58 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1913. 



Amazons were useless and an incumbrance, and only served as 

 a hive for the reproduction of nomadic tribes, until the valuable 

 trees were utilized and the useless ones displaced by trees of 

 recognized economic value. 



It was therefore necessary that we should imitate the United 

 States of .\mfrica and create as great a number of agricultural 

 training institutions as our means could afford. 



Another thing which also militated against the development of 

 agriculture was the defective fiscal system prevailing in the 

 country, where protection was carried to an absurd degree. But 

 still worse than this were the official trammels uitli which our 

 customs administration was burdened. 



Capital was also a powerful factor in the future development 

 of agriculture and other industries, and it behooved Brazilians 

 of every social sphere to take to heart the necessity and obliga- 

 tion on their part t'l respect and defend all such as may bring 



especially, as Brazil grew the best bananas, oranges and pine- 

 apples in the world, and could develop a trade of many millions 

 sterling in a short period, if it would only adopt such measures 

 as will attract capital and labor to carry out this desideratum. 



Brazil had only to set its public administration on a sensible 

 economical and commercial basis, and with all its immense terri- 

 torial wealth and hidden treasures it would soon become one 

 of the leading nations of the world. 



A prolonged cheer covered the last words of the speaker, and 

 the business of the Congress proceeded. 



During the Cemgress the following events took place : A visit 

 was paid to the Wuseu Goeldi, where experiments in the coagula- 

 tion of rubber latex on a revolving drum, after the method 

 evolved by Wickham, were being carried on, and were highly 

 appreciated by all present. Mr. J. A. Mendes was the promoter 

 of these experiments and deserves praise for trying to better 



Address bv His Excellency Dr. Ene.as M.\rtins on "Hevea" Pl.\nt.mions. 



capital into the country as jealously, as courteously and as gal- 

 lantly as they would act toward a guest in their own homes. It 

 is impossible to find a more hospitable nation on earth, and one 

 where hospitality is more naturally and heartily dispensed. A 

 people who possessed this inborn virtue should have no difficulty 

 in making respect for the law and for foreign capital and cap- 

 italists a matter of national pride. 



Mr. da Costa then went on to say that the lack of communica- 

 tions between the north and the south of Brazil, and the higher 

 industrial development of the south in comparison with the 

 north were such that it was impossible to pursue the same pro- 

 tective fiscal policy all over the country without inflicting seri- 

 ous injury on the northern interests and attempts at agricultural 

 and industrial development. He thought that a system could be 

 devised to bring about the needed relief to the north without 

 violating the constitution. 



The rest of Mr. da Costa's speech teemed with jiractical dem- 

 onstrations of the immense economic value of fruit culture 



the appearance of the wild ruli1)er product now exported from 

 the Amazons. The experiment, however, proved that the un- 

 fortunate seringueiro is not relieved of the annoyance caused by 

 smoke, and unless he is extremely cautious, he is liable to 

 obtain entrefine rubber. But the process is good and it is an 

 open secret that the attempts which have been made during the 

 last three years to perfect this system of coagulation have not 

 been fruitless. 



An elaborate feast accompanied the planting of several rubber 

 trees in honor of all the national authorities, and a visit was 

 paid to the Dafundo Rubber plantation in tlie neighborhood of 

 the city of Para. 



The delegates also paid a visit to the agricultural colony of 

 Sao Joa do Prata. under the direction of monks who had been 

 instructing the wild Indians and educating their children. An- 

 other visit was paid to the Eremita rubber plantation and rice 

 factory, a wxll equipped establishment of great prospective value. 

 Later a visit was paid to the Experimental Station of the Staf" 



