The Washington herald., 1919-09-27
BRAZIL PLANS TO OPEN UP
UNDEVEL LOPED TERRITORY
Riches of the Amazon Country Will Be
Unearthed and Improved by New
Railroad

Rio de Janeiro.-American interests
in the fight to capture their share Of
the worlds trade have evinced a de-
termination to play a majot part in
the development of the vast stretch
of unexpected and unexplored Brazil
ian territory.
Accordingly, it is expected that they
will figure prominently in the great
project soon to be undertaken, known
as the extension of the Central Rail-
way of Brazil. This work. when COM
pleted, will undoubtedly bring Brazil
to the fore as one of the worlds great
commercial. IL not industrial powers.
and it will have the effect of multiply
ing Brazrs trade balance in foreign
markets
AT present the northernmost point
reached by the railway is the small
city Of Pitangui. in the state of MINIS
Geraes, about 800 miles northwest of
Rio de Janerio. The Central Railway
links up the important commercial and
industrial centers of Southern Brazil
at present, while other roads and
branches form a network of commu-
ynications along the Brazilian seaboard.
but Northern and Central Brazil,
wherein lies the country's greatest po-
tential resources, so vast as to be
practically incalculable, has never been
opened by transportation lines.
The main line of the extension will
find its terminus at Para, the North
ern Brazilian port, in the mouth of the
Amazon. II will probably traverse the
states OF Minos Geraes, Bahia, Goyaz
or Piauhy or both, Maranhao and
Para A straight line, drawn north by
west from Pitangui to Para, measures
approximately 1,10o geographical miles,
and 1t certain that more than 1.5oO
miles OF railway must be laid in the
construction Of the main line.
1t is no secret that British. French
and German interests are anxious to
deal with the Brazilian government in
this project. Representatives Of Amer
lean steel and railway equipment or
ganizations. however. are also in the
field now. and Brazil will benefit from
the competition that is resulting. While
an effort is expected from Germany,
II Is generally recognized that she has
little chance to win. It Is logical to
assume that the country from which
the bulk of the material and supplies
~S~@NS vi thtoO itA<hhtD NhC VI
the road. and In both these depart
ments the United States Is in a posi-
ton to bid with favorable outlook for
success
Probably the first. and one of the
most important. effects of the exclu,
sion will be an influx of much needed
immigration to Brazil. Simultaneous
ly. foreign capital will be attracted by
the enormous possibilities. and the
main line of the railway will become
the vertebrae Of maze Of branch
roads. threading up into the Amazon
valley and straightaway westward to
the great Brazilian plains, which some
day may take pre-eminence as the
worlds foremost cotton producing
region.
IL has been proven that the climate
OF Central Brazil is ideal for growing
cotton. This possibility recalls Presi-
dent Epitacio Pessoa's interest in the
methods of raising and ginning cot
ton IN the United States.
Whether Brazil Is to become a man
ufacturing power also depends upon
her railway extension. With her vast
deposits OF manganese ore and DOS
sibly OF much coal and iron. connec-