The City's Streets and Parks

Sao Paulo's streets are both ancient and modern. The narrow and often congested business thorofares contrast strikingly with the broad avenues that cross the city and extend thru the newer suburban sections. In the latter the abundance of shade trees reminds one of Washington, while the large number of detached private residences suggest Denver or Buffalo. In Sao Paulo, too, there are types of the chalet, the Moorish palace, the French Renaissance, and other features of architecture more or less modified to suit local conditions. The Tiete River, passing thru the northwest suburbs of Sao Paulo, is an extremely crooked stream; numerous affluents, flowing thru 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 Quinze de Novembro, and Rua Direita 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 and 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 thorofares leading to the southward, Ruas Liberdade, Santo Amaro, and Consolaçao, 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 asphalts 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 Buildings of the City

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.

The city's public buildings indicate that state and municipal revenues have been large. For instance, in a recent year the city tax receipts amounted to $2,162,900. These funds are derived from taxes on industrial establishments and professions, vehicles, slaughterhouses, transportation companies, etc., and they represent 70 per cent of the total amount collected by the municipality. The public expenditures of the city are largely included under four groups, as follows: service of debts, collection of taxes, street cleaning, and public works. In the year represented by the above-cited revenues, the city expenditures were $2,030,500.

The public buildings of Sao Paulo are notable, and most of the more modern structures represent large expenditures. They are scattered thru the city, among the most important being the Government Palace; the Palace of Agriculture, Finance and In

reptiles, while the third serum is used to cure the bite when the species of reptile causing the trouble is unknown. Naturally, the sight of hundreds of serpents gathered from all over Brazil is repulsive to the average visitor, but the importance of the lifesaving results of this unique institute cannot be overestimated. Of nearly 20,000 persons bitten by snakes all over the republic in a single year, two-thirds are cured by the serum, and it is stated that practically all could be thus cured were the antitoxin administered within a short time after infec

A Unique Scientific Institution

One of the very important enterprises of Sao Paulo is the Instituto Serumtherapico, also near the city, with its staff of workers engaged in scientific research and in the preparation of various serums for treatment of snake bites, smallpox, diphtheria, etc. Every year thousands of persons on Brazilian plantations are bitten by serpents. These unfortunates owe a debt of gratitude to the director of this institution, Dr. Vital Brazil, and his assistants, whose labors are responsible for the saving of many lives. from snake bite and the maladies mentioned.

For the former trouble, the institute prepares three serums: one is an antidote for the rattlesnake's bite, another counteracts the venom of the jararaca and other deadly

tion. Among Dr. Brazil's discoveries is a species of non-venomous reptile that seeks and kills the venomous.

Industrial Development

The industrial progress of Sao Paulo has been marked during recent years, and today the manufactories of the city represent an investment of about $12,000,000, with an annual output of $20,000,000 worth of products. The number of workmen engaged in this line of employment is given. at 40,000.

Brazil's difficulty in obtaining foreign manufactured goods, owing to the lack of adequate ocean transportation facilities, has doubtless resulted in a greater local output of goods and also a larger variety than those of normal times.

In 1917 an industrial exposition was held in Sao Paulo-an event that brought together many samples of local manufacture. The exhibits included clay products, chinaware, decorative tiling, firebrick, glass, leather goods, rope and various other things, as well as the machinery which several corporations are making for the local manufacturer.

Manufacturing activities are especially reflected in textiles. The samples on exhibition included silks, hosiery, underwear, ribbons, woolen and worsted goods, suitings, and a large variety of small articles hitherto imported. The exhibitors showed a variety of hats, including the finest silk hat, the derby, the soft felt, and a surprising assortment of such articles made from straw.

The manufacturers of Sao Paulo propose to make this exhibit a permanent feature

of business, and to that end a large building has been planned and is partially completed. In fact, the exposition occupied the finished portion of the new structure, where at least 200 different manufacturers had their products shown to the public.

The System of Government

In Brazil the state exercises all the powers not delegated by the national constitu

The basis or

tion to the Federal Union. unit of the organization of the state is the municipality, whose autonomy is guaranteed by the constitution. The division of the state into municipalities must not be altered in such a manner as to permit an allotment of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants to the municipality. The autonomy of the municipality is guaranteed in all matters of its peculiar interest. The laws originating with the municipal powers may be annulled if they clash with the national or state constitutions or with the rights of other municipalities.

In local or other elections the following persons are not allowed to vote: beggars, illiterates, private soldiers (with the exception of students of the military colleges). members of monastic orders, religious companies, congregations and communities of any denomination whatever subject to vows of obedience, rules, or by-laws entailing the renunciation of individual liberty, etc.

The municipality of Sao Paulo is governed in accordance with the organic law promulgated in 1891, and the municipal powers are both legislative and executive: the former is exercised by the municipal chamber (board of aldermen), the members

of which are chosen from the several city districts.

