The Government may contract for the execution of these works by public competition, or independent of competition, with one or more individuals or firms offering sufficient guaranty, applying the provisions established by the decree, No. 6,368, February 14, 1907, or others, which will not impose greater burdens, and which may be more economic. Art. 7.—For the same purpose as mentioned in the previous article, all vessels of any kind destined for river navigation, are declared exempt from all custom house duties, including fees, revision, rates. Art. 8.—The Government will grant the same exemption in addition to the indirect favors found convenient, to the contractor who will bind himself at a public competition, to establish coal depots at points in the valley of the Amazon previously indicated, and to supply steamers and launches with fuel at prices approved by the Government. Art. 9.—The Government will promote and aid the production of food stuffs in the valley of the Amazon through the following measures, or others which may be found convenient and promise satisfactory results. 1. The leasing of two of the National Reservations on the Rio Branco, at a public auction or private competition to a reliable concern, which binds itself to develop on a large scale, the breeding of cattle of improved types, the production of cereals, and other foodstuffs, to establish packing houses, dairies, rice-shelling mills, flour and mandiok mills, etc. 2. Direct colonization, through the Federal Government, on lands still belonging to the Union, on the S. Marcos Reservation, situated between the Rivers Mahú, Takutú, Surumú and Cotingo, with native families of farmers and stock-farmers, with a view of developing and increasing the production of foodstuffs, as well as horses and mules. 3. Concession to concerns which propose to establish large plantations or colonies under the above mentioned conditions, one in the Territory of Acre (between the Rio Branco and Xapury), one in the State of Amazonas (in the region of the Autaz River), and one in the State of Pará (on the island of Marajó or other point more convenient on the lower Amazon), granting them the following favors: (a) Exemption from all import duties, including fees, for all material imported, necessary for establishing the plantation, including buildings, corrals, pastures, fences, watering places, agricultural implements and machines for the cultivation, harvesting and treatment of cereals, the installation of factories treating dairy produce and packing houses, as well as cattle and seed which may be imported during the first five years after the plantation is started. (b) Premiums of 30,000 milreis for lots of 1,000 hectares of cultivated pasture, planted and conveniently fenced, and of 100,000 milreis for lots of 1,000 hectares of improved land for farming and actually planted with rice, beans, corn or mandioca.