COTTOX SHIPPERS 171 



Wharton Pedroza & Co., Natal. 



This firm sells through Messrs. Alexander von Glehn & Co., 

 Liverpool. 



The very important firm of Mendes, Lima Sz Co., Pernambuco, 

 has recently acquired a second-hand Fawcett Press and intends to 

 exjDort cotton. Their qualities have not yet been established. 



I mention these particulars because I feel sure that Brazilian 

 cottons are not sufficiently known by spinners and no doubt many of 

 them would like to make a trial, especially this season, owing to the 

 great shortage of staple cotton from America, which has suffered so 

 severely from the boll-Aveevil. There is a great difference in prices 

 between Brazilian and other staple cottons, Brazilian being much 

 lower. The reason for this difference is accounted for by the slight 

 variation of Brazilian cotton from bale to bale, but if the spinner 

 buys from a reliable firm and samples each bale, a Avork which should 

 not take long, he will find that he gets well compensated for the extra 

 trouble. As the boll-weevil has now entered North America's long 

 .staple district spinners will have to realise that for years to come the 

 supply from these parts must be short. 



Until now the Brazilian exporters bought their cottons in the 

 offices at the port, but recently two firms, Messrs. Pinto Alves & Co. 

 and Wharton Pedroza & Co. have interested themselves financially in 

 ginning factories in the interior of Parahyba and Pernambuco. 



One export firm made as much as 2,000 contos advances on the crop" 

 before it was picked, according to information given me in their 

 office. 



The construction of the excellent high roads, both in Parahyba 

 and Rio Grande do Norte (also part in Pernambuco), make it possible 

 for these exporters to enter the interior. Hardly any of the exporters 

 had been in the interior prior to our visit, and when tlie President of 

 the State of Parahyba gave them the opportunity of joining us they 

 gladly availed themselves of it. It is only in the last year or two 

 that the construction of these fine motor roads has been undertaken ; 

 in many places the very massive bridges are not yet finished, but the 

 roads are open for traffic in the dry season ; where the bridges 

 have not been finished temporary roads are constructed through the 

 low-lying parts. The surface of these roads is excellent, the cars can 

 travel at a good speed and it is to be hoped that funds will always he 

 available to keep them in good repair. The net of such roads is already 

 very extensive as can be seen from the following table of roads upon 



