path: root/42879-0.txt

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42879 ***

  THE

  ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY

  AT THE

  WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION,

  CHICAGO, 1893

  ++ PLEASE NOTE MAP.




  THE

  ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY

  AT THE

  WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION,

  CHICAGO, 1893.

  GEOGRAPHY, RURAL INDUSTRIES, COMMERCE, GENERAL STATISTICS.

  BY

  CARLOS MARIA DE PENA

  AND

  HONORE ROUSTAN, Director of the General Statistics Office

  TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY J. J. RETHORE.

  MONTEVIDEO.

  1893




NOTICE.


  MONTEVIDEO, December 31st, 1892.

_To the Hon. President of "Chicago Exhibition" Executive Committee:_

On delivering the Spanish text of these notes and statistical
inquiries, the compiling of which we have taken under our care as
a patriotic duty, it is convenient to observe that, if the present
work principally contains facts and particulars only relative to the
year 1891, it is because complete general statistics covering the
year 1892 are not yet to be had, as the "Board of Statistics" do not
publish the "Annual" till the second quarter of the year 1893, and
also because it has been considered better to conserve a certain
general unity in the compiling of facts and particulars. If, in a few
special cases, any particulars of the year 1892 have been quoted, it
was merely with the purpose of supplying to some deficiency.

The time which the Commission has had to dispose has been very short
for a work of this kind; the particulars that existed at the "Board
of Statistics" had to be used, and it was impossible to get any new
ones, at least as completely and as quickly as it was required; and
that if, notwithstanding so many difficulties, it has been possible
to deliver the present work in due time, it is because the Director
of the "Board of General Statistics" had already compiled nearly all
of it, so that the only thing to be done has been to introduce a few
short amplifications, sometimes to change the order, and some others
to make a few important corrections.

The only thing we are sorry for, is not to have received all the
particulars and information we had asked for, so as to give to the
present work a greater novelty and a more seducing form--that, with a
greater number of facts and particulars, might reveal what is, what
can be, and what is to be, one day or other the Oriental Republic,
with all its economical and social elements, and with all the new
elements that will be created, owing to the benefits of peace and
owing to the work and energy of the inhabitants, under the protecting
shield of a severe and provident Administration.

Having concluded this work which was committed to our care, and
thinking that the translator, Mr. J. J. RETHORE, will finish his in
the first fortnight of the next year, we have the honor of saluting
the Honorable President with all our greatest consideration and
esteem.

  HONORE ROUSTAN.

  CARLOS M. DE PENA.


  MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS,
  MONTEVIDEO, Jan. 27, 1893.

  _To the Consul-General:_

     The Government has this day issued the following decree:
     Ministry of Foreign Relations. Decree. Montevideo, January 27,
     1893.

In view of the representation made by the Ministry of Public Works
(Fomento) in a note of present date, the President of the Republic
decrees:

ARTICLE 1. The following are appointed as members of the Commission
representing the Republic of Uruguay in the Universal Exposition at
Chicago: President, Senor Don Prudencio de Murguiondo, Consul-General
in the United States of North America; Special Commissioner, Don
Lucio Rodriguez Diez; and Regular Commissioner, Don Alberto Gomez
Ruano, Dr. Don Eduardo Chucarro, and Don Ricardo Hughes.

ART. 2. The said Commissioners will arrange directly with the Central
Commission at Montevideo in everything relating to their duties.

ART. 3. Let this decree be published and recorded.

  Signed:      HERRERA Y OBES,
               MANUEL HERRERO Y ESPINOSA.

Any information regarding Uruguay will be cheerfully given by the
Commissioners at Chicago till the Exposition closes, and after that
by the Consul-General of Uruguay, at Washington, D. C., or the
following Consuls and Vice-Consuls.


_CONSULS._

  THOMAS A. EDDY,           NEW YORK.
  KAFAEL S. SALAS,          SAVANNAH, GA.
  JOSE COSTA,               SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
  LEONCE RABILLON,          BALTIMORE, MD.
  JAMES E. MARRETT,         PORTLAND, MAINE.
  EDUARDO FORNIAS,          PHILADELPHIA.
  C. C. TURNER,             CHICAGO, ILL.


_VICE-CONSULS._

  ARTHUR CARROLL,           BOSTON, MASS.
  THOMAS C. WATSON,         PENSACOLA, FLA.
  HENRY T. DUNN,            BRUNSWICK, GA.
  W. A. MURCHIE,            CALAIS, MAINE.
  N. B. BORDEN,             FERNANDINA, FLA.
  JAMES HAUGHTON,           {NORFOLK, NEWPORT NEWS
                            {  AND YORKTOWN.
  GEORGE A. BARKSDALE,      RICHMOND, VA.
  WILLIAM N. HARRIS,        WILMINGTON, N. C.
  G. H. GREEN,              NEW ORLEANS.
  F. B. GENOVAE,            ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.
  CHARLES F. HUCHET,        CHARLESTON, S. C.
  R. W. STEWART,            BANGOR, MAINE.
  ALFRED THOMAS SHAW,       MOBILE, ALA.
  ARTHUR HOMER,             GALVESTON, TEXAS.
  H. F. KREBS,              PASCAGOULA, MISS.




THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY.

(SOUTH AMERICA.)


Discovery--Situation--Limits--Configuration--Perimeter--Superficies.

The territory of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, situated within
the temperate zone of South America, was discovered in the beginning
of the sixteenth century by the famous Spanish cosmographer, Juan
Diaz de Solis.

Its geographical situation is comprised between the 30°, 5' and 35°
degrees of latitude S. and the 56th 15' and 60th 45' of longitude W.,
according to the Paris meridian.

North and eastward it confines with the United States of Brazil, and
westward with the Argentine Republic.

Its limits are: On the north, the river Cuareim, the _cuchilla_ or
ridge of hills of Santa Ana, and the right bank of the river Yaguaron
Grande; on the east, the occidental coast of Lake Merin and the river
Chuy, which empties into the Atlantic ocean; on the west, the river
Uruguay, which separates it from the Argentine Republic; on the
south, the river Plate.

Its configuration is somewhat that of a many-sided polygon,
surrounded in its greatest part by water, except its northern part,
where it is bounded by the terrestrial frontier, which separates it
from the Brazilian Republic.

Its perimeter is of 1846 kilom. 850 m., out of which 1073 kilom.
750 m. are sea and river coasts, remaining 773 kilom. 100 m. of
terrestrial line.

Its superficies is 186,920 square kilom.


Aspect--Climate--Meteorology.

The prevailing aspect of the country presents itself with continuous
undulations, formed by the numerous _cuchillas_ or ridges of hills,
which shoot in all directions.

The hills are covered with rich pasture grounds.

Trees of all kinds stand along the banks of the principal rivers and
rivulets which flow, winding about, over great extensions of land,
and water the fertile meadows, forming, under a quiet and generally
clear sky, a charming landscape all over, which invites to employ
usefully such manifold natural riches that have just begun, being
cultivated and worked in a vast scale and with fruitful results.

Although it is not a mountainous country, its highlands are numerous.
The principal heights are the hills of Santa Ana, 490 m.; the hills
of Hædo, 400 m.; the Cuchilla Grande (high hills), 458 m. To all
these hills join a great many others less high, the declivity of
which form the lakes, ponds and rivers that give a great variety to
the hydrography of the country.

The climate all over the Republic is mild and notably healthy; there
exist no malignous, endemical disease whatever. Neither the cold nor
the heat is excessive.

The middle temperature may be calculated to be, in winter-time of 11
degrees, in spring-time of 17 degrees, in summer of 21 degrees, and
in autumn of 16 degrees.

The maximum of heat in the month of January is 36°, and that of cold
in the month of July is 3° above naught.

The climate is a little dryer in the interior than on the coast.
Along the coasts watered by the salt waters of the great mouth of the
river Plate, the climate is thoroughly a sea climate, and the seasons
never get to any extreme.

Meteorological observations, made in Montevideo in the year 1843 and
down to the year 1852 have given a middle term of 244 serene days, 85
cloudy days and 36 rainy days per annum.

The last observations made by the "Uruguay Meteorological Society"
during the year 1891 have given the following results;

Atmospherical pressure, calculated in mm., reduced to 0, middle term,
760,572.

Temperature of the air, in the shade, centigrade degrees, middle
term, 16,23; minimum, m. t. 12.77; maximum, m. t. 19.36.

Tension of the vapor, in mm., middle term, 10.98.

Relative humidity (saturation = 100), middle term, 77.29.

Inferior wind, prevailing direction N. N. E.; rapidity in meters by
second, middle term, 3.81.

Rain, mm., total: 711.8.

Winter is so mild in this country that, in fact, the year may be
divided into two seasons--the hot season, from November till April,
and the cool season, from May till October.

Whatever may be the geographical situation of his own country the
foreigner does not need any previous acclimation; when he comes to
live in this Republic he does not feel any disorder in his health,
owing to the mildness of the temperature.

The most ordinary winds are the N., N. E., E, and S. W. winds. This
last one, called _Pampero_, is pure and vivifying and is rightly
considered as the purifier of the Plate, and one of the principal
causes of the wholesomeness which the country enjoys.


Rivers--Rivulets--Ports--Docks--Dry Docks.

With only looking over the map of the Republic, one gets an idea of
its rich hydrography.

Sixteen rivers flow through the territory, all being joined by more
than 500 rivulets that increase their size and current.

The principal rivers are the Plate and Uruguay, which bathe the
coasts of the Republic, and the Rio Negro (the black river), which
flows all through the center of the territory.

The River plate, at its mouth, between cape Santa Maria and cape
San Antonio, is more than 206 kilometers wide; its superficies are
calculated to be over 39,846 kilom.; its length 361 kilom.; its
breadth, between Colonia and Buenos Ayres, a little more than 51
kilom.

The River Uruguay flows from N. to S., its length through the
Republic is 530 kilom., its breadth from the Guazu down to the point
of Fray Bentos varies from 10 to 15 kilom. After passing Fray Bentos
it becomes narrow, owing to the multitude of islands which form deep
channels. In its normal state it runs three or four miles an hour.
It is navigable up to Paysandu for ships of great tonnage, and up to
Salto for coast trading boats.

The Rio Negro runs through the territory from N. W. to W., with an
extension of 463 kilom. It is navigable for ships of small tonnage
for 94 kilom., more or less.

The other thirteen rivers are: the Cuareim, the Arapey, the Dayman,
the Queguay, the Tacuarembo, the Yi, the Yaguaron, the Tacuari, the
Olimar Grande, the San Jose, the San Salvador and the Santa Lucia.

These powerful arteries, the waters of which are increased by
numberless rivulets that empty into them, flow down to the remotest
parts of the Republic and fertilize them.

The waters of the River Plate, till a little further up than Santa
Lucia are salt; beyond this they always remain fresh.

The waters of the Uruguay, Rio Negro and other rivers of the interior
have the property of petrifying animal and vegetable substances.

Along the 1,073 kilom. of maritime and fluvial coasts, which are
counted from the mouth of the Cuareim River down to the River Chuy,
are the principal ports of the Republic.

The most important ones are Maldonado, Montevideo and Colonia, on
the coasts watered by the River Plate. There exist others of less
importance, like those of Paloma, Coronilla, Castillos Grande, Buceo
and also the bay, called the Englishman's Bay, (Ensenada del Ingles).
Along the River Uruguay we find the ports Nueva Palmira, Carmelo,
Independencia, Paysandu, Salto, Constitucion and Santa Rosa. Along
the Rio Negro, those of Soriano and Mercedes; and along the San
Salvador the port of San Salvador.

The principal port in the Republic is that of Montevideo. It is
estimated as the best port on the River Plate, owing to its natural
conditions. It has the shape of a horse-shoe, being the two extreme
points, which form its entrance, some seven kilom. distant from one
another.

The perimeter of the bay is ten kilom., and six hundred m. It offers
ships a safe shelter, its entrance being towards the N. W. and its
channel between 15 and 17 feet deep. The general depth of the bay is
between 14 and 15 feet. The steamers cast anchor near the entrance of
the port in the exterior bay where the depth gets to 25 feet.

