and the approximation to the centres of production with the 
consuming markets. The opening up of the ways of fluvial com- 
munication is an essential condition to the progress of the 
Amazonic region, by the lesser expenditure required by trans- 
port upon water in comparison with land transportation which in 
those regions would be particularly difficult and costly. 
The steamers and boats which set out from Manaos or Belém 
for the Interior, make the passage generally, over-charged with 
merchandise which by reason of accumulation and its defective 
packing suffers not rarely serious damages which has the result 
of bringing about a notable increment in prices. As a general 
rule the cargo being greater than the space requisite to its 
accommodation, makes the navigation extremely difficult, the 
steamers thus not being able to make head-way against the cur- 
rent, which flows at the rate of from 3 to 5 miles an hour, or 
desiring to diminish the expense in the consumption of coal, 
seek out the waters the less agitated and approach as much as 
possible the banks of the river. 
The want of minute hydrographic charts and the imprudence 
of the captains, as also of the masters of steam launches and 
other floating material, have, as a consequence, the bringing 
about of frequent strandings, which even though they may not 
cause damage to the cargo involve interruptions in the trip 
sufficiently prejudicial. 
The unloadings are made frequently on the banks of the 
rivers under little favorable conditions, by reason of the want of 
wharves; are very slow and occasion besides lamentable delays, 
very heavy expenses principally for the packages of great weight. 
One of the causes which most determine the dearness of 
transport in Amazonia, is the supply of combustibles to the 
steamers, these latter taking in coal only at the port of departure 
in Belém or Manaos, and this being consumed, purchase wood 
fuel along the route just as they require it, and for a high price, 
subjecting themselves thus to the delays incident to loading, at 
times very great. Coal mines in the basin of the Caqueta have 
been discovered, but so far it has not been possible to derive any 
benefit from them, owing to the want of the necessary studies 
and analysis, which only now the Federal Government is begin- 
ning to have made. , 
For the betterment of this state of things the Federal Govern- 
ment also pretends to.contract with a large public company for 
the establishment of coal depots and combustible oil, at the most 
appropriate points of the rivers on which the greatest movement 
takes place in the-valley of the Amazon, so that the steamers 
may be supplied for prices according to’ a tabular’ statement 
previously approved for each year.” oo 
30 
