From the =baracâos=, the stations on the banks of the river, small mule

trains proceed to the interior to bring in the rubber balls, which are

laid in rows, usually in the open air, so that they will be thoroughly

dried before loading them on the steamer. By the same mules, food and

supplies are sent to the seringueiros in the forest. When the rubber

gathering ceases in December or January, the seringueiro has other

important work to do. Roads must be opened and repaired, clearings made

in the forest, huts erected, wood cut and finally the paths set in order

for the approaching harvest. During the rainy season, the steamer brings

new supplies and food, which the seringueiro must buy at the =Baracâo=.

Concerning the duties the seringueiro has to perform, there are special

regulations, which prevail in most seringaes and of which written or

printed copies are often furnished.

To each seringueiro is allotted two or three estradas, each with 120

to 200 trees. For this he pays 15 per cent of his gathering of fine

rubber to the owner of the forest and an additional 10 per cent if he

uses the mules for transportation. The remaining rubber belongs to the

seringueiro in so far as he does not have to pay it for goods purchased.

As a rule, the owner purchases a portion of the product on the spot at

a price that is, of course, somewhat lower than is paid in Manáos, the

remaining portion is shipped, for account of the seringueiro, to Pará

and Manáos, and he receives the full market price for it, of course,

after deducting freight and duties. The balance is placed to the credit

of the seringueiro and paid to the firm representing the owner in Manáos

or Pará. Certain items, for instance, the price of Sernamby, consisting

of residual scraps of rubber, the seringueiro also receives in Acre. In

some cases payments are made in rubber products, a form of payment quite

common in other transactions.

On the upper Acre, a seringueiro will usually collect in a day as much

milk as will yield from 6 to 15 kilos of fine rubber. Two liters of this

milk yield a kilo of dry rubber, whereas with Manihot Glaziovi, 3 liters

are required for this. Exceptional cases occur where the seringueiro

furnishes milk for 20 to 25 kilos of fine rubber in one day. Daily

collections of more than 40 liters, however, a single worker can hardly

control and he must then have an assistant for carrying and smoking. The

yearly production of a seringueiro amounts, in the better rubber forest

properties, to upwards of 1,000 kilos of dry rubber.

[Illustration: RUBBER TREE OF NEARLY FIVE METERS IN CIRCUMFERENCE.]

Some owners offer a reward, such as for instance, a gold watch, for the

most industrious and luckiest seringueiro. On the Seringal S. Francisco,

for the crop year 1911-1912, a seringueiro won the gold watch who had

collected 2,500 kilos. The annual highest yield of caoutchouc from

the Castillôa was only 1,700 kilos, for the forest there in regard to

Castillôa is already very much exhausted. Otherwise the yields of this

rubber are more variable and higher than those of fine rubber.

If the price of rubber rules high, a seringueiro has quite a considerable

income and with a little frugality can acquire a property.

If, on the other hand, the price of rubber drops below five milreis, the

seringueiro has trouble to make both ends meet with his income and easily

gets into debt. The supplies that he must purchase from the proprietor

or his representative (lessee) are very expensive. The customs duties,

the long haul and consequently high freight, the risk, the different

losses, which the proprietor suffers through debtor workmen, and the

occasional high price of fine rubber, which forces all prices upward,

makes everything in upper Acre very dear.

The prices of some of the most necessary supplies and goods are about as

follows.

1 kilo mandioka flour, 2½ milreis.

1 kilo coffee, 4 milreis.

1 kilo sugar, 3 milreis.

1 kilo beans, 3 milreis.

1 kilo rice, 2½ milreis.

1 kilo dried meat, 5 milreis.

1 kilo fresh meat, 4 milreis.

1 chicken, 30 milreis.

1 dozen eggs, 10 milreis.

1 bottle brandy, 8 milreis.

1 meter goods, 3 to 6 milreis.

1 woolen quilt, 120 to 140 milreis.

1 pair boots, 40 to 60 milreis.

1 cake washing soap, 3½ milreis.

1 piece fine soap, 5 milreis.

1 macheté, 14 to 22 milreis.

1 package matches, 3 milreis.

1 carbine, 200 milreis.

1 kilo powder, 28 milreis.

1 kilo shot, 4 milreis.

[Illustration: THE MOUTH OF THE ACRE.]

1 pound sterling is now worth about 15 milreis, so that four shillings

(about one dollar U. S.)=3 milreis.

On the lower Acre, goods are much cheaper and they fall still lower down

to Manáos, where many articles only cost one-third or one-fourth as much,

or even less, but Manáos is nevertheless an expensive city.

The large profits which fine rubber often yields, make all labor very

dear. For this reason agriculture has developed but slowly and most food

supplies must therefore be imported. Nevertheless cattle raising is

constantly growing, stock being brought in from Bolivia. Bananas, the

tubers of the sweet mandiola, beans and some vegetables are extensively

grown, especially by Peruvians and Bolivians. Often the seringueiro will

plant some bananas and cultivate a small patch of cleared land, but this

is not favorably regarded by the proprietor. In some seringaes, even the

marriage of the seringueiros is opposed; everything is directed towards

obtaining the largest possible quantity of fine rubber.

Although the Acre is not very full of fish, fishing, in the dry season,

is attended with some success, which particularly benefits dwellers

on the banks of the river. Hunting also, in some sections, furnishes

residents with fresh meat. As animals of the chase may be enumerated,

monkeys, Taca, Aguti, wild swine, small varieties of deer, sloths,

tapirs, various wood fowl and ducks.

Very different from the arrangements customary, as a rule, in the Acre,

are the conditions in the Bolivian rubber districts, which for the most

part are owned by a single proprietor, N. Suarez y Hermanos. He is said

to produce 1,500 tons of fine rubber per year, and could produce more

than four times the quantity if the entire forest concession, which

is probably as large as South Germany, was all put in operation. One

portion of this rubber forest is situated on the Acre, but the greater

part includes the Southwestern tributaries of the Rio Madeira. In the

properties on the Acre, the working methods are adapted to Brazilian

customs, especially where Brazilian seringueiros are employed.

While in the Seringaes, trade is conducted mostly through the Baracâos,

there are in some places, notably in Cobija, Hapury and Empreza, various

business houses, through which the owners of seringaes, captains of

ships and other persons, can supply their wants, for before the steamer

returns, there is often a scarcity in some products.

[Illustration: THE ACRE SEEN FROM COBIJA ON THE BOLIVIAN FRONTIER.]

The retail trade is mainly in the hands of so-called Turks, various

Orientals, from Syria, Arabia, Tunis and Morocco. They have large boats,

propelled by poles and oars and which contain the goods in a covered

space. These Turks travel as pedlars for years about on the rivers,

selling their goods for money or rubber. This commerce is designated

=Regatao= and is not favored by proprietors, who sometimes forbid

stopping in their territory. The seringueiro can not only buy cheaper of

them, but can dispose of caoutchouc surreptitiously.

Those who encounter favorable conditions on the Acre, who are diligent

and economical, can, by working in the rubber industry, or in any other

field of activity, soon acquire a property. The majority, however,

squander their earnings on trips to Manáos, Pará or Ceará, or suffer from

sickness.

Although hygienic conditions on the Acre have improved with the times

and there are numerous healthy localities, malaria still prevails there

a great deal, and other diseases, notably beriberi, are often fatally

prevalent. Many privations, caused by the difficulties of travel, and

a certain amount of luxury, made possible by the large earnings, often

contrast with one another.

From Acre, during the year, about 5,000 tons of fine rubber, inclusive of

other rubber products, are exported, of which certainly a portion comes

from the adjacent territory.

This quantity, according to the price of rubber, will represent a value

of 20,000 to 75,000 contos of réis, about $5,000,000 to $15,000,000.

These are figures that play a part in the total output of rubber, the

importance of which is increased by its quality.

THE ACRE TERRITORY.

Previous to the Treaty of Petropolis, in 1903, between Brazil and

Bolivia, the Acre Territory formed part of the State of Amazonas, one

portion being, in fact, still in dispute. By virtue of this treaty the

Acre Territory became Brazilian, Brazil in exchange paying £2,000,000

to Bolivia, an indemnity to an American syndicate, and undertaking to

construct the Madeira Mamoré Railway.

The Congress then empowered the Federal authorities to administer the

Territory until the question should be finally settled.

The administration is much the same as that of the other States. Recent

laws have tended to decentralize the administration, the latest being one

giving municipal independence. The three provinces of the Territory are:

Upper Purús (capital Senna Madureira),

Upper Juruá (capital Cruzeiro do Sul), and

Upper Acre (capital Empreza).

[Illustration: TRANSPORT OF RUBBER BISCUITS.]

The only product and export is rubber, the proportions during 1911 being:

Upper Purús 4,042,000 kilos

Upper Juruá 3,008,000 kilos

Upper Acre 3,526,000 kilos

One of the most serious questions has been that relating to the ownership

of land. The Federal Congress is prepared to solve this problem

satisfactorily, by recognizing bona-fide holdings dating from before the

Treaty of Petropolis, giving preference to property deeds granted by the

State of Amazonas, next to those given by the Republic of Bolivia during

its brief occupation, and then to any possession obtained in good faith

during the whole interregnum, up to the date of the last law passed.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

For the protection of Brazilian rubber, and in order to facilitate and

develop its culture, as well as its final handling, a Federal law was

passed on January 5th of the current year. (No. 2513 A.)

Its principal measures are especially concerned with Amazon rubber and

the country in which it is produced, viz.: the States of Amazonas and

Matto-Grosso and the Acre Territory. The scheme embraces the construction

of railways and roads, the clearing of rivers, reduction of import duties

and of dues on river navigation, the establishing of coal depots, living

accommodation for laborers, centres for the production of foodstuff,

model cattle farms, prizes to rubber planters and exemption from import

duties on all material for rubber working.

Besides the Madeira Mamoré Railway, which benefits principally the

Madeira River district of Matto-Grosso, and a further branch of the same

railway, now in course of construction, and which is intended to open

up the Bolivian district of the Beni River, the Brazilian Government

will construct another railroad (in the route of which the Commercial

Association has suggested some alterations) to commence from Manáos and

to work through the region of the Rio Branco, to link up with the English

railroad already constructed in British Guiana up to the Brazilian

boundary. This railway will open up to the State of Amazonas a huge

tract of country admirably suited to agriculture of all kinds, and to

colonization by Europeans.

The Association Commercial will also propose the construction of a

further railroad to communicate by means of branch lines with the various

provinces of the Acre Territory, in order to bring the product of that

region to the lower Purús River, at a point which will admit of free

access to steamers of deep draft to and from Manáos.