The port of Montevideo is not only the anchoring ground of the ships
that have to load and unload, but it is also the port where all of
the ships stop on their way to the Pacific Ocean, and also all the
men-of-war of the nations which have a naval station in the River
Plate.

All the steamers of the rivers have their anchoring ground in front
of the docks, where they all have their moorings at a distance of 125
m. from the wharf.

Being the principal port where the commercial and naval movement
is most important, Montevideo counts with two beautiful dry docks,
belonging to private persons, one of them is the Maua Dry Dock and
the other one belongs to Jackson and Cibils. They have both been
opened in the quick rock, and have for their service all the most
modern machines, admitting ships of all tonnage.

Besides those two, there are a great many docks, dry docks and
harbors, all over the bay and also in the ports of Salto and Colonia.


Minerals.

The territory of the Republic contains numberless riches not worked
out yet, in precious metals, in copper, iron, lead, etc., in agate
stone, rock, crystal, slate, calcareous stone, marble of all colors,
which could advantageously rival with the marbles of Italy and
Pyrenean mountains.

Rich marble quarries exist in the department of Minas, which could
not have been worked before on account of the difficulties for the
transport, made easier and cheaper now days when the railway reaches
to Minas 123 kilom. distant from the capital.

The Cunapiru gold region is now worked by the following societies:

Zapucay gold mines, with 20 crushing machines.

Uruguay gold fields, with 60 crushing machines.

Hermanos gold minings, with 20 crushing machines.

The French Uruguay gold mine company, the working of which is stopped
for the present, has spent in the region mentioned more than three
millions of dollars, and has established milldams in the rivers
Cunapiru and Corrales so as to employ, for the grinding, a powerful
hydraulic strength.

The working of the mines on a great scale is just beginning now
without interruption.

During the last two years over 72,000 tons of quartz have been
extracted and crushed, giving a result of over 420 kilog. of fine
gold.

Mines of lead and copper and marble quarries are now worked in the
departments of Minas and Maldonado.

The agate stone is exported as it is found in the Catalan hills,
department of Salto, and there exists in Montevideo an agent of the
house established in that department, where are sold the stones
worked out into art objects.

In La Paz, near Montevideo, there exist quarries of red and blue
granite, some beautiful pieces of which are employed as columns in
some important buildings.

Stone is abundant in the Republic. Everywhere in Cerro, La Paz,
Sauce, Colonia and other places they continually open new quarries
which permit a considerable exportation for the works undertaken in
Buenos Ayres and La Plata.

The Colonia quarries alone employ over two thousand workmen.


Vegetation.

The territory does not only count with its native trees the wood of
which is employed in the industries and the rural economy; but all
over its fertile soil do grow, reproducing themselves, and perfectly
accustomed to the climate, nearly all the trees of the other regions.

Among the native trees there are the _nandubay_, that has the
property of petrifying itself under the ground, the _urunday_, the
lapacho, the viraro, the coronilla, the espinillo, quebracho, tala,
araza, the carob-tree, the black laurel, the timbo, guaviyu, copal,
the white, red, brown and yellow willow, the mataojo, paraiso, the
wild acacia, the ceibo and many others, the wood of which may be
employed for making all kinds of casks and buildings, and also for
burning.

"The riches of the forests in this country," says Dr. Ordonana,
perpetual secretary to the Rural Association, "belong to two distinct
categories. The first one extends itself along the banks of the
rivers and rivulets of the interior of the Republic, and the other
is a consequence of the sediments, ground and sands brought down
by the rivers that form the Plate, which, stopped by the banks of
low Uruguay, give birth to plants like those described by clever
botanists as Azara and Bomplan, as belonging to the regions of the
Pilcomayo, Parana and Paraguay.

"The trees are generally represented by a great many out of which no
wood can be made, and small shrubs that give fruits, used in other
times by the natives, gums and resins, stuffs used for weaving and
dyeing, and a great many twining plants, among which there are the
hisipo, of yellow flowers, and also the ilex-mate.

"None of the plants we mention here have been considered, until
now, worth being scientifically cultivated, although our Society
has claimed for it many times, because, neither private persons nor
private congregations, without the help of the government, can
afford the establishment and maintenance of experimental farms, which
are the true guides for studies and observations.

"We have preferred here cultivating foreign trees, whilst we had here
a great many much better than they, as for their wood, shade and
elegance.

"The private efforts of men we cannot forget have changed the aspect
of our forests and also of the cattle of the country, by enriching
it with new seeds and new plants and employing the combined means of
nature and of work."

In many departments the palm tree is found, also many kinds of
fruit and ornamental trees. There are trees, shrubs and herbs with
medicinal properties and good for dyeing and weaving, and also
resinous, aromatic and alkaline ones.

The series of the plants with healing properties is long; there
may be found the sarsaparilla, the marshmallow, the liquorice, the
rhubarb, the camomile, the wild celery and many other plants, which
it would be too long to enumerate here.

Among the fruit trees accustomed to this climate there are: the
orange tree, the apple tree, the pear tree, the apricot tree, the
pomegranate tree, the peach tree, the cherry tree, the lemon tree,
the plum tree, the nut tree, the quince tree, the olive tree, the
medlar tree, the almond tree, the chestnut tree, the fig tree, the
date palm, etc., etc.

Among the other classes we find the poplar, the cypress, the elm,
the oak, the plantain, the acacia, the eucalyptus, the cedar, the
magnolia, the white mulberry tree, etc.

As for the cereals and vegetables, all kinds of them grow here
perfectly and abundantly. Wheat, maize, barley, lucerne, are the
principal rural products. The chick-pea, the French bean, the
gray pea, the bean, the sugar-pea, the hastings, the lentils, the
potatoes, the Spanish potatoes, the carrot, the radishes, the
turnips, the pumpkins, the beet root, etc., and all kinds of pot
herbs, the watermelons, the melon and the strawberry grow also
abundantly.

The grape vine, the flax, the tobacco, the canary seed, the cotton,
the anise-seed, the hemp, the currin seed, the peanuts and many other
classes give good results. During these last years the nursing of the
vine, the olive, the lucerne, and the tobacco has spread itself a
great deal.

As for the flowers, there is such an immense variety of them and such
a plenty that the Republic has deserved the name of "The country of
sun and flowers." The industry of nosegays and crowns has reached an
unheard-of development. Beside the garden plants that belong to the
country, they nurse here all the varieties known in Europe.

The environs of Montevideo count a great many important
establishments dedicated to the commerce of plants, ornamental and
fruit trees, all of the most valuable kinds.


Animals.

The native animal reign counts thirty-nine families; among them we
find the deer, the buck, the otter, the _carpincho_ and many others,
the skins of which are exported.

There are more than 500 species of birds, among them the ostrich, the
white stork, the wood turkey, the swan, the water duck, the heath
cock, the moor cock, the partridge, the wood pigeon, etc. Among the
singing birds the varieties are innumerable. Among the fowl, they
bring up all kinds of hens, the duck, the goose, the pigeon, the
turkey, etc.

There are fourteen species of shells, and seven among the crustaceous.

As for fishes, there are to be found numerous and rich varieties of
salt and fresh water ones. Large quantities of the first class are
taken over to Buenos Ayres every day by the steamers. Pisiculture
is destined to have a great development here. An important fishery
is already established on the coasts of Maldonado. The bringing up
of salmon has already been tried. The only things wanting still are
money and technical directions for the reproduction of the richest
kinds of fishes, so as to supply with great advantage the Montevideo
and Buenos Ayres markets.

The principal industry in the country is the cattle and
horse-breeding, which, as will further on be seen, produces in a
prodigious way. This industry was introduced into the country in the
time of the conquest by the Spaniards.

Actually they improve and refine the cattle and horses by the
crossing with the pure blood animals which continually come from
Europe and the Argentine Republic. Already there exist important
establishments with thoroughly pure blood animals born in the
country, having already begun the wholesale of oxen and cows for
consumption, and of horses for races and coach. The sheep are now a
great deal finer. The improvement began in the year 1832, with two
Negretti and Rambouillet rams, and this is the reason why the wool,
for its good quality, is so much valued in European markets. Besides
the merino sheep, a great many other races have been introduced, and
among them some of very good flesh, like the Southdowns, of which
there are already numerous herds.


Division of the Territory--Situation of the Departments--Centre of
Population.

The territory is divided into nineteen departments. The superficial
area of each of them is as follows:

  ===============+========+==========+===========
                 | Square |  Square  |  Square
   Departments.  | Miles. | Leagues. | Kilometer.
  ---------------+--------+----------+-----------
  Salto          | 4.270  |  474 4/9 | 12.601 61
  Artigas        | 3.855  |  428 3/9 | 11.379 52
  Paysandu       | 4.490  |  498 8/9 | 18.252 34
  Rio Negro      | 2.870  |  318 8/9 |  8.470 88
  Soriano        | 3.125  |  347 2/9 |  9.223 51
  La Colonia     | 1.925  |  213 8/9 |  5.681 68
  San Jose       | 2.359  |  262 1/9 |  6.962 07
  Flores         | 1.531  |  170 1/9 |  4.519 36
  Montevideo     |  .225  |   25     |    664 09
  Canelones      | 1.610  |  178 8/9 |  4.751 95
  Maldonado      | 1.391  |  154 5/9 |  4.105 57
  Rocha          | 3.757  |  417 4/9 | 11.088 88
  Cerro Largo    | 5.058  |  562     | 14.904 41
  Treinta y Tres | 3.232  |  359 1/9 |  9.550 35
  Minas          | 4.230  |  470     | 12.498 32
  Tacuarembo     | 7.120  |  791 1/9 | 21.022 49
  Rivera         | 3.330  |  370     |  9.820 94
  Florida        | 4.102  |  455 7/9 | 12.107 15
  Durazno        | 4.850  |  538 8/9 | 14.314 89
                 |--------+----------+-----------
                 |63.830  |7.036 6/9 |186.920 01
  ===============+========+==========+===========

In the centre of the territory are the departments of Durazno,
Flores, Minas, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres, and Florida, surrounded
by those of Artigas, Rivera and Cerro Largo, situated on the very
frontier of Brazil; the Department of Rocha on the Atlantic Ocean;
those of Maldonado, Canelones, Montevideo, San Jose and Colonia on
the River Plate; and those of Soriano, Rio Negro, Paysandu and Salto
on the River Uruguay.

All those departments count over a hundred centres of population,
that is to say, seven towns, forty-eight villages, and thirty-nine
colonies or smaller centres.


Political Organization.

_Government._--The constitution of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay
establishes the representative republican system.

_Sovereignty._--The sovereignty in all its fullness exists radically
in the Nation, which has the exclusive right of establishing its own
laws in the way determined by the Constitution.

_Religion._--The Religion of the state is the Roman Apostolic
Catholic Church. However, all dissident churches are tolerated and
their religion can be freely practiced; the inhabitants enjoy the
full liberty of thought.

_High Powers._--The three high powers of the state are the
legislative power, the executive power and the judicial power.

_Legislative Powers._--This power is formed by two chambers,
the Senate and Deputies' Chamber. The Senate is compounded with
as many members as departments, these forming the political and
administrative division of the Republic. The election is indirect.

The President of the Senate is the Vice-President of the Republic,
and performs the functions of the first magistrate in case of
absence, illness, resignation or death.

The _Deputies' Chamber_ is composed of 69 members, directly elected
by the people in the way determined by the law on elections.

_Executive Power._--The executive power is represented by the
President of the Republic, who is elected in a general assembly of
the two chambers by nominal voting, being required the absolute
majority of suffrages expressed on ballots which are publicly read
out by the secretary. His functions last four years, and he cannot be
re-elected unless four other years have passed.

The President appoints the Secretaries of State, or Ministers, who
are five--one of Government, one of _Fomento_ (Public Education,
Commerce, Industry and Railways), one of Finance, one of War and
Navy, and one of Foreign Affairs.

