The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-27

cate. rs
The italian syndicate which has
been operating a small experimental
vegetable oil factory at the. town OF
Gameta, on the Tocantins River, about
900 miles from Para, has applied for
concessions TO open a large factory in
3 Para for the extraction of lubricating,
illuminating and edible oils from the
nuts of palms and trees which abound
TN the forests A similar concession
has been given to a group Of local
capitalists for the establishment Of oil
Z factories in certain municipalities
4 Throughout the State.
Concessions have beer granted re-
Gently by the State congress for va
rious factories to manufacture glass,
hanmocks and thread. salt andsits
{ products, paper Of all grades, rubber
goods, vegetable dyes and ink and
buttons from vegetable ivory nut.
These so-called concessions" are
not to be confonnded with the exclu-
sive monopolies so popular in other
FLaiin-Ameriean countries which in the
past have proved to be hamper in
stead OF, an aid to industrial develop
nent.. In Brazil a CONCESSION to
establish factory or industry is more
IN the nature of a charter with, III
some cases, special tax exemptions for
number of years, or privileges in the
matter of rapport duties on machinery
and equipment.
The. Alsatian Plantations Co., a
German syndicate, has reopened It's
plantation near Para, which was
abandoned when Brazil entered the
war on the side of the Allies. This
company has zoe 900 banana-trees
and 100, 600 abacaxis (pine-applesa.
under cultivation bananas thrive
exceptionally well in this region, they
are subject to none Of the diseases
prevalent in other banana-Srowlng
countries, and owing 10 the extraord1-.
.narily even climate Of Para require
] sIsae attention when growing. The
Para and Amazonas bananas are said
TO be the best Brazil produces,
and are in great demand In Rio and
Buenos Aires; they are said to stand
Shipment unusually we'll.
Norwegians are operating a large
zsawnpilI on the Ili1a das oncas, an IS
Land in the Guajar River opposite TO
thescity OF Para. Although there are
inamense forests full Of woods OF,
many varieties, some Of them of the
sreaSest commercial value, it is sur
prisirg how few first-class sawmills
there are in. the region, and there
are none which might be said to COM
nare i'm efficiency with those Of our
own northwest.
Owing to the maze Of waterways
which covers the entire surface of the
valley, there can ever be any large
railroads paralleling the main ANA
zon River and all railroads will there
fore be constructed to act as feed
ers', only tot he main river and It's
principal af1uents, opening up the IN
{erior back of the river bantks- Con-
cessions have recently been granted
by the State congress for various
Short lines, one of which is intended
10 link the Amazon, from the town Of
sSfsaapa near its mouth, with The
steyapock River which separates Brazli
from French Guiana. This line VIII
open up vast areas suitable for cat
lie raising, as also gold-bearlns lands
which were abandoned when the
French ceded the, northern part OF
the State of Para to Brazil twenty
years ago.
Another line is to be constructed
between the ;own Of Obidos, 500 miles
up river, and Dutch Guiana. a hne
is under construction on the bank Oh
the Tocantins River from the hrst
RAPIDS, at Alcohaca, to the navlgaple
water of the upper river, and ABOUT
ninety miles of the lower end is now
practically completed. Other railroad
concessions are under discussion IN
the Chamber Of Deputies as also
slindry motor roads from the banhS
s of some Of the rivers to interior CEN
tres of population.
It is rumored that the Praganca
railroad is about to. be sold by the
state OF Parato and English syndi-
( cate which is said to be backed py
:sthe banking firm of Rothschlld d
Co The charter Of this railroad pro-
3 vides for a line from the city OF Para
3 toward the Atlantic and parallel TO
The coast in the States OF Para ana
: Maranhao. About 14o miles nave
been completed and in operation 1or
several years through highly pro-
duetive agricultural district but 'he
recent discovery of valuable ores ana
mineral deposits on the projected me
into Nfaranlnao probably has been 'he
occasion OF the outside Interest orr
beans. rice. mandioca. bananas an"
many other fruits. potatoes. Vese-
tables of all kinds are now being rals-
ed in the Braganaca section Tor 'h'
local market. and during the past Eeas
or two the production of cotton. 70,
hacco sugar-cane. cacao has 2eeH
undertaken on an extensive scale.
An announcement appeared IN In
local newspapers recently that TN
Johnson Line is about to esta anilsh
steamer service between Swedish Po''.
and the Amazon. touching at SPah'S'
ard Portuguese ports
Local Americans are outsp"heh .
thei,. regret that there appears 10 ~
;,,,o,.. IS I,,resru.a n. participation IN tHt