[Illustration: THE UPPER ACRE SEEN FROM PATAGONIA.]

DR. CERQUEIRA PINTO’S PROCESS

EXTRA FINE PARÁ

This rubber was cured for export in the rubber estate “IRACEMA,” in the

Federal Acre, Amazonia, Brazil, by Dr. Cerqueira Pinto’s process of

smokeless coagulation. (See The India Rubber World, August 1, 1909, page

396, and copy of the same journal of 1st September, the same year, page

435.)

The enclosed sample contains 68 kilos and belongs to the lot of 5,000

kilos (11,025 lbs.) that Dr. Cerqueira Pinto holds to be sold in New York.

Dr. Cerqueira Pinto’s process is one of coagulation of the latex of

the “=Hevea Brasiliensis=” by an ingredient patented by the Brazilian

Government—“=LACTINA=”—absolutely free of any acid.

The latex after the coagulation is pressed through a cylinder in order to

dry out.

This rubber was tested and classified as of STANDARD type by the

Government of the United States of America.

It offers the resistance of 2,010 pounds per square inch according to

the experiments made by The Manhattan Rubber Company in July, 1909. This

rubber means a saving to the manufacturer of at least 20 per cent, in the

opinion of the Favorite Rubber Mfg. Co. of New Jersey and of 25 per cent,

as per the analysis made in London.

The author of this process calls the Jury’s attention to his rubbers and

is willing to furnish with the sufficient quantity in order to prove to

the entire satisfaction of his assertions. It vulcanizes as well by acid

as by vapor. Dr. Cerqueira Pinto will prepare, during the Exposition,

in September, before the public and the manufacturers, his rubbers with

both Hevea and Castillôa latexes, yield of the trees in October, 1911,

in the Federal Acre, Brazil. He shall present as well a large quantity

of similar rubbers cured by the author on different occasions. They are

true rubbers of commerce cured for export. They are clothed by a vegetal

varnish, soluble in water, which is also a discovery of Dr. Cerqueira

Pinto, to prevent the mould.

CASTILLÔA OR CAUCHO.

Prepared by the process of Dr. Carlos de Cerqueira Pinto. (See the India

Rubber World of September 1st, 1909, page 435).

The included sample weighs 68 kilos. The author holds 1,400 pounds of

this quality to be sold in New York market.

The article was cured by rubber laborers of the estate “Iracema” in the

Federal Acre, Amazonia, Brazil, during the months of July to December,

1911. They are rubbers of commerce and cured for export.

[Illustration: COURTYARD OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE MESSRS. SUAREZ Y

HERMANOS, FILLED WITH RUBBER BISCUITS READY FOR SHIPMENT.]

[Illustration: THE TOWN OF HAPURY.]

[Illustration: SETTLEMENT OF PORTO AUCAO WITH MULES CARRYING MERCHANDISE

TO THE INTERIOR.]

[Illustration: SETTLEMENT OF MONTE MO.]

[Illustration: SERINGUEIRO CARRYING LATEX.]

THE STATE OF MATTO GROSSO

[Illustration: BALLS OF RUBBER.]

THE STATE OF MATTO GROSSO IN THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL RUBBER EXPOSITION IN

NEW YORK, 1912

BY LEOPOLDO DE MATTOS

Dr. Joaquim Augusto da Costa Marques, President of the State of Matto

Grosso, 1911-1915

The State of Matto Grosso, Brazil, at the Third International Rubber

Exposition in New York, 1912

Of the twenty states composing the Republic of the United States of

Brazil, Matto Grosso is second to the largest in its territorial

extension. It is situated south of the States Amazon and Pará, having

on the East the States of Goyaz, S. Paulo and Paraná, on the South the

Republic of Paraguay, and on the West Bolivia.

It embraces on the map that portion of the earth’s surface which

extends, approximately from the fourth degree South of the Equator

to the Tropic of Capricorn. Its immense area is about 50,175 square

leagues, or according to Mr. Candido Mendes it has an area of 1,379,651

square meters. Its population is actually about 350,000, not including

a considerable number of uncivilized Indians, whose improvement is

carried steadily forward by the united efforts of the State and Federal

Governments.

Without mentioning its capital, the principal cities of the State are

Corumbá, S. Luiz de Caceres, Miranda, Nioae, Focoué, Santa Aunade

Paranabyba, Diamantina, Rosario, Livramento, and the new and recently

incorporated municipality, S. Antonio de Rio Madeira. Its capital,

Cuyabá, is situated on the left bank of the river of the same name, 288

meters above sea level, and owes its origin to the Paulistas, who formed

colonies in the western part of Brazil during the first part of the

Eighteenth Century.

In 1719 Paschoal Moreira Cabral ascending the River Coxipé Mirim, founded

on the left bank of this stream a village which was called Forquilha,

but to-day is the city of Cuyabá, where in those early days a rich gold

mine was discovered. In those days, according to Elysée Reclus, the vast

region of Matto Grosso, was hardly anything except a narrow, ordinary

zone, nothing more than an immense solitude of undefined limits and

unknown, but given over to Indians and wild beasts. It was joined to the

rest of Brazil by the lonely paths of hunters, and by channels of the

rivers that had their origin there. Really in those days communication

with the remainder of Brazil was as difficult as with Matto Grosso. It

is within the memory of many and known to those who read the history

of Brazil, that it was impossible for the troops who were enrolled and

equipped in the coast provinces, to go directly to the aid of their

compatriots in Matto Grosso, when the Brazilian people had to respond to

the declaration of war by Paraguay.

With the thousands of obstructions in their path, a portion of the army

composed of 3,000 men, which left Rio de Janeiro in April, 1865, and

which could only be organized in Uberaba, in the upper basin of Paraná,

was reduced to about 700, when it arrived at that safe and impregnable

place.

The war with Paraguay being ended, there is no doubt that the victory

gained by Brazil opened wide the ports of Matto Grosso, for the natural

declivity of the soil, the course of the streams, with the free river

navigation, guaranteed by her triumph, established a regular line of

packets between Rio de Janeiro, Corumbá and Cuyabá, by way of the River

La Plata, passing by Montevideo, Buenos Ayres and Assumption.

The fluvial ways of the Guaporé, Madeira and Amazon were constantly

used in the Eighteenth Century, after the exploration made by Manoel de

Lima in 1742. Navigation by the Guaporé river to the Madeira, in short

to S. Antonio, which is the initial point of navigation on this last

mentioned river, is long and full of difficulties. Withal, Matto Grosso

is gradually approaching the coasts of Brazil by means of railroads,

such as the Northwestern Road, which will shortly unite it with Rio de

Janeiro, and the railroad, already projected, which, parting from S. Luiz

de Caceres, will reach the old city of Matto Grosso, where the Guaporé

begins to be navigable, to Guajará-Mirim, the terminal point of the great

Madeira-Mamoré Railway.

In a short time, as can readily be seen, these roads will be a reality,

the navigable rivers being united by the stretches of railroads between

them. The Paranápanema and the Ivahy in the States of Paraná and S.

Paulo, continue on the one side of the Paraná River, ascending the

Ivanhema, and the Brilhante, as far as the neighboring mountains of

Miranda, in the meridional part of Matto Grosso.

[Illustration: RUBBER FROM JACY PARANÁ OF FIDEL BACA & CO. READY TO BE

PUT IN BOATS TO BE TAKEN TO A STATION OF THE MADEIRA MAMORÉ RAILWAY.]

The magnificent regions of Matto Grosso promise in the near future,

to be great centers of population and consequently a future focus of

civilization by probable fusion of the different elements of immigration,

which will certainly come together there in the flight of time, and the

increased facilities in the way of transportation. Somewhere it has been

said, that colonization without doubt will come from the South, from

Paraguay and Argentina; but at the present time, with the completion

of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway, undoubtedly colonization will also come

from the North, communication being facilitated by the Amazon River,

the Madeira being one of its tributaries, on the right bank of which is

situated Porto Velho, the initial point of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway.

These effects are already commencing to produce results as may be seen

from founding of a new municipality and district of Matto Grosso, called

the municipality of St. Antonio of the River Madeira, reached by the

above-mentioned railway and to which region we will devote a special

chapter later on.

Already one sees the farthest northern side of Matto Grosso filling with

people, while the southern side really contains the greater number of

inhabitants.

Matto Grosso is one of the regions of least roughness on the continent of

South America. There are no elevations of the land which constitute real

mountains.

The elevated lands have their points of culmination in the western

bases of the Mantiqueira, the Aymorés, and the Espinhaço, and continue,

gradually lowering from this side to the West of Goyaz, and on the other

side are the elevated lands at the base of the Andes, which incline to

the East with its supports. Elysée Reclus says that an intermediary

plain, separating the two geographical districts, goes winding in the

form of a valley, that in other ages certainly was a maritime strait

separating the two islands—Western Brazil and the Andes.

To-day rivers run in the depression where formerly there was a sea and

the plain is actually full of alluvial soil. The true center of South

America is between the two cities of Cuyabá and Corumbá.

To those who do not know the region, the slopes of the hills are mistaken

for mountains and geographical maps show a chain of mountains more or

less continuous, between the basins of the Tapajóz and the Madeira,

between the head waters of the same Tapajóz and Paraguay and finally

between the Tapajóz and the Araguaya. Nevertheless this semi-circular

plain exists only in fragments, because the elevations which are found

in the plains of the upper Paraguay and its tributaries are only a high,

level ground of horizontal sections or slight elevations and worn away by

the rivers which flow into the great Amazon.

[Illustration: REMOVING THE BALL OF RUBBER AFTER IT HAS BEEN SMOKED.]

They are rather tablelands than mountains, for they do not reach an

elevation, except in some parts of the tableland, of more than 100

meters, while the mean elevation of a range of mountains is 500 meters.

This geographic district in the State of Matto Grosso is indifferently

called the cordillara of Parecys, but does not present a mountainous

aspect except on the South side. On this scarred side, the rock is

cut into peaks, or cut away into obelisks. On the other side towards

the Tapajóz and Xingú, a long range extends and gradually declines

into the plains of the State of Amazonas. D’Orbiguy found in the high

northern part of Matto Grosso, the existence of beds pertaining to the

carboniferous age and corresponding to rocks of the same nature which

on the opposite side of that region are found in the Bolivian bases of

the Sierra of Santa Cruz. After this Hart and Derby verified the fact

that the southern parts of the Araxá, which are the elevated borders of

the tableland, date probably from paleozoic epochs, and there are found

the carboniferous, devonian and silurian beds. Fossil beds found by the

Geologist Smith below the hillocks of the plains, 50 kilometers east of

Cuyabá, place these facts beyond doubt. More to the North is the zone

of the rocky places, which in links cut the Madeira, Tapajóz, Xingú,

Tocatius and their tributaries, the walls denuded by erosion, are all

of the crystalline formation, granite, gueis, porphory and quartzite.