The municipal chamber has the right to make laws for the municipality providing for streets and buildings, markets, public instruction, water, transportation, lighting, parks, police and fire departments, etc. If the city authorities wish to issue municipal bonds, which has been done in many cases in recent years in Sao Paulo, the state imposes certain restrictions that must be considered, and the state congress must also pass on all external obligations. The executive branch of the city government is under an officer locally known as the Prefeito, corresponding in a general way to the mayor of a city in the United States. This officer is elected by popular vote for the usual four-year term.

Public Service

Certain phases of city development and beautification owe much to the utilization of near-by water-courses for developing electrical energy. The Tiete and the Guarapiranga Rivers have been harnessed for this purpose, and vast outlays of capital and engineering work have combined to provide for growth and contingencies. To-day the street car system, the electric light service, and various public industries are supplied with current produced by two leading companies. The trackage of the street railways amounts to a total of about 150 miles,

on which are operated approximately 450 cars. For lighting the streets and parks of Sao Paulo there are nearly 500 arc lamps and about 333,000 incandescent lamps; there are 27,000 private consumers of electricity, and 1,500 or more business concerns purchase electrical power.

For the preservation of public order the city has one of the best organized police forces to be found in the country. It is primarily a military institution and is under the supervision of the Secretary of Justice. of the state, while a colonel of the federal army has direct command. There is a total of about 5,000 men, comprising cavalry, infantry, a fire company, and a civil guard. The latter body of 2,000 men wear the ordinary police uniform and badge and perform the usual city policeman's duty. Hospital ambulance service is always at the call of the police to render aid to the sick or injured.

Schools and Hospitals

Educational advantages are generously provided, there being more than 180 separate city schools for elementary instruction alone, with an enrolled attendance of about 26,000. For higher and professional training there are the Polytechnic School, the School of Arts and Crafts, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Odontological School, all of which are liberally patronized. Naturally, the teach

ing of agricultural sciences is well provided for, and in recent years such courses seem to be gaining in favor among the youth of the city and state. In strictly higher commercial training there is the School of Commerce. In the fields of music and art the city is well supplied with local and foreign teachers and institutions; the Conservatory of Music usually has several hundred students in attendance. McKenzie Institute, a North American school, has also contributed liberally to Brazilian education. In proportion to population, Sao Paulo stands near if not at the head of Brazilian cities in the value of school properties and in expenditures for public and private instruction; yet many young Paulistas take postgraduate courses in foreign countries in the varied professions, to return later to their homes to engage in their respective fields of labor.

Among charitable institutions the Santa Casa da Misericordia stands as the oldest and one of the most prominent of the city. This hospital and home has about 1,200 beds. It is conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, and is also aided by donations from the public. There are also the Asylum of the Good Shepherd, the Samaritan Hospital, the Asylum for Foundlings, and various other charities that care for the aged, the infirm, the blind, the insane and the helpless.

Social Life

Club life, sports and amusements absorb much of the time of the people of Sao

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Paulo. The Geographic and Historic Society, with its large membership, corresponds to leading associations of this nature in Europe and the United States. For those engaged in agricultural production, many of whom maintain handsome residences in Sao Paulo in addition to their plantation homes, the Sociedade Paulista, the Centro Agricola, and the Jockey Club are the rendezvous of prosperous and well-known citi

zens.

There are also numerous social clubs, in many cases with headquarters reflecting large expenditures in buildings and grounds. The Athletic Club's grounds are on a hill in the suburbs, and at certain seasons are alive with people gathered to witness exciting cricket contests. Occasionally match games are played with Argentina or other clubs, and these international events naturally bring forth very large crowds. The Regatta Club, with its attractive home within 15-minutes' street car ride from the center of the city, is especially popular with the younger business men and students, who participate in rowing, swimming and other athletic contests.

There are about 14 daily papers in Sao Paulo, counting afternoon and morning issues, and these journals are well supplied with foreign and domestic news gathered by correspondents and associations all over the world. The city also has several illustrated weekly publications, and the foreign population has for its use a number of journals published in Italian, German, French, Syrian, and other languages.

O Bard embalms the cop in song, few people praise or toast him; whate'er he does is always wrong, so we unite to roast him. He is the butt of hoary jests -canst name the time he wasn't? We damn him if he makes arrests, and damn him if he doesn't. We cuss him daily for his sins, with criticisms that haunt him; for every peeler should be twins-he's never where we want him. We blame him if some schoolboy hits our precious little Willie. We blame him if the cat has fits, or if the cow goes silly. We roast him from his crown to feet, the custom is contagious; and still the copper walks his beat,

calm, patient and courageous. He guards. the traffic, in great style, from blockades and congestions, and answers with a kindly smile five million silly questions. When those who roast him daunted stand, in times of strife and riot, he takes his club and life in hand, and scraps for peace and quiet. He haunts the bad man and the yegg, he walks all night with dangers, and gets a bullet in the leg pursuing deadly strangers; he seeks in dark and noisome lairs the burglar who eschews him. And in our cosy rocking chairs we sit up and abuse him—Walt Mason, in New York Police Bulletin.