PARAGUAY 
61 
munication with the outside world via Monte 
video or Buenos Aires is maintained by river 
steamers, requiring from five days to a week 
to make the trip to Asuncion, which is about 
iioo miles from the Argentine capital. 
From Asuncion it is possible to go into the 
interior or even to Brazil, on light-draft 
steamers, the Guyara Falls, 1300 miles above 
the capital, stopping navigation of the Parana 
River at this point. 
The Paraguay River is navigable for vessels 
of twelve-foot draft to Asuncion and for smal 
ler vessels 700 miles farther. 
Most of the commerce of Paraguay is car 
ried in lighters drawn by tugs, and these emis 
saries of trade are to be met on all the rivers 
and waterways of this country. 
There are several lakes, navigable for small 
craft, but of no importance from a commercial 
standpoint. 
While both the climate and the soil warrant 
one in stating that Paraguay is susceptible of 
high agricultural development, little has been 
done in this regard, outside of locally produc-