The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-07-20

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington, d.. CO
Just as the United states celebrated
with an exposition in 1876 the compile
ton of the first century of Its indie
p~endence, so Brazil will celebrate next
September her first centenary as a ma
tion by means Of a great world fair in
Rio de janeiro,
1t is an occasion and a 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 AS 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.
BraziI is much more than lone Of
the South American republics" In
area 1t is In a class with the United
States. Its flag floats over practically
one-half of South America and me
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
coastllne 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.
II Is particularly In the possession
of vast, undeyeloped esource that
Brazil IL comparable to the United
States of half a century ago. 1t too,
has Its West but it Is a West strlk-
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 o dense
tropical forest-A veritable ocean Of
verdnre-.rich in hard woods and rub
Der trees. Into this largely undevel-
oped country stretches the broad ANA
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 for
another 1000 miles and run MP 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 a country IN which dependence
must be placed largely on railroads
Heart Of Brazil 10 Southeast
In addition to Its northern forests
Brazil has a prairie country In its
Middle West"-the south ceatrai pcs
fion OF the country lying north of Par
aguay and extending northward ints
the hill country. Large herds OF cat
tie are grazed and there Is room 20
great expansion OF the industry. 4
The southeastern edge of Brazil. par
adoxically, Is the heart OF the coun
try. The white population. numberin,
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 800 miles. This region In
cludes the southeasternmost states Q
Rio Grande do Sol, Santa Catharins
Parana. Sac Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Es
perito Santo and Minas Geraes
Northward along the coast is Brazil
.sblack belt" where negro ex-slayes an
their descendants are more numerou
than elsewhere In the country. Inlanl
are the indians. many Of them unciN
flfxed.s
Braxil's temperate region along tn
south Atlantic coast Is the region I
which manufacturing enterprise J
largely confined. just as It was to on
own North Atlantic coast a half cen
srA.s.
ouly III unimportant part In the coun
frv's life. bnt textile factories. tnr
ueries ana meat packing plants, y
xrell IL various other Industrial estat
1lahments are on The Increase. TIL
uortion Or BruxiI's map Is peppere
WIN cities ana towns and IL coveFe
xvlfh 4 close network or railroads.
II il this clImafichlly delightful ~
pion IL brazil that IL developed IN
~Eso< I+xfrv-~coff grow