_Delegates of the Executive Power._--In every town, the capital of
a department, there is a delegate of the Executive Power called
Political and Police Chief (_Jefe politico y de policia_), and
entrusted to make his dispositions obeyed.

_Judicial Power._--This power is composed of the High Court of
Justice. But as this court has not yet been regularly established,
the United Tribunals of Appeal, composed each of them of three
members, perform the functions of the High Court. It is entrusted
with the superintendence of all the other judges.

There exist in the Republic three Superior Judges (_Jueces
Letrados_), for the civil, two for the commerce, one for the
treasure, one for the criminal, and one for the correctional, and
also nineteen ordinary judges for the departments.

_Justice of the Peace._--There exist a justice of the peace and an
attorney in every one of the sections into which are divided the
departments. The members of the Justice of the Peace are elected by
the people. They give sentence in all the affairs of small importance.

The law of the 11th of February, 1879, has created the Civil State
Register in all the Republic, and the inscription in this Register
has been made obligatory the 1st of July of the same year.

This Register is entrusted to the care of the Justice of the Peace,
who performs the functions of Civil State Register Officer, and in
it are inscribed all the births, marriages, deaths, recognizance and
legitimation of the sons.

The law of the 22d of May, 1885, declared Civil Matrimony obligatory
throughout all the Republic, no other one being acknowledged as
legitimate besides the one celebrated according to the law and
according to the dispositions established in the Civil State
Registers of the 11th of February, 1879, and their regulation and
laws of the 1st of June, 1880, and 1st of July, 1884.

_Municipality_ (Junta Economico-Administrativa.)--There exists a
_Junta_ or Municipality in each department. The members of the
municipality are elected by the people, and they are entrusted with
the care of the municipal interests. The Montevideo municipality has
a very great importance, being entrusted with the care of all the
municipal services except that of the police.

_Citizenship._--The citizens of the state are either natural or
legal. Natural are all those born in the territory; legal, all the
foreigners who ask for citizenship, after having proved their
residence in the country for a determined time.

All the citizens, whether natural or legal, enjoy the right of voting
and _may be elected_ in certain conditions.

The constitution of the Republic sworn on the 18th of July, 1830,
among other articles, contains the following ones:

Art. the 130th. The inhabitants of the state have a right to be
protected in their life, honor, liberty, security and property.
Nobody can be deprived of these rights, but according to the laws.

Art. the 131st. In the territory of the state nobody can be a slave
by birth; the slave trade and introduction of slaves are forever
forbidden in the Republic.

Art. the 132d. All men are equal before the law, be it preceptive,
penal or defensive; the only distinction acknowledged is that of
talent and virtue.

Art. the 134th. The private actions of men, that do not by any way
attack the public order nor harm any third person, belong only to
God, and, therefore, remain beyond the authority of the magistrates.
No inhabitant of the state will be obliged to do what the law does
not bid, neither prevented from doing what the law does not forbid.

Art. the 141st. Thoroughly free is the communication of thought,
by words, private writings, or publications in the public papers,
whatever be the subjects, without requiring any previous censure; the
only responsible person is the author, or, in his stead, the printer,
whenever the writing be abusive, according to the law.

Art. the 146th. All the inhabitants of the state may undertake any
work, industry or commerce they like, provided they do not harm the
public order or the other citizens' rights.

Art. the 147th. The entrance into the territory of the Republic is
free to any one, as also his staying in it or going away with his
goods, provided he respect the police laws and do not harm any third
person.


Language and Customs.

The national language is the Spanish tongue. However, nearly all the
languages are known in the Republic, on account of the great number
of foreigners established here, and the great number of them who have
continuous relations with the country.

Nearly every native who has received a fairly good instruction speaks
some foreign language. In Montevideo, where continually stop boats of
all nations, the practice of French, Italian, English and German is
quite general.

In nearly every department in the Republic, and above all in
Montevideo, exist a great many good schools belonging to the above
mentioned nations.

The foreigner who treads the Uruguay soil does not miss the customs
of his own country, since the ones he meets here are nearly the same
as in the principal European cities.

A great many years of continuous communication with all the nations
of the world has made, that the customs of all the civilized nations
are quite familiar to the natives.


Population--Its Density.

In the Statistical Annuary corresponding to the year 1891 the
population of the Republic has been calculated thus:

  Departments.      Population in 1891.

  Montevideo             234,688
  Canelones               64,772
  Colonia                 39,309
  Soriano                 32,617
  San Jose                26,528
  Flores                  13,737
  Florida                 29,078
  Rocha                   22,237
  Maldonado               15,757
  Cerro-Largo             25,741
  Minas                   23,466
  Treinta y Tres          17,297
  Salto                   32,827
  Artigas                 17,367
  Durazno                 25,020
  Paysandu                29,962
  Rio Negro               15,970
  Tacuarembo              25,166
  Rivera                  16,629
                         -------
      Total              708,168

In the year 1829 the population of the Republic was 74,000 souls, and
in the year 1879, 438,245.

The increase of the population has produced itself according to the
following proportions:

  In 1882   505,207 inhabitants.
     1883   520,536     "
     1884   559,668     "
     1885   582,858     "
     1886   596,463     "
     1887   614,257     "
     1888   648,297     "
     1889   683,943     "
     1890   706,524     "
     1891   708,168     "

The increase of the population during the year 1891, if compared with
the population in 1879, is of 269,923 souls, that is to say, 61.59
per cent.

If we add to the total of inhabitants during the year 1891 a 6 per
cent. on account of the omissions which probably took place in the
calculations (omission of inscriptions of births, of declarations in
the lists of passengers, etc.), we have a population for the whole
Republic of, more or less, 750,658 inhabitants.

Dividing the population into nationalities we see that out of a
hundred inhabitants there are 70 natives and 30 foreigners. In
Montevideo, however, the proportion varies, being of 53 natives and
47 foreigners.

The density of the population throughout the Republic is of 3.78
inhabitants for each square kilometre.

The Department of Montevideo, which has the smallest superficial
area, is the most peopled of all the Republic, (353.44 inhabitants
for each square kilometre); in it resides nearly the third part of
the population of the country. Next to Montevideo, the Department of
Canelones is the most peopled, (13.63 inhabitants for each square
kilometre.)

The above mentioned results are an evident proof that the territory
of the Republic is still very little peopled, and that there is very
easily room enough in it for many millions of inhabitants.

Although the density of the population be but of 3.78 inhabitants
for each square kilometre, it is, however, superior to the density
of the population in the Argentine Republic, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia,
Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay and Nicaragua, none of which get to that
figure.


Movement of the Population.

From the year 1887 till the year 1891 have taken place in the
Republic:

  Years.      Births.    Deaths.    Marriages.

  1887         25,132    12,573       3,428
  1888         25,832    12,077       3,976
  1889         26,981    12,882       4,175
  1890         27,899    15,174       4,082
  1891         28,696    13,146       3,524
              -------    ------      ------
              134,540    65,852      19,185

  Middle yearly
    term:
               26,908    13,170       3,837

  Proportion out
    of 1000
    inhabitants:
                 37.9      18.5         5.4

So as to appreciate better the rank occupied by the Republic among
the other countries as regards the movement of the population, the
following figures may be considered as points of comparison:

                Births per      Deaths per       Marriages
  Countries.      1000             1000           per 1000
               Inh'bit'nts.    Inh'bit'nts.     Inhabitants.

  France          25.8            23.8              7.7
  Italy           37              29.1              7.8
  Scotland        35              21.4              7.1
  Ireland         26.9            17.8              4.8
  Austria         38.6            31                8.5
  Swiss           30.1            23.2              7.4
  Belgian         32              22.4              7.2
  Sweden          27.1            18.9              6.5
  Norway          31.3            17.2              6.9
  Denmark         31.1            19.7              7.8
  Oriental Repub.
    of Uruguay    37.9            18.5              5.4

Therefore the births in the Republic prove to be in a greater
proportion than in any of the mentioned countries, Austria being
excepted, while the deaths, with the exception of Sweden and Norway,
is in a smaller proportion, as also the marriages, Ireland being
excepted.

This great number of births and the corresponding diminution in the
figures of death prove how easy is the purchase of the elements
necessary to life; and how very excellent are the climate and the
salubrity in the Republic.


Movement of Passengers.

Though the Republic has many ports Montevideo is, nevertheless, where
takes place the greatest concourse of passengers.

The movement from abroad and from the Argentine and Uruguay coasts
has given the following results:

  Years.    Passengers.    Per Month.    Per Day.

  1883        60,388         5,033         167
  1884        91,872         7,656         255
  1885        99,059         8,255         275
  1886        89,567         7,464         248
  1887       102,396         8,533         284
  1888       133,033        11,086         366
  1889       153,811        12,817         427
  1890       150,447        12,537         417
  1891       104,945         8,745         291

The diminution which begins in the year 1890 is due to the economical
crisis that began in that year, and the consequences of which are
still to be felt.


Immigration.

The territory of the Republic being abundant in all natural resources
and elements necessary to make easy any kind of work or industry one
chooses to undertake, and the immigrant getting very soon accustomed
to a climate and customs very little different from those of his own
country, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay offers therefore all kinds
of advantages to the honest and laborious immigrant who comes here
in search of a remuneration greater than that he can earn in his own
country.

Thus is explained the large number of foreigners of all nationalities
who have chosen this country as their second countryland, settling
themselves here definitely and partaking with their families a wealth
which allows them a good living, and is the base of their future
modest or great fortune.

In spite of the political disorders, the time of which, it may be
said, has passed, and in spite of the economical crisis that, with
more or less intensity, are common to all the countries that rapidly
advance and progress, the Oriental Republic has always seen a great
and constant affluence of arms and capital, that have contributed in
a few years to display powerfully its productive energy, to create
establishments and manufactures which, with their products, have
increased the relations of exchange with all the markets of the world.

Although the present times be not very favorable to the immigratory
movement, the country is bound to recover soon, very soon, from the
disorders suffered during the last crisis.

Our own history, and also that of the other American nations, teach
us that in a period of restrictions in business and settling
accounts, the immigration always diminishes, but increases again as
soon as it begins to feel the first symptoms of reaction towards a
period of prosperity.

The following figures demonstrate the oscillations in the immigratory
movement, coinciding with critical or prosperous periods:

Immigratory Movement in the Port of Montevideo from 1867 to 1891.

