The State of Minas Gerais, 1914
"Minas Geraes is the fifth largest State of the Union, but it comes first in point of population, with 4½ millions of people. These are well scattered over the State..."
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From Brazil and the Brazilians by George James Bruce, 1914.
Minas Geraes is the fifth largest State of the Union, but it comes first in point of population, with 4½ millions of people. These are well scattered over the State. The capital, Bello Horizonte, has only about 30,000 inhabitants, but there are several cities with this, and even a greater population. Minas Geraes has no sea-board, though its south-eastern boundary is within sight of the ocean. It enjoys with Sao Paulo the distinction of being one of the two States best served with railways. All its principal cities are connected with the railway system.
The State became famous in the early days of Brazil for the vast mineral wealth and precious stones discovered there. Since its mines were first worked about 25 million ounces of gold have been taken from them. In 1853 the famous "Estrella do Sul" diamond was found at Bagagem in this State. The weight of the stone was 254 carats. Several stones varying in weight from 120 to 200 carats have since been secured in the same district.
The wealth of Minas Geraes in minerals and precious stones of all kinds is almost inestimable. Besides gold it has silver, copper, mercury, zinc, tin, iron, platinum, molybdenum, bismuth, cobalt, barium, tellurium, amianthus, and other metals and elements. Black and green tourmalines, aquamarines, amethysts, beryls, topazes, granadas, rubies, and other precious stones are found in various districts. The country does not appear to have been thoroughly prospected yet, though most of it has been rambled over.
Agriculture and planting have gone ahead rapidly in recent years, and the State now exports wheat and cereals of other kinds, coffee, cotton, rice, potatoes, and beans. Stock-raising and the industries connected with it have been well taken up, with the result that Minas Geraes keeps the Federal Capital in meat, cheese, butter, eggs, and milk.
Bello Horizonte is situated in an upland valley. The city is well laid out and profusely planted with ornamental trees. There are good streets and many fine buildings. The educational institutions are here also a prominent feature of the city. In Juiz de Fora, a city on a high tableland, there is a good commercial academy. Ouro Preto was the capital of Minas Geraes until 1897. Barbacena, with 60,000 people, is the highest up city in Brazil. It is 4300 feet above sea-level, and has a cool, bracing climate.
Minas has many other interesting cities and towns. One that though quite a village is widely known is Caxambu, famous for its mineral waters. These issuing from the slope of a hill above the town have medicinal properties, and are bottled and extensively sold throughout Brazil for table and hotel drinks. The water if not bottled too long is a very agreeable adjunct to a meal.
The city of Diamantina the centre of the diamond industry has 15,000 inhabitants, which is much fewer than Kimberley's population; but Diamantina, located up in the mountains 3700 feet above sea-level, is a far more picturesque town. The city is also a manufacturing and educational centre. Much planting and farming in the surrounding districts help, since the decadence of the diamond industry, to keep the city advancing.
Bruce, George James. Brazil and the Brazilians. Dodd, Mead and Company, 1914.
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