01310naa a2200133 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006010000210007424500280009526000090012352009520013277300920108412816522006-06-09       1949    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a0365-06261 aBASTOS, A. de M.  aDormentes da amazônia.  c1949  aThe shortage of sleepers is a problem that has given concern to the administrations of the national rallways for several years. Although Brazil has only 35000 kilometres of rallway lines, at least five million sleepers are required yearly for routine replacements. The result is that most rallways are behind schedule in their maintenance work since the required woods is becoming harder to come by in the principal regions where the rallways get their supplies. One of the worlds richest reserves of wood suitable for sleepers is the Amazon region. So far, it has been explored to a small extent and with reference to few species only, but it contains numerous kinds of wood highly appropriate for the purpose. The Amazon sleepers are already konwn in some BraziliaStates and particulary abroad. Their exportation began around 1915 and reached its peak in 1927-1930, during which period a total of two and one half million sleepers were exported.  tAnuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal, Rio de Janeirogv. 2, n. 2, p. 178-181, 1949.