  ------+--------+-----------+-----------+------------+----------
        |        |Present'd  |           |            |
        |        |themselves |Have lived |Employed    |
        |        |to the     |at the     |in the      |
        |        |Emigrant   |Emigrant   |Capital or  |Placed by
  Years.|Entries.|Board.     |Board.     |Departments.|the Board.
  ------+--------+-----------+-----------+------------+----------
  1867  | 17.356 |  1.913    |    187    |   2.586    |  1.802
  1868  | 16.892 |  2.479    |    261    |   4.179    |  2.335
  1869  | 20.435 |  1.861    |     87    |   2.261    |  1.661
  1870  | 21.148 |  1.305    |    110    |   2.136    |  1.210
  1871  | 17.912 |    743    |     22    |   2.555    |    714
  1872  | 11.516 |    916    |     41    |   6.133    |    877
  1873  | 24.339 |  1.480    |     51    |   6.651    |  1.444
  1874  | 13.759 |  2.708    |    149    |   4.768    |  2.649
  1875  |  5.298 |  1.493    |    113    |   5.699    |  1.401
  1876  |  5.570 |  1.469    |     91    |   4.246    |  1.432
  1877  |  6.160 |  1.913    |    120    |   2.810    |  1.884
  1878  |  9.464 |  1.594    |    103    |   2.605    |  1.518
  1879  | 10.829 |  1.587    |     13    |   2.206    |  1.515
  1880  |  9.203 |  1.933    |  1.255    |   2.493    |  1.845
  1881  |  8.336 |  1.416    |  1.251    |   1.700    |  1.322
  1882  | 10.116 |  1.124    |  1.562    |   2.846    |  1.493
  1883  | 11.086 |  1.067    |  1.274    |   1.402    |  1.022
  1884  | 11.954 |  1.272    |  1.019    |   1.531    |  1.163
  1885  | 15.679 |  1.857    |  1.320    |   1.236    |  1.266
  1886  | 12.291 |  1.383    |    833    |   1.068    |  1.072
  1887  | 12.867 |  1.406    |  1.144    |   1.619    |  1.047
  1888  | 16.581 |  1.622    |  1.304    |   1.650    |  1.243
  1889  | 27.349 | 10.446    | 10.446    |  10.930    |  8.867
  1890  | 24.117 |  8.816    |  8.816    |  11.195    |  8.738
  1891  | 11.916 | ......    | ......    |  ......    |  .....
  ------+--------+-----------+-----------+------------+----------

The different nations to which belonged the immigrants that presented
themselves to the General Emigration and Immigration Office in search
of work, during the above-mentioned years are as follows:

  ======+=====+=====+=======+=====+====+======+======+======+========+======
        |Span-|Ital-|       |Eng- |Ger-|      |Argen-|Portu-| Other  |
  Years.|ish. |ians.|French.|lish.|man.|Swiss.|tine. |guese.|nations.|Total.
  ------+-----+-----+-------+-----+----+------+------+------+--------+------
  1867  | 360 |  743|  256  | 161 | 104|  33  | 31   | 54   |   171  | 1.913
  1868  | 508 |1.093|  358  | 241 | 100|  38  | 24   | 49   |    68  | 2.479
  1869  | 620 |  592|  244  | 146 | 119|  30  | 22   | 44   |    44  | 1.861
  1870  | 514 |  376|  205  |  61 |  37|  17  | 15   | 18   |    62  | 1.305
  1871  | 308 |  214|  106  |  16 |  32|   9  | 12   | 13   |    33  |   743
  1872  | 423 |  202|  181  |  44 |  26|  10  |  1   | 12   |    17  |   916
  1873  | 606 |  346|  359  |  26 |  27|  35  | 20   | 22   |    39  | 1.480
  1874  |1.086|  961|  437  |  16 |  54|  74  | 21   | 22   |    37  | 2.708
  1875  | 609 |  402|  279  |   8 |  55|  53  | 51   | 12   |    24  | 1.493
  1876  | 453 |  500|  271  |  11 |  37|  47  | 43   |  4   |   103  | 1.469
  1877  | 571 |  569|  358  |  35 |  54| 121  | 85   | 34   |    86  | 1.913
  1878  | 529 |  492|  208  |  10 |  72|  48  | 46   | 19   |   170  | 1.594
  1879  | 387 |  721|  230  |  31 |  43|  52  | 63   | 14   |    46  | 1.587
  1880  | 405 |  939|  258  |  42 |  74|  74  | 73   |  9   |    59  | 1.933
  1881  | 435 |  646|  128  |  12 |  38|  25  | 62   | 11   |    59  | 1.416
  1882  | 370 |  518|   76  |  25 |  41|  14  | 22   | 14   |    44  | 1.124
  1883  | 428 |  380| ....  |   7 |  75|  18  | 31   | 15   |   113  | 1.067
  1884  | 428 |  537|  103  |  12 |  62|  13  | 41   |  8   |    68  | 1.272
  1885  | 607 |  916|   98  |  19 |  41|  11  | 40   | 14   |   111  | 1.857
  1886  | 653 |  553|   61  |   8 |  29|   7  | 24   | 16   |    32  | 1.383
  1887  | 618 |  423|  104  |  26 |  46|  14  | 18   | 34   |   123  | 1.406
  1888  | 738 |  513|  176  |  27 |  45|  14  | 12   | 43   |    54  | 1.622
  1889  |1.399|6.932|  670  |  78 | 126|  22  | 14   | 41   | 1.164  |10.446
  1890  |1.073|7.341|  170  |  14 |  16|  13  |  3   | 19   |   167  | 8.816
  ------+-----+-----+-------+-----+----+------+------+------+--------+------

Immigration has come here of its own accord, during times of
prosperity; but the government has also tried to call it here by
making easier the coming of immigrants from Europe, and their being
led into the interior of the country, and also by giving land to
colonists or by exhonerating others from all duties and taxes, either
direct or indirect.

During the years hereafter mentioned the government has given the
following number of passages to immigrants who required them:

  In the year 1887   255 passages.
      "  "    1888   124    "
      "  "    1889  2727    "
      "  "    1890  1133    "

The immigrant enjoys here a complete and perfect liberty. Being a
foreigner he owes no service whatever to the state. Dedicated to
work, he is always respected, and wherever he may go in the Republic,
he is always sure to find some of his countrymen who, knowing well
the country and talking his own language, will give him all the
information and references he may require. Besides this, on landing,
he always finds interpreters who give him all the explanations he may
need.


Wages.

The wages which are generally earned are according to the
professions, more or less, as follows:

_Apprentices_--Boarding and clothes, generally, per month.

_Nurses_--From $6 to $12 per month, with lodging and board.

_Bakers_--From $18 to $36 per month, without board.

_Brewers_--From $40 to $50 per month, without board.

_Wheelrights_--From $1.50 to $2.50; workmen 80c. to $1.00 per day,
without board.

_Chairmakers_--From $1.60 to $2 per day, without board.

_Brickmakers_--From $1.00 to $1.20 per day, with board.

_Hatmakers_--From $18 to $22 per month, without board.

_Carpenters_--From $1.40 to $2.30 per day, without board.

_Carters_--From $16 to $24 per month, without board.

_Braziers_--From $50 to $80 to $100 per month, without board.

_Colliers and Firemen_--From $20 to $27 per month, without board.

_Cigarettemakers_--$1.20 per day, without board.

_Cigarmakers_--From $1.50 to $1.80 per day, without board.

_Coachmen_--From $20 to $25 per month, without board.

_Hairdressers_--From $14 to $20 per month, with board.

_Stagecoachmen_--From $35 to $40 per month, without board.

_Confectioners_--From $20 to $40 to $60 per month, without board.

_Foremen_--From $30 to $35 per month, without board.

_Boltmakers_--From $1.20 to $1.50 per day, without board.

_Shoemakers_--From $15 to $20 per month, with board.

_Seamstresses_--From 60c. to 80c. per day, with board.

_Cooks_ (_women_)--From $12 to $16 per month, with lodging and board.

_Cooks_ (_men_)--From $15 to $35 per month, with lodging and board.

_Servants, in general_--From $10 to $18 per month, with board and
lodging.

_Cabinetmakers_--From $1.50 to $2.00 per day, without board.

_Gilders_--$2.00 per day, without board.

_Brush and Broommakers_--From $1.00 to $1.20 per day, without board.

_Reapers_--From $10 to $15 per month, with board.

_Tinmen_--From $1.20 to $1.50 per day, without board.

_Blacksmiths_--From $1.50 to $1.60; help, $1.10 per day, without
board.

_Waiters_ (_coffee houses, hotels._)--From $15 to $20 per month, with
lodging and board.

_Lackeys, Footmen_--From $15 to $20 per month, with lodging and board.

_Watchmakers_--From $40 to $60 per month, without board.

_Gardeners_--From $18 to $30 per month, without board.

_Day Laborers, in general_--From 80c. to $1.00 per day, without board.

_Machinists_--In printing houses, $80; on board steamers, 1st
machinist, $180; 2nd machinist, $115; 3rd machinist, $90 per month.

_Masons_--From $1.80 to $2.20; workmen, from $1.00 to $1.20 per day,
without board.

_Marblecutters and Polishers_--From $1.20 to $1,50 per day, without
board.

_Mattressmakers_--From $12 to $15 per month, with board.

_Sailors, Mariners_--From $15 to $20 per month, with board.

_Mechanics_--From $60 to $100 to $150 per month, without board.

_Milliners_--From $20 to $30 per month, without board.

_Wet-nurses_--From $20 to $30 per month, without board.

_Pastry Cooks_--From $35 to $40 per month, without board.

_Fishermen_--From $20 to $25 per month, without board.

_Painters_--From $1.20 to $2.50 per day, without board.

_Photographers_--From $35 to $55 per month, without board.

_Potters_--From $1.50 to $2.00 per day, with board.

_Schoolmasters_--From $30 to $60 per month, with board.

_Firework-makers_--From $16 to $17 per month, without board.

_Bookbinders_--From $30 to $35 per month, without board.

_Sawyers_--From $1.80 to $2.00 per day, without board.

_Saddlers_--From $1.20 to $1.50 per day, without board.

_Locksmiths_--From $1.50 to $1.80 per day, without board.

_Tailors_--From $20 to $30 per month, without board.

_Stonecutters_--From $1.20 to $1.60 per day, without board.

_Turners_--From $1.80 to $2.50 per day, without board.

_Dyers_--From $15 to $35 per month, without board.

_Bookkeepers_--From $50 to $200 per month, without board.

_Coopers_--From $1.20 to $1.50 per day, without board.

_Typographers_--From $40 to $45 per month, without board.

_Basketmakers_--From $1.00 to $1.20 per day, without board.

_Glaziers_--From $1.20 to $1.50 per day, without board.

The working day consists of eleven hours, an hour being discounted
for dinner and resting.

The rent of the lodgings for workpeople in the town is five or seven
dollars per month.


Territorial Property.

According to the declarations made in the year 1882 for the payment
of the contribution tax, called the Immovable Contribution, the value
of the property in the Republic rose to $211,991,679.00.

In the year 1890, eight years later, although the cattle and some
other products were declared free from contribution tax the value of
property was $265,871,559, an increase of $53,879,880.

The number of proprietors in 1882 were 39,590, and in the year 1890
50,189, an increase of 10,599.

By nationalities, the proprietors in 1890 were in the following
proportion:

Natives, 24,946, or 49.70 per cent.

Foreigners 25,243, or 50.30 per cent.

The declared value according to nationalities was as follows:

  24,946    Natives     representing      $129,130,344.00
     785    Argentine,        "              6,343,074.00
   4,620    Brazilians        "             31,766,571.00
   8,886    Italians          "             34,620,749.00
   6,828    Spaniards         "             30,845,671.00
   2,582    French            "             16,470,055.00
     451    English           "             10,386,895.00
     330    Germans           "              1,879,265.00
     344    Swiss             "              1,073,996.00
     204    Portuguese        "              1,540,471.00
       7    Belgians          "                 31,238.00
       7    Swedish           "                 12,438.00
      32    Austrians         "                391,746.00
       4    Danes             "                 50,524.00
      24    North Americans   "                242,941.00
       3    Peruvians         "                  2,748 00
       6    Chilians          "                 40,143.00
       1    Dutch             "                  2,700.00
       8    Paraguayans       "                 33,496.00
     121    Other nations     "              1,006,494.00
  ______                                 _________________
  50,189                                  $265,871,559.00
  ======                                 =================

The capital by nationalities gives the following proportion:

Native $129,130,344, or 48.57 per cent.

Foreign $136,741,315, or 51.43 per cent.

Out of the declared values Montevideo represents 13,812 proprietors
and $128,280,000.00; to the other departments, 36,377 proprietors and
$137,591,559.00.


Transfer of Property.

The operations, which during the following years, have been declared
in the Registers for the purchase and sale of immovable properties,
give the following totals:

  1885             $14,276,454
  1886               9,859,703
  1887              18,683,365
  1888              35,108,468
  1889              63,546,624
  1890              29,273,198
  1891              22,267,381


Mortgages.

From the year 1888 to the year 1891 the yearly capital put out at
interest with securities on land has been:

  In  1888          $12,788,660
   "  1889           27,821,672
   "  1890           22,569,360
   "  1891           13,545,853


How Easily One Becomes a Land Owner.

There exist in Montevideo great agencies, like the one called the
"Industrial" created in the year 1874, by Mr. Francis Piria, the sole
object of which is to make easy the division of the property in the
capital and the neighborhood, by purchasing large zones of land and
by dividing them into square _cuadras_, or fractions of over four
English acres, when they belong to the town district, and into the
best possible form outside.

