The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-25
A SPLENDID CITY
Something About the Wealth and Beauty of the Brazilian
 Capital.
TROPICAL BUT BREEZY SPOT
The Wonderful and Exceedingly Cost ly Avenida Central Surpasses Any
 thing in Washington, n. C.

The long journey of the mighty American battle fleet from Hampton Roads to San Francisco will, if it does nothing else, serve to teach not only he members of the fleet but a great many other people besides, lot about other places of which they would oth- wise remain in ignorance. The pres ent stop at Rio, for example, will serve
 so stimulate general interest in the
 beautiful Capital of Brazil, one of the
 most splendid as well as one of the
 most picturesque cities in the world
 The excellent description of Rio Janel-
 TO, which follows, has just been pre-
 pared by the director of the interna-
 tional bureau of American republics,
 MT. John Barrett, who has visited Rio
 Janeiro frequently while minister to
 different South American countries,
 and who knows the city thoroughly;
 Rio Janeiro, where our fleet IS
 spending ten days, is one of the most
 beautiful, interesting and progressive
 ,ites of the world. It has popula-
 ion and commerce that entitle it to
 first rank as a capital and metropolis.
 It's great size, its varied attractions,
 and it's modern characteristics are not
 generally known and appreciated in
 he United States. because 1t is out of
 he usual route of travel abroad.
 The thousands of American officers
 md sailors, who are aboard our ships
 i,st
 America, will be surprised at the mag
 nitude and progress of this Brazilian
 city, and will be deeply pleased with
 he splendid hospitality of the Bra
 lillian government and people. No ex-
 perience that any American fleet or
 yauadron has ever had in Europe or
 Asia will even rival that which they will enjoy in Rio Janeiro. It is, there lore, fitting, especially at this time
 when everybody is taking more inter-
 est in South America as result of Secretary Roots recent visit to that part of the world, to note some re- markle facts about Rio Janeiro and Brazil.
 As the fleet steamed into the Bay of Rio those aboard our ships beheld Icenery and natural surroundings of nnrivalled charm. This remarkable N barbor is entered between mountain X pus promontories. and then it opens put into rare expanse of deep water, l which would permit all the navies of 1 he world to float safely at anchor. It Is dotted here and there with islands
 of varying size On the left, tower the
 <otv, x while on the right the land slopes N lway gracefully to distant hills. Upon lf Eraceful crescents of the Bay at the K foot of the mountains and creeping up II pn their sides, lies the city itself, with M m appearance of solidity and strength M worthy of the powerful Republic of M which it is the Capital.
 IN Within ,he limits of Rio Janeiro are M nearly 900,000 people, and 1t is gr'w- N Ing so rapidly that the million mark |f Will be passed before this decade is N ended. No city in the United States H With the exception of Ne " York and RI Chicago, is increasing its population M niore rapidly.
 aE Its most striking features are the |Hk tanlous Avenida Central. it's principal IA street, the boulevard system along the HS water front the elegant public build |Sf lngs and churches, and the presence M on one side of the magnificent bay, lN and on the other of lofty mountain i& peaks, in it's immediate suburbs, from ,Uwhich an incompatible view can be M obtained.
 aE The Avenida Central extends for a ,X3n,sJo and (, bo Jf tbrouoI, tho xsor,, l oo ,, siHpf the city, and is as beautiful as the sMChamps Elysee, in Paris, or the tTn- 5Eter den Linden, in Berlin. It was con- sH structed recently at cost of s35, ,000,- sN p00 and would put to shame anything sH Corresponding to it in Washington, MNew York or Chicago It is over 100 s@feet wide in the clear while running z s$along it's center are handsomely de- sMsigned ovals serving as refugees for 4passengers crossing, and each one car Nrying an exquisitely designed pillar lHwith three large electric lights. Alter 2 Anating with these at the side of the | f#roadway are decorative gas lamps H. Illumination can thus be arranged to Si&A nicety at any time of the day or Adnight or for any function. Facing the
 tAvenida are handsome buildings of Nharmonious design. Here are many of
 lthe clubs. newspaper offices, the Ma 5 9Ftional Library, the homes of the most s}lmportant commercial bodies and I 1arge department stores At the north Mend is pier for passengers who are
 foming and going from steamers Al
 tthe south is the National Opera House 4Awith the Monroe Palace in which was .Aheld the third International American fConference, and which is intended fol 314 3public meetings of great importance < afOther avenues parallel or at right an. sfgles to this Avenida are now in course 11pf construction. The boulevard svs. s31tem is extensive and causes admira. Z aNion. This begins at the bay, near the Mouth end of the Avenida. and skirt, fhe water around the crescent of Rota. tEoso, beneath the magnificent peak o- Corcovado. and finally continues on to. | Awards the open Atlantic. fifteen mile. : Erom the heart of the city This granc H1riveway presents a variety of beaut,
 'Rt every turn and has no equal in Eu. saNope or the United States.
 The mountains back of and sur %founding the city are rapidly bein.
 Ronverted into parks. villas and loca
 Ihions for handsome residences. Tram
 inays run to their summits where ; $ Apanorama spreads before the eye no
 l o be found in the immediate vicinit,
 Pf any corresponding great city of tn, ssavorld. Rio Janeiro possesses a svsten
 shf water-works. sewerage, electri
 Hramways. electric lights, telephones Photographs. etc. equal to .llat in an es Eitv of North America Antornonile