I stated to Dom Galvão that there were many people of good standing in the southern portion of the United States, who were able to provide land and the means of subsistence for themselves, and yet would find great inconvenience in affecting the transportation across the ocean, unless some systematic means of assistance could be devised by the Brazilian government. There will be also persons, doubtless, desirous of coming to Brazil, whose means are very much reduced, and yet their former associations in life would render them desirable companions to those having more resources; and if those without means could receive the assistance extended to the colonists by the government, and yet be allowed to join their friends in a settlement of their own, it would materially facilitate their location in this country.
If the Brazilian government will render the same aid to our emigrants who are without means that has been extended to her own colonists, it would find at the end of six months that all further outlay or responsibility was unnecessary; and these people would co-operate with those having resources, to build up and make useful all the industrial enterprises of the settlement.
To furnish lands at the lowest practicable rate, and construct public highways, without any duty upon importations, are at present proposed by the government of Brazil, as encouragement to emigration.
Dom Galvão proposed to represent my views upon the subject of emigration to the Minister of Agriculture, and expressed his conviction that some practicable scheme would be devised to effect our object of being associated together, under regulations that would be satisfactory to all concerned.
Mr. Davis called with me also to see Mr. Milford, Acting Consul of the United States, by whom I was courteously treated, and informed that a large body of land had been intrusted to his charge, located near the Dom Pedro II. railroad. He stated that papers were in his possession giving full particulars of its nature and resources, and that they might be seen by calling at his office, No. 28 Rua Del Alfandega.
I was then presented to Mr. James, No. 15 Rua da Direita, and had a conversation with him as to the settlement of Dr. Blue and others, near the Bay of Paranagua. He informed me that Mr. Wells, of St. Louis, had gone on a visit to that locality, and was expected to return in a few days, when all available information might be had from him. I had requested Dom Galvão to make arrangements for me to visit that region, but no further steps will be taken until I hear the report of Mr. Wells.
There are some private interests involved, which have enlisted parties as advocates of the lands in the vicinity of the Bay of Paranagua; and I doubt whether it is desirable to look at a country where those expecting to speculate in lands have already made investments with a view to sell again.
Saturday, September 16, 1865.
Learning from Mr. James that Mr. Wells had returned to the city, I accepted his offer to give me an introduction to him. He gave me the particulars of the bay, and the river extending up from it, with an account of the recent settlements near that place, conveying rather a favorable idea of the surroundings of the Bay of Paranagua; yet I found that he was not so favorably impressed as to think of making his home there.
I concluded accordingly that it would not perhaps suit as a location for me and my friends; and that the advantages of other localities would be investigated without visiting this place at present.