Evening star., 1942-03-11
By HAROLD b. ROGERS.

BY HAROLD b. ROGERS.
Picturesque Rio de Janeiro, capital
Of the biggest country in South
America, is undergoing a widespread
rebuilding program, both private and
public, to modernize the heart Of the
city.
Outstanding among the edificeS
rising in the metropolis OF waving
palm trees, shining beaches and
rocky spires are several new build
ings for the Brazilian government.
In some of these will be carried out
phases of the new agreements with
the United States for strengthening
the Western Hemisphere.
Brazil has taken leading part in
the movement among Latin-Amer-
lean nations to insure against attack
by the Axis powers. The government
Of Getulio Vargas, president and
strong man" of Brazil, Joined in the
inter- American resolutions adopted
at the recent conference Of foreign
ministers at Rio and has broken re-
lationS with the Axis.
New Finance Ministry Building.
Within the last few days, further
agreements were reached here be-
tween the United States and Brazil
which will help mobilize further
Joint economic power of the two ma
tons. The Brazilian Minister OF FL
nance, DR.. Artur de Souza Costa,
one of the signatories to the agree
ments here for credits, military
equipment, rubber and minerals is
returning to Rio and soon will have
available for his ministry one OF the
finest of the new buildings in the
Brazilian capital.
Rebuilding of the city has been
going on for many years, through
the vicissitudes Of changing govern
ments. 1t is still making progress,
both in size and modernization, and
now appears to be forging ahead IN
still greater speed, despite the
troubled world situation. The pro-
gram has the strong support OF the
central government.
Originally built along the curvlng
shores of the beautiful Bay OF Guam
abara, the city has grown around
rocky promontorieS, virtually.
Jumped over high hills, bored
through tunnels of solid rock and
spread out in every direction. Now
it seems to be divided into several
different communities, all bearing
the name of Rio, but known dis
tinctly by various community names,
usually derived from adjacent
beaches.
The new government buildings, OF
which some are recently completed,
some are nearing completion and
others under construction, will pro-
vide more adequate quarters for
such agencies as the Ministry OF
Finance, the Ministry of Labor, the
Industrial Institutes, Commercial
Institute and Maritime Institute.
Hill Carted Away.
These structures are rising in
big downtown area, including many
city blocks. From this area a big
hill known as Moro do Castillo was
cut down and carted off, to be poured
into the bay and made into the
modern new Santos Dumont airport.
On the site the modern Office build
ings and their area constitute what
is known now as Esplanado de Cas-
tello.
Beneath a part of this area, near
the CongeSted downtown section, is
being constructed an underground
garage for automobiles. Rio is buz-
zing with automobiles, which attain
high speed on its beautiful wayside
boulevards and wide streets. But
there appear to be few accidents.
It was the automobile which
started one of the first big renova-
tionS in Rio, many years ago when
It was found necessary to cut a new
avenue through the downtown city.
Property on some 80 streets was
condemned, demolishing nearly 600
buildings, so that a straight thor
oughfare, known as Avenida Rio
Branco went through the city from
one part of the waterfront to an
other. Two other hills later were
cut down, including the Moro do
Senado.
Building Eliminates Sum-.
One of the striking private build
ings in the new Esplanado do Cas-
tello is the modernistic home of the
Associacao Brasileira de Imprensa,
or Brazilian Press Association. In
stead of outside windows, this new
building has a series of vents or
openings around each floor, which
are so ingeniously constructed as to
let in the maximum of air, but keep
out the sun altogether. They are
of strong construction, part of the
building, something like a huge
venetian blind set on end, with its
leaves turned to keep out the sun.
Immediately within is a walkway
around the entire inside of these
leaves and behind the WalkWay a
glass partition which may be almost
entirely opened through windows
end doors, or completely closed as
desired.
It was on a visit to this press
building. with its elaborate accom-
modationS for the Brazilian press
that the striking difference between
the old Rio and the new was en-
phasized. In company with Will
ham Weiland of the American EN-
basSy and Paulo Einhorn of Pan
American Anyways, I was calling on
Herbert Moses, president of the
press association, when in walked
Orson Welles, American actor, and