Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-07-21

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 ma
ton by means of great world fair In
Rio de Janeiro.
1t is an occasion and ceremony
which the people of the United States
are particularly well fitted to under
stand and appreciate. In a 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 "cne Of
the South American republics" In
area it 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-
posits 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 a 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. Brazils 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 Anna
zon and its tributaries up which ocean
vessels steam for 1000 miles-as
though ocean steamers In our own
country could steam up the Mississippi
and Ohio past Cincinnati. River
steamers ascend the main streams fol
another 1000 miles and run up nu
merous tributaries for several hun
dred miles, The possession OF this
great Amazon waterway and It's net
work of tributaries greatly cheapens
transportation in Brazil in comparison
with a country in which dependence
must be placed largely on railroads
Heart Of Brazil Is Southeast.
In addition to It's northern forests
Brazil has prairie country in iti
Middle West'-the south central por
ton of the country lying north Of Par
aguay and extending northward int
the hill country. Large herds of cat
! tie are grazed and there is room fol
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 100000 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 300 miles. This region in
cludes the seutheasternmost states o
Rio Grande do Sol, Santa Catharina
I Parana, Sac Paul0 Rio de Janeiro, Els
perito Santo and Minas Geraes
Northward along the coast is Brazil
black belt" where negro ex-slaves an,
| their descendants are more numerou
than elsewhere in the country. Inlan'
are the Indians, many OF them unciy
ilized.
Brazil's temperate region along tn
| South Atlantic coast is the region T.
which manufacturing enterprise |
largely confined, just as it was to GU
own North Atlantic coast a half Ger
fury ago. AS yet manufacturing play
only an unimportant part In the cour
try's life, but textile factories, tar
neries and meat packing plants, a
well as various other industrial estat
lishments are on the increase Til
portion Of Brazil's map is peppere
with cities and towns and Is covere
with a close network of railroads.
is In this climatically delightful r.
/ gfon Of Brazil that lis developed tn
| country's chief industry-coffee grow
ing Thousands of square miles ar
covered by the orchards Of trees whic
rake Brazil the foremost coffee prt
ductng country In the world.