The St. Johns herald., 1896-02-22
BRAzIL'S NEW CAPITAL.
The ProResad Site Selected by
 the oozarument Commission.
HepziaF Dsnksa Ger che Removal of om- zsna Headquarters from Rio de Ja- nelro--A Project That Looks
 Very Unpfoshising.

Very Unproshising.
 AfterlcisurelYsearching for more than two years, the scicntific commission ap- pointed to find site for the new Bra gillian capitgi has reported. And as no- body except themselves knows any thing about the chosen locality, their data. if not their conclusions, will, no doubt, be received with all the respect due to so well discussed 8 question. Naturally, the first point to be consid- cred is whether Brazil needs . new capital In Rio dc Janeiro it has splendid city, of historic fame. with all the buildings and other offices required for Q seat of government, so that to people less endowed with Q mania for brand-new constitutions than the quondarl subjects of Dom Pedro it may seem as needless for the Brazil ian federal rulers to leave - Rio as it would be for the monarchial ones to leave London for the Wolds, ecf Torks.sire. But Brazil "enjoys" home rule to such an extent that every state or province is in itself little re- public. which-as the world is by this time aware-is at intervals struggling to break loose from the rest of the con- federation. Each of the provincial capi- tsls is naturally jealous of Rio, and ot the splendid opportunities which the local politicians of that city have for place, and pclf. and pronunciamentos.
 Hence the outcry, says the London Standard. for more centrally situated capital. the inhabitants of which shall be less subject to corrupt influences than those of great city like the pres ent metropolis. The result was the appointment of commission of geolo- gists. engineers, moteorologists, doctors, astronomers and political economists, to report on some desirable locality for this ideal capital, with goodly guard of soldiers to protect them, in case the wild Indians of the interior might en- certain prejudice against the disturb. ance of their primeval forests. Twenty thousand pounds was voted for the ex- penses of the party. the consequence of whose impedimenta required the scrv- ices of one hundred and eighty horses, mules and asses. Brazil is, however, so large land that, had the explorers received Q rowing commission, they might have died of old age, of ''yellow jack" or by Indians, long before they had examined tithc of the possible sites suited for the purpose indicated. Their attention was, therefore, devoted to the Brazilian highlands northwest of Rio-a rolling country covered with stunted trees and grass, inhabited by a poor-spirited race, reputed to be too lazy to either rob or murder, and too few to be of any account, if forced to fight for their birthright. It is in this region that the commissioners have found the sought-for site, on plateau four thousand feet above the sea level, well-watered, free from yellow fever, and naturally-this point is made much of, as it is eighteen hours by railway from Rio-not liable to be bombarded the next time the fleet revolts or the republic feels it necessary to hatter the electors by insulting a European power.
 And there the scheme is likely to end. The report will be printed, and possibly debated. But it is quite cer' tain that the new capital is to-day as far of as it was before the commission CTS set out on their travels. For tC build even the bare outlines of gov ernment city would cost more million: of milreis than Brazil can obtain credit for on the money markets. Railway must, in the first place, be constructed to the chosen spot. Offices for the stat' business, legislative buildings, and { host of similar necessities must be pro vided, even if private enterprise erected hotels and houses, and a nunicipalit, which does not exist undertook to la, out roads, make drains, erect gas ant water works, and generally constitut' this capital in the outer world fairl. habitablc. And, of course, barrack would have to be built, otherwise change of government might be sud denly precipitated by the opposition playing Cromwell on . large scale, b. not only turning out the legislature but--what would be much worse-b putting the late officials in jail, an their adherents in the posts recent filled by them. All this, it may b addcd, is apart from the endless polite al difficulties inherent in the proposal all of which are perfectly we'll know to those concerned.