The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-06-05
10 DE JANEIRO is the cleanest
and most beautiful city in
the world, according to the tes-
timOny Of recent visitors, in


- and most beautiful city in
the world, according to the tes-
tmOny of recent visitors, in
lcluding Theodore Roosevelt. With
more than a million population it has
no Sums such as disfgure and dis
grace even the more progressive North
American cities. Within it's wide mu-
nlcipal area it has more asphalted
streets than any other city can boast
of, and at night it's prodigal illumina
ton gives the right to take from Paris
the title Of the "City Of Light" A
great thriving seaport, a wonderfully
beautiful tropical capital, Rio de
Janeiro visualizes the remarkable
transformation which has taken place
in Latin-America, and particularly in
Brazil, within the past 20 years. It is
more than simply a justification of re-
publican government in Brazil; it car
ries a rich promise for the develop
ment OF South America
A few years before the beginning Of
the present century, travellers de-
scribed Rio de Janeiro as a fever pest
spot. It was under the empire one of
America. The sewerage system was
poor and there was an almost utter
lack Of sanitary and hygienic regula-
tons. The city was never entirely free
from the dread scourge Of yellow fever,
and smallpox and tuberculosis made
frIghtful ravages among the popula-
ton. Malaria and other fevers also
eXacted heavy toll of life. Today,
yellow fever, bubonic plague and small
pox have been practically stamped
out, and an intelligent war against
the anopheies mosquito is doing the
same creditable work for malaria,
which is rapidly disappearing.
One of Americas Oldest Cities.
Rio de Janeiro is one of the Oldest
cities Of European settlement in the
western hemisphere. Discovered in
1902, the first century Of it's existence
was marked with troublous times with
the hostile Indians before the Portu-
guese settlers We're able to establish
themselves in security. They also had
to maintain themselves against the
French, the Dutch and the Spanish
and many times Portuguese ascend
ency hung by a thread. In I'LL, the
French captured the city by assault,
holding it until a heavy ransom was
paid. This ended all attempts to wrest
Brazil from the hands of her discOv-
erers. About this time occurred the
discovery Of gold and diamonds in
Brazil, fact which increased the i'm
pOrtance Of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia
md 10 I'll ,eI.y o1,
colony which was exploited to the limit
by the home government. In 1907, as
q result of the Napoleonic wars, the
seat of the Portuguese government
was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de
Janeiro and Brazil became an empire
which lasted until the successful re-
publican uprising in 1889.
Claims Worlds Largest Harbor.
The bay Of Rio de JaneirO is proba-
bly, the largest, safest and most beau
tiful natural harbor in the world. 1t
is II miles long and IS miles wide,
with coast line of 45 miles. The en-
trance is only one mile wide between
Imposing granite mountains, and there
are numerous islands. A granite quay,
two and a half miles in length, con-
structed at a cost Of many millions Of
dollars, greatly facilitates shipping.
The harbor also has a 1OO-ton floating
crane and a large floating dry-dock.
In former years the district fronting
the quay was a section of narrow con-
gested streets, but under the republic
the district has been transformed into
a commercial section of wide streets
and well-built business houses, COM
pairing more than favOrably with the
equipment of North American harbOr
fronts.
Rio de Janeiro extends nine miles
from north to south and ten miles from
east to west along this beautiful har-
Dor. To foreign tourist coming up
the bay at sunset, perhaps the best
time for strangers arrival, the city
is at first unseen, it's dim outlines be-
ing in the shadow thrown by the gigan-
tic figure of the sleeping Titan whose
feet are composed by Sugar Loaf
mountain with his head and body built
up of the Tijuca and adjoining noun
tains. Away in the distance on the
north side of the bay, dominating
everything else, rise the gracefully
slender pinnacles Of the Organ noun