Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1920 — TRADE GAINS IN AMAZON REGION [ARTICLE]

TRADE GAINS IN AMAZON REGION

Recovering From Disturbance of Commerce Caused by War. MORE FOODSTUFFS RAISED Explorers Discover Facte That Will Greatly Interest American Business Men—Conditions in Rubber Business Bringing About Developmsnt of Other Natural Resources See Bright Future for Amazon Cotton. Business conditions in the Amason valley are beginning to recover from the disturbance of commerce caused by the war. ' - Rubber estate owners and business men»generally realize that the competition of oriental “plantation” rubber, which has forced the market price of that article down to about the actual cost of gathering “wild” Amazon rubber, Is really a blessing in disguise, since It is bringing about the development of the other natural resources left untouched so long as rubber monopolized all attention In the 'valley. Foodstuffs that used to be imported from abroad, or from other parts of Brazil, are now being raised locally. Long Trip by Americans, A party -headed by Henry S. Fleming of New York, whlota has been investigating the commercial possibilities of the Amazon valley, has returned to Para, Brazil, after a two months’ tour of the Amazon and some of its principal affluents, nearly 8,600 miles of the rivers being cowed in the course of the trip. Mr. Fleming Is receiver of an American company with extensive docking, shipyard and navigation property at Para. The main river was ascended for over miles, as far as Iqultos, Peru, and also the Javary, Purus, Negro, Xingu, Moju, Tocantins and other rivers for varying distances. A vast amount of valuable Information and data has -been gathered as a result, which la being placed, free of charge, at the disposal of American manufacturers, Importers, exporters and others Interested in the development of the Amazon valley. Many inquiries have recently been made by Americans seeking information regarding lands available for cattle raising, grain growing and minerals, which indicates an awakening Interest In the United States in regard to the Amazon country. According to Mr. Fleming, the most encouraging sign noted on the trip was the Increase in the production of foodstuffs of all kinds. Mandloca, corn, sugar cane, rice, beans, bananas, melons, fruits of many species and occasionally tobacco and cotton have been planted In small patches along the river banks near the towns and settlements. Before the war practically all foodstuffs had to be Imported, as the wages paid rubber gatherers were so high as to mak*" lahor unavailable tor agricultural work. Most of this planting Is done on the low-lying banks ot rivers, and at least two crops of corn, beans, mandloca, etc., are gathered between floods. One of the staple products most affected by the rubber boom was cacao. When labor was attracted by the lure of high wages most of the large cacao plantations had to be abandoned; today they are being cleaned and restored and new trees are being platted. Future for Cotton. Local cotton-men are optimistic as to the future of Amazon cotton, which is said to be of excellent quality and long staple. There are immense ariMs thrnngbont the Amazon Valley suitaMe for cotton growing and in many places, notably Iqultos (Peru), Santarem, Monte Alegre, this is now being produced in increasing quantities. Last W as the first that any concerted effort was made to grow cotton, but the idea seems to have taken on with many land owners. < The Amazon valley is said to be the greatest undeveloped region In the world today. On every side there are natural resources of ImmeeVe value with commercial possibilities which are as yet untouched. The soil is said to be extraordinary fertile. The forests offer woods in Inexhaustible variety, many-of them cabinet woods rt rare -Value. Of vegetable oil nuts a tenth part only Is known to the outside world. Raisins, gums, spices, medicinal plants and fibers abound- tn infinite variety. Kapok grows along the hanks of most of the main rivura but not a pound of it Is the United States, although America imported 7.600,000 pounds last ydii from faraway Java. There are mineralized to contain coal, iron, gold, silver and precious metala of many «nds. They have net ytt