This agency has created many villages out of the Department of
Montevideo, as "Recreo de las Piedras," "Joaquin Suarez," "Buenos
Ayres," "Bella Italia" and many others.

The centres of population created by the "Industrial" are over a
hundred; some of them have been aggregated to the town district,
everyone of them becoming important centres, on account of the number
of the inhabitants, and of the increasing value of the land, sold
formerly very cheap, and payable at the rate of $2.00 per month.

All the fractions of land have generally been bought by work-people
who have built their own houses.

According to the general balance and informations collected down to
the year 1891, the "Industrial" agency had made 52,317 proprietors,
and the fractions of land sold up to that time were 183,000, the
result of the sale being $79,411. The number of houses was 8000.

Those who bought some of those fractions of land a few years ago,
payable in the above mentioned conditions, at the rate of 20 or 25
cents per metre, are now-a-days owners of properties which are worth
two, three, four and five times more.

The very same thing happens in the colonies or agricultural centres
established in many departments of the Republic, the founders
of which have given to the settlers all kinds of easy means for
establishing themselves.

Families of work-people that had arrived here with nothing but the
means of facing the very first necessities have become, after a few
years, owners of the land they had bought, payable monthly, and
having increased their possessions by buying new land, they have
enlarged the sphere of their operations and are now able to work over
their own properties in a fully independent and easy situation.

The advantages of such a system will be easily understood.

With what a workman or settler pays monthly for the rent of the land,
he makes himself, after a short time, the owner of the land and of
the house he lives in, as the monthly rent redeems with a small
interest the value of the property.

In such conditions great many people are known who enjoy all these
advantages, and many more, who being the proprietors of the land
purchased in such a way have made small fortunes.

There cannot be a better way imagined of fixing the immigrants or
giving to the peasant all the means of becoming a proprietor and of
consecrating himself to highly profitable agricultural industries.


Value of the Land.

The population has not yet reached a great density. The best part
of the territory is destined to cattle, sheep, and horse breeding,
in establishments called _estancias_. _A suerte or estancia_ is
equivalent to 1992 hectares 2787 metres, or one league and a half
in length by a half league in width, or three quarters of a square
league or 4,923 square acres 333 square yards.

The price of a _suerte_ varies according to the department and also
to its situation. The lowest price of a _suerte_ is generally no less
than $7,000 and rises above $50,000 in the departments quite close to
the capital, that are still devoted to pastoral land.

In the north, next to the frontier, land may be purchased at the rate
of $3 to $10 an hectare.

In the centre, from $6 to $15.

In the south, the land rises to higher prices, which vary from $10 to
$100 per hectare.

The agricultural land in the environs of towns and villages, and in
the departments of Canelones, Colonia, Soriano, San Jose, Paysandu,
Salto costs $10, $20, $40, $50 and $100 an hectare. In the department
of Montevideo it rises to $100, $200 and $300, according to the
situation.

There are no restrictions or difficulties in purchasing or transfer.

Great companies established abroad, above all in England, and others
in the Republic have purchased great tracts of land in order to
improve cattle breeding, agriculture, sand and stone extraction along
the banks of the River Plate and Uruguay, and other important rural
industries.

During these last two years the agricultural industry has notably
spread itself, above all that of cereals, forage, firewood trees,
vine, olive trees, tobacco and oleoginous and textile plants.

The lowest rate at which a _suerte_ of land for cattle feeding can
be hired is $400 a year. There are fields, however, that can produce
two, three and four times more. The hectare of agricultural land may
be hired at a yearly price of $1.20. In some departments, like that
of Canelones, where the agricultural industry has improved a great
deal, the yearly renting is $4.00 and more.

The land pays the property tax or _Contribucion Inmobiliaria_, at the
uniform rate of 6-1/2 per thousand in relation with the value that
the law has fixed to the land according to the departments.


Agriculture.

The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is an essentially pastoral country.

Its fields, covered with good and nutritive grass, are nearly all
of them divided into _estancias_ for cattle breeding, that, to the
present time, is the principal source of riches of the country.

Agriculture, however, has already reached a high degree of importance
in the departments of Montevideo, Canelones, Colonia, San Jose,
Soriano, Paysandu, Salto, Florida, Durazno, Maldonado. It is not
quite so important in the other departments as in the three first
ones. However, in the environs of the villages and centres of
population, there are great many farms and agricultural centres that
produce cereals and vegetables for local consumption. The exceeding
crop, in the prosperous years, is immediately sent to the principal
commercia centres of the Republic, which allows the export of corn,
flour, wheat, canary-seed, flax, trefoil, barley, etc.

Although the Republic counts with a fertile soil, and finds itself
in the very best conditions for any kind of agricultural industry,
agriculture, however, remains still in a secondary degree, in spite
of its late improvements, and in spite of the large extension of
land which began last year to be cultivated.

However, after all the necessities of the country have been satisfied
there generally remains an important surplus of agricultural and
rural products, when the crop is good, that may be calculated over
$1,200,000.00.

The wheat grown in Uruguay is reputed to be the best in all South
America, and effectively got the gold medal in the Universal Paris
Exhibition in the year 1878.

In this country one _fanega_ of wheat (the fanega is equivalent to
105 or 113 kilogs more or less) produces sometimes from 20 to 30
fanegas; one of maize produces from 150 to 200, one of barley from 18
to 30.

Besides wheat and maize, the sowing of which is most important, the
grape vine, the olive, tobacco, flax, canary-seed, hemp, chick-pea,
beans of all kinds, potatoes, (two crops a year,) peas, lentils,
Spanish potatoes, beet-roots, etc., etc., are also cultivated with
very good results.

As we have said, the vegetables are produced in a great variety and
abundance.

The tobacco culture is also a new source of wealth opened to the
economical movement of the country. Although this industry still goes
rather slowly, there are already many establishments in the interior
where it has been undertaken with very good results.


Agricultural Centres.

Many are the agricultural centres, generally known by the name of
_colonies_, established all over the Republic, that, owing to the
special conditions of the land which is fit for all cultures, have
notably improved.

Among the principal colonies, or agricultural settlements, there are:

1st. The _Valdense Colony_, founded in 1858. It has an area of 19,432
square cuadras (14,338 hectares 5,035 metres).

Its population in 1884 was 306 families, forming a total of 1,681
inhabitants. To-day, there are more than 2,200 inhabitants. It
possesses the best agricultural machinery, steam-mills, and steam
and water mills, good carpenters, blacksmiths, and in a word all
the establishments necessary to the unceasing progress of such
agricultural centres. It has two Evangelical churches, a public
library with over a thousand books, eight schools, a postoffice, a
municipal commission and a police office.

2d. _Swiss_, _Quevedo_ and _Spanish Colonies_. The _Swiss Colony_ was
founded in 1863. It has an area of 8,782 square cuadras, or 6,480
hectares, 709 metres. The _Quevedo Colony_ has an area of 5,091
square cuadras, or 3,756 hectares and 5,521 metres, and the _Spanish
Colony_ 9,600 square cuadras, or 7,083 hectares, 6,576 metres.

These three agricultural centres form a total of 17,320 hectares,
over which live more than 420 families. They possess steam-mills,
schools, many commercial establishments. In the Swiss Colony
there are two churches--a Catholic and Protestant. The public
administration of these settlements consist of a municipal
commission, a justice of peace and an attorney. They also have a
postoffice.

3d. _Sauce Colony._ The first settlers who cultivated the soil in
this agricultural centre were some Swiss people who, in the year
1879, hired the land where it now exists, In the years 1880 and 1881
other families came and settled themselves close to the first ones.
In 1883, thirty families more came from the Valdense Colony; so that
in 1884 the Sauce Colony counted 59 families.

4th. _Riachuelo Colony._ It is 10 kilometres distant, eastward, from
Colonia del Sacramento. The first settlers have paid for all the land
they had bought, being now the sole owners of it.

The formation and improvements of this colony are owed to the mere
intelligence and work of the settlers. The land is of a very good
quality and especially fit for wheat. The other plants like maize,
barley, beans, potatoes, etc., give also a very good result. The
settlers are mostly foreigners; and most of them are Italians. The
colony possesses a large public building, which is destined to be the
school and the church; besides this, it has also a national school
of the first degree. The steam-mill that exists works only for the
colony.

The above-mentioned colonies are situated in the Department of
Colonia, and besides those, there are also the _Arrue_ and _Belgrano
Colonies_.

5th. _Nuevo Berlin Colony._ In the Department of Rio Negro there
exists, since a few years, the Nuevo Berlin Colony. It has over 1,033
hectares in full culture, and possesses steam ploughs and all kind of
agricultural machinery.

6th. _Porvenir Colony._ The colonies in the Department of Paysandu
are the _Villa Rosalia_ and _Esperanza_ colonies, of recent
foundation, and the so-called _Porvenir_ colony. This last one is
the most important one, counting already over 1,690 inhabitants.
The languages spoken in the colony are Spanish and Italian. The
soil cannot be better, and is fit for all kinds of culture. It
possesses steam and water mills, a threshing Rausanes machine and a
Hornsby. It has three schools--a public one and two private ones--and
many societies, every one of them working for the improvement of
the colony, and also other societies, the object of which is the
purchase of all the necessary agricultural machinery. The public
administration consists of a justice of peace, two attorneys, a
police officer and a postoffice.

7th. _General Rivera Colony._ It is situated in the Department of
Artigas, and has an extension of 4,987 hectares, over which they
cultivate tobacco, maize, _mani_ and _mandioca_; it counts now over a
hundred families.

8th. _Francisco Aguilar_ and _Francisco Dastre Colonies_. They are
situated in the Department of Maldonado. The executive power, in
the year 1883, ordered the necessary studies to be made for the
demarcation of the land where the Francisco Aguilar Colony was to be
established. Out of the 2,114 hectares which formed it, 1,359 were
destined to general cattle feeding ground, and 755 to ploughing. The
administration of the colony is intrusted to a directive commission.

In the year 1884 was established the Francisco Dastre Colony, in
which 368 hectares are destined to ploughing and 59 to cattle feeding.

9th. _Santa Teresa Colony._ Situated in the Department of Rocha and
founded on June 24th, 1885; it has 5,534 hectares, more or less.

10th. _Igualdad Colony._ It was founded in 1875, in the Department of
Minas. It has a church and a school.

11th. _Harriague_, _San Antonia_ and _Lavalleja Colonies_. In the
Department of Salto exist the colonies called, "Harriague," "San
Antonio," "Lavalleja," "Cosmopolita" and "Estrella" that have all
been founded a short time ago.

The Harriague colony has an area of 1860 square cuadras, or 1372
hectares. The principal culture is wheat and maize.

The San Antonio colony was founded by the government. The land was
divided into small _estancias_ or _chacras_, or farms of 20 cuadras,
more or less, each, that were given to some old servants of the state
and settlers and are now consecrated to the sowing of cereals.

The Lavalleja colony was founded in a field of government land, and
occupied by many native families. The government ordered the land to
be divided into _chacras_, every one of them being given to the first
settlers and some old servants as a reward for their services.

12th. _Paullier Colony._ In the department of San Jose is situated
the colony of Paullier Brothers, founded in the year 1883. Its
extension is 6,298 square cuadras or 4,647 hectares. In 1884 its
population was 400 inhabitants; now it may be calculated to be more
than 500. The quality of the soil cannot be better. The cheeses of
this colony are the best made in the country, and constitute an
important industry. The cows are all of good breed, and besides them
the colony possesses a large number of valuable animals imported
directly from Europe and bred and fed under shed.

13th. _Rio Negro Colony._ This colony is situated in the tenth
district of the department of Tacuarembo, between the Rio Negro and
the rivulets Cardozo and Cacique grande. It has a superficies of
38,216 square cuadras, (28,198 hectares, 8,602 metres), out of which
1,249 square cuadras, (921 hectares, 6,133 metres) form the district
of the village called "Teniente General M. Tajes"; the remaining part
is divided into 361 _chacras_ or farms.

