The Washburn leader., 1912-04-19
R RIO 4 MODEL Town
Sanitation Has Changed Plague
Center to Health Resort
10 Called Paris Of Western World
Cost Of Living 10 High, but susi-
ness and Wages In All Undue
tries Are Good.

Rio Janeiro.-Rio Is the Paris Of the
Americas in all that the name implies
and is one of the loveliest, most mod.
ern and progressive cities in. the
world The fire and police depart
ments are perfectly equipped and
maintain remarkably high standard
of efficiency.
The people Of Rio, by the expendi.
ture of vast amount of determine
tidn, courage, energy and money, lit
orally have accomplished marvels.
Fifteen years ago the city was mud
hole and a cesspool Of filth and dis
ease, scourged by yellow fever and
many forms of pestilence. An Italian
warship visited the city at that time
and every officer and every man Of
the crew died of the fever. A foreign
crew had to be hired to take the ship
back to Italy. Today Rio compares
favorably with the healthiest cities in
the world. Sixty million dollars has
been spent in the last ten years for
sewerage, water, streets, etc. No bet
ter water supply exists. It is brought
clear and cold from the mountains to
the city in covered aqueducts Of
stone There are no flies. mosquitoes
or rats in Rio. For two years the city
maintained a force of 1000 men en-
gagged in their determination, and with
entire success. Her public markets
are gems of beauty and cleanliness;
screens are unnecessary; indeed, they
are unknown in Rio, and the meats
and fish can be exposed with perfect
safety, because there are no flies and
no dust, whether on the Avenida Gem
trail, the Champs Elysee of Rio, along
the docks or in the back alleys. They
are all as clean as the constant use of
soap and water can keep them. 4
1O0-mile ride through the streets Of
Rio does not discover scrap of pa.
per.
The public buildings are magnifi-
cent, the parks, boulevards and ave-
nues unique in their beauty. The de-
partment Of commerce and labor OF
the United States, in an official re-
port, states that the beauty of Rio
Janeiro cannot be exaggerated; to
quote: "It is very much like Switzer-
land-for one cannot exaggerate its
beauty. All is here-the beautiful
location. the well-planned city, the
well-paved streets. the lovely vistas,
the Avenue Central, with it's million
of dollars worth of buildings, and the
harbor improvements that will cost
millions and lead the world Rios
park system is one of the most
notable features of tine city. The
municipality. has $4,000 square me
ters laid out in parks, squares and
parkways, and in addition the federal
government maintains most extensive
botanical gardens.
The climate is excellent. It is
never any warmer even In the center
of the city than the average summer
weather in New York or Chicago, and
In Is minutes on the electric car the
heights overlooking the sea can be
reached where the residential dis
tricts are located and where the air
is always cool and invigorating. The
winters last from May to October and
an overcoat Is generally necessary.
Rios location, it's beautiful bay, the
surrounding hills and mountains
clothed in eternal verdure, are incom.
parable. 1t is a very cosmopolitan
city and her citizens have all the ele-
gance, luxury and refinement Of Paris,
Brussels or any European capital.
Everybody looks prosperous, and %
most everybody is making money,
many are spending 1t fast. Rio is one
Of the most costly places in the world
to live, since everything eaten, worn
and used is imported. Chickens are
$3 and 81 apiece. turkeys 50 to 312.
butter 81 pound. An ordinary quar-
ter-pound can Of baking powder cost
$l.0S on bargain day.
KISS COSTLY FOR R COUPLE.