The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-13
WHOLE CITY TO MOVE.
Brazil Will Witness the Greatest
Exodus in Many Centuries.
Remarkable Town That Was Founded
by Gold Seekers.

! The greatest exOuu5 that tne Wcrlu mas
ever seen since the children of Israel de-
parted out of tho lard Of Egypt--ncarly
8, 500 years ago--will soon take place In
Brazil
All the inhabitants OF a city of over 20,'
600 population, the capital Of one of tho
largest and richest states Of that country,
will in few days abandon their homes en-
masse. What makes this wholesale exodus
more remarkable is the fact that these co.
600 people will move in body into now
city which for two years has been In proc
ess OF erection for their occupancy, and
which is as yet untenanted save by the
artisans and laborers who are putting the
finishing touches TO the miles of streets
and the spacious public buildings and
private palaces.
The city which Is on the point OF being
thus abandoned TO tho wild beasts which
swarm In the forests about 1t Is Ouro-
Prcto, the capital of the mining state OF
Minas- Geraes, in the southeastern part OF
Brazil. 1t was founded nearly two Gen.
turics ago by the geld seekers. .=--
Ouro- Prcto has been unique among cities
for several reasons one being that it has
but a single street, and that several miles
in length. The town isbuilt along mar
row gorge in the mountains, known as the
Sierro dc Minas-Geraes, a part OF the
mighty chain which rises far back from
the coast of eastern Brazil. Though 1t lies
some 5000 feet above the sea level, the air
IL always so damp that everything not kept
In alright cases becomes widowed within
a short time. There is no such thing as
carriage Of any description In this noun
tain city and even riding muleback Is
dangerous, for the single street which
twists and winds for miles is probably the
roughest in the world, there being but few
level stretches of more than dozen yards
in all its length. a portion of 1t lies along
the edge of deep chasm, at the bottom OF
which roars one of tho mountain torrents
which help to make the great Rio de Fran
cisco
The new city which the people Of Ouro-
Preto are having builtfor them will be the
direct antithcsis of the old. Though the
town has been the capital Of the province
and state for many years, and its inhabit-
ants are wealthy, they recognized the fact
few years ago that the time was near at
hand when they would have no occupation
or revenue They therefore met in coun-
Gil and 1t was decided 10 find some place
where they could employ their accumulat-
ed wealth to advantage. 1t was thereupon
decided that committee of the citizens
should search for spot favorable for the
location of a new city; that this new town
site should be in fertile region In tho
-lowlands OF the province, which would
offer every advantage for commerce and
IL tIa int N
coast by water and by rail, and that upon
such spot being found town should be
built there, which, when completed, would
be at once occupied and the old city utter
ly abandoned.
The new city which has risen is built on
the plan in vogue in all South American
towns and has q great central square OF
plaza in the center. II has an extensive
park and artificial lake and other orna-
mental waters. At ono end of thc town,
which will continue to be the capital OF
the state, an imposing palace for the presi-
dent has been constructed and not far dis
tant are the botanic and geological gar
dens. There arc two thcatcrs already
built The principal buildings, such as the
extensive offices which will be occupied by
the government, the law courts, the cathe-
dral, the railway station and several of the
large hotels, have already been completed,
and many Of the more imposing private
residences are ready for occupancy.
One of the first enterprises it was decid-
cd to engage in was that of slaughtering
cnttle, and therefore extensive abattoirs
have been constructed in the outskirts Of
the city. The railroad built as soon as the
site was chosen, brings the new city into
direct communication with the central
Brazilian line. The city will bc lit by cleo
tricity and the most improved methods OF
draining employed. A telegraph line ex-
tends to Rio de Janero, and "a fully equip
ped telephone system will he one of the fu-
turc city of Minas' conycniences. New
York Sun.