Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil, with a population of 1,200,000, the second city in South America and the fifth in the Western Hemisphere, is generally conceded to have the finest harbor in the world. It is also the most beautiful city in respect to natural advantages, while the improvements which have recently been carried out have made the artificial structure of the city in harmony with its picturesque surroundings. In the early part of this century the Government awoke to the disadvantages of the narrow streets, the poor facilities for commerce, and the notoriously bad conditions of health. Immense improvements were inaugurated and speedily executed. Fine drainage canals were installed, mosquitoes practically exterminated, wide avenues were cut through dense quarters, and port works constructed, so that in health, beauty, and commercial convenience, nothing remains to be desired. A new Central Avenue, now renamed Rio Branco, is counted among the finest in the world; other splendid avenues are lined with fine commercial structures or beautiful private residences, perhaps with royal palms; along the shores are magnificent boulevards unrivaled in beauty, often thronged with luxurious automobiles, all amid surroundings of ideal loveliness of sea-shore and of mountain. Hotel accommodations, hitherto only fair, and inadequate, are improving with the erection of needed new structures, as increasing travel for business and pleasure demanded. Living expenses are called high in all parts of Brazil, but on the whole Rio has seemed no dearer than New York. The city may boast of a splendid opera house, said to have cost $5,000,000, of the largest library in South America, and the finest art gallery, a wonderful botanical garden, museums, delightful sea and mountain resorts, etc., etc.
EASTERN BRAZIL
States and Cities
As the country of Brazil is so large and of such diversity in its various sections and even in single States, with many independent systems of railways connected with its numerous harbors, it may be desirable to speak of its ports and to some extent of its railways in connection with a review of the different States. In this we may begin with the Coastal States, coming up from the south, and conclude with those of the interior.
Rio Grande do Sul, eleventh in area among the States of Brazil, and equal in size to Indiana and Illinois together, borders on Uruguay at the south. The Uruguay River separates it from Argentina on the west and most of the way from the State of Santa Catharina on the north. Its population is about the same as that of the State of South Carolina, which is one-third of its size. It is called a pastoral State as its chief source of wealth at present is cattle; 45 of the 70 million acres are cattle ranges, 6¹⁄₄ million, farms, and 13³⁄₄ forests. The nearly 9,000,000 head of cattle are called the best in Brazil. Blooded stock is being introduced and packing houses are taking the place of saladeros for charque or dried meat, which formerly were the destination of most of the cattle. High class poultry is extensively and profitably raised, $4,500,000 being invested in the industry.
With a temperate climate and well watered, the country is by no means confined to stock raising, for its agricultural products are more diverse than those of any other state. Not only cereals like wheat and oats, but cotton, rice, sugar cane, tobacco, manioc, alfalfa, etc., even tea are successfully raised, as well as temperate zone fruits and vegetables. It has important coal mines, with some of copper, gold, and wolfram also being operated, and a wide distribution of these and other minerals. With 13,000 industrial establishments its important factories include nine textile mills.
The capital, Porto Alegre, is the chief manufacturing centre, and the State is third in such industries. The capital is the largest city in southern Brazil, with a cosmopolitan population one fourth of German descent. An important commercial and industrial centre, it has fine public buildings, colleges, theatres, clubs, good shops, parks, and hotels. The population is nearly all white with a large percentage of Italians as well as of Germans.
Rio Grande is the chief port, 1000 miles south of Rio de Janeiro, and 180 by sea north of Montevideo. The city lies just inside the entrance of the Lagôa dos Patos at its south end. Unfortunately, the entrance has been obstructed by a sand bar with a varying depth of water above. Vessels drawing more than 11 feet could not pass; uncertainty, often a few days’ waiting was the fate of others. An attempt to dredge a passage was unsuccessful, but with building of jetties improvement is manifest. Port works in the city, including a mile of quays, have been established, and a rapid development of the region is expected to follow. The city, population 40,000, has an active commerce by rail and water. By rail it is connected at Cacequy with the through line from São Paulo to Montevideo, and beyond this line at Uruguayana (population 20,000), on the Uruguay River, with the Argentine railways on the other side. There is regular steam navigation to the port of Pelotas, three hours, population 32,000, noted for its dried meat products, and to Porto Alegre at the north end of the lagoon, 150 miles and 12 hours distant.
Santa Catharina, north of Rio Grande, less than one third of its size, has rather similar characteristics. Bordering on the Atlantic, it has Argentina on the west; on the north is the State of Paraná, from which it is separated for half the distance by the Iguassú River. The State is notable for wheat growing and other grains, for cattle and dairy products, for its exports of fruits, for its coal mines, and for the timber from its forests, especially the Paraná pines. It ranks second in Brazil as a producer of yerba mate, in Portuguese herva matte, 14,000,000 pounds being its annual output. Its manufacturing establishments (174) are of small size.