The elevations that unroll in the direction of the South, between the

sources of the Paraguay and Araguaya, following between the Paraguay and

the Paraná, do not present the same characteristics as the tablelands of

the North. The high parts of Western Matto Grosso were separated from

the East and West sides and devastated by lateral excavations, take in

certain places the aspects of true mountain chains, and for this reason

they are named, from the North to the South, the Sierras of S. Jeronimo,

Maracajú and Anhauhaly.

Eruptive rocks, called basaltic in this country, probably porphyritic

rend the beds of sandstone, of which the mountains are composed and

appear to form by their disintegration “red lands,” similar to those

which give the farmers of S. Paulo their abundant harvests of coffee.

In a sort of circle limited by a semicircle of elevations isolated

masses have been lifted up, rocks whose outlines, seen from a distance,

have a perfect regularity. The hills proper, for the greater part, have

geometrical forms, which it should be said, great forces have crumbled,

leaving smooth walls like the sides of pyramids. The tops of the

tablelands, as well as summits, have been maimed by a force certainly

corresponding to the other summits, which now may be seen as part of

the same prairie. According to Taunay, who traveled over the country,

these masses of sandstone in horizontal beds regularly placed one above

another, are formed of marshy sediment deposited by the sea of fresh

water, which in former times covered this region.

[Illustration: COLLECTING THE LATEX.]

The ruins of these hills and slopes contributed also to change the

physiognomy of the landscape. These excoriations were picked up and

dragged by the rivers, to form new beds and soil, and much rock

disappeared below the continued crumbling of the mountains. Others

show nothing except their summits above the land of recent formation.

Masses that held them to the tablelands and the chains of the interior

are separated from them, because their bases are buried and they emerge

abruptly from the soil. These distinctive peaks to which the name of

=itambea= has been given, raise their heads above a sea of trees, like

some great buildings erected by the hand of man. To the East, the

southern part of Matto Grosso, they range themselves in files and group

themselves in archipelagoes, each time becoming higher and more numerous.

The part that goes towards the West are solitary peaks on the circle of

the horizon and may be seen along the banks of the River Paraguay, and

even on the other side of the same.

The Upper Guaporé, Itenez of the Bolivians, although situated in the

immense basin of the Amazon as a tributary to the Madeira River by the

Mamoré, belongs to the State of Matto Grosso, for the city of this name

was founded on its banks and nearly the whole population of the state

accumulated in this depression, through whose western half the river

finds its way. Its principal source is very obscure. It rises in a grotto

along the border of the Araxá, and takes first a southerly course,

parallel to other rivers which descend towards Paraguay. On leaving the

last hills it curves to the West, and afterwards to the Northwest, where

already enlarged by numerous tributaries it crosses the plain, where

there is found the city named at its founding Villa Bella and to-day

called Matto Grosso.

The Paraguay is one of the most known rivers of South America, as a way

of navigation, as Elysée Reclus affirms. Few rivers have such a slight

declination in proportion to their length. Castelnaw says that it rises

at an altitude of 305 meters, in places where tranquil waters glide

slowly to the sea, the altitude of the land being scarcely 200 meters.

At a point 4,000 kilometers from the sea, the declination is scarcely 5

centimeters. Therefore, steamers of light draft can freely ascend to the

confines of Brazil, far to the North of the two Republics of Argentine

and Paraguay and arrive at the base of the tableland by the principal

river and its tributaries, Jaurú, Sepotuba, Cuyabá, S. Lourenço and

Taquary. The Paraguay presents another notable phenomenon, which is the

crossing its sources with those of the tributaries of the Amazon.

[Illustration: SMOKING RUBBER.]

The River Jaurú approaches the Guaporé so closely that it would be easy

to make a canal from the waters of this western river to a tributary

of the Jaurú. Another tributary of the Paraguay, the Aguapehy, is only

separated from the Alegre River, which flows by the old city of Villa

Bella, to-day called Matto Grosso, by a low and narrow isthmus, which

according to Leverger measures 5,280 meters. During 1772, and even later,

it was proposed to cut a canal at different places in this isthmus, but

the work was never done because of the little commerce of that locality.

Certainly, railroads, in the near future, will supply the absence of a

canal and will join Montevideo to Pará, passing through the larger part

of the State of Matto Grosso, and by a continental navigable water way of

8,300 kilometers, as Bartholomo Bossi says.

The Paraguay River has as its principal tributaries the S. Lourenço,

enlarged by the waters of the Cuyabá, the Taquary, the Mondego, and

the Apá, the last marking the boundary between Brazil and the Republic

of Paraguay. At the time of the floods, its level, and that of its

tributaries, rises 10 to 11 meters and overflows to the right and the

left, forming a temporary sea, which extends to great distances, being

lost to sight and continuing in lakes. The first Spanish explorers gave

it the name of Lake Xarayes, in its lower section, where it receives the

nearly dormant waters of its principal tributaries. This lake is about

600 kilometers in length from North to South, between the mouths of Jaurú

and the hills of “Fecho-dos-Morros,” and in certain places reaches a

width of 250 kilometers.

It is not permanent, as you already know, but at certain seasons of the

year there are overflows, which the Indians called bays and rightly, for

here there were bays of an ancient sea, which to-day are nearly dry,

and most of these lakes are in constant communication with the Paraguay

River, either by underground openings, or by long canals. These latter

are called the lakes of Uberaba, Gaiaba, Mandioré, Caceres, etc. Some

of these lakes contain only fresh water from the overflowing rivers,

while others being ancient cavities are now filled with salt water, and

have in their depths beds of salt, which give to the liquid a soapy

characteristic. It is singular that this contrast by nature of fresh and

salt water is also found in the lands of the vast plains, and thus it is,

that these extensive fields, covered by a rich alluvial soil, bear heavy

forests. Here the agriculturist can certainly obtain marvelous harvests.

It is certainly true that these fields of Matto Grosso will serve for

agriculture as well as pastoral industry.

The height of the lands, formed in the center of this vast valley,

hinders the tributary from remaining in a regular channel, and the waters

escaping from both sides ramify in a labyrinth of rivers and false

rivers. The lateral branches follow in the zones of the lakes, to the

confluence of the Taquary and Miranda Rivers, which descend from the

mountains on the East. These receive in the upper region, a tributary

called the Coxim, which travelers consider one of the most picturesque

rivers of Brazil. It is curious to see, in some places, the waters of the

Coxim crowded between perpendicular walls 50 meters in height and the

small vessels floating on their bosom at the bottom of an opening not

more than 10 or 12 meters in width.

THE CLIMATE

The climate of Matto Grosso is relatively warm in the lower parts and

those overflowed by the high waters of the Paraguay and other rivers.

In the region of the tablelands the climate is cool and healthy. The

movement of the air columns is determined by the open passage way between

the Andes mountains and the highlands of Brazil, as well as in the center

of the South American continent, and are held by it. The warm winds,

coming from the region of the Amazon, are succeeded in the Winter time

by the winds which blow from the cool pampas. In the high parts of the

circle of hills and mountains which surround the tablelands of Matto

Grosso, the cold goes below the freezing point. The copious rains brought

by the cooling winds refresh the central tablelands of Brazil and then

dash themselves against the sides of the Andes. They fall with great

regularity in the Summer and are frequently accompanied by thunderstorms.

According to observations taken by some, the annual fall of water is 3

meters, and in Cuyabá about 135 days of the ordinary year are rainy ones.

ITS SITUATION

The State of Matto Grosso, from its geographical situation in the

Continent of South America, placed at the point of separation of the

two great basins of Brazil, contains at the same time the flowers and

faunae of the Amazon and Plata regions. Nevertheless, the tropical flora

predominates with its infinite variety of vegetable forms in all the

forest regions, that is to say, along the banks of the rivers, and among

the famous species found along the shores of the River-Sea, there are few

which are not found in the region of the Upper Guaporé, and specimens of

which may not be seen.

In no other parts, like here, will the development of Cipo’s palm be

found. In 1875, a boundary commission discovered one of these palms

=Urumbamba (Calamus procumbeus) or Des Moncus rudentum de Martins=, of

more than 20 meters in length, with hardly the thickness of a centimeter.

The cotton tree, tobacco, ipecac, there called “poya,” grow spontaneously

on the plains and in the forests. The last grows abundantly in the

forests of the Upper Jaurú and the neighboring rivers. Maté, the most

notable product of the tablelands of the South, and which has made some

regions rich, as the State of Paraná, grows here spontaneously between

the Rivers Miranda and Apá, without speaking of the seringa, which is

found in immense and thick forests in a district that extends from Cuyabá

to Madeira and which will be the special subject of this leaflet.

The woods for building are very abundant and of a great variety, such as

Brazil wood, Jacarandá, Peroba, Canella, Cedro, Jequitibá, Massaran-duba,

Arco, Ferro, Setim and Vinhatico.

Among the animals are found deer, tapir, panther, and also a large number

of small animals usually found in tropical regions. The fowls and birds

along the streams and the songsters in the forests are, because of their

variety, almost innumerable. The ostrich is found in the region of the

pampas and on the margins of the upper Paraguay. There are many varieties

of fish in the large and small rivers.

In the mineral kingdom, the State of Matto Grosso has numerous mines

of gold, silver, platinum, copper, tin, mercury, coal, iron, precious

stones, diamonds, etc. There are already four English companies

developing gold mines. There is also granite, crystal, malacacheta,

limestone, sal-geunna, etc. Finally, in the region of the Araxá, there

are sulphur mineral springs.

In Matto Grosso are found the largest cattle ranches, not only as to

their territorial extent, but also as to the number of horses and cattle,

some of them numbering 100,000 head. The number of cattle is calculated

to be 2,000,500,000 head. Although the transportation of cattle from

Matto Grosso to Rio de Janeiro is difficult, it is generally done by

a road running West to Uberaba, where they pass the Winter season of

two or three months and being recuperated are sent by railroad to Rio

de Janeiro. Hence it is easy to see that with the completion of the

Northwestern Railway of Brazil, the problem of transportation to the

coast will be solved. Also with the completion of the Madeira-Mamoré

Railway the navigable rivers of Matto Grosso, will in short time, be

linked with the port of Pará. Before long another railway will extend

from S. Luiz de Caceres, the ancient city of Matto Grosso, where the

River Guaporé commences to be navigable to Guajará-Mirim, the terminal

point of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway. This will solve the problem of the

transportation of cattle to the States of Amazonas, Pará, etc.

