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was found to make good coke. Manganese is abundant. And the iron deposits, of high metallic content, are estimated to contain about 112 billion tons. The iron from this source alone would be sufficient to supply the world for one hundred years!

In 1942, the building of the principal installations was begun. These were to consist of coke ovens, blast and openhearth furnaces, a blooming mill, rail and structural steel mill, plate mill, hot- and cold-strip mills. On the site, the construction of plant foundations, railroad yards, electrical supply, and buildings for repair shops, machine shops, stores and other maintenance services were already under way.

To complete its work Volta Redonda still employs 112 engineers, 110 draftsmen,

17,000 day laborers. Of these, 2,500 have been sent to Santa Catarina to work in the coal preparation plant which has been erected near the mines, whence the treated coal will be shipped by rail and steamer to Volta Redonda. At the mill itself, the coking plant will produce coal tar which will yield the usual byproducts, such as sulphate of ammonia, tar, benzol, toluol, xylol, and naphtha. These are valuable raw materials which Brazil needs for new and important industries.

In the over-all evaluation of Volta Redonda one must make special reference to the housing and welfare for so large a number of workers. A regular town has been built to accommodate Volta Redonda's population. There are 72 residences for engineers and chiefs of adminis

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Building the town with houses, schools, hotels, and stores and supplying it with good water, light, and

sewerage cost about $10,000,000.

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trative staffs; 500 houses for office employees and others; 1,878 houses for mill workers; 120 rooming and boarding establishments; two hotels; two primary schools for 2,800 children; one high school; one technical school; and business blocks, churches, parks, sports fields, an airport,

etc.

Two years ago ex-President Getulio Vargas, the inspirer and guiding spirit of Volta Redonda, declared in a public address: "The fundamental problems of our economy will soon be on a new basis. The semicolonial agrarian country, importer of manufactured goods and exporter of raw materials, will be able to meet the requirements of an autonomous industrial

life, providing its own most urgent defense and equipment needs."

Volta Redonda, modern steel mill and made-to-order industrial town, is ready to begin its life in the battle of production. It will be not only a milestone of our civilization but, as President Vargas declared, "a monumental testimonial of the capacity of our people, instituting, as it will, a new standard of living and a new mentality in our country."

The victory of Volta Redonda will mean a prosperous Brazil. In turn, the prosperity of that mighty southern giant will add to our America's own prosperity, for healthy trade can grow only when we deal with progressive and wealthy customers.

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