Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-06-04
ROOSEVELT GIVES GRAPHIC ACCOUNT
OF DISCOVERY Of RIVER DUV|DA

some recognition-to the really re-
markable work that has been done by
Colonel Rondon and his associates of
the Brazilian telegraphic commission
during the last seven years-work
which, from the geographic standpoint,
and from the standpoint Of the deyel-
opment of the natural resources Of the
nation, is as noteworthy as anything
that has been accomplished during the
same length of time anywhere in the
world.
They have not had too much recog-
milton In their own country. A prophet
Is not without honor. you know, save
In his own country. They have had
practically no recognition abroad.
I'VE started up the Paraguay and
then struck across country on mule
back to this point and then went down
to there. 1t is almost impossible for
me to show you on these standard
maps what ! did, because the maps
are so PROFESSIONALLY wrong. For In
stance, there are two rivers close to-
gether, the Sacare and the Tapajos--
that is within ten miles of each other
each of which has waterfall about
the size OF the falls Of the Yellow
stone, in one case about $50 feet high
and in the other case about $50 feet
high, of which we took numerous pho
,tographs. There is not a hint of the
existence of those waterfalls, nor, as
far as can find, Of those rivers on
that map.
I'VE then journeyed three weeks
further on and came down to this
point here Indicating on the map).
There, on the map, is a mountain.
There was really valley with river
flowing down the middle. 1t does
nothing of the kind. 1t does not run
anywhere near it. Here are those
rivers heading up there, They do not
head up there.
I'VE went down another river where
their sources are supposed to be, and
these mountains are almost as irrele-
want to the facts as are the rivers
themselves. You can see, as said,
better on this map here. Here is the
Tapajos. Here is the G Parana run
ming into the Madeira.
"On that map and on this you will
find little river In about 5h degrees
l think the actual course is about 5.12
or 5.15, but very nearly 81, little
river there put on there and put down
here dotted without any name. want
you to look at this map. This is Bar
tholomew's map of South America |
want you to be able to check of for
yourselves exactly the statement that
/ make.
I'VE found that this river, called the
Dubitas (river of darkness) arose be-
tween the fifty-ninth and sixtieth me-
ridian of longitude west from Green
wich, just north of the thirteenth de-
gree of latitude south. 1t first flowed
west and then south, and then flowed
north, originally as a mountainous,
timber choked brook. not navigable
until In latitude IL degrees minute
south and longitude 60 degrees and IS
minutes west about in each case; may
be two or three minutes wrong.
I'VE crossed the telegraph line at q
point where 1t becomes navigable, and
It was there that we embarked, and
we then ran on down about five de-
grees. | will put 1t in here. l do not
know whether those In the rear Of the
hall can see ii, but have put II there
now, that river as we. have put 1t on
the map. want to call your attention
to the fact that ! am using my terms
with scientific precision, and when ]
say put II on the map mean what !
say. mean that it is not on any map,
and that we have put it on the map .
THE different portions OF the course
that we followed varied widely in diff
ficulty. We first of all ran four days
surveying OF the river very accurately,
and therefore going very slowly with
out encountering any rapids or other
obstacles.
II went down that river. going down
there for the first time and OF course
endeavoring to map II in detail.
1T is much easier now for anyone
to follow US, and II this geographic So
ciety or any other responsible organ
ization wishes to send man to or
down that river will give him letters
of introduction and advice which will
enable him,> with comparatively little
difficulty, to go over the entire course
of that river and report on all the fea-
lures in detail which. OF course, the
first explorers necessarily sketched in
outline.
II will give him letters to a rubber
man who will unquestionably assist
to get the canoes and the rowers that
will enable him to ascend as far as
the lowest of the uppermost rapids
and come back, covering two-thirds of
the distance and going up to the tenth
degree.
And this river, OF about the size
of the Elbe or the Rhine, through a
region which on the maps issued to-
day, the best maps, is not shown at