The sun., 1919-08-04
PARAGUAY LOOMS
IN CATTLE RAISING
American Capital Now Taking
Advantage Of Great National
Opportunities.
NEAR RIVAL TO URUGUAY
Herds Constantly Increasing
Despite Great Supply Sent
to Market Yearly.

Tbe many items which have appeared
r.oently pointing out the opportunities
for stock raising and packing house de-
vs,opment In several of the South Ameri-
ran countries have caused some wondsr-
ment as to the reasons why the posi-
Utilities in Paraguay seemingly have been
overlooked. This overlooking has been
only on the part OF news vendors, how
aver. for American capital has not been
b,,nd 10 the future OF the livestock In
dustry in this little known country and
one company alone 10 now developing q
tract containing over million acres OF
land and has in operation at the present
tims a fully equipped packing house.
modern In ell respects and with q capa-
oity Of 5000 head OF cattle q week.
Certin parts Of Paraguay offer natural
attractions to this industry unsurpassed
hy those in any other country. The pro-
6ie of these regions Is that OF q rolling
grass covered plain sufficient in area for
the sustenance Of countless herds OF cat
tie. The centre Of the country In ira
versed by the Paraguay River, which
provides navigation for ocoangoinG
steamers at all seasons OF the year.
Cattle to the number of 100000 are
now in Paraguay, giving that country
over FIVE head to each inhabitant, n
higher ratio than IL to be found In any
other important stoci<raising country OF
the world, excepting Uruguay. and ton
times that Of the United States A re-
Yards the ratio to area Paraguay has
lis cattle per square kilometer, COM
pared with AIS IN Uruguay, 81 In Ar
eentina, SIS in Brazil, Is In Australia
and in the United States.
The growth of the cattle industry dur
ing the present decade Is little short Of
remarkable. In 1910 the official figures
showed an export Of only eleven live
animals; In 1915 they were nearly so.-
900, and while the statistics for the last
three years are not available II IL stated
by those in a position to know that the
number has increased still more.
Herds Being Increased.
The most encouraging feature of this
growth is that while the export Of hides
and skins has held Its own, representing
the slaughter of over 100000 cattle
yearly, the percentage of the total cat
lie thus disposed of has actually de-
creased from S.s per cent. to ca Der
cent. This means that the herds Of
Paraguay are not being depleted but
are gradually being increased.
Another encouraging feature is to be
noted in the fact that the area available
for cattle raising Is constantly extending
and will continue to do so for some
years to come. A large part Of Para
quay is covered with forests of both hard
and soft woods. Exploitation Of thes<
forestal areas Is Increasing and sogns
fourteen companies, two of them Ameri-
can, are now In active operation. Ths
soft woods can be replanted, but thu
hard woods, of which the Quebracho Il
the most important will hardly be 70
placed on account Of its slow growth
Accordingly the denuded areas win b
turned into stock ranges. q policy which
10 now being followed by leading forestal
exploitation companies -
AS an interesting by-product. 90 te
peak, Of the investment Of America
capital in the cattle and quebracho In
dustries Of Paraguay. Is to be noted the