[Illustration: RUBBER BEING SHIPPED ON MADEIRA-MAMORÉ RAILWAY AT THE

ESTATES OF FIDEL BACA & CO., JACY PARANÁ RIVER]

From this brief exposition one concludes that the State of Matto Grosso

is very rich in cattle and gold, diamonds and coffee, tobacco and maté,

rubber and ipecac, and all other products of the tropical and temperate

zone. Without doubt it will come to be one of the largest and richest

empires of the world.

Endowed with a warm climate in the North, it has in other regions

a temperate and even cold climate. The tablelands contain a rare

accumulation of wealth, yet little explored. Naturally people, in their

activities and progressive conflict for a livelihood, will come here from

all parts of the world. By their intelligence and endeavors they will

make that part of Brazil an industrial, commercial and maritime mart.

Here from the fusion of the different races, a great civilization will

arise, and mankind will progress onward and upward to the final conquest

of the land.

RUBBER

The rubber sent to this Exposition, comes from the vast regions served by

the Rivers Machados, or Dgy-Paraná, Jamary, Jacy-Paraná, Mutum-Paraná,

Paca-Nova and Guaporé and their tributaries, which in turn are

tributaries of the great Madeira River, on whose right bank is situated

the new municipality St. Antonio do Rio Madeira, installed July 2, 1912.

The new municipality has the following limits: Starting at the falls of

St. Antonio do Rio Madeira, on parallel 8° 48′, the River Madeira above;

the River Madeira above to the mouth of the Guaporé on parallel of 12°,

and on this parallel to its intersection with the River Camararé; on

this river below to its confluence with the Juruema; on this river below

to the point where it unites with the Arinos; on the parallel at this

point which passes to its intersection with S. Manuel River; it follows

this river down to its confluence with the Tapajóz; and from this point

back to St. Antonio Falls, along the line that divides Matto Grosso from

the Amazonas. All this immense territory of the new municipality is

traversed on the North by the Madeira-Mamoré Railway, which was completed

and opened for traffic, September 7, 1912. It starts at Porto Velho and

terminates at Guajará-Mirim, a distance of 390 kilometers.

The Madeira-Mamoré Railroad, in addition to the stations already opened

in Porto Velho, Candelaria, St. Antonio, Jacy-Paraná, Abunã, Villa

Murtinho, and Guajará-Mirim has 46 places of stopping, which corresponds

to the number of camps.

Among the ways of communication that St. Antonio do Rio Madeira, the

new municipality, has with the neighboring States of Amazonas and Pará,

as well as with the capital and other cities of Matto Grosso, we would

mention the telegraph line which the Federal Government is constructing

along with its public road ways. There are two gangs of engineers and

workmen engaged in the construction of the telegraph line. One started

at St. Antonio in the North, and the other at Diamantina in the South.

Leaving St. Antonio the telegraph line follows parallel 8° 48′ until it

comes to the River Jamary, a distance of about 60 kilometers. Arriving

there its course is changed to the headwaters of the Dgy-Paraná River,

to a place called Urupá. Here it will meet and be joined to the line

coming from the South. On June 3, 1912, at the very headwaters of the

Dgy-Paraná River, the telegraph station of José Bonifacio was opened,

by the gang from the South, while those from the North had, previous to

this, opened the stations of St. Antonio do Rio Madeira and Jamary. This

notable undertaking is under the efficient and extraordinary devotion

of the Colonel of Engineers of the Brazilian army, Candido Roudon, who

has a record for the construction of telegraph lines in Brazil and South

America.

Within a year, more or less, the telegraph line will follow along a

roadway 40 meters wide, and about 200 leagues in length, extending

from Cuyabá to St. Antonio on the Madeira River. This immense roadway

of communication cutting all this vast interior, rich in rubber and

gold, will have a telegraph station every 10 leagues. In Porto Velho,

the initial point of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway, there is already

working a wireless telegraph station of the Marconi system. There is

daily communication with Manáos. Also with Iquitos and with the Federal

department at Acre, Purús and Juruá.

Transportation from Manáos to St. Antonio on the Madeira River is made

in good condition and comfortable vessels. During the time of low water,

that is during the dry season of the great Amazon and its tributaries,

only vessels of 500 tons can ascend to those places from Manáos. In the

time of high waters, when the valley of the entire Amazon is overflowed,

the trans-Atlantic steamers of 7,000 to 9,000 tons, ascend in four days

from Manáos. This has been done in the transportation of materials for

the construction of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway. The vessels easily

approached and made fast to the two wharves made of wood, one of which

is in front of the offices at Porto Velho and the other at Candelaria.

The Government of the Republic, however, has determined to build of stone

and lime the wharves between Porto Velho and St. Antonio on the River

Madeira.

[Illustration: RUBBER ON THE BEACH READY FOR SHIPMENT.]

The small steamers which navigate during the dry season, have

accommodations for first and third class passengers, are lighted by

electricity, have an artificial ice plant and make the voyage from Manáos

to Porto Velho and St. Antonio in about five days, at the average speed

of ten miles an hour, calling at the small Amazonian ports and cities

situated on the banks of the Madeira River. In descending the river both

the large and small steamers make the voyage in from three to four days.

The rubber from St. Antonio on the Madeira River is of the same physical

and chemical constituents as all the rubber of the Amazon Valley. This is

worth remembering, when we think of this new municipality in the State of

Matto Grosso, being the frontier of the States of Amazonas and Pará.

In the Manáos market, where the rubber comes by way of the Madeira River,

and in that of Pará, which it reaches by way of River Tapajóz, it is

always quoted at the same price and under the same conditions as those

produced in the regions of the Amazon proper.

The production has been increasing annually since 1906 and is actually

about 2,000,000 of kilos annually. This will certainly increase to an

amount that cannot be foretold, with the completion of the Madeira-Mamoré

Railway, the wagon road and telegraph line and the constant improvements

in navigation.

During the first six months of the current year, the production of rubber

was greater than for the same length of time in any year since 1907, as

can be verified from the report annexed.

In those regions, between Cuyabá and the new municipality, there exist

rubber (seringa) forests capable of producing in one year, more than

40,000,000 of kilos of rubber.

To attain this ideal, it is only necessary that the captains of industry

should join in the development of extraction. This fountain shoots forth

from the earth spontaneously without the necessity of cultivation. To

encourage and stimulate those who wish to employ there, their endeavors

and capital, the law of the State of Matto Grosso offers special favors.

These are offered to those who wish to develop the vast forests of

rubber existing, as well as to those who wish to plant and cultivate the

=Syphonia elastica=.

Speaking of the Rubber Exposition soon to be held in New York, it

is proper to call attention to the well-known fact that already the

capitalists of North America have begun the development of that region.

The large capitalist, Percival Farquhar, of North America, has already

incorporated two rubber companies, the Muller and Guaporé, under the

social terms of July, for the purpose not only of developing the

extraction industry of the =hevea= braziliensis, but also for the

different branches of agriculture necessary for the making of sugar,

cotton cloth, etc.

Actually the extraction of rubber in the vast seringaes of the

municipality of St. Antonio of the River Madeira employ about 5,000

workmen. This number will constantly increase, as the said municipality

becomes the center of the currents of commerce, industry and agriculture,

from Matto Grosso and the Republic of Bolivia.

This is easy to imagine, when we see that the Madeira-Mamoré Railway

will place it in communication to the South with S. Luiz de Caceres, by

means of the River Guaporé, and by the railway, which, from S. Luiz de

Caceres will extend to the ancient city of Matto Grosso, thus joining the

basin of the Plata—by means of the Paraguay River, to the basin of the

River Amazon. And to the West the same Madeira-Mamoré Railway, reaching

to Ribeira-Alta, will bind the vast and rich regions of the Bolivian

Republic to the basin of the Amazon, by means of the Madeira River.

Presently the chief engineer and director of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway,

Mr. H. Dose, will leave for that region, to begin the construction of the

branch Guajará Mirim—Matto Grosso, to Ribeira Alta, Bolivia, which will

be finished within a year and a half, and be about 100 meters long.

In addition to this with the prompt construction within a year of the

wagon—telegraphic line—roadway from Cuyabá to St. Antonio on the Madeira

River, we can easily conclude, that the municipality of St. Antonio on

the Madeira River, will indeed become the converging point of these great

and strong currents of development of progress and of civilization.

In conclusion it should not be forgotten that this territory herein

described serves not only for the production of rubber, which there, as

in the whole valley of the Amazon, is native and grows according to the

laws of nature. It also should be mentioned that cacao and cotton are

native, while there can be planted and cultivated, sugar cane, coffee,

vanilla, corn, beans, rice, tobacco, potatoes, brazil nut, etc. The

Madeira-Mamoré Railway Company has the concession of a vast amount of

land along its line, which it proposes to plant in cacao, sugar cane,

etc., thus improving these lands.

From this description, in which we have endeavored to set forth only the

truth, giving the facts concerning the region in question, it can be

concluded that the new municipality of St. Antonio on the River Madeira,

which actually exports to the markets of the world, via Pará and Manáos,

about 2,000,000 kilos of rubber, will in a few years, with immigration

and from other causes, export from 10 to 15,000,000 kilos.

The author of this article asks indulgence for any shortcomings it may

contain, as it was written in the spare moments he could find, while

laboriously collecting the samples of rubber and putting them on board

the steamer at Manáos for New York.

[Illustration: PUTTING THE LAST LAYERS OF MILK ON THE BALL.]

The samples of rubber from the State of Matto Grosso, which are seen in

this International Rubber Exposition, have been exhibited by order of

the Government and at the expense of the Commercial Association of the

Amazonas.

STATE OF MATTO GROSSO

Inspection Department of the North

Table showing the production of rubber in the valleys of the Madeira and

upper Tapajóz, for the years 1907-1912, in comparison with the first six

months of 1912:

Origin 1907 1908 1909

Machado and Jamary 1,092,454 1,252,194 910,982

Jacy-Paraná, Upper Madeira and Moré 98,464 152,713 150,759

Upper Tapajóz 156,034 167,841 107,458

--------- --------- ---------

1,190,918 1,560,941 1,229,582

Origin 1910 1911 1912

Machado and Jamary 1,295,605 1,317,917 1,315,995

Jacy-Paraná, Upper Madeira and Moré 142,458 201,562 259,612

Upper Tapajóz 73,688 113,453

--------- --------- ---------

1,545,521 1,593,167 1,689,060

[Illustration: TAPPING THE RUBBER TREE.]

