163

SOUTH  AMERICA.
BRAZIL.

BAHIA.
<From  United  States  Consul  Furniss,  Bahia,  Brazil.)
Tn  this  district  there  is  one  warehouse  in  which  the  Federal  Government ­
  and  two  in  which  the  State  government  will  allow  merchandise ­
  in  transit  or  bond  to  be  stored,  and  from  which  it  may  be  taken
for  shipment  elsewhere  without  payment  of  duty.
The  Federal  law,  article  204  of  New  Code  of  Laws  for  Custom-Houses,
  provides  that  private  parties  may  gain  the  privilege  of  warehousing ­
  such  merchandise  as  is  subject  to  customs  duties  by  (1)
making  petition  by  owner  of  building  or  lessee  and  proof  of  possession ­
  ;  (2)  allowing  examination  of  edifice  as  to  capacity  and  security
by  commission  appointed  by  custom-house;  (3)  furnishing  general
plan  of  edifice  with  especial"  reference  to  its  entrances,  interior,  etc.  ;
(4)  furnishing  proof  of  character  of  owner  and  arrangement  of
bond;  (5)  furnishing  documents  to  prove  that  owner  is  free  from
judgments  and  in  full  exercise  of  his  person  and  property;  (6)  giving ­
  bond  certified  to  by  board  of  trade  declaring  the  products  which
he  wishes  to  warehouse.  In  accord  with  this  law  the  "  Trapiche  2°
Gomes  ”  is  designated  a  Federal  bonded  warehouse.  This  warehouse
was  built  about  ten  years  ago,  is  situated  in  the  center  of  the  commercial ­
  part  of  the  city,  and  faces  an  open  square  along  the  water  front,
from  which  it  is  distant  about  200  feet.  It  is  connected  by  a  small
surface  track  with  a  pier  which  extends  sufficiently  into  the  bay  to  permit ­
  lighters  and  small  craft  to  go  alongside  for  loading  and  discharging, ­
  and  has  electric  street-railroad  freight  service  and  carts  for  local
transportation.
The  building  is  three  stories  high.  Its  walls  are  solidly  constructed ­
  of  stone,  brick,  and  cement,  and  it  is  roofed  with  tile.  Outside ­
  it  is  stuccoed.  The  wooden  floors  are  supported  by  large
wooden  pillars  carrying  large  wooden  beams.  Its  frontage  is  23.90
meters  (78.4  feet)  with  a  wall  1.35  meters  (4.4  feet)  thick;  its
depth  is  47.90  meters  (157.1  feet),  with  a  wall  1.10  meters  (3.G  feet)
thick,  and  its  width  at  the  back  is  21.70  meters  (71.2  feet),  with  a
wall  1.10  meters  (3.6  feet)  thick.  The  bonded  portion  occupies
part  of  the  ground  and  second  floors,  being  separated  from  the  remaining ­
  portion  of  the  warehouse  by  heavy  iron  grill  work  extending ­
  from  floor  tn  ceiling.  This  section  measures  on  the  ground  floor
37.38  meters  (121.5  feet)  by  22.15  meters  (72.7  feet)  by  3.75  meters
(12.3  feet)  high,  and  the  bonded  part  on  the  second  floor  is  the  same
in  floor  space,  but  has  a  height  of  5.05  meters  (16.6  feet).
The  services  rendered  by  the  administration  consist  simply  in
storing  such  articles  as  the  custom-house  will  permit  to  be  put  in