The area of each _chacra_ varies from 29-1/2 to 88-1/2 hectares.

A third part of the _chacras_ are already occupied, and although
the colony is of a quite recent foundation the results obtained by
the settlers cannot be hoped to be better. The colony possesses
already six dairies. It is sure to become, very soon, one of the most
important agricultural settlements, on account of its good situation,
which permits the easy exporting of its products by the railway, not
only to the interior of the Republic but also to the very frontier of
Brazil.

The land is very good for plowing, on account, also, of its situation
and of the many rivers that run through it, and is quite fit for the
sowing of wheat and maize, and also for the culture of tobacco and
the grape vine.

The village "Maximo Tajes" that belongs to the same colony has a
railway station, a fruit market, a public square, a postoffice, a
police-office, and very soon they are going to build a church and a
school.

14th. _Antonio Crespo Colony._ It was founded in 1891 in the sixth
district of the department of Tacuarembo, in the place called
"Aldea," a league and a half distant from San Fructuoso.

15th. _Stajano Colony._ In the department of Durazno and at a short
distance of the so-called town, the capital of the department, was
recently founded a new colony, called "Stajano Colony." It has an
area of 7,378 hectares and between 300 and 400 inhabitants; all along
the river Yi it possesses many thick woods. The railway station is
only one kilometre distant from the town.

During these last two years, in all the rural districts devoted to
cattle feeding, they have everywhere begun preserving part of the
land for the culture of cereals, potatoes, etc. ... forages and trees
fit for cutting and burning. Thus the production of the land has
been increased still, and also the rural activity, preparing a total
transformation in the cattle feeding and general rural industry of
the country.

16th. _Piriapolis._ So as to give an idea of what the collective
capital can do and what results all undertakings may obtain, the
object of which is to foment agricultural industry and colonization,
something is to be said here of what has already been done by that
intelligent and indefatigable business man, Mr. Francisco Piria.

At a distance of some 140 kilometres from Montevideo, by land, and
50 miles by river, over a superficies of 1,992 hectares, among very
picturesque hills, watered by the River Plate and bounded northward
by the ridge of hills of Pan de Azucar, lies the new establishment
called _Piriapolis_, divided into two large fractions, one of which
is devoted to general culture and various industries, and the other
intended to be a bathing town, with its own port, a beautiful bay,
and a large, neat and secure harbor.

_Piriapolis_ was founded, at the most, two years ago, still it
already possesses a large building for the direction of the colony,
houses for two hundred workmen, 400 kilometres of land all surrounded
by iron wire fencing, many natural wells, and brick ovens. They have
also begun the drilling of many artesian wells.

The plantations are 80 hectares, planted with vines (the plants are 2
and 3 years old); three millions of vine-shoot of the best varieties;
a nursery with 200,000 olive trees; another nursery with a million
of plants, ash trees, maple trees, acacias, etc., ... 300,000 trees
to be planted next autumn in the streets and avenues of the bathing
town. Groves of eucalyptuses, acacias and other quick-growing trees
have already been planted all around the town, covering an extension
of 400 hectares.

Two hundred and sixty hectares have been sowed with wheat, beans,
French beans, Spanish beans, potatoes and other vegetables.

Great plantations of fruit trees have also been made, and the culture
of tobacco has been tried over 80 hectares.

Next year 50 houses more are going to be built, and also a church, a
school, a municipal house and a police office.

When all these works are concluded then will take place the solemn
inauguration of _Piriapolis_.

The soil in _Piriapolis_ is very good. The bed of _humus_ or arable
ground is 30 centim., and sometimes 1 met., 20 centim. deep. In
some parts there are beneath that bed of humus other large beds of
carbonate of lime, from one to two metres thick.

There are various springs of mineral waters, the properties of which
have been officially recognized.

Among the natural extractive riches of the colony, there are some
300 hectares of forests, the trees of which are between five and six
metres high. The cutting of trees has already begun, and a result may
be hoped of 6,000 carts of wood, that will give a liquid product of
$1.20 each cart.

There are also beautiful granite quarries, with pieces of stone some
metres high. The granite of _Piriapolis_ can be extracted and cut
very easily. Its price is hardly 20 per cent. of what it generally
costs in the other quarries. A contract has been recently made for
the purchase of 20,000 posts, 1^m 80 high, by 0^m 25 thick, at the
rate of 15c. each. The Directive Commission intends to work the
quarries on a great scale, and to establish the working of the stone.

Actually, in _Piriapolis port_, they have begun to build a quay, a
100 m. long. The depths of the bay varies between 4 and 7 fathoms, at
a distance of some 250 m. from the coast.

A road is already opened to public service. It is 30 m. broad and on
each side of it a double row of trees has been planted. This road
puts _Piriapolis_ in communication with the rest of the Department
of Maldonado, and will be useful for the trade and commerce of the
Department of Minas.

_Piriapolis_ is actually a reunion of farms and a territorial
speculation, which is called to foment the density of the population
and also the improvement of all kind of production; it divides the
land and gives it every day more value, making it every day more
productive by its agricultural industries, and also by the foundation
of that bathing town, which secures a great consumption of the
products, whilst at the same time the River Plate and the ocean
permit the easy exporting of the same.


The Grape-Vine in the Republic.

The culture of the vine is improving a great deal in the Republic
owing to the good results obtained by those, who some years ago,
tried the establishing of vine plots, which is now one of the most
important industries of the country and will soon be an inexhaustible
source of riches for the Republic.

Since a few years, great many people have consecrated important areas
of their lands to the establishing of vine-plots, and to-day the
extension of land covered with them is more than 2,000 hectares, the
greatest part of which are already producing.

Many societies have been created for fomenting that new industry,
among which we may mention the _Viticola Uruguaya_ with a capital of
$120,000 and the _Viticola Saltena_ with a capital $200,000.

The _Viticola Uruguaya_ counts with:


_Vine-Plots._

  17 hectares, with plants 5 years old, $3,500   $59,500.00
  51    "          "       3   "         1,500    76,500.00
  24    "          "       1   "           200     4,800.00


_Land._

  1,283 hectares, which have cost                $28,279.65
        Fencing                                    2,000.00


_Other Plantations._

  150,000 forest trees, 2, 3 and 4 years old
          at 10 cents each                       $15,000.00
    8,000 olive trees, in nurseries, 10 cents
          each                                       800.00
    2,000 fruit trees, 20 cents each                 400.00
          Various Plants                           1,000.00


_Materials for Construction._

  Existing materials                                $800.00


_Buildings and Cellars._

  Existing buildings and cellars                  $8,000.00
                                                ___________
                                                $197,079.65

Although the culture of the vine was introduced into the country
a great many years ago by Mr. F. Vidiella in the South, and Mr.
Harriague in the North, it may be said that it is only six years ago
since this culture has been really improved and spread with great
intensity all over the Republic.

The actual products of the best vine-plots may be calculated for each
vintage over 6,000 barrels, that is to say over 1,400,000 litres,
without counting the small vine-plots that, however, gives a fair
contingent for domestic consumption.

Owing to this production and also to the diminution in the
consumption on account of the crisis of 1890, an important diminution
is noted in the year 1891 in the importation of ordinary wines.

  Red and White Wines.    Litres.      Value.

  Imported in 1889      33,549,815   $4,173,917
     "        1890      29,327,420    3,632,490
     "        1891      21,483,614    2,634,547

After a few years more the importation of ordinary wines from France,
Spain and Italy will be reduced to nearly nothing.

A vine-plot, 30 hectares large and 14 years old, has given a liquid
product, free from all duties, of $20,000.

Therefore, owing to the advantages that the country presents for the
culture of the vine, and owing also to the vigorous impulse given
to that culture during the last few years, it may be said that the
day is not far remote in which the Uruguay fields will be covered
with vine-plots, producing all sorts of wines, not only for local
consumption, but also for exportation to Brazil and the Argentine
Republic.


Uruguay Rural Association.

Under this name there exists since the year 1871, in Montevideo,
an important institution dedicated to protecting the rural rights
and interests, and propagating all the sciences that may be useful
to agriculture, cattle-breeding and all other rural industries.
The Association is the editor of an interesting publication which,
with the same name as that of the society, is issued twice a month.
The members of the Association continually study all that may
be of interest for the progress and improvement of agriculture,
cattle-feeding and all rural industries; and their studies have been
extremely useful to the country.

Among the services rendered by the _Uruguay Rural Association_ may
be mentioned the compiling of the _Rural Code_, which is considered
now as one of the laws of the nation. This "Rural Code" entrusts to
the Association the rural administration of the country, and the
Government consults its members over all that concerns the rural
interests.

The Association possesses a large library with all the papers,
reviews and books concerning rural industries. Frequently some of
the members deliver lectures, which are afterwards published in the
_Review_.


Cattle.

The war which ended in the year 1851, and, on account of its
duration, was called the "Guerra Grande" (the great war), and the
siege of Montevideo during nine years, contributed in a notable way
to produce a diminution in the quantity of cattle and flocks which
existed before in the Republic.

The census one year after that war (1852) only gave as the number of
live stock 3,858,176, thus distributed: 1,888,622 cattle, 1,127,069
horses, 19,490 asses and mules, 796,289 sheep, 25,300 pigs, and 1,406
goats.

Eight years after (1860) when the second census was made, according
to the declarations made for the payment of the Direct Contribution,
there were 6,159,909 animals--that is to say: 3,632,203 cattle,
518,208 horses, 8,301 asses and mules, 1,939,929 sheep, 5,831 pigs,
and 5,437 goats.

In 1886, when the farmers had still to pay the tax, according to
the declarations, there were 23,967,263 animals--6,254,490 cattle,
17,245,977 sheep, 442,525 horses, 7,032 mules, 5,405 goats and 11,833
pigs.

These last figures, if compared with the former ones, prove an
increase of 2,301,733 animals, or 59.65 per cent. over 1852, in favor
of 1860; and of 20,109,087 animals, or 21.20 per cent. over 1852, in
favor of 1886.

This increase could produce itself, notwithstanding the great
quantity of animals killed every year for consumption, slaughter
of the _Saladeros_ and exportation of live stock, which represent
considerable quantities.

If we bear in mind the increase that corresponds to every kind
of live stock in these last years, and the quantities of animals
possessed by many thousands of inhabitants who do not pay any tax for
them, it may be said that the number of live stock and the value it
represents in the Republic is more or less, as follows:

  Cattle alone for breeding, and
      young bulls ($6.00 each)             8,000,000  $48,000,000
  Oxen ($15.00 each)                         690,000   10,350,000
  Horses ($6.00 each)                        599,000    3,594,000
  Asses and mules ($12.00 each)               11,000      132,000
  Sheep ($0.60 each)                      23,000,000   13,800,000
  Goats ($1.00 each)                          24,000       24,000
  Pigs ($6.00 each)                           23,000      138,000
                                          ----------   -----------
                         Animals          32,347,000   $73,038,000

If we distribute the 32,347,000 of live stock of all kinds over the
186,920 kilometres which is the total superficies of the Republic,
we find for each square kilometre 173.05 animals; if we distribute
them among the 708,168 inhabitants, we find that 45.67 animals of all
kinds correspond to each inhabitant.

As regards the value represented by live stock and corresponding to
each inhabitant, we find $103.13 for each.

The following table shows what place the Republic occupies among
other nations:

  ======================+=============================
                        |  Heads of Cattle for every
                        |      1,000 inhabitants.
                        |---------+----------+--------
                        | Cattle. |  Sheep.  | Horses.
  ----------------------+---------+----------+--------
  Uruguay Republic      | 11,299  |  32,485  |   846
  Argentine Republic    |  5,464  |  27,955  | 1,868
  Germany               |    375  |     595  |    80
  Spain                 |    185  |   1,404  |    43
  France                |    307  |     646  |    77
  Italy                 |    130  |     324  |    37
  Great Britain         |    292  |     946  |    86
  ======================+=========+==========+========

The rather cruel experience acquired during the crisis of the year
1890, the effects of which are still to be felt, has opened new
ways to the economical activity of the country, and has given a new
impulse to all agricultural pursuits. Notwithstanding the scarcity
of capital and the difficulties of the ways of communication, the
cattle feeding has improved a great deal, with the sowing of hay and
pasture of all kinds, and with the crossing of the best varieties
cattle imported from Europa or bred in many important national farms.