STATE OF MATTO-GROSSO

The capital, Cuyabá, and the principal port, Corumbá, belong to the

hydrographical system of the Paraguay River.

The boundaries of this State, formed by the Amazon River, embrace the

upper basin of the Madeira River, which as the result of an agreement

with the State of Amazonas appertains to Matto-Grosso, whereas it

previously belonged to the former State.

This territory constitutes the judicial and administrative province of

Santo Antonio do Madeira.

The executive and fiscal administration is entrusted to a Fiscal Delegate

in Manáos. The collection of duties is attended to by the State Customs

of Amazonas.

The rubber producing rivers, with total production of Matto-Grosso, are:

1908 1909 1910 1911

Kilos Kilos Kilos Kilos

Machado and Jamary 1,253,000 911,000 1,296,000 1,318,000

Jacy Paraná, Upper

Madeira & Mamoré 153,000 150,000 143,000 202,000

During the first half of the current year the production has shown

a considerable increase, this being largely due to the opening and

developing of the Madeira Mamoré Railway, which passes through the whole

region of these rivers.

[Illustration: BOATS GOING TO THE UPPER JACY PARANÁ RIVER TO GET RUBBER]

[Illustration: WALKING THROUGH THE FOREST ESTATE OF FIDEL BACA & CO.,

JACY PARANÁ RIVER.]

ESTADO DE MATTO-GROSSO NA

EXPOSIÇÃO INTERNACIONAL DE

BORRACHA DE 1912 EM NEW-YORK

POR

LEOPOLDO DE MATTOS

NEW-YORK, 1912

DR. JOAQUIM AUGUSTO DA COSTA MARQUES

PRESIDENTE DO ESTADO DE MATTO-GROSSO

1911-1915

O ESTADO DE MATTO-GROSSO NA EXPOSIÇÃO DE BORRACHA DE 1912 EM NEW-YORK

Dos vinte Estados que compõem a Republica dos Estados Unidos do Brasil,

Matto-Grosso está collocado em segundo plano, pela sua extensão

territorial situado ao Sul dos Estados do Amazonas e Pará, tendo a Leste

os Estados de Goyaz, S. Paulo e Paraná, ao Sul a Republica do Paraguay e

a Oeste a Republica da Bolivia.

Abrange no mappa uma porção que vae approximadamente desde o 14° grao ao

Sul do Equador até o Tropico do Capricornio. Sua área immensa é de cerca

de 50175 leguas quadradas, segundo Candido Mendes, ou melhor, tern uma

superficie de 1379651 kilometros quadrados.

Sua população é actualmente de cerca de 350,000 habitantes, não incluindo

consideravel numero de indios bravios, cuja cathechese se procede com

afinco, dia a dia, com o concurso simultaneo dos Governos Federal e

Estadoal.

Sem contar a Capital, as cidades principaes do Estado são Corumbá, S.

Luiz de Caceres, Miranda, Nioac, Poconé, Sant’ Anna de Paranahyba,

Diamantina, Rosario, Livramento e o novo Municipio recentemente

installado de Sto. Antonio do Rio Madeira.

Cuyabá, sua capital, está situada á margem esquerda do rio do mesmo nome,

a 288 metros acima do nivel do mar, e deve as suas origens aos Paulistas

que formaram as legendarias bandeiras e que percorreram o Brasil

Occidental no começo do seculo XVIII.

Em 1719 Paschoal Moreira Cabral subindo o Rio Coxipó Mirim, fundou á

margem esquerda d’esta corrente uma povoação que denominou Forquilha,

hoje a cidade de Cuyabá, onde naquelles tempos se descobriu uma rica mina

de ouro.

* * * * *

Em outros tempos, conforme Elysée Reclus, a vastissima região de

Matto-Grosso era apenas, salvo uma estreita zona mediana, não mais que

uma immensa solidão de limites indecisos e senão desconhecidos pelo

menos ainda entregues aos indios e ás feras, a qual se ligava ao resto

do Brasil por simples picadas de caçadores e pelos cursos dos rios que

ali nascem. Realmente em outros tempos eram tamanhas as difficuldades de

communicação do resto do paiz com Matto-Grosso, que ainda está na memoria

de muitos e no conhecimento dos que leem as paginas da Historia do

Brasil, a impossibilidade que tiveram as tropas reunidas nas provincias

do littoral para irem soccorrer directamente seus compatriotas de

Matto-Grosso, quando a nação brazileira teve de responder á declaração de

guerra do Paraguay.

[Illustration: A RUBBER GATHERER MAKING A RUBBER SACK BY COVERING CANVAS

WITH LIQUID RUBBER.]

Com os mil estorvos da travessia, o corpo de exercito composto de 3000

homens que partiu em Abril de 1865 do Rio de Janeiro e que só poude

organisarse em Uberaba, na bacia superior do Paraná, estava reduzido

apenas a 700 homens quando chegou a ponto inatacavel e seguro.

Vencida, porem, a guerra com o Paraguay, não ha nenhuma duvida que a

victoria do Brasil escancarou-lhe as portas de Matto-Grosso, pois que o

declive natural do solo e o curso das aguas com a liberdade da navegação

fluvial, garantida pelo triumpho, estabeleceu um serviço regular de

paquetes do Rio de Janeiro a Corumbá e Cuyabá, pela via do Rio da Prata,

passando por Montevideo, Buenos Ayres e Assumpção.

O caminho fluvial do Guaporé, Madeira e Amazonas foi muito utilisado no

seculo XVIII, depois da exploração feita por Manoel de Lima em 1742. A

navegação pelo Rio Guaporé até o Rio Madeira, até enfim Sto. Antonio,

que é o ponto inicial da navegação d’este ultimo rio, é longa e cheia de

fadiga.

Comtudo Matto-Grosso vae gradualmente se approximando do litoral do

Brasil por meio de estradas de ferro, taes como a Noroeste do Brasil

que ligal-o-á dentro em breve ao Rio de Janeiro e a estrada de ferro

já projectada que partindo de S. Luiz de Caceres irá até a antiga

cidade de Matto-Grosso, donde o rio Guaporé começa a ser navegavel até

Guajará-Mirim, ponto terminal da grande via Madeira-Mamoré Railway.

Dentro de pouco tempo, como se vê, as estradas mixtas serão una

realidade, comprehendendo rios navegaveis por vapores e os trechos de

communicação entre estes rios. O Paranápanema e o Ivahy, nos Estados

do Paraná e S. Paulo continuam para outro lado do rio Paraná subindo

o Ivinhema e o Brilhante, até as visinhas montanhas de Miranda, na

parte meridional de Matto-Grosso. As magnificas regiões de Matto-Grosso

promettem ser de futuro, e futuro já bem proximo, um grande centro de

povoamento, e conseguintemente um futuro foco de civilisação, pela

provavel fusão dos diversos elementos de immigração que para alli

certamente concorrorem com o correr dos tempos e a facilidade que forem

apresentando cada vez mais os meios de communicação. Algures se disse,

que a colonisação far-se-ha sem duvida pelo Sul, pelo lado do Paraguay e

da Argentina; mas nos dias que correm, com a presença da Madeira Mamoré

Railway, indubitavelmente a colonisação darse-á tambem pelo Norte,

facilitada a communicação pelo Rio Amazonas, de que é um dos affluentes

o Madeira, á margem direita do qual está Porto Velho, ponto inicial da

mesma Madeira Mamoré Railway. E estes effeitos já se começam a produzir

com a fundação de um novo Municipio e Comarca de Matto-Grosso, que é

o Municipio de Sto. Antonio do rio Madeira, cortado pela referida via

ferrea e a cuja região dedicaremos adiante um capitulo especial.

Já vae portanto se enchendo de população a extremidade da vertente

septentrional do territorio de Matto-Grosso, postoque a da vertente

meridional é realmente a que contem maior numero de habitantes.

* * * * *

Matto-Grosso é uma das regiões de menor relevo do continente da America

do Sul; alli não se encontram elevações de terreno que constituam

verdadeiras montanhas.

As terras elevadas do Brasil tem os seus pontos de culminancia nas

cadeias orientaes da Mantiqueira, dos Aymorés e de Espinhaço e vão-se

abaixando proporcionalmente d’este lado para o Oeste do Estado de Goyaz e

do outro lado são as elevadas massas da cadeia dos Andes que se inclinam

para Leste com os seus contrafortes. Diz Elysée Reclus, que separando os

dois systemas orographicos, vae serpeando em forma de valle uma planicie

intermediaria, que certamente foi outr’ora um estreito maritimo separando

as duas ilhas—Brasil Oriental e Andes.

Hoje correm aguas fluviaes na depressão por onde passaram outr’ora as

aguas marinhas e a planicie está cheia actualmente de suas alluviôes. O

verdadeiro centro da America do Sul está entre as duas cidades de Cuyabá

e Corumbá.

Pará os que desconhecem a região, as vertentes são as vezes confundidas

com as serras, e em cartas geographicas se desenha uma cadeia de

montanhas mais ou menos continua, entre as bacias do Tapajóz e do

Madeira, entre as nascentes do mesmo Tapajóz e do Paraguay em seguida,

e finalmente entre ainda o Tapajóz e o Araguaya. Comtudo este relevo

semicircular não existe senão fragmentado, pois que as elevações que

dominam as planicies do alto Paraguay e seus affluentes são na realidade

um alto =chapadao= de extractos horisontaes ou mui ligeiramente

inclinados e carcomidos pelos rios que descem para o grande Amazonas.

São antes =taboleiros= que montanhas, ou ao menos estas não se elevam

senão em alguns pontos do grande planalto, attingindo, aqui e alem, uns

mil metros de altura, emquanto a elevação media do proprio paredão é de

quinhentos metros.

Assim, o conjuncto orographico do Estado de Matto-Grosso chamado

indifferentemente cordilheira dos Parecys, não apresenta aspecto

montanhoso senão para o lado do Sul; n’esta face escarpada, a rocha

é talhada a pique ou recortada em agulhas, mas do outro lado para o

Tapajóz e Xingú, uma encosta longa se estende e vae morrer gradualmente

nas planicies do Estado do Amazonas.

