Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-12-14
LAND OF ROMANCE.

1t is only IN a hazy and general way that most of us think of
the great continent to the south and its people who have given the
impression that revolution, guitar strummIng and cigarette smok-
ing are their chief concern. In reality South america and its IN
habitants possess potentialties of progress that are nothing less
than wonderful and in fact great strides in upbunding and develop
ment have been made within the past decade which is rapidly
which occupies about the same relation to the southern continent
in area as the United States does to North America, is properly
celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of its independence by
an exposition which opened In September and will continue
throughout the summer months, which in Brazil, of course, cor
respond to our winter season. Congress has voted a million dol
lars to be expended upon American participation in the Brazilian
Centennial and some very fine buildings have been erected on the
exposition grounds by American architects. The government of
the United States will be represented by a commission and also
personnel from the Navy and Marine Corps will be present
throughout the exposition. The American Building" is a per-
manent structure, and after the exposition will be used to house
the United States ambassador and his staff, becoming the official
residence.
Most of us regard Brazifas the land of mystery and romance,
whose products are mainly rubber and diamonds, and where ex-
Aplorers travel through deadly jungIes, lodging cougars, anacon-
ds and the poisoned arrows of crafty and bloodthirsty aborgines
while subslstng upon yams and quinine. Some of these things
exist in Brazil, no doubt, but in reality they are no more repre-
sentative of that country than mob law, hookworm or chin whisk-
es are of the United States. Brazil is undoubtedly a land of
wealth and of late, of thoroughly modern progress. It's larger
cities contain some of the finest public buildings in the western
hemisphere and a population that will compare with any cultured
society in the world. But Brazil, especially, considering its great
area, is wofuly short on railroads, there being a mileage of only
16, 900 in a country larger than the United States, this being
partly offset by river transportation which is fairly well devel-
oped and reaches by many routes far into the interior. 1t s a land
in which Americans are welcomed for development, but not for
exploitation and there is a wonderful opportunity for American
capital in legitimate enterprises. There millions of square miles
of virgin forests of rare and valuable hardwoods, and the same
of prairie land. There are practically no deserts, and as in the
United States, one can choose most any variety of climate to live
in. The government is stable and modelled much after that of the
United States. However, it offers nothing to the laborer or Job
seeker of white blood as labor is both plentiful and cheap, but it
does have a big market for American made goods of all descrip-
ton, and the exposition is going to be the starting point for q big
trade if the American manufacturers and exporters take proper
of the opportunity.