The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-10-02
BRAZIL'S NEW CAPITAL
The Proposed Site oeleuted by
tho Government Commission.

Pop1aar Demand for the Remsval ef ON
saAl Headquakssrs from Rio Dc Ja-
asaxo-A Projses That Locks
| vssy UnproaniSlns.
Aftsr leisursly searching for more thar
two years, the scientific commission ap
pointed to nnd site for the new Bra
xilian capital has reported. And az no
body except themselves knows any
thing about the chosen locality, theil
data, Il not their conclusions, will, nc
doubt, be received with all the respect
due to 60 well discussed question.
Naturally, the first point to be consid
cred II whether Brazil needs o new
capital. In Rio de Janeiro it has q
splendid city, Of historic fame, with all
the buildings and other Offices required
for q seat OF government, 90 that tc
people less endowed with a mania fol
brand-new constitutions than the
quondam subjects of Dom Pedro it may
seem % needless Tor the Brazil.
ian federal rulers to leave Rio
a 1t would be for the monarchial
ones to leave London for the Wolds,
OF Yorkshire. 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 1T intervals struggling
to break loose from the rest of the con-
federation. Each of the provincial capi-
tals il naturally jealous of Rio, and of
the splendid opportunities which the
local politicians Of that city have for
place, and pelf, 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 a commission of geolo-
gists, engineers, metoorologists, 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-
tertain 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 serv-
ices OF one hundred and eighty horses,
mules and asses. Brazil is, however,
so large land that, had the explorers
received rowing commission, they
might have died Of old age, of yellow
jack" or by Indians, long before they
had examined a 1.-THE 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
poor-spirited race, reputed to be too
lazy to either rob or murder, and too
few to be of any account, Z 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 u eighteen nours oy railway
from Rio-not liable to be bombarded
the noxt time the feet revolts or the
republic feels 1t necessary to datter
the electors by insulting . European
power.
And there the scheme is likely to
end. The report will be printed, and
debated. But it Is quite GER
tain that the new capital is to-day as
far of as it was before the commission
ers set out on their travels. For to
build even the bare outlines of = gov
ernment city would cost more millions
Of milreis than Brasil can obtain credit
for on the money markets. Railways
must, in the 6rst placs. be constructed
to the cboson spot. Of3ces fer the state
business, Legislative buildings, and .
host Of similar necessities must be pro-
vided, even II private enterprise erected
hotels and houses, and a municipality
which does not exist undertook to lay
out roads, make drains, erect gas and
water works, and generally constitute
this capital in the outer world fairly
Aud, Of course. barracks
would have to be built. otherwise
change OF government might be sud
denly precipitated BY the opposition
playing Cromwell on . large scale, BY
not only turning out the legislature,
but-what would be much worse-by
putting the late officials in Jail, and
their adherents in the posts recently
dlled BY them. ALI this, It may be
added, l. apart from the endless polite
u difficulties inherent In the proposal,
all Of which are perfectly well known
TO those concerned.