Hitherto the extract has been brought on to the market in a solid state
very much after the style of Burma cutch. The Santa Fe Land Company have
recently produced the material in a fine powdered state, absolutely
pure, and containing a great deal less moisture than any other form of
extract on the market, and they are about to erect a factory to work
this process in connection with their saw mills at Vera. This new
process requires very little water as compared with the old method, and
can be adopted, in huge areas hitherto unsuitable for the industry.
About mid-day we approached a plaza, or wood deposit, of the La
Gallareta Factory, situated on the Company's Lands. Rain had been
falling in torrents for days past, and the tracks (called by courtesy
"roads") had one and all become deep crevasses of soft mud, loads of
timber had been left here and there in the wood, just wherever the cart
conveying it had stuck, and in many places the water was so deep that
not a vestige of these obstacles could be seen. Our coaches had to be
driven under (or perhaps we should say "over") such circumstances as
these for about three miles, and this part of our journey was absolutely
dangerous; the greatest credit is due to the drivers and those in charge
of the party that no serious accident occurred, for, about mid-day, the
way was truly terrible, and one never knew when a tree trunk, small or
large, lying hidden under the water, would cause a terrific jolt to the
cart, despite the utmost efforts on the part of our cocheros.
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