Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/233

 BRAZIL 227 of commerce, directly distilled from the cane juice ; and restilo, the result of a second pro- cess of distillation (hence the name) of the lat- ter, to which is previously added another In- gredient. About 0,500,000 gallons of rum are annually exported. The agoardente is exten- sively used in the manufacture of gin and of fine liqueurs, a large variety of which latter, flavored with the aromatic extracts of various indigenous fruits, was exhibited in Paris in 18G7. A sort of brandy is also made from mandioca, the fruits of the cajueiro, genipa- peiro, &c. Beer breweries, of comparatively recent establishment, are in successful opera- tion in Rio de Janeiro, Petropolis, Rio Grande do Sul, and Pernambuco ; but the full develop- ment of this industry is seriously impeded by the necessity of importing from Europe the barley and hops, which might be raised in abundance in the southern provinces. Tobacco is manufac- tured on a large scale in some places, chiefly in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, where are made several kinds of snuff much esteemed in foreign markets. Large quantities of cigars of a com- mon class (charutos) are manufactured in Ba- hia and other places. In some towns and districts near Bahia the whole population is thus occupied, and the saw mills turn out from 7,000 to 8,000 cigar boxes a day. In the financial year 1859-'60 46,000,000 charutos, valued at $304,667 55, were exported from Bahia ; and the yearly export has since been steadily on the increase. A number of cotton- weaving factories have been established, and compete favorably with foreign manufacturers in the production of the coarser fabrics. The first cotton factory in Brazil was built by an American near Rio de Janeiro, and the workers are chiefly taken from the German colony at Pe- tropolis. There is besides an extensive fdbrica, in the province of Bahia, also built by Ameri- cans, and employing 300 operatives of both sex- es, mostly from the orphan and foundling asy- lums of the city. From 30,000 to 40,000 pieces (of 16 yards each) are here produced annually, and a considerable quantity of sewing cotton, nets, &c. The largest factory is in Minas Geraes, with 15,000 spindles and 400 looms ; it affords constant employment to 800 hands, and is said to turn out annually 3,500,000 yards of cloth and 274,000 Ibs. of yarn, of a total value of $1,100,000. In the provinces already men- tioned, and in Alagoas and elsewhere, there are other cotton factories, but of minor importance. To promote the development of this industry, the government has decreed the free entry of all machinery for that purpose, and the exemp- tion of the operatives from military service, but appoints an inspector to superintend each es- tablishment. Very good silks are made at Rio de Janeiro and elsewhere. There are saw mills in various parts of the country. Common and wall papers are manufactured ; also soap, chemicals, braids, ribbons, bronzes, &c. Some important works have been executed in Bra- zilian founderies, such as steamships and iron bridges ; and the coast steamer companies have well appointed machine shops for the repair and even building of engines. The province of Sao Paulo has some large iron works. In the large cities there are gold and silver smiths and jewellers ; but these and the artisans of the various other mechanical branches are mainly foreigners. In Brazil the exaggerated appre- ciation of political employment everywhere prevailing amounts to a national misfortune. Every man of liberal education seeks a political career, as being at once the easiest and most aristocratic mode of gaining a livelihood. The possession of a sugar plantation is regarded among the cultivators as a sort of nobility. The chief article of export from Brazil is cof- fee, supplying, as before stated, more than half the consumption of the world. Among the other products sent in large quantities to for- eign countries are cotton, sugar, cacao, hides, horns, tobacco, india rubber, diamonds, &c. The principal imports are cotton and woollen fabrics from Great Britain ; wrought and un- wrought iron from various countries; wines from Portugal, Spam, and France ; agricultu- ral implements, hardware, lard, flour, timber (pine), petroleum, biscuits, coal, ice, hams, soap, boots and shoes, &c., from the United States. The value of the total exports and imports for the three years 1866-'9 is shown in the following table : YEARS. Export*. Import!. 1866-'67 $78000000 $71750000 1867 '68 92650000 70800000 1868-'69 101 850 000 88850000 Total $272 000 000 $225,400,000 The entire quantities of coffee, sugar, cotton, hides, and horns exported from 1857 to 1870 inclusive, are as follows : YEARS Coffee (ck.). Sugar (box,.). Cotton (tale.). Hldei. Horns. 1857. 2,099,780 7,817 81,485 818,081 1858. 1. 880.488 10,620 61,147 288,981 1859. 2,080,266 7,785 81,297 833,6(51 1860. 2,127,219 8,235 57,203 814,716 1861. 2,069,627 12.835 79,512 170,586 1862. 1,485.220 12,818 70,815 115,498 1868. 1,850.109 9.722 68,944 288,237 1864. 1,480,184 7,136 85,129 180,178 1865. 1.801,952 4,622 90,716 119,980 1866. 1,984,896 6,042 89 198 75,608 191,288 1867. 2.647,658 (5,287 70 .;7 70,141 116,860 1868. 2.265,1 SS 5,185 118 I'-'S 68,709 25S,544 ISC!). 2,564,975 8,801 45,055 s.V;i;.-> 147,446 1870. 2,209,456 6,840 17,910 61,607 165,909 EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES, FROM 1867 TO 1871 INCLUSIVE. ARTICLES. 1867-'6S. I868-'9. 1869-'70. 1870->71. Cotton, Ibs Su^ar, Ibs India rubber, Ib Coffee, Ibs Cacao, Ibs Horsehair, Ibs. Wool, Ibs 10,447,741 5,550,860 199,826.171 65.571 586,151 1,441,868 86,850 88,639,921 4,449.980 205.473.6M 11,177 978.846 2,055.259 2OT 24.145.331 5.284.294 188,413,456 741.054 8,287,097 25.300 '.'l..Vw(..MIH 5,792,195 257,472,708 1,295 923,868 2,688,318