The improvement of the varieties, in order to obtain better flesh,
fat, milk, butter, wool and hides, and the taming of all the native
animals, is absolutely necessary, and therefore is a powerful
attraction for those who would come over to this country and dedicate
themselves to cattle feeding and breeding, being sure, beforehand, of
getting good profits by exporting live animals and also dead animals,
by the frigorific system, to the Brazilian and European markets.

The last two years have not been very favorable to cattle industry;
but the present year shows itself as if going to be very propitious
to that industry, which is in such a perfect harmony with the
excellent qualities of our natural fields and meadows.

Here, no pest, no contagious disease is to be feared for the cattle.
The forage and water are wholesome, nutritive and pure; the climate
cannot be better.

With such conditions as these, it will be easily understood why
cattle industry gives a profit of more than 20 per cent. and why
it is generally a sufficient compensation to the scarce production
of the bad years produced by an excessive dryness or a transitory
diminution in the consumption of Brazil and Europe.


Slaughter in the Saladeros.

KILLING SEASON IN THE KILLING GROUNDS.

There exist various _saladeros_ or killing grounds in the Department
of Montevideo and along the coasts of the Uruguay. Some of them are
very important.

There they dry the flesh, prepare the _tasajo_ or dried meat, salt
the hides, burn the bones and elaborate extracts of meat.

To prove the importance of the _faena_ or killing season in those
establishments in the Republic of Uruguay, we give the following
comparative table:

  ==========================================
         | ANIMALS KILLED IN THE SALADEROS.
         |                -----
  Years. | Argentine Repub. | Uruguay Repub.
  -------+------------------+---------------
  1876   |    551,443       |    625,457
  1877   |    662,500       |    527,600
  1878   |    572,500       |    677,026
  1879   |    539,000       |    556,500
  1880   |    491,500       |    665,500
  1881   |    399,000       |    576,170
  1882   |    434,500       |    738,500
  1883   |    365,100       |    704,400
  1884   |    316,800       |    853,600
  1885   |    610,700       |    647,029
  1886   |    480,900       |    751,067
  1887   |    327,208       |    499,554
  1888   |    467,450       |    773,449
  1889   |    701,400       |    708,923
  1890   |    764,000       |    642,100
  1891   |    844,600       |    613,500
  =======+==================+===============

A description of every one of the saladeros that exist in the
Republic cannot be given here, being so limited in the space to be
disposed of; however, it is necessary to make known the importance of
the great establishment for elaborating the extract of meat by the
Liebig system.

The establishment is situated on the coast of the River Uruguay, and
is known to be the first establishment of its kind, not only in the
River Plate, but also in all South America. The following lines will
give an idea of it.

Two kilometres southward from Villa Independencia, in Fray-Bentos,
Department of Rio Negro, is the great establishment of "_Liebig's
Extract of Meat Co._" which forms by itself an important center of
population.

It was founded in the year 1864 by M. Gibert. The first exportation
of 230 kilogs of extract of meat got to Antwerp in November of the
same year, and Baron Liebig declared that it surpassed all his hopes.
Soon over 918 kilogs were exported monthly. In the year 1866 the
Company was founded in London, and M. Gibert had all the machinery
made in Scotland for the establishment, which began working in May,
1868. All the world knows now the extract, and its use is everywhere
adopted, in the hospitals as well as in the barracks. At the Paris
Exhibition in 1867 the highest prizes were given to M. Gibert for his
_Extractum Carnis_, this extract being the only product out of 75,000
sent to the Exhibition rewarded with two gold medals. In Vienna
also in 1873 it won the great gold medal over all the other systems
employed in Australia and other countries. M. Gibert died in 1874.
The establishment has gone on as prosperous as ever.

It possesses great and valuable buildings with powerful steam engines
to put in motion the great machines destined to all the different
preparations. The _galpon_ or shed where the animals are skinned and
cut up is a first-class one and permits the killing of 1,000 animals
per diem. During the killing season of 1891 208,800 animals were
killed, and in 1892 156,200. The extract exported during the year
1890, represents, according to the customhouse statistics, 820,670
kilogs, and during 1891, 711,564, giving a value the first year of
$1,677,408, and the second year of $2,134,692.00

The establishment is provided with great platforms for the drying
of all the materials necessary to prepare the guano or artificial
manure, with spacious sheds and machinery for reducing the materials
to powder, and also another shed for the grinding of bones.

Over 7,500 tons of coal and 3,500 of salt are employed yearly.

The different works in the establishment employ more than 600
persons: and the population all around the establishment is of 2,500
souls.

It has good quays where ships of all draughts can come and be quickly
loaded by powerful steam-cranes.

It has a school where a good education is given to more than a
hundred children, the sons of the workingmen; it has also a social
club and a band, composed of the workmen.

It possesses also all the workhouses necessary for the good
preparation and packing of its products.

Many _suertes_ of land belong to this important association in the
place called "Rincon de las Gallinas," where more than 35,000 heads
of cattle feed.

The capital of the society is £500,000, divided into 25,000 shares,
out of which only 24,300 were issued, the putting out of the other
being quite unnecessary.

The shares, the primitive price of which was £20 in London are now
quoted more than double. (£42 or £44.) The dividend received by the
shareholders varies between 10 and 12 per cent.

This establishment gives life and activity to the important
commercial centre of "Villa Independencia" and is a great stimulus
for the cattle industry in the country.


Trade and Commerce.

The Republic has important commercial relations with all the
principal European and American markets.

Its commerce is represented by the variety of goods imported into the
country and the agricultural products and cattle exported to other
countries.

The imported goods are, according to the statistics, all sorts of
drinks, food and provisions, cereals and spices, stuffs of all kinds,
clothes, materials for industry, machines and many other goods that
cannot be classed here.

The principal exports of the country are salted meat, _tasajo_,
preserved meat, extracts of meat, tallow, horns, bones, hides, wools,
preserved and dried tongues, ostrich feathers, live stock, corn,
flour, wheat, canary seed, hay, oats, bran, barley, flax, vermicelli,
potatoes, stone, lime, granite, pavements, agate stone, etc., etc.

The following table gives an idea of the exports and imports of the
Republic from the year 1862 to the year 1891.

  ------+------------+------------+-------------
        |            |            |
  Years.|  Imports.  |  Exports.  |   Total.
  ------+------------+------------+-------------
  1862  |$ 8,151,802 |$ 8,804,442 | $16,956,244
  1864  |  8,384,167 |  6,334,706 |  14,718,873
  1866  | 14,608,091 | 10,665,040 |  25,273,131
  1867  | 17,657,918 | 12,077,795 |  29,735,713
  1868  | 16,102,475 | 12,139,720 |  28,242,195
  1869  | 16,830,678 | 13,930,027 |  30,760,705
  1870  | 15,003,342 | 12,779,051 |  27,782,393
  1871  | 14,864,247 | 13,334,224 |  28,198,471
  1872  | 18,859,724 | 15,489,532 |  34,349,256
  1873  | 21,075,446 | 16,301,772 |  37,377,218
  1874  | 17,181,672 | 15,244,783 |  32,426,455
  1875  | 12,431,408 | 12,695,610 |  25,125,018
  1876  | 12,800,000 | 13,727,000 |  26,527,000
  1877  | 15,045,846 | 15,899,405 |  30,945,251
  1878  | 15,927,974 | 17,492,159 |  33,420,133
  1879  | 15,949,903 | 16,645,961 |  32,595,864
  1880  | 19,478,868 | 19,752,201 |  39,231,069
  1881  | 17,918,884 | 20,229,512 |  38,148,396
  1882  | 18,174,800 | 22,062,934 |  40,237,734
  1883  | 20,322,311 | 25,221,664 |  45,543,975
  1884  | 24,550,074 | 24,759,485 |  49,309,559
  1885  | 25,275,476 | 25,253,036 |  50,528,512
  1886  | 20,194,655 | 23,811,986 |  44,006,641
  1887  | 24,615,944 | 18,671,996 |  43,287,940
  1888  | 29,477,448 | 28,008,254 |  57,485,702
  1889  | 36,823,863 | 25,954,107 |  62,777,970
  1890  | 32,364 627 | 29,085,519 |  61,450,146
  1891  | 18,978,420 | 26,998,270 |  45,976,690
  ------+------------+------------+------------

The participation every country had in the imports and exports of the
country during the last five years is represented by the following
figures:


IMPORTS.

  ====================+==========================================
                      |                PER CENT.
                      |-------+--------+--------+-------+--------
                      |       |        |        |       |
        FROM.         | 1887  |  1888  |  1889  | 1890  |  1891
  --------------------+-------+--------+--------+-------+--------
                      |       |        |        |       |
  England             | 27.26 |  32.32 |  28.44 | 27.17 |  28.85
  France              | 16.71 |  15.37 |  14.98 | 15.74 |  13.05
  Brazil              |  7.42 |   8.96 |   6.80 |  7.64 |   8.88
  Spain               |  8.73 |   7.49 |   7.10 |  6.71 |   2.63
  Italy               |  6.89 |   8.14 |   8.86 |  8.12 |  10.31
  United States       |  6.91 |   5.37 |   9.26 |  7.55 |   4.89
  Germany             | 11.53 |  10.32 |   9.32 |  8.67 |   9.72
  Belgium             |  4.86 |   5.41 |   4.42 |  4.59 |   3.85
  Isle of Cuba        |  0.88 |   0.61 |   0.51 |  0.60 |   1.10
  Argentine Republic  |  1.80 |   2.58 |   3.93 |  8.16 |   8.31
  Chile               |  0.39 |   0.40 |   2.38 |  0.86 |   0.67
  Holland             |  0.26 |   0.09 |   0.29 |  0.29 |   0.09
  Paraguay            |  0.61 |   0.44 |   0.23 |  0.40 |   0.51
  Sweden              |  .... |   .... |   .... |  0.03 |   ....
  Portugal            |  0.10 |   0.08 |   0.09 |  0.13 |   0.13
  India             } |       |        |        |       |
  China             } |  0.03 |   0.07 |   0.01 |  0.03 |   ....
  Japan             } |       |        |        |       |
  Peru and Ecuador    |  0.03 |   .... |   .... | ..... |   ....
  Switzerland         |  0.10 |   0.04 |   0.02 | ..... |   ....
  Mauritius           |  0.05 |   .... |   .... | ..... |   ....
  Austria             |  0.01 |   .... |   .... | ..... |   ....
  Canary Island       |  0.01 |   .... |   0.03 |  0.10 |   0.01
  Russia              |  .... |   .... |   0.56 |  0.04 |   ....
  Various ports       |  5.42 |   2.28 |   2.77 |  3.17 |   ....
  --------------------+-------+--------+--------+-------+--------
        Total         |100    | 100    | 100    |100    | 100
  ====================+=======+========+========+=======+========


EXPORTS.