D’Orbigny reconheceu na eminencia da parte septentrional do Estado de

Matto-Grosso a existencia de camadas pertencentes á edade carbonifera

e correspondendo ás rochas da mesma natureza, que do lado opposto da

região se apresenta nos contrafortes bolivianos de Santa Cruz de la

Sierra. Depois d’este, Hart e Derby verificaram que as partes meridionaes

do Araxá, que são as bordas elevadas do planalto, datam provavelmente

das epochas paleozoicas, e que alli estão representadas as camadas

carboniferas devonianas e siluricas. Leitos fossiliferos encontrados

pelo geologo Smith abaixo das collinas da Chapada, 50 kilometros á Leste

de Cuyabá, puzeram fora de duvida estes factos. Mais ao Norte, na zona

de rochedos que em travessões cortam o Madeira, o Tapajóz, o Xingú, o

Tocantins e seus affluentes, as paredes desnudadas pela erosão são todas

de formação crystallina: granitos, gneis, porphiros e quartzitos.

As elevações que se desenvolvem na direcção do Sul entre as nascentes

do Paraguay e as do Araguaya, em seguida entre o Paraguay e o Paraná,

não apresentam as mesmas caracteristicas dos planaltos do Norte. As

eminencias da parte Oriental do Estado de Matto-Grosso foram esbarancadas

dos dois lados a Leste e Oeste e devastadas por estas excavações

lateraes, tomam em certos pontos o aspecto de verdadeiras cadeias de

montanhas, e assim é que desenham-se do Norte ao Sul as serras de S.

Jeronymo, do Maracajú e Anhanbahy.

Rochas eruptivas, chamadas no paiz =bassaltos=, provavelmente

porphyricas, romperam as camadas de grez que compõem as montanhas e

parece que formaram pela sua desaggregação “terras roxas,” analogas ás

que dão aos fazendeiros de S. Paulo tão copiosas colheitas de café.

Na especie de circo limitado pelo semi-circulo das elevações levantam

se massiços isolados, rochas, cujos extractos, visiveis de longe, têm

uma regularidade perfeita. Os proprios morros têm pela maior parte

formas geometricas: dir-se-ia que se esboroaram vastos lanços, deixando

paredões lisos, eguaes aos flancos de uma pyramide. Os cumes horizontaes

como se as pontas tivessem sido decepadas por um instrumento cortante

correspondem a outros cumes, e vê se que outr’ora faziam parte de um

mesmo =chapadao=. Segundo Taunay, que percorreu o paiz, estes massiços de

grez, de camadas horizontaes e regularmente superpostas, são formados de

sedimentos lacustres coados pelo mar de agua doce que outr’ora cobriu a

região.

[Illustration: HUT OF RUBBER GATHERERS ON THE UPPER ACRE.]

As ruinas d’estes paredões e das escarpas contribuiram tambem para mudar

a phisionomia da paysagem. Os escombros, apanhados e arrastados pelos

rios, foram revestir de camadas novas o solo, e muitas saliencias de

pedras desappareceram debaixo dos restos esmigalhados das montanhas e

outras não mostram senão as pontas por cima doz terrenos de formação mais

recente. Massiços que se prendiam aos planaltos e ás cadeias do interior

estão agora separados d’ellas, porque suas bases se acham soterradas e

elles emergem abruptamente do solo. Estes picos distinctos aos quaes se

deu o nome de =itambés=, erigem seus cabeços por cima dum mar de arvores

comparaveis a gigantescos edificios erguidos pela mão do homem. A Leste

da parte meridional de Matto-Grosso, elles enfileiramse e agrupam-se em

archipelagos, depois cada vez mais altos e menos numerosos, á proporção

que se caminha para Oeste, ou completamente solitarios no circulo do

horizonte, apparecem até nas margens do rio Paraguay e ainda do outro

lado do mesmo.

O alto Guaporé, Itenez dos Bolivianos, posto que comprehendido na bacia

do immenso Amazonas, como affluente do Madeira pelo Mamoré, pertence

especialmente ao Estado de Matto-Grosso, pois que a cidade d’este nome

foi fundada nas suas margens e quasi toda a população de Estado se

accumulou na depressão, cuja metade occidental este rio percorre. Sua

principal nascente, muito ferruginosa, desponta n’uma grota junto á borda

do Araxá, e corre primeiro na direcção do Sul, parallellamente a outros

rios que descem para o Paraguay; mas ao deixar as ultimas collinas o

ribeirão curva-se para Oeste, depois para Noroeste e já engrossado por

numerosos affluentes atravessa a planicie, em que está a cidade que se

chamou na sua fundação Villa-Bella e hoje se denomina Matto-Grosso.

O Paraguay é um dos rios mais notaveis da Terra como via de navegação,

segundo affirma Elysée Reclus; poucos têm um declive mais suave e fraco

proporcionalmente a sua extensão. Affirma Castelnau que elle nasce na

altitude de 305 metros; nos lugares onde as aguas tranquillas deslizam

lentamente para o mar, a altitude dos campos é apenas de 200 metros, e

a partir de um ponto situado a quatro mil kilometros do mar, o declive

é apenas de cinco centimetros. D’este modo, vapores de pequeno calado

podem subir livremente até os confins do Brasil, muito ao Norte das duas

Republicas da Argentina e Paraguay e chegar á base do planalto pelo rio

principal e pelos seus affluentes, Jaurú, Sepotuba, Cuyabá, S. Lourenço

e Taquary. O Paraguay apresenta ainda um phenomeno notavel, que é o do

cruzamento de suas nascentes com as dos affluentes do Rio Amazonas.

O Jaurú approxima-se tanto do Guaporé, que seria facil passar por um

canal as aguas do rio Occidental para um affluente do Jaurú. Outro

tributario do Paraguay, o Aguapehy, só está separado do rio Alegre, que

desce para a antiga cidade de Villa-Bella, hoje Matto-Grosso, por um

isthmo de pouca largura, de fraco relevo, que segundo Leverger, mede

2400 braças ou 5280 metros. No anno de 1772, e depois, tentou-se cavar

um canal em pontos diversos do isthmo, masas obras não chegaram a termo

por falta de commercio na localidade. Certamente estradas de ferro, em

mais ou menos dias, supprirão a ausencia do canal que ligaria Montevideo

ao Pará, passando em grande parte do Estado de Matto-Grosso, e por uma

via continental navegavel de 8300 kilometros, segundo refere Bartholomeu

Bossi.

O rio Paraguay tern como affluentez principaes os rios S. Lourenço,

engrossado pelas aguas do Cuyabá, o Taquary, o Mondego e o Apá, limite

este ultimo entre o Brasil e a Republica do Paraguay.

Por occasião das enchentes, seu nivel e o dos seus affluentes eleva-se

de dez e onze metros e derrama-se á esquerda e á direita, formando um

mar ephemero que se estende ao longe, a perder de vista e se prolonga

em =banhados=. Os primeiros viajantes hespanhoes deram o nome de lago

Xarayes á baixada onde se esparramam as aguas quasi dormentes dos braços

principaes do rio. Este lago tern de extensão cerca de 600 kilometros de

Sul a Norte, entre as boccas do Jaurú e as collinas do Fecho-dos-Morros e

em certos pontos chega a 250 de largura.

Elle não é permanente, como se pensava outr’ora, mas em qualquer epocha

do anno ha trechos alagados que os indios denominam bahias e com razão,

pois que são bahias de um antigo mar, que hoje está meio secco, e a maior

parte de taes lagoas está em communicação constante com o rio Paraguay,

ora por furos lateraes, ora por longos canaes, taes como os denominados

lagos de Uberaba, Gaiaba, Mandioré, Caceres, etc. D’entre estes lagos,

uns não contem senão agua doce trazida pela innundação fluvial, emquanto

outros, que são antigas cavidades outr’ora occupadas por agua do mar,

conservam no fundo de seus leitos camadas salinas, que dão ao liquido

um sabor caracteristico. É singular que este contraste da natureza das

aguas doces ou salinas tambem se produza nos terrenos da vasta planicie,

e assim é que campos extensos, cobertos de ricas alluviôes, deram

nascimento a mattas cerradas, e o agricultor pode muito bem alli obter

colheitas maravilhosas. É certamente por este motivo que os campos de

Matto-Grosso tanto se prestam á industria pastoril.

[Illustration: FAMILIES OF THE AMERICAN EMPLOYEES, MADEIRA MAMORÉ

RAILWAY.]

A horizontalidade do terreno, formada pelo centro da depressão do

immenso valle, impede que o confluente se conserve em um leito regular,

e as aguas escapando por ambos os lados ramificam-se n’um labirintho

do rios e falsos rios. Os ramos lateraes seguem por entre as zonas dos

=banhados=, até á confluencia do rio Taquary e do rio Miranda, que

descem das montanhas de Leste, recebendo o primeiro d’estes, na região

superior, um affluente, o Coxim, considerado pelos viajantes como um

dos mais pittorescos rios do Brasil. É curioso ver em alguns lugares o

Coxim estreitara-se entre paredões a pique, de 50 metros de altura, e as

pequenas embarcações correrem sobre elle como no fundo de um vallão que

não tem mais de 10 ou 12 metros de largura.

* * * * *

O clima de Matto-Grosso é relativamente quente nas regiões baixas e

alagadas pelas enchentes dos rios, taes como Paraguay; nas regiões dos

planaltos o clima é salubre e frio. O movimento das columnas de ar é

determinada pela forma de corredor aberto entre a cordilheira dos Andes

e as terras altas do Brasil, bem no centro do continente Sul Americano,

e por elle são arrastadas; aos ventos tepidos proveniente da região

da Amazonia, succedem no inverno ventos que sopram do frio pampa. Nas

alturas do circo de chapadões e montanhas que rodeiam a planicie do

Estado de Matto-Grosso, o frio desce abaixo do ponto de congelação. As

copiosas chuvas trazidas pelo rebojo dos ventos que contornam o planalto

central do Brasil e vem esbarrar nos primeiros contrafortes dos Andes,

cahem com muita regularidade no verão e são frequentemente acompanhadas

de trovoadas.

Consoante alguns observadores, a queda da agua annual é de 3 metros, e em

Cuyabá contam-se mais ou menos 135 dias de chuva por anno medio.

