328 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
[November r, 1890. 
MR. SCOTT BLACKLAW ON BRAZIL.* 
PIiANTIVG AND RAILWAYS — MINERAL WATER SPRINGS AT 
POSSOS DB OALDAB — THE ARGENTINE REVOLUTION. 
■We oannot leave Campinas without reoordiro 
that it was here amongst the wealthy coffee plan- 
ters that the great agitation for railway extension 
was oommeneed, and continued. British engineers, 
working with British capital, showed how railways 
could be made and managed. The Sao Paulo 
Railway was opened in 1862 to Sao Paulo, and a few 
years later to Jundiahy, where they stopped. The 
wealthy coffee estate proprietors saw the advantage 
of cheap and expeditious transport for their produce 
to the seaport, and did not flinch from risking 
their own spare capital. The Paulista Railway 
Company was formed, and no guarantee of ii terest 
was asked for. The object of this local Company 
was to continue the line westward on the same 
gauge. Starting where the British Company left off 
at Jundiahy, they had their first section opened to 
Campinas at the beginning of 1873 (28 miles) and 
to Rio Claro in 1876—56 miles further. They made 
a branch towards the north from Cordeiros, a station 
south of Rio to Claro, and this they extended until 
they have now 160 miles opened. 
To give traffic for their line they removed several 
obstructions on the Rio Magyquassu — a river at the 
terminus of the branch — and put on it steamers of 
small draught to tow barges which ply (or some 
100 miles towards the west. The Company has paid 
an average of 9s. 
Campinas continued to be the centre of railway 
agitation, and it was here that the great Company 
Moggana was floated and a metre gauge adopted. The 
first seotion of forty miles on this narrow gauge — the 
first which was tried here — was opened in 1875. 
The writer of these notes was present on that 
occasion. It was considered so important an under- 
taking that the Emperor and Empress came from 
Rio to do the opening. 
I well remember how surprised I was to see the 
small American locomotives and the small saloon 
carriages, long and projecting over the wheels. Little 
did any one then think, that in a few years the same 
Company would carry their line far into the north- 
west of the Province and into Minas and have by the 
end of 1888 - including branches — a length of 500 
miles. The Stuana Railway I have already mentioned, 
as going in a south-westerly direction from Jundiahy. 
It was commenced and continued about the same 
time as the Moggana, on a metre gauge, and as 
already noted has with its branches a length of 
over 100 miles : the actual length is 113 miles — 
but it has not paid so well. The districts through 
which it passes are not so suitable for coffee, but 
cans and cotton grow well. Both cotton and sug.ir 
have fallen considerably in price, and were it not 
that there is a local demand for the fibre, to 
supply three or four local cotton factoriei!, the 
cultivation of cotton would be entin ly abaiuloned. 
Cane — whose juice is oftener turned into rum than 
into sugar, pays the cultivator fairly well, but 
depends for its success on the local demand for 
inferior sugar, and rum. A great deal cf Mascava 
sugar and molasses rum from the northern ports 
are imported into Santos for consumption in Iho 
Province of Sao Paulo. There are three large 
central sugar factories which although worked at 
a loss first few years are now paying fairly well. 
The Sorr cabana Railway branches oft from the 
town of Sao Paulo, goes south-west, through cane 
and cotton districts, and in the meunliine slops at 
Boiucatu, a rising coffee district. It has already 
opened 233 miles, and is extending some 150 miles 
* From notes in September 1889, snppleineated in 
July 1890. 
southwards towards the river Paranapanema, where 
in anticipation large blocks of land have been 
bought up. The river Paranapanema is the division 
between the province of Sao Pau'oand that of Parana. 
The countiy on the sides of this river has not 
been explored, and consequently there are a good 
many Indians who may give trouble to first settlers. 
Notwithstanding this, land-seekers are looking 
towards it, and Land Company sohemes are 
being oraanized to buy land from the G-overn- 
ment. This soil is said to be good on the 
liiph lands for coffee cultivation and (here are 
millions of acres in the plains suitable for 
pasture. 1 cannot say that the Sorocabana railway 
has paid well, there is a sort of mystification between 
original shares, preference shares, 1st debenture 
stock, 2nd debenture stock &c., &c., but they always 
always keep on extending, and with the opening up 
of the “Wild West” of Sao Paulo and Parana. I 
feel certain the shareholders and debentureholders 
will have a secure investment. I have already 
mentioned the Braganea Bailway striking north- 
ward from the Sao Paulo hailway 30 miles from 
S.ao Paulo. It goes northwards to ooffee districts 
and measures about 33 miles. 
The Paulista Company, which I have already 
mentioned, had extended to Rio Claro directly 
west and to the River Magyquassu to the North 
of Rio Claro, and although they had the prefer- 
ence to extend west preferred to from the latter 
place. They give their attention more to the 
opening of the river navigation I have mentioned 
than to extending the railway beyond Rio Claro 
westward. The cry of the planters had to be 
listened to, and the Rio Claro Railway Company was 
formed to carry a meter gauge line from Rio Claro 
westward, and with branches this Company now have 
a length of 165 miles. The line has paid well, 
and has only a few months ago (June or July 
1889) been bought up by a British Company at 
a handsome profit to the Brazilian shareholders. 
This line has a bright future before it, (or its 
zone extends also toward the rich terra rocha 
and pasture plains in the west of Sai Paulo, 
and to the Province of Mattagrossa. At present 
the oommunioation between the last-named pro- 
vince and the Capital of the Empire— or even 
the Capital of Sao Paulo — is by sea via the River 
Plate. The lands in Mattagrossa are said to be 
good for ooffee, oane, cotton and tobacco and 
cereals. In the forests are mate, rubber, copaiba, 
and cinchona, with a host of other industrial and 
medicinal products. An excellent quality of wheat 
can be grown, and the high elevation of the great 
plateau, extending from the Serra da M^r to tho 
foot of tho Andes, has a climate which European 
people can work in a.nd live in. 
The following is a Pet of (he railways which 
have been made since 1873 when tho present 
writer arrived in this province for (ha first time. 
At that time only 120 mllas wire opened, the 
bay Panic Railway fiom feanto.s to .Jundiahy 93 
miles, Pdulista from Jundiahy to Campinas 27 miles. 
Now (here are Bio de Jan iro and Sao Paulo 
Riilwey from Caclioeira (o Sao Paulo efartiiig from 
the end of Sao Pauio branch of D. Pedro 20. ..141 miles 
“ S irscabiiia ’’ Irotn Sao Paulo passing 
Soraciba ... ... ...2.33 
“ Brugaotina” branching < ff Sao Paulo 
Railway ... ... ... 3.3 ,, 
“S uai a” from Jundiahy passii g by 
S uana ... ... ...113 „ 
“Pau'ista” from Juiidiihy to Rio Claro 
and branches ... ... ...150 ,, 
“ Rio Claro ” from Rio Cla; o to Atara- 
guara and branches ... ...106 „ 
“Mogyana’’ from Campinas, passing 
Mogymerim and branches ... ...500 „ 
