Art. 6—For the purpose of facilitating transportation and 
reducing its cost in the valley of the Amazon, the Government 
will cause to be made, as soon as possible, the following im- 
provements: 
1. The construction by the Government of narrow gauge 
railroads along the Rivers Xingu, Tapajés and others in Para, 
Matto Grosso, and of the Rio Negro and Rio Branco and others 
in Amazonas, through the valleys through which they flow, in 
accordance with the authorization of Congress, Law No. 1,126, 
December 18, 1908, at the price fixed per kilometer, according 
to the difficulties of the region, at the discretion of the Govern- 
ment. 
In case the State of Para and Amazonas should contract for 
the construction of some of these railroads, the Federal Govern- 
ment for the more rapid completion of the work will concede 
an increase of 15 contos per kilometer. 
2. The construction of a railroad, which, parting at a conveni- 
ent point of the Madeira-Marmoré Railroad, near the mouth of 
the River Abuna, passes by the village Rio Branco, and at a 
point between Senna Madureira and Caty, and terminates in the 
village Thaumaturgo, with a branch to the frontier of Peru, by 
the valley of the Purts River. 
The construction of this road shall be in accordance with 
the provisions of Law No. 1,126, of December 13, 1903. As 
soon as the first section of the trunk line is inaugurated to the 
village of Rio Branco, the Government will install a custom house 
at Porto Velho on the Madeira River and announce this port 
open to commerce with friendly nations. 
3. Construction of a railroad starting at the port of Belem of 
Para and joining the net work of railroads of Central Brazil at 
Pirapora, in the State of Minas Geraes, and of Northern Brazil 
at Coroata, in the State of Maranhao, with the necessary branch 
lines to join the initial points or terminals of navigation on the 
Rivers Araguaya, Tocantins, Parnahyba and S. Francisco. The 
railroad shall be built according to the provisions of Law No. 
1,126, December 13, 1903, and shall be leased by public competi- 
tion. 
4. The execution of the works necessary for the effective 
navigation, at any season of the year, of steamers drawing three 
feet of water; on the Rio Negro, between Santa Isabel and 
Cucuhy ; on the Rio Branco, from its mouth to Fort S. Joaquim; 
on the River Purus, from Hyutanahan to Senna Madureira; on 
the River Acre from its mouth to Riosinho das Pedras. 
The Government may contract for the execution of these 
works by public competition, or independent of competition, with 
one or more individuals or firms offering sufficient guaranty, 
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