The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-22
WEALTH IN SOUTH.


Continued from Page one.)
america and other parts of the world.
This commerce will float directly to
the Atlantic. The only artificial high
way or waterway in the entire system
Will be that recently completed near
the northwestern boundary of Brazil
and northwestern boundary of Bolivia,
whereby, by means of a railroad, the
obstruction to navigation caused by
rapids of the tributaries of the Amazon
and of the Bolivian rivers is to be con-
quered by means of rail transporta-
ton.
It is the understanding here that in
terests In Minneapolis have obtained
very large concessions in interior Bo-
livia, presumably awaiting the per
lection of transportation either to the
Pacific coast or the navigable waters
of the Amazon before undertaking i'm
portant developments upon these con-
cessions.
Commodore Benedict and Bolivia.
Commodore Benedict has kept what
ever purposes he has in mind thor
oughly guarded secret. But some things
have occurred which seem to justify
the suspicion that he, too counting
upon the completion of the MaderO &
Marmore railroad around the rapids of
the upper Amazon, cOntemplates some
venture IN upper Bolivia That country
is the Switzerland of South America.
It's area is over $4,000 square miles
Knowles, while upon a brief vacation
to the United States last summer. said
that with the opening of transporta-
ton the extraordinarily rich natural
both the capital of the United States
and that Oh europe In one large dis
trict of Bolivia vast growths of wild
coffee are found, ana Mr.. Knowles ex-
perimented with the bean and discov-
cred that it's flavor is equal, if not SUI
perior, to that of the coffee which finds
it's great port at Santos in Brazil.
The Improvement of Transportation.
In the United States there is little
understanding of the magnitude of rail-
way construction in Bolivia and Of the
swiftness with which it is being car
ried on. On his return from Bolivia,
Mr.. Grace said that within the course
of few years the great central trunk
line Of Bolivia, so to call it, would be
completed so as to make connections |
With the transcontinental trunk line |
The center or pivot OF the entire |
Bolivian railway system is the capital, |
La PaZ. 1t is already in railway COM |
to the SeacOaSt OF Chile and /
to the port of Molledo in Peru. By this |
route Mr.. Knowles came from La Paz
to the seacoast, then continuing by rail /
to Callao, the port Of Lima, where he
took steamer for the isthmus. A rail- |
way is now under construction from
africa to La Paz and many branches
are being pushed out, especially to the
rich mining and agricultural districts
Of central Bolivia. NOT content with
these important works, Bolivia has
under consideration a true transandean
line, which will provide the shortest
communication between La Paz and
the Pacific coast. These systems in
navigabIe rivers of Bolivia and the
Marmore e. Madero railroad, which is
n the very heart of tropical South
America. will give to Bolivia as ade-
1uate transportation as any South
American republic possesses. Mr..
Knowles reported when here that La
2az is growing relatively as fast as
Buenos -Ayres or any OF the larger cit
es of South America. Modern build
ngs are springing UP, the city is ex-
ending, it is electrically lighted and
here is a very good trolley system.
A Great Work to Be Done.
There Is however, very great work
n the way of exploration to be accom-
EQUAL to work of that kind being accom-
,lished in Central Africa. Mr.. Grace says
hat there are vast areas of interior
south America which have never been :
explored. Our minister to Bolivia, Mr.. :
told his friends in this city last
summer that much of the interior of :
south America is unnapped and many of | )
he maps which have been published are :
incorrect. All of the naviga-
lie rivers have been traced and practical
v charted. The German capitalists who !
re searching for rubber in central South | ;
America and who have exploited large
ubber tracts along the borders Of the
avigab1e rivers have not ventured very
ar into the interior
The Germans have patiently but ex-
Iusively exploited the areas most pro-
fic in rubber trees. But there are vast !
reas yet untouched where the rubber
rec grows, not in the profusion of the
liver valleys, but yet in such manner as
0 show that with patient cultivation
here can be vast increase in the product
ONE of the American capitalists who \
al he info
an about Bolivia, and, it is suspected !.
hat among them is Commodore Benedict =
imself, have had an eye upon the mineral Q
disabilities of that great interior republic. =
he main ranges of mountains are known I
, be vast fields of ore, scarcely touched =
old. silver, tin. copper, bismuth and Z
recious stones exist there, some of them .
I vast riches of deposit awaiting only :
and the coming of capital L
One of the greatest of American cap
-alists, now living in seni-retirement,
expressed recently the opinion that the
lost tempting and inconseivabIy rich op- II
ortunftieS for American capital that =
eeks investment outside the United | :.
tates are in South America, and he in =
mated that Commodore Benedict as well !.
$ other capitalists, would be found IN | Z
he course of a. few years accepting these =
pportunities In good measure, although s
hey are sure to meet with serious rivalry 5
rom German and English capital p
HOLLAND. ltl