ports sent abroad by the Government and thus emphasized by M. d'Orbigny, Lieut. Maury, and other eminent travelers and scientists.
It is not practicable to here enter upon the history of the various projects proposed for placing these commercial affluents of the Amazon in direct communication with the sea. It is sufficient for the purposes of this sketch to say that, although the melancholy failure attending these projects has given to their history a tinge of pathos, they have none the less confirmed the words of d'Orbigny who declares in his "Descripción de Bolivia," that
The direction which Bolivia should take for the exportation of its products to the markets of the world is indicated by its navigable rivers.
THE SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES OF BOLIVIA.
By the southeastern provinces, as here considered, is meant the territory lying between the Andes and the Paraguay River to the east, and stretching from the Itenez or Guaporé River, at the northeast boundary of the department of Santa Cruz, south to the Pilcomayo and the boundary between Bolivia and Paraguay.
According to Mr. John B. Minchen, a proficient English engineer, who has made extensive explorations in this and other parts of the country, this region, though generally flat and wooded, is slightly undulating, with vast areas of open grazing lands, while here and there, it is broken by isolated groups and ranges of hills. The most important tributary of the Amazon in this region is the Rio Grande, at the intersection of which with the post roads between Sucre and Cochabamba, President Arce has constructed, at his own expense, a costly suspension bridge. This bridge, which was finished and opened for traffic in 1891, is the most important engineering work in Bolivia, except the Antofagasta Railway bridge over the river Loa, which has a total length of 800 feet and a height of 336 feet 6 inches from water to rails.
There are many smaller rivers within this territory, such as the
