The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
Roger w. Babson
Tells of Vast Nat.
ural Resources of
the Country
ny ROGER W. BNBsON.

s'' '' ''e h'hF obAtNt n
ike a South America within a South
America, so nearly does its shape APP
proach that of the continent. The
coast line is OF course Identical and the
western projection and pointed south
ern part are very similar.
Brazil occupies one-half OF the con
tinent. its area being equal to that Of
continental United States. excluding
Alaska, with four New York States
added. 1t is twice as large as India
and hinety-one times as large as
Portugal. its mother country. In round
figures, Brazil has a coast line OF 5000
miles and a land frontier Of 1000
miles. The coast is equivalent In
length to that connecting New Orleans
and the northern extremity Of Labra-
dor. Every section Of this great area
has money making possibilities.
A comparison OF population. how
ever, tells a different story. A sugges-
tive contrast is found by placing India.
which lies on almost the opposite side
OF the globe. in comparison with Brazil,
for each is In its way a typical repre-
sentative OF Old and New World con-
ditions. Were Brazil as densely popu-
lated as India 1t would carry SOL. 0O0,-
900 people in place Of the estimated
q, 100000 now resident.
A curious feature OF this compar-
son is that this New World land. with
Its immense area and small population.
IL hampered in its development by the
untamed and almost impenetrable
lu%xuriance OF vegetation. This vege-
ton is so rank that the small popula-
ton cannot keep 1t under control, and
wide stretches Of the country are &C.
cessible only by the ala OF the natural
highways OF the great river systems.
In the Old World every inch OF arabic
land is cultivated. In the New World
rot one-fftieth Of the land has been
subject to the a or cultivation Of
man. Hence l say its money making
opportunities are ~unexcelled. As to
position in the Western Hemisphere
It IL worthy Of note that the most east
erly point Of Brazil lies almost as far
east Of New York as San Francisco lies
west Of that city.
Brazil possesses the most remark
able system Of water highways in the
world, which will oome day be very
valuable for transportation, irrigation
and water power. These rivers are al
most a. important as is the vast ex-
tent Of territory possessed by the re-
public. Try to imagine a river moro
than 1900 miles in length. with its
source In the Peruvian Andes 1000 feet
above tho level Of the sea, with vast
tributaries. themselves from 1000 to
1000 miles long. draining a territory
two.th1rd0 - large as our United
States. This region Is 40 rich and fer
tile that the great scientist Won Hum
boldt said Of II: at is here that
one day. o OF later. will concen-
trate the civilization OF the globe"
The Amazon River IL a mile and a
half wide at its last Brazilian port on
the west. broadens until 1t attains a
width OF $50 miles at it's northern
mouth alone and discharges into the
Atlantic q volume Of water more than
four times " great as the outpour
OF the Mississippi. It Is navigable
and is now actually being n~avigated
by ocean liners for 1000 miles. clear
across Brazil from the Atlantic Ocean
TO Iquitos. in Peru, a Pacific coast
country. This river is not attractive.
but it offers great opportunities for
money making to the man with III
ase.
As to the Natural divisions and
general of this country We
may say that the whole southeastern
part from latitude 5 degrees south to
latitude 80 degrees south is noun
famous or undulating. with here and
there wide valleys, valuable for cult
walton. pasture or timber and on
tanning mineral wealth. The north
western part and the whole plain Of
the Amazon are quite fiat, most of
the latter being a forest wilderness.
Along the north coast there are a
few arid districts. but nowhere such
deserts az cover so large a space in
the countries of the Andes. The only
parts which are as yet even compare
lively well peopled are the coast strip
and its fertile valleys, the most south
.rn States and the State OF Minas
Geraes. a name which signifies gen
eral Mines" from its industry. This
State offers great money making OPP
p~ortunities in mining.
As to the people of this great re-
public the true Brazilian white ma
iion can hardly be reckoned at more
than 5000, 900, a very small part Of
the "a 900, 900 given in h latest re-
ports as to the population. The rest
Of the inhabitants are Indians, half
breeds and pure blacks. The early
settlers came without families and in
tormarried freely and frequently"
with the Indians and later with the
negroes, who began to be imported
as slaves in 1900. To these mixed
races, who are generally admitted to
be easily excited to a dangerous pitch
and quickly demoralized by drink,
may he attributed in part the full
share of armed risings and civil wars"
which Brazil has to record in her his
tory.
To the southern part in particular
m ny Europeans have fiocked. as
There they a work, thrive and be
happy. In southern Brazil are many
Gcrmans, and the labor on the great
coffee estates is almost entirely Ital-
tan. There are OF course many Por-
iIguese, some English and n few
North Americans. The affiuX OF
S}rlans-mostly travelling pedlers or
small dealers as in our W coun-
u" that has come to South America
al IN. West Indies during the past
Hw wears Is IA new and curious fca-
'"r .p tho currents Of ethnic move
h''''s hat mark our time"
IH" climate Of this great country II
~ .I.lTEn ~ rial a,,Arltnn tn lnnntian