* * * * *

O Estado de Matto-Grosso, pela sua situação geographica no continente Sul

Americano, collocado no ponto de separação das duas grandes bacias do

Brasil, reune ao mesmo tempo as floras e as faunas da região da Amazonia

e das regiões Platinas. Entretanto, a flora tropical predomina com sua

infinita variedade de formas vegetaes em todas as regiões das florestas,

isto é, á beira dos rios, e entre as especies famosas habitantes das

margens do Rio Mar, poucas ha que não estejam representadas na região do

alto Guaporé, ou das quaes se não encontrem congeneres.

Em nenhuma parte se desenvolve como alli as palmeiras Cipós, e em 1875

uma commissão de limites descobriu uma d’estas palmeiras =Urumbamba

(Calamus procumbeus) ou Desmoncus rudentum= de Martius, com mais de

200 metros de comprimento e apenas com a grossura de um centimetro!

O algodoeiro o tabacco, a ipeccacuanha, chamada alli =poaya= nascem

espontaneamente nas planicies e nas florestas; esta ultima sobretudo

colhem-na nas florestas do alto Jaurú e dos rios visinhos. O mate, a

mais notavel das plantas da zona meridional e que faz a riqueza de

algumas regiões como do Estado do Paraná, cresce alli espontaneamente

entre Miranda e o rio Apá, sem fallar propriamente da seringueira, que é

encontrada em immensas e cerradas florestas n’uma extensão comprehendida

desde Cuyabá até o Madeira, e a qual fará o assumpto especial d’este

ligeiro exposto.

[Illustration: EXCAVATING FOR THE MAMORÉ RAILWAY AT KILOMETER 263.2.]

[Illustration: HOSPITAL FOR EMPLOYEES OF MADEIRA MAMORÉ RAILWAY.]

As madeiras de construcção são abundantissimas e em grande variedade,

podendo-se citar o pao-brasil, o jacarandá, a peroba, a canella, o cedro,

o jequitibá, a massaranduba, o pao-d’arco, o pao-ferro, o pao-setim, o

vinhatico, etc.

Entre os animaes, encontram-se os veados, as antas e as onças, alem de

um grande numero de outros pequenos, proprios das regiões tropicaes. As

aves e os passaros, aves ribeirinhas e passaros cantores das florestas,

são pela sua variedade quasi innumeros. A avestruz vinda das regiões dos

pampas chegou as planicies marginaes do alto Paraguay; os peixes abundam

n’uma riquissima e magnifica variedade nos grandes e pequenos rios.

No reino mineral, o Estado de Matto-Grosso possúe minas numerosas de

ouro, prata, platina, cobre, estanho, chumbo, mercurio, carvão de pedra,

ferro, pedras, preciosas, diamantes, &c., existindo já quatro companhias

inglezas na exploração de minas de ouro. Ha tambem granitos, crystal de

rocha, malacacheta, pedra calcaria, sal-gemma, &c. Finalmente nas regiões

do Araxá, ha fontes de aguas mineraes sulphurosas.

O Estado de Matto-Grosso é a região do Brasil onde se encontram as

maiores fazendas de gado, não só em extensão territorial, como em numero

de cabeças de gado vaccum e cavallar, havendo algumas que contam cem mil

cabeças. Calcula-se o numero de cabeças de gado vaccum em Matto-Grosso em

dois bilhões e quinhentas mil.

Nos dias que correm, ainda é um pouco difficil o transporte de gado de

Matto-Grosso para o Rio de Janeiro, principalmente, e a exportação é

feita pelo caminho de Oeste até Uberaba, onde a invernada se faz em dois

ou trez mezes, até que os animaes se refaçam e possam ser conduzidos em

caminho de ferro até o littoral do Rio de Janeiro. Vê-se, entretanto

que, com a terminação da via ferrea Noroeste do Brasil, o problema do

transporte para o littoral será resolvido, assim como a Madeira Mamoré

Railway, contando Matto-Grosso presentemente com rios navegaveis e dentro

de bem pouco tempo com a via ferrea de que já fallamos, de S. Luiz de

Caceres á antiga cidade de Matto-Grosso, donde começa a ser navegavel o

rio Guaporé até Guajará-Mirim, ponto terminal da Madeira Mamoré Railway,

resolverá tambem o problema da exportação de gado para os Estados do

Amazonas, Pará, &c.

* * * * *

D’este leve exposto conclue-se que o territorio do Estado de Matto-Grosso

é grandemente rico de gado e ouro, de diamante e café, de tabaco e mate,

de borracha e ipecacuanha e de todos os productos dos tropicos e das

zonas temperadas:—elle só bastaria para constituir um dos mais vastos e

mais opulentos imperios do mundo!

[Illustration: RUBBER STATION ON THE UPPER MADEIRA RIVER ALONGSIDE

MADEIRA MAMORÉ RAILWAY.]

Dotado de um clima, se bem que quente ao Norte, porem temperado e mesmo

frio nas demais regiões, como a dos planaltos, apresentando um accumulo

de riquezas raro e ainda pouco explorado como está, forçosamente para lá

o homem das diversas partes da Terra, na sua constante actividade, na sua

crescente lucta pela vida, immigrará e concorrerá com a intelligencia

e com o esforço do trabalho, para fazer d’aquella parte do Brasil um

grande emporio de industrias, commercio, navegação, caminhos de ferro e

conseguintemente uma grande nascente de civilisação, donde, pela fusão

das diversas raças, o mesmo homem surgirá sempre grande, sempre vencedor

no immenso concerto e na elevada harmonia da Vida e da Terra!

* * * * *

A borracha que se vê n’esta Exposição é extrahida e vinda toda das vastas

regiões cortadas pelos rios Machados, ou Dgy-Paraná, Jamary, Jacy-Paraná,

Mutum-Paraná, Paca-Nova e Guaporé com seus affluentes, aquelles a seu

turno affluentes do grande rio Madeira, em cuja margem direita está

situado o novo Municipio e Comarca de Sto. Antonio do rio Madeira,

installado em 2 de Julho do anno corrente.

O novo Municipio tem os seguintes limites: partindo da cachoeira de Sto.

Antonio no rio Madeira, no parallelo de 8° 48′, o rio Madeira acima; o

rio Mamoré acima até a foz do Guaporé no parallelo de 12, este parallelo

até a sua intersecção com o rio Camararé; este rio abaixo até a sua

confluencia no Juruema; este rio abaixo até o ponto em que se reune ao

Arinos; o parallelo que n’este ponto passa até a sua intersecção com o

rio S. Manuel; este rio abaixo até sua confluencia no Tapajóz; e d’este

ponto até encontrar a cachoeira de Sto. Antonio no Rio Madeira a linha

que extrema os territorios dos Estados de Matto-Grosso e do Amazonas.

Todo o immenso territorio do novo Municipio é cortado ao Norte pela

Madeira Mamoré Railway, que conta 365 kilometros de via ferrea já

construidos, partindo de Porto Velho no Estado do Amazonas, distante 7

kilometros da sede propriamente do Municipio, até Guajará-Mirim.

A via ferrea Madeira Mamoré, alem das estações já construidas, em Porto

Velho, Candelaria, Sto. Antonio, Jacy-Paraná, Abunã, Villa Murtinho e

Guajará-Mirim, tem 46 pontos de parada que correspondem ao numero dos

seus acampamentos.

[Illustration: PORTO VELHO INITIAL POINT OF MADEIRA MAMORÉ RAILWAY.]

Entre as vias de communicação do novo Municipio de Sto. Antonio do rio

Madeira com os visinhos Estados do Amazonas e Pará e tambem com a capital

e outras cidades do Estado de Matto-Grosso, comecemos por dizer algo da

linha telegraphica ora ainda em construcção por conta do Governo Federal

e da respectiva estrada de rodagem. São duas as turmas de engenheiros e

operarios que constroem a linha telegraphica, uma partida do Norte—Sto.

Antonio—e outra do Sul—Diamantina. Partindo de Sto. Antonio, a linha

telegraphica segue o parallelo 8° 48′ até encontrar o rio Jamary, n’uma

extensão de cerca de sessenta kilometros; ahi chegando desvia se para o

rumo das cabeceiras do rio Dgy-Paraná, no lugar denominado Urupá, onde

se deve encontrar com a turma do Sul e onde a ligação será feita. A 3 de

Junho de 1912 na mais alta cabeceira do rio Dgy-Paraná, já foi inaugurada

a estação telegraphica de José Bonifacio, pela turma do Sul, emquanto

a do Norte tambem já inaugurou em data anterior as estações de Sto.

Antonio do rio Madeira e Jamary. Este emprehendimento notavel está sob a

intelligencia e extraordinaria dedicação do snr. Coronel de Engenheiros

do Exercito Brazileiro, Candido Rondon, que tem o record das construcções

de linhas telegraphicas no Brasil e quiçá na America do Sul.

Prompta dentro de um anno, mais ou menos, a linha telegraphica

marginará uma estrada de rodagem de 40 metros de largura, de cerca de

duzentas leguas de extensão a partir de Cuyabá até Sto. Antonio do rio

Madeira. Esta immensa via de communicação cortando todo um vasto sertão

sobretudo rico em borracha e ouro, terá de dez em dez leguas uma estação

telegraphica.

Em Porto Velho, ponto inicial da Madeira Mamoré Railway, ha já por sua

vez funccionando uma poderosa estação radiographica do systema Marconi e

que se communica diariamente com Manáos e já se tem communicado mesmo com

Iquitos e com os Departamentos Federaes do Acre, do Purús e do Juruá.

Quanto á navegação de Manáos até Sto. Antonio do rio Madeira, ella é

feita em boas condições e em navios confortaveis. Nas aguas baixas,

isto é, nos tempos da secca do grande rio Amazonas e seus affluentes,

sobem de Manáos até aquelles pontos os navios de tonelagem até 500,

nos tempos de aguas altas, em que o valle do Amazonas todo se alaga,

navios transantlaticos de 7 mil a nove mil toneladas sobem de Manáos

até alli, em quatro dias de viagem, como já tem succedido no transporte

de materiaes para construcção da Madeira Mamoré Railway, acostando

facilmente em 2 caes feitos de madeira de lei, o primeiro construido em

frente as officinas de Porto Velho e o segundo em Candelaria. Por sua vez

o Governo da Republica está resolvido a construir um caes de pedra e cal

entre Porto Velho e Sto. Antonio.

[Illustration: IRON BRIDGE ON PARANÁ RIVER.]

Os pequenos navios que navegam durante a secca dos rios, teem

accomodações para passageiros de 1.ª e 3.ª classe, são illuminados á

luz electrica, possuem fabricas de gelo e fazem bem a viagem de Manáos

a Porto Velho e Sto. Antonio em cerca de 5 dias, com uma media de

velocidade de 10 milhas por hora, fazendo escala por pequenos portos e

cidades amazonenses, situadas nas margens do rio Madeira. Na descida

tanto dos grandes transantlaticos como dos pequenos navios de 500

toneladas, a viagem se faz mais rapidamente, em 3 e 4 dias.

