Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1918 — The HEART of COFFEE LAND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The HEART of COFFEE LAND

SAG PAULO, or, to use the English equivalent, St Paul, Is the capital and business metropolis of one of Brazil’s greatest states. Of the 20 states, one territory and one federal district into which the great southern republic is divided, the state of Sao Paulo and its splendid capital stand among the most progressive units of the entire nation. The state, says the Bulletin of the Pan-American Union, in territory is larger than the five New Englapd states of North America, with Pennsylvania added, or an area of 112,300 square miles, embracing undulating plain and valley with several low mountain ranges extending across the country. More than three-fourths of the state lie within the region of the tropic of Capricorn, and about oneeighth of Brazil’s 24,000,000 people reside within its boundaries. Nature has divided this territory into two distinct regions—that bordering the Atlantic ocean for nearly 400 miles, where the temperature is hot and moist and where bananas, coconuts, cacao, oranges and other tropical products grow in abundance. This coastal plain is narrow in the north, but gradually broadens to 80 miles or more near the southern boundary of the state. Westward from the low mountains bordering the coastal plain the country is higher and well suited to agricultural crops, of which toffee growing is the most important. In recent years various other crops have been introduced more generally and are now additional important industries, which, together with stock raising, are greatly increasing private and public revenues. Climbing the Coast range or the Serra do Mar (at some places 3,000 feet high) by the railroad between the sea at Santos and Sao Paulo city, a distance of 50 miles, we perceive changes in temperature and note how the country gradually and in places precipitously rises as the train moves westward. At Sao Paulo the altitude is about 2,500 feet, while the state as a whole averages 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. There are many higher elevations along the mountain ranges. The streams flowing to the Atlantic are short, while those which carry their waters northwestward, following the “lay of the land,” are of considerable size, the largest being the Tiete river, which has been harnessed to supply the city of Sao Paul with electric power, and also with water for domestic uses. This river traverses almost the entire length of the state, flowing in a northwesterly direction. One of Brazil’s Oldest Cities.

Sao Paulo, the state capital, is one of Brazil’s oldest cities, its fragmentary history dating from 1500, when the Portuguese discovered the country. Passing over many eventful periods, Sao Paul has outgrown its youthful years and stands today as a great city —the third in commercial importance of the South American continent Surrounding the city we find a fertile rolling country, devoted largely to coffee and other crops. The state is credited with 2,000,000 acres devoted to coffee growing, representing an outlay of $500,000,000, and producing annually about 60 per cent of the world’s coffee, the bulk of which trade centers in the capital. Furthermore, the network of 7,000 miles of railroads connecting the city with adjoining states is responsible for making Sao Paul an interstate rather than a local outlet and trading mart. The area of the city proper covers about 14 square miles, and its population of nearly 500,000 inhabifants has quadrupled during the last 30 yeiirs. About 35 per cent of the people , are foreigners, the Italians being greatest in number, followed by Germans, Portuguese, Spaniards, French,

and English. There is a sprinkling of North Americans, who represent something like 50 different commercial interests in the United States. The city’s birth rate growth of 40.80 per 1,000 Inhabitants has been largely augmented by a constant flow of European Immigration, while the death rate of 20.505 per 1,000 Indicates the healthy condition of the people. Streets Afford Broad Contrasts. Sao Paulo’s streets are both ancient and modern. The narrow and often .congested business thoroughfares contrast strikingly with the broad avenues that cross the city and extend through the newer suburban sections. In the latter we find such an abundance of shade trees that one is reminded of Washington, while the large number of detached private residences suggest Denver or Buffalo. In Sao Paulo, too, we find types of the chalet, the Moorish palace, the French Rennalssance, and other features of architecture more or less modified to suit local conditions. The Tiete river, passing through the northern suburbs of Sao Paulo, is an extremely crooked stream, and numerous affluents flowing through the city in various directions seem to have influenced the early builders and some of the oldest streets are crooked or winding. The business heart of the city, often referred to as the triangle, is served by active streets locally known as. ruas. Thus Rua Sao Prento, Rua Qulnze de Novembro, and Rua Dlreita are among the most important in the so-called, triangle district. Overlooking the Largo do Palacio, also in the midst of business life, stands the government palace. From this point streets aqd avenues radiate to all parts of the city and suburbs. In this business area the city blocks are not so regular or uniform as are the newer sections of Sao Paulo. 'The Avenida Tiradentes extends northward to the Tiete; from the center of the city the Avenida Rangel Pestana opens a direct course to the eastward, passing one of the leading markets. Three thoroughfares leading to the southward, Ruas Llberdade, Santo Amaro, and Consolacao, provide direct access to the magnificent Avenida Paulista, by far the most beautiful boulevard of the capital. The principal business streets of the city are paved with asphalt and other materials, a feature that has encouraged the use of motor vehicles of all descriptions. (Last year Sao Paulo imported more automobiles than any other city of the country.) The numerous parks of the city reflect large sums of money that have been expended in making them attractive. In numerous cases artificial lakes, natural streams, rustic bridges, statues, fine shade trees, and blooming flowers offer attractions to citizen and stranger alike. Sao Paulo is a city of wealth, individual as well as official. Agriculture and Industry have made many private fortunes, and these fortunes are reflected in the unusual number of palatial homes in the city proper and in the suburbs. No stranger can drive about the city without noticing the vast amount of capital and the diversified architectural talent that has been called to provide for Sao Paulo’s wealthy residents.

Street Scene in Sao Paulo.