Evening star., 1928-11-04
FORD PLANTATION
IN BRAZIL is IDEAL
Great Industry and City of
.iz Fair Size Now in
the Making.
BY A. M. SMITH.

Ford plantation, 90 miles above San
taren, on the Tapajos River. occupies
one Of the most beautiful Of the many
attractive sites on this great river which
Joins the greatest of the worlds rivers,
the Amazon, at Santarem.
On the entire Journey up the Tapajos
one mas the impression Of traverSlng
sreat lake, for the average width of the
fAver through this distance is miles.
widening out at places to more than Z
miles. The water is clear blue. in happy
contrast with the yellowish waters OF
the Amazon.
Twelve Mile River Front.
While one side Of the nearly Quadri-
lateral area of the 1000. .000-acre planta-
ton comes close to the Tapajos, only IL
miles of the riverfront has been pur-
chased by the Ford Motor Co. from the
small owners who for many years have
lived In their scattered huts on the river
banks finding their chief income from
wild rubber trees nearby.
In the center Of this 12-n1ile stretch.
on the east bank Of the river and at A
point where the stream Is at least S
miles wide, the Ford plantation water
front rises abruptly to an elevation Of
so feet within 100 yards Of the waters
edge and continues on sharp upgrade
to ground varying from 100 to 200 feet
elevation within one mile from the
river.
On this sloping area. originally
densely covered by tall trees and jungle
growth, about so acres of trees have
been felled. leaving on the high banks
Of the south shore many great trees for
parking and shade. The future homes
OF the Ford executives Of the plantation
are to be built there.
Sixty Acres Cleared.
The remainder of this so acres has
been razed, leaving only few trees.
Here will be built the warehouse, the
sawmill. the power plant. the company
stores, quarters for unmarried laborers
A site has been left for factory in
the future, should 1t be determined to
undertake at this point more than the
mere gathering and preparation of the
raw product ready for shipping. A site
has been reserved for a public park,
with library, theater, school and
churches.
Fer curing raw rubber, extensive
facilities will be required, and ample
space has been provided for this pur-
pose.
At present a temporary house, 80 by
roof and sides. Is located on the brow
Of the hill toward the river. Near this
is a small temporary structure, part
native thatch construction and part
lumber provided by the small temporary
sawmill on the top Of the hill. Piles
of native woods have been prepared for
initial building operations. A larger
sawmill Is being shipped in.
Saasnn for Jnu Rivers
The small house of combination
structure is the temporary home OF
Rainnundo Monteiro da Costa, who has
charge of operations. under the gen.
eral direction Of Capt. OXholrn, who is
compelled to spend much time up and
down the river between Para and Boa
Vista. organizing transportation. At
this time Of the year all rivers are
low. The shadows at Boirn, about half
way between Santarem and Boa Vista,
offer no channel of greater depth than
Il feet Hence the Lake Ormoc ana
Lake Fargo are discharging cargoes to
lighters at Santarem.
In the foreground Of the Boa vista
site. about 100 yards from the river, is
q great frame building, about so by 25O
feet. costrllcted Of heavy hardwood.
Another 100 yards back of this struc-
ture is the first unit of mems quarters.
a long, one.story building housing about
100 men and provided with dining
room and kitchen. Close to the north
end of this building is the temporary
blacksmith and carpentering quarters.
Hospital Near Completion.
Inland and up the sloping grade 300
wards farther, at the top of the f1rSt
abrupt grade from the river. is the
first hospital unit. nearly finished. This
building is approximately SO by zoo 1eet.
In an abrupt niche in the southern
extent Of the hill. which will be the site
Of the oficials' homes, and at distance
of so yards from the sandy beach OF the
river is the old hacienda, Boa Vista
the property Of Senior Francisco Fran.
co until purchased recently by the Ford
Motor Co, along with other small river
side holdings in this locality. The old
hacienda was built many years ago by
Senior Francois father, who also owned
and passed on to the son the mere eI-
tensive property and buildings across
the river from Boa Vista.
The building was made of tile and
brick. with the old type Of tile on the
roof. broad verandas. six spacious rooms
and with a great open southern end for
cooking connecting with the servants
quarters The view of the river, the
green hills oeyord. showing even at so
great a distance the outlines of ancient
giants of the tropical forest, is truly
BEAUTIFUL.
Get Water From Tapa jos.
Water supply for the plantation base
will be taken from the Tapajos River
One Of the first tasks to be undertaken
by r. .. Chatfield. construction engi-
neer Of the base is the building of {
water intake far out In the river and a
filtration plant.
use the water freely without boiling or
filtration Samples Of the water have
been analyzed and found free from
bacteria. But it is tropical water
flowing very sluggishly. and subject to
q drainage intake during the rainy
season, December to April, that causes
II to rise some Is feet above the Sum-
n1er level. The company will take no
chances in provision of the domestic
water supply.
The natives along the Tapajos River
On arriving here September 1S DR.. L.
.. Falls Immediately made the rounds
Of the living quarters of the employees
81 which there are at present $50. Un-
der the supervision of Senior da Costa
Immediate steps were taken for safe
temporary disposal of garbage ano
drains. Dr. Falls will examine every
man employed at the plantation. ad-
niinistering to every one of them cure
for hookworn, which they may have in
ncipent stage of development.
Isolate Malaria Cases.
Any employe who shows an enlarged
spleen. evidence Of malaria, will ne
treated for the disease and isolated un.
til cured To prevent the recurrence
Of malaria at the plantation. the doctor
and his staff will not only supervise the
drainage and cleaning up of Two small
creeks, one on either SIDE Of The Tnair
building site, but will keep an eye or
the condition of the people for miles ur
and down the Tapajos River.