South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-06
AMAZON VALLEY
IS DEVELOP INC
Industrial Conditions Attract
ing Attention of All Eu-
ropean Countries.

PARA. mouth OF Amazon river
Dec. 5.-The industrial DEVELOPMENT
OF the Amazon valley Is attracting
the attention OF European coun-
,ries. British. German. Italian. Nor
wegian. Swedish and Dutch capital
lists engineers and importers are
making Investigations OF the min
~feral and forest resources Of the val
ley or have obtained concessions TO
establish industri here. So far
American participation In this de-
velopment work is conspicuous by
its absence.
Hunt Vegetable OIL
English engineers are up river at
the present time investigating the
possibilities Of vegetable oils: Eng
lish experts are here studying the
practicability OF extracting starch
and industrial alcohol from the root
Of mandioca: an English engineer
has returned 10 this city from
lquitos for further equipment with
which TO extend the examination he
is making in the mineral area Of the
Peruvian Amazon, on behalf OF
British syndicate
The Italian syndicate which has
lesn operating "a small experimental
vegetable oil factory at the town OF
Cameta. on the Tocantins river,
about 100 miles from Para, has ap-
Piled for a concession TO open
large factory in Para for the extrac-
ton OF lubricating, Illuminating and
edible oils from the nuts OF palms
and trees which abound IN the for
Csts. a similar concession has been
given 10 group OF local capitalists
for the establishment OF oil fac
tories in certain municipalities
throughout the state
Grant Concessions
Concessions have been granted re-
Gently by the state congress for vari-
GUS factories 10 manufacture glass
hammocks and thread salt and its
products. paper Of all grades. rub
her goods vegetable dyes and ink
and buttons from vegetable ivory
nut These so-called concessions
:. are not 20 be COMPOUNDED with the
Nycusive mOnOpolies so popular in
other Latin-American countries
which in the past have proved 10 be
trial development In Brazil
"conCenssion" TO establish n factory
or industry is more in the nature OF
charter with. in some cases. spe-
coal tax exemptions for a number Of
years. or. privileges in the matter Of
import dues on machinery and
equipment
Reopen Plantations.
The Alsatian Plantation Co.
German syndicate. has reopened its
plantation near Para. which was
abandoned when Brazil entered the
war on the side OF the allies. This
company has geo. 900 banana trees
and 10O.OO abacaxis (pine apples)
under cultivation. Bananas thrive
exceptionally well in this region,
? they are subject to none OF the dis
cases prevalent in other banana
growing countries and owing TO the
extraordinarily even climate OF
Para require little attention when
Erowin.; The Para and Amazon
bananas are said TO be the best
Brazil produces and are in great de-
mand in Rio and Buenos Aires: they
are said 20 stand shipment unusual
Is well
Norwegians are operating a large
saw-miH on the Ilha das Oncas. an
island in the Guajara river, opposite
the city OF Para.
Few Saw Mills.
Although there are immense for
osts full of woods OF many varieties.
some OF them OF the greatest com
mcrcial value. it is surprising how
few first class saw mills there are in
the region. and there are none which
might be said 10 compare in eff
cheney with those OF our own north
west
Owing TO the maze OF waterways
which covers the entire surface OF
the valley. there can never be any
large railroads paralleliuE the main
Amazon river and all railroads will
therefore be constructed 70 act as
feeders only to the main river and
its principal afluents. opening up
the interior mach OF the river banks.
Concessions have recently been
granted by the state congress for va
rious short lines. one OF which is in
tended to link the Amazon. from the
town OF Macapa near It's mouth.
with the OyapOck river which sepa-
rates Brazil from French Guina.
-This line will open up vast areas
suitable for cattle raising. as also
gold-bearing lands which were
abandoned when ;he French coded
he northern part OF the state OF
Para TO Brazil 20 years ago.
New. line.
Another line is 20 be constructed
between the town OF Obidos. 600
miles up river, and Dutch Guiana.
a line is under construction on the
bank or the TOcantins river from
the first rapids az Alcobaca. 70 the
uavigable water OF the upper river.
and about 80 miles OF the lower end
is now practically completed. Other
railroad concessions are under dis
Cussion in the chamber OF deputies
as also sundry motor roads from the
banks OF some OF the rivers 20 inter
Tor centers OF population.
To is rumored that the Braganca
railroad is about TO be sold by the
state OF Parato and English syn
dicate which is said TO be backed by