* * * * *

A borracha de Sto. Antonio do rio Madeira é da mesma natureza phisica

e chimica de toda borracha do valle do Amazonas, e esta asserção salta

á vista, quando nos lembramos que a parte do Estado de Matto-Grosso

occupada pelo novo Municipio é justamente aquella limitrophe dos Estados

do Amazonas e do Pará.

Na parça de Manáos, para onde vem o producto pela via do rio Madeira,

e na de Belém do Pará onde é enviada pela via do rio Tapajóz, ella é

sempre cotada pelos mesmos preços e nas mesmas condições das produzidas

propriamente nas regiões da Amazonia.

A sua producção, que vem num crescendo desde o anno de 1906, é

actualmente de cerca de 2 milhões de kilos annuaes, que augmentará

certamente numa proporção—impossivel desde já de ser prevista—com a

presença e o desenvolvimento da Madeira Mamoré Railway, da estrada de

rodagem da linha telegraphica e os progressos constantes da navegação.

No. 1ro. semestre do anno fluente a producção da borracha foi superior

a de não importa qual seja o anno desde 1907, conforme se verifica do

quadro estatistico annexo.

N’aquellas regiões, comprehendidas desde Cuyabá até a sede do novo

Municipio, existem seringaes capazes de produzir por si sós dentro do

periodo de um anno, mais de quarenta milhões de kilos de borracha.

Pará attingir a este ideal, bastaria que os capitaes concorressem para

exploração de uma industria extractiva, cuja fonte brota espontaneamente

da terra sem carencia de cultivo e para animar e estimular aquelles que

desejam ali empregar os seus esforços e capitaes, ahi está a lei do

Governo do Estado de Matto-Grosso, que offerece favores especiaes aos

que, alem propriamente da exploração dos vastos seringaes já existentes,

se quizerem dedicar ao plantio e cultivo da mesma =syphonia= elastica.

Tratando-se uma exposição de borracha em New-York, é justo chamarmos

a attenção dos que nos queiram ler para o facto bem importante da

concorrencia que já começa dos capitaes norte-americanos para a

exploração d’aquella região.

O grande capitalists Percival Farquhar, americano do Norte, já incorporou

duas companhias sob as razões sociaes de Julio Muller Rubber, e Guaporé

Rubber, com o fim não só de explorar a industria extractiva de =hevea

brasiliensis=, como tambem para os diversos ramos de agricultura

attinentes ao fabrico do assucar, dos tecidos de algodão &c. &c.

[Illustration: KILOMETER 212 MADEIRA MAMORÉ RAILWAY.]

Actualmente a extracção da borracha nos vastos seringaes do Municipio

de Sto. Antonio do rio Madeira occupa cerca de cinco mil trabalhadores,

mas este numero augmentará cada vez mais, positivamente, á proporção que

o referido Municipio se for tornando o ponto de convergencia para onde

affluirão as correntes commerciaes, industriaes e agricolas dos centros

de Matto-Grosso e da Republica da Bolivia.

Isto é facil de imaginar, quando vemos que a estrada de ferro Madeira

Mamoré por seá em communicação para o Sul com S. Luiz de Caceres por

meio do rio Guaporé e da estrada de ferro que de S. Luiz de Caceres irá

até á antiga cidade de Matto-Grosso, ligando assim a bacia do Prata de

intermedio o rio Paraguay—á bacia do rio Amazonas, e para Leste, a mesma

Madeira Mamoré Railway levará os seus trilhos até Ribeira-Alta, ligando

as vastas e riquissimas regiões da Republica Boliviana tambem á bacia do

Amazonas, de intermedio o rio Madeira. Presentemente, parte para aquella

região o Engenheiro chefe e Director da Madeira Mamoré Railway, Mr. H.

Dose, que vai dar começo a construcção do referido ramal de Guajará

Mirim—Matto-Grosso—á Ribeira Alta-Bolivia—, que ficará concluida dentro

do praso de um anno e meio e terá cerca de cem kilometros de extensão.

Accrescendo a isto ainda a construcção prompta, dentro de um anno, da

grande estrada de rodagem da linha telegraphica de Cuyabá até Sto.

Antonio do rio Madeira, poderemos facilmente imaginar o que n’um futuro,

que nada faz pensar será muito remoto, irá ser o novo Municipio de

Sto. Antonio do rio Madeira, como um verdadeiro e incontestavel ponto

de convergencia de tão fortes e ricas correntes de desenvolvimento de

progresso e de civilisação.

Antes de terminar, não devemos esquecer que o territorio em questão não

se presta somente á producção da gomma elastica, que aliás como em todo

o valle do Amazonas é agreste e nasce á lei da natureza. Convem dizer

que alli, alem do cacao e do algodão, que tambem são agrestes, podem ser

plantados e cultivados a canna de assucar, o café, a baunilha, o milho, o

feijão, o arroz, o tabaco, a batata, a castanha, &c.

A propria Madeira Mamoré Railway Co., concessionaria de uma vasta faixa

de terra á margem de sua linha ferrea, pensa em fazer o plantio do cacao,

da canna de assucar, &c., &c., aproveitando os referidos terrenos.

* * * * *

[Illustration: SECTION OF A ROAD IN USE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MADEIRA

MAMORÉ RAILWAY.]

De tudo o que fica exposto em linhas bem ligeiras e nas quaes procuramos

nos approximar sempre da verdade, dando noticias sobre a região em

questão, pode-se concluir facilmente que só o novo Municipio de Sto.

Antonio do rio Madeira, que exporta actualmente para o commercio mundial,

via Pará e Manáos, cerca de 2 milhões de kilos de borracha, passará a

exportar dentro de poucos annos, sobretudo com a immigração que todos os

factores nos levam esperar, de 10 a 15 milhões.

* * * * *

O auctor d’este exposto pede indulgencia para as lacunas que nelle forem

encontradas:—foi escripto nos raros momentos livres ao trabalho fatigante

de organisar a exposição das amostras de borracha até o respectivo

embarque em Manáos para New-York.

As amostras da borracha de Matto-Grosso que figuram no recinto da

Exposição, são expostas por ordem do Governo, pela benemerita Associação

Commercial do Amazonas.

ESTADO DE MATTO GROSSO

DELEGACIA FISCAL DO NORTE

QUADRO DEMONSTRATIVO DA PRODUCÇÃO DA BORRACHA DOS VALLES DO MADEIRA

E ALTO TAPAJÓZ NOS ANNOS de 1907 a 1912, EM COMPARAÇÃO COM A MESMA

PRODUCÇÃO NO PRIMEIRO SEMESTRE DE 1912.

Procedencia 1907 1908 1909

Machado e Jamary 1.092454 1.252194 910982

Jacy Paraná Alto Madeira e Moré 98464 152713 150759

Alto Tapajóz 156034 167841

-------- -------- --------

1.190918 1.560941 1.229582

Procedencia 1910 1911 1912

só o lo.

semestre

Machado e Jamary 1.295605 1.317917 1.315995

Jacy Paraná Alto Madeira e Moré 142458 201562 259612

Alto Tapajóz 107458 73688 113453

-------- -------- --------

1.545521 1.593167 1.689060

[Illustration: LAST CAMP IN CONSTRUCTION OF MADEIRA MAMORÉ RAILWAY.]

[Illustration: PORTO VELHO.]

STATE OF BAHIA

EXHIBITS OF THE STATE OF BAHIA AT THE INTERNATIONAL RUBBER EXHIBITION IN

NEW YORK, 1912

STATE OF BAHIA.

1 bale of 100 kilos of superior maniçoba rubber.

1 bale of 100 kilos of first quality maniçoba rubber.

1 bale of 100 kilos of second quality maniçoba rubber.

1 bale of 50 kilos of superior mangabeira rubber.

1 bale of 50 kilos of first quality of mangabeira rubber.

1 package of 20 kilos of caucho rubber.

Various statistical tables, photographs, diagrams and a panoramic view of

the City of Bahia.

Books and pamphlets concerning the natural resources of the state.

BY S. HESS & COMPANY.

Samples of the various kinds of native rubber of Bahia.

Two sacks of the seed of the maniçoba rubber tree cultivated in Bahia.

Specimens of the maniçoba tree.

BY F. STEVENSON & COMPANY, LTD.

1 bale of 100 kilos of superior maniçoba rubber from Jequié.

BY M. ULMANN & COMPANY.

1 bale of 50 kilos of superior maniçoba rubber.

1 bale of 50 kilos of first quality maniçoba rubber.

1 bale of superior mangabeira rubber.

1 package of caucho rubber from the State of Bahia.

BY VON DER LINDE & COMPANY.

Specimens of the various kinds of rubber, from the State of Bahia, in a

glass case.

BY MORAES & COMPANY.

1 bale of 100 kilos of superior maniçoba rubber.

By JOSÉ C. DA COSTA SANTOS.

1 bale of superior maniçoba rubber.

1 bale of first quality maniçoba rubber.

1 bale of second quality maniçoba rubber.

Specimens of the various kinds of rubber of Bahia.

STATE OF ALAGOAS.

Specimens of various kinds of rubber.

Specimens of the rubber grown in JARAGUA.

These specimens were sent by Mr. Americo Mello, representative of the

Commercial Museum of Rio de Janeiro, in the State of Alagoas.

STATE OF PERNAMBUCO.

Two large packages of the various kinds of rubber grown in the State.

These were sent by Dr. Antonio Valenca, representative of the Commercial

Museum of Rio de Janeiro, in the State of Pernambuco.

STATE OF MINAS GERAES

STATE OF MINAS GERAES—PROVISIONAL NOTE

EXHIBITS

1. Wild Manisoba (Manihot) Rubber in the raw and cleaned market condition.

2. Planted Manisoba Rubber, viz.: (a) Fine; (b) Seconds; (c) Scrap.

3. Photographs taken on the San Francisco River, the rubber region of the

“Highlands of Brazil.”

4. Photographs of Rubber Trees, viz.: (a) Manihot Glaziovii; (b) Manihot

Heptaphylla; (c) Manihot Piauhyensis.

5. Photographs of Bello Horisonte, capital of the State of Minas Geraes,

and of other localities of importance and general interest. Maps of the

State and Climatological Charts.

BRAZIL DAY

Saturday, September 28