Santos Dumont
ALBERTO, a French aeronaut; born in Brazil, South America, about 1874; was educated largely in France, and on the death of his father, made his home in Paris. He was much interested in the problem of aërial navigation and devoted his time and fortune to the solution of the question. In 1900 he made several partly successful attempts to fly with his dirigible balloon; but it was not until 1901 that he succeeded in perfectly controlling his machine in the face of a strong wind. In September, 1901, he won the Deutsch prize of $20,000 for the navigation of a flying machine under certain conditions.
In January, 1902, he made several successful flights near Monte Carlo. Chevalier Legion of Honor 1904; officer in SÃO-FRANCISCO, a river of Brazil, known in its upper course as the Paraopeba. It rises in the S. W. of the province of Minas Geraes, flows N. N. E. SÃO PAULO through that province and the province of Bahia, forms the boundary between the latter province and Pernambuco, and falls into the Atlantic 50 miles N. N. E. of the town of Sergipe del Rey; length, 1,600 miles, with numerous rapids and cataracts, which make its continuous navigation impossible.
SAÔNE, a river of France, rising in the department of Vosges. After a S. course of 300 miles, it joins the Rhône at Lyons. It is navigable for 232 miles.
SAÔNE, HAUTE (ōt son) (Upper Saône), a department in the east of France; area, 2,074 square miles. It is drained by the Saône, the Ognon, etc., and there are many small lakes. A part of the department belongs to the Vosges mountains. This, which comprises about a fourth of the whole, is rugged and the soil arid, but the low-lying basin is well watered and productive. In addition to cereals, flax and hemp are extensively cultivated; the ordinary fruits generally thrive well, and some districts are almost covered with cherry plantations. Iron is extensively worked, but the main occupations are agriculture and stockraising. Vesoul is the capital. Pop. about 257,000.
SAÔNE-ET-LOIRE, a department of France; area, 3,330 square miles. It is divided by a mountain range, which belongs to the Cevennes, and it takes its name from the two streams which bound the department on the S., E. and W. respectively. The soil on the whole is not of remarkable fertility, the finest part of the department being the valley of the Saône. The vine is extensively cultivated. The most important mineral is coal, of which there is an extensive field; iron is also worked. There are manufactures of leather, glass, linen and cotton goods; and the trade is chiefly in agricultural produce, coal, iron, wine, and leather. Mâcon is the capital. Pop. about 605,000.
SÃO PAULO, a state in the republic of Brazil; area, 112,278 square miles; stretches from the ocean to the Paraná river, and consists of a strip of coast land (8 to 80 miles broad) and an elevated region, the latter occupying all the interior, and rising from 1,600 feet; all this part is healthy, and the climate pleasant. The principal ranges are the Serras da Mantiqueira and do Mar. The rivers are numerous, and many of them of importance; regular steamboat service is maintained on many. Its mineral wealth includes magnetic iron, gold, marble, and precious stones. There is some cattle rearing and a few manufactures; but the chief industry is agri- SAP culture. The principal crop is coffee; and is purified by animal charcoal. It next follow sugar, cotton, tobacco, manioc, maize, and grapes. The exports of the state-by either Rio de Janeiro or its own chief port, Santos-amount to almost 50 per cent. of the total for the republic. Pop. (1920) 4,823,100.
SÃO PAULO, the capital, is on a plain bounded by low hills; 4 miles from the Rio Tiete and 210 W. by S. of Rio de Janeiro. It has a handsome public garden, and tramways running out to the beautiful suburbs. The principal buildings are the old Jesuit college, now the government palace, the bishop's palace, and a celebrated law school. São Paulo is the headquarters of the coffee trade, and railways connect it with the great coffee districts in the interior. There are cotton-weaving and printing works, and manufactories of tobacco, cigars, spirits, matches, gloves, and hats. Pop. (1919) 504,300.