Monazite sands exist on the Brazilian coast, probably in larger quantities than in all the rest of the world. In 1910 Germany imported $1,000,000 worth. The thorium in the sands, used in the manufacture of gas mantles, is extracted in Brazilian factories before exportation. Two per cent of thorium is in the sand, sometimes nearly 6 per cent. It is found on the coast north of Rio and on some river banks in Rio, Espirito Santo, Bahia, and Minas.
Graphite exists in several States, especially Minas and Bahia in rather inaccessible locations, but one deposit in Rio is worked, for a pencil factory in the city of Rio; others in a small way for local use.
Other Minerals. Platinum is found in gold bearing quartz and in river alluvium in Pernambuco, Minas, and Parahyba; nickel in Minas, Santa Catharina, and Rio Grande do Sul; salt in Rio Grande do Norte, Rio, and Minas, worked in the last two; much is imported. Other minerals found in various localities are asbestos, antimony and tin, bismuth, barium, cinnabar, emery, kaolin; marble, white, rose, onyx, and green; mica, molybdenite, saltpetre, silver and lead, soapstone and talc, and wolfram. Among the stones garnets, opals, pearls, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, topaz, and tourmalines are found in more or less profusion as well as rock crystal, useful to opticians. Minas contains almost every variety of ore and gem, which with its good climate and fertile soil have made it the best populated State, though without a large city.
Petroleum has been discovered in a number of States, among them São Paulo, Minas, Alagôas, Pernambuco, Bahia, and Sergipe; some of excellent quality in Bahia; but whether in quantities for large exploitation is uncertain until further investigation and work are carried on. Some geologists believe that prospects are highly favorable. Oil of fine quality is recently reported at Piracicaba, São Paulo, but as the petroleum is generally in schist rock its extraction would be expensive. Recent advices state that Brazil has 35 oil fields in four States with an area of 10,000 square miles; in the entire country 75,000 square miles with an estimated producing capacity within ten years of 500 to 600 million barrels.
Investments
In view of the varied resources of Brazil, to enumerate the possibilities for investors would be difficult. There is hardly a line of industry which cannot there be carried on successfully. That of coffee growing is so well developed as to be somewhat overcrowded, but in almost any other line there is a field for the investor. Whether it be mining of gold or diamonds, of coal, iron, or manganese, be it agriculture, stock raising, the lumber industry, or manufacturing, the harnessing of the waterfalls to produce hydro-electric power, the construction of public works, the field for the capitalist, large or small, is of infinite variety and excellent promise. The present Government is planning a broad and active development of the electric power available from its great and numerous water-falls.
CHAPTER LI
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE
As to many it may seem presumptuous that one with no practical experience should venture to discuss foreign trade, I beg with an apology for my temerity to make a slight explanation.
On my six trips to South America (1903-1916) I saw and heard so much of the shortcomings of my countrymen there, and meanwhile perceived such ignorance at home that as early as 1907 I wrote an article on “Our Commercial Relations with South America,” published in the Van Norden Magazine, wherein I set forth many points which prominent men of affairs have repeatedly urged upon the attention of their fellows, even up to the eighth Annual Trade Convention at Cleveland, May, 1921.
My personal observation being supplemented by extensive reading, I venture to hope that my remarks under this heading may be charitably viewed by those who are wiser than I, and prove of some slight service to those whose acquaintance with South American affairs is more limited.