is tax ridden. The
brunt of the tax burden falls on the
fazandeiro or rancher. The manu-
facturers sell him refuse and the
statesmen seek devices to place the
financial burdens on his shoulders Dy
taxing imports and exports.
"The best service that could be
done 10 the country would be the In
PRODUCTION OF plows and instruction
regarding their use and the treatment
OF farm animals. The mortar and
pestle. brought down from antiquity.
still is used to grind coffee, corr ana
rice in Brazil. rs
81 do not believe wheat can be sue
cessfully raised in Brazil for the rear
son that II requires too much machn-
ery to meet existing conditions
"Education is a crying need. Hair
the population cannot read or write.
intercourse among the people Is min
imized bv roads 800 years old, all ruts
and loose stones.
"The Brazilian laws have made the
rich richer and the poor poorer. Com
plant OF the poor is heard every
where. The slaves have been hDer-
ated. but nothing has been done 10
provide for them.
There is magnificent opportunity
in Brazil for the American seeking
foreign investment In score OF hnes'
hut he should know Brazil first