The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-07-26

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington, D. c.
Just as the United States celebrated
with an exposition in 1876 the compile.
ton Of the first century of its indie
pendence, so Brazil will celebrate next
September her first centenary as a ma
ton by means Of great world fair in
Rio de Janeiro.
1t is an occasion and a ceremony
which the people Of the United States
are particularly we'll fitted to under
stand and appreciate. In number Of
ways Brazil stands where the United
States stood 46 years ago, though in
many others, Of course, this neighbor
to the south, equipped with modern
machinery and assisted by modern
methods, is far in advance Of the
United States of 1876.
Brazil is much more than lone of
the South American republics" In
area 1t is in class with the United
States. Its flag floats over practically
one-half of South America and one
fifth of the western hemisphere. Leav-
ing Alaska out of consideration, Brazil
is actually 100000 square miles great
er than the United States. 1t has
boundaries of greater or less length in
common with every other country in
south America except Ecuador and
Chile. The land boundary of Brazil.
following all the twistings of rivers and
mountain ranges. is probably not far
from 10000 miles long, and there is a
coastline of 5000 miles as well. The
largest river in the world, tremendous
potential water power. and huge de-
posts of minerals are among some of
the other physical features that mark
Brazil out for big things.
1t is particularly in the possession
Of vast, undeveloped resources that
Brazil is comparable to the United
States of half century ago. 1t too,
has its West but 1t is West strik-
ingly different from the plains country
of central North America. The equa-
tor crosses northern Brazil, and more
than nine-tenths of the huge country
lies within the tropics. BraZil'S West
consists for the most part of dense
tropical forest-A veritable ocean of
verdure-.rich in hard woods and rub
Der trees. Into this largely undevel-
oped country stretches the broad ANA
ION and its tributaries up which ocean
vessels steam for 1000 miles-as
though ocean steamers in our own
country could steam up the Mississippi
cf vino
steamers ascend the main streams for
another 1000 miles and run up nu-
merous tributaries for several hun
dred miles. The possession of this
great Amazon waterway and its net
work of tributaries greatly cheapens
transportation in Brazil in comparison
with country in which dependence
must be placed largely on railroads
Heart of Brazil Is Southeast.
In addition to its northern forests,
Brazil has prairie country in its
Middle West'-the south central pos
ton of the country lying north of Par
aguay and extending northward into
the hill country. Large herds of cat
tie are grazed and there is room for
great expansion of the industry.
The southeastern edge of Brazil par
adoXically, is the heart of the coun
try. The white population, numbering
probably between 9,OOO.OOO and 10000.
600 is largely concentrated in the re
giOn of temperate climate in the south.
ern coastal highlands which extend in
land 200 to 800 miles. This region in
cludes the southeasternmost states OF
Rio Grande do Sol. Santa Catharina
Parana, Sac Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Es
perito Santo and Minas Geraes
Northward along the cOastfs BraZH's
"black belt" where negro ex-slaves anG
their descendants are more numerous
than elsewhere in the country. Inland
are the Indians, many Of them unciv
iliZed.
Brazil's temperate region along the
South Atlantic coast is the region tC
which manufacturing enterprise Is
largely confined, just rs it was to ou'
own North Atlantic coast half cen
fury ago. As yet manufacturing plays
only an unimportant part in the coun
try's life. but textile factories, tan
neries and meat packing plants, as
well as various other industrial estao
ushments are on the increase. This
portion of Rrazil's map is pepperet
with cities and towns and is covered
with n close network of railroads. II
is in this dramatically delightful re
gion of Brazil that is developed the
country's chief industry-coffee grow
ing. Thousands of square miles are
covered by the orchards of trees which
make Brazil the foremost coffee pro
ducing country In the world.