  ====================+===========================================
                      |                  PER CENT.
                      |--------+--------+--------+--------+-------
                      |        |        |        |        |
      FOREIGN.        |  1887  |  1888  |  1889  |  1890  |  1891
  --------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------
  England             | 20.09  |  18.17 |  13.69 |  13.56 |  18.37
  France              | 13.29  |  16.27 |  20.13 |  21.04 |  23.27
  Brazil              | 13.67  |  19.39 |  12.69 |  11.27 |  17.55
  Belgium             | 17.96  |  12.25 |  15.84 |  10.80 |  13.25
  United States       |  8.16  |   8.31 |   5.55 |   6.89 |   6.85
  Cuba                |  5.12  |   2.22 |   0.96 |   0.81 |   1.29
  Spain               |  0.82  |   0.82 |   1.41 |   0.83 |   0.84
  Italy               |  1.69  |   1.32 |   1.47 |   1.23 |   2.08
  Germany             |  1.72  |   4.44 |   5.01 |   3.51 |   5.45
  Argentine Republic  |  6.00  |   7.34 |   8.82 |   8.77 |   9.16
  Chile               |  0.76  |   1.39 |   1.66 |   1.22 |   0.62
  Paraguay            |  0.03  |   .... |   0.03 |   0.11 |   ....
  Reunion Island      |  0.08  |   0.11 |   0.02 |   .... |   ....
  Peru                |  0.03  |   0.04 |   .... |   .... |   ....
  Portugal            |  0.79  |   1.04 |   0.77 |   1.15 |   0.68
  Maloina Island      |  ....  |   0.06 |   0.01 |   .... |   ....
  Canary Island       |  ....  |   .... |   .... |   .... |   0.01
  Mauritius           |  ....  |   .... |   .... |   0.20 |   0.04
  Carribee Island     |  ....  |   .... |   .... |   0.02 |   0.08
  Barbado Island      |  0.03  |   .... |   0.01 |   0.01 |   0.01
  Various ports       |  7.67  |   6.83 |  11.93 |  18.58 |   0.45
  --------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
           Total      |100     | 100    | 100    | 100    | 100
  ====================+========+========+========+========+========

The trade and exterior commerce of the Republic in relation with
its population has always been superior to that of the Argentine
Republic and Chile.

The following table shows that out of the imported goods during the
year 1891, there correspond to each inhabitant $13.50 more than to
each inhabitant of the Argentine Republic, and $3.61 more than to
each inhabitant of Chile. It shows also that each inhabitant has
exported $10.19 more than each inhabitant of the first country, and
$14 more than each one of the second country.

     Argentine Republic (1891.)      What corresponds
            -------                      to each
      4,000,000 Inhabitants.           inhabitant.

  Imports           $ 67,207,780         $11.80
  Exports            103,219,000          25.80
                    ------------         ------
        Total       $170,426,790         $37.60

          Chile (1891.)
             -----
      3,000,000 Inhabitants.

  Imports           $ 65,090,013         $21.69
  Exports             65,963,100          21.99
                    ------------         ------
         Total      $131,053,113         $43.68

       Uruguay Republic (1891.)
              -------
         760,000 Inhabitants.

  Imports           $ 18,978,420         $25.30
  Exports             26,998,270          35.99
                    ------------         ------
           Total    $ 45,976,690         $61.29

The annual middle term of the commerce between this country and the
United States of America from the year 1887 to the year 1891 is, for
imports $2,014,267, and for exports $1,828,947; which proves a very
important commerce between both countries, representing an annual
value of $3,843,214 or $320,267, more or less, per month.

So as to prove the importance of our commerce with North America, as
well in imports as in exports, we give here the statistics of this
commerce during ten years, from 1882 to 1891:


     Commerce Between the Oriental Republic of Uruguay and the United
     States of America.


IMPORTS.

_I.--Drinks, in General._

  1882        $ 66,733
  1883          57,614
  1884          20,826
  1885           8,107
  1886          11,849
  1887          12,207
  1888           7,432
  1889           3,896
  1890           5,796
  1891             115

_II.--Eatables, Cereals, Spices._

  1882        $ 80,036
  1883          57,923
  1884          81,075
  1885          93,125
  1886          73,097
  1887          60,538
  1888          48,980
  1889       1,008,650
  1890         188,581
  1891          21,239

_III.--Tobacco, Cigars._

  1882        $ 36,300
  1883          28,235
  1884          21,692
  1885          31,510
  1886          25,136
  1887          24,386
  1888          19,122
  1889          26,234
  1890          25,018
  1891          17,074

_IV.--Stuffs, Cloth, Etc._

  1882        $ 39,874
  1883          47,849
  1884          74,862
  1885          86,230
  1886          87,942
  1887         118,346
  1888          72,011
  1889          99,590
  1890          61,471
  1891          38,320

_V.--Linen, Clothes._

  1882        $   593
  1883          3,562
  1884          1,809
  1885          1,622
  1886          3,011
  1887          3,155
  1888          1,316
  1889          2,562
  1890          1,675
  1891          2,844

_VI.--Materials for the Industries, Machinery._

  1882        $ 843,069
  1883          623,170
  1884          959,800
  1885        1,349,687
  1886          626,703
  1887          985,165
  1888        1,013,824
  1889        1,660,774
  1890        1,730,105
  1891          404,659

_VII.--Various Goods._

  1882       $ 370,106
  1883         355,280
  1884         412,862
  1885         474,826
  1886         419,081
  1887         498,167
  1888         422,223
  1889         609,895
  1890         432,390
  1891         443,675


EXPORTS.

_I.--Live-stock._

From the year 1882 to the year 1891, there was no export of
live-stock.

_II.--Cattle Industry, Saladeros._

  1882        $ 2,344,794
  1883          2,185,125
  1884          1,781,766
  1885          4,365,929
  1886          2,714,172
  1887          1,519,267
  1888          2,322,854
  1889          1,436,348
  1890          2,003,739
  1891          1,839,922

_III.--Rural Products._

From 1882 to 1885 there was no export.

  1886         $ 6
  1887          30
  1888          17
  1889          25
  1890         ...
  1891          24

_IV.--Various Goods._

  1882         $ 2,260
  1883           2,036
  1884           3,387
  1885           4,661
  1886           4,906
  1887           3,558
  1888           4,128
  1889           4,939
  1890             477
  1891           9,412


Money.

The coined money, imported and exported, has been during the last
five years:

  Years.      Import.          Export.

  1887      $3,500,440      $ 7,127,147
  1888       7,497,586        7,614,147
  1889       5,696,111       10,148,668
  1890       7,733,806        7,515,048
  1891       6,417,405        5,618,582


Navigation.

The general navigation movement in the various ports of the Republic
has become of great importance, owing to the commercial improvements
and to the exemption from taxes granted by national legislation.

The following table gives an idea of it:

  Years.   Ships.     Tonnage.

  1875     20,394    3,116,161
  1876     21,448    3,845,056
  1877     22,102    4,370,721
  1878     20,915    4,327,504
  1879     22,272    4,595,040
  1880     21,811    4,369,759
  1881     23,053    4,435,860
  1882     23,136    5,007,708
  1883     22,837    5,422,538
  1884     26,764    7,205,653
  1885     29,731    8,590,543
  1886     28,542    8,277,662
  1887     29,994    9,423,337
  1888     35,203   10,551,624
  1889     35,582   12,444,462
  1890     32,213   11,442,894
  1891     27,207    9,482,644

During the last two years a diminution is observed, owed
to the crisis and to the competition made by the Argentine
ports--competition which will disappear when the work undertaken
to improve Montevideo's port is complete, the project of which is
already studied.

During the year 1891 have entered the ports of the Republic:

                                             Tons.
  From abroad            1,092 ships, with 1,429,661
   From the Rivers:
  Gen. coasting trade.   2,941   "     "   1,302,648
  Receptories            9,637   "     "   2,009,951
                                           ---------
                                           4,742,260

The ships were:

                                       Tons.
   7,099 steamers, with              4,157,905
   6,571 sailing vessels, with         584,295
                                     ---------
  13,670 vessels, with               4,742,200

That is to say, 1,139 vessels with 395,183 tons per month, or 37
vessels with 13,006 tons per day.

As regards the nationality of the 13,670 vessels entered, there were
5,229 national vessels, with 460,467 tons, and 8,441 foreign vessels,
with 4,281,793 tons.

Of all the ports in the Republic Montevideo is the most important one.

During the year 1891 there entered:


_From Abroad._

                                  Tons.
    434 sailing vessels, with    275,184
    658 steamers, with         1,154,477
  -----                        ---------
  1,092 vessels, with          1,429,661


_From the Rivers--Coasting Trade._

                                   Tons.
  1,680 sailing vessels, with     85,542
  1,261 steamers, with         1,217,106
  -----                        ---------
  2,941 vessels, with          1,302,648

Which gives a total of 4,033 vessels, with 2,732,309 tons, for the
year 1891.

The nationality of the vessels which entered the port of Montevideo
was:

  ==============+=========+=========+=========+==========
     Flags      | Sailors |   Tons  | Steamers|  Tons.
  --------------+---------+---------+---------+----------
  Germany       |    21   |  14.136 |   112   |  183.450
  Argentine Rep |     1   |     192 |     5   |      515
  Austria       |     7   |   4.673 |    ..   |    .....
  Brazil        |     4   |   1.041 |    42   |   30.721
  Belgium       |    ..   |   ..... |    20   |   33.668
  Denmark       |    10   |   1.842 |    ..   |    .....
  Spain         |    73   |  21.463 |    15   |   30.577
  Chile         |    ..   |   ..... |     1   |       22
  France        |     1   |     565 |    97   |  236.963
  Holland       |     9   |   5.490 |     1   |    2.267
  England       |   103   |  85.818 |   258   |  456.690
  Italy         |    58   |  35.129 |    97   |  174.812
  North America |    19   |  10.720 |     2   |    3.081
  Uruguay Rep.  |     1   |     247 |     8   |    1.711
  Russia        |     4   |   3.921 |    ..   |    .....
  Sweden        |   123   |  89.947 |    ..   |    .....
                |---------+---------+---------+----------
     Total      |   434   | 275.184 |   658   |1.154.477
  ==============+=========+=========+=========+==========

The vessels coasting were:

                             Ships.     Tons.
  With the national flag     1,551       99,538
  With foreign flag          1,390    1,203,110
                             -----    ---------
                             2,941    1,302,648


Goods.

According to the statistics the goods moved in the harbor of
Montevideo during the last five years are calculated thus:


  1887           1,187,557
  1888           1,411,686
  1889           1,773,610
  1890           1,316,296
  1891           1,089,992
                 ---------
                 6,779,141

That is to say, a middle term of 1,355,828 tons moved per year, or
112,985 per month.


Lighthouses.

Along the coasts of the Republic, watered by the Atlantic Ocean and
the River Plate, there are eleven lighthouses, established in the
most convenient points, to guide and advise the sailors. To them must
be attributed the notable diminution in the number of shipwrecks.

  =================+=========+=======+==============+===========
                   |         |       |              |
      Situation    |  Light  | Class |   Luminous   | Tax to
                   |         |       |    power     | be paid
  -----------------+---------+-------+--------------+-----------
  Cape Santa Maria | flash   |  1st  | 18    miles  | 2     cts.
  Polonio          | steady  |  3d   | 15 & 16  "   | 1-3/4  "
  Jose Ignacio     |   "     |  3d   | 15       "   | 1      "
  Punta Brava      |   "     |  4th  |  8       "   | 1      "
  Farallon         |   "     |  3d   | 15       "   | 1      "
  Panela           |   "     |  4th  |  9       "   | 1      "
  Colonia          | turni'g |  3d   | 12       "   | 1      "
  Cerro            |   "     |  1st  | 25       "   | 1      "
  Isle of Flores   |   "     |  2d   | 15       "   | 1      "
  Banco Ingles     | steady  |  3d   |  9       "   | 1      "
  Punta del Este   | flash   |  2d   | 16 & 18  "   | 1      "
  =================+=========+=======+==============+==========


Lazaretto.

The Republic possesses one Lazaretto, established in the Isle of
Flores, at a distance of 17 miles southeast from Montevideo.

It is quite comfortable and provided with everything that may be
required for disinfecting and fumigating luggage and correspondence.

There is a telegraph and telephone line established between
Montevideo and the Lazaretto.


Interior Commerce.

It has not yet been possible to calculate exactly and completely the
interior commerce of the Republic, between Montevideo and all the
other Departments. Statistics only give the figures representing the
cattle and rural products imported to Montevideo by the Departments
and that come by railway for local consumption and export.

This commerce gave, during the last five years, a total of 143,446
carts, that is to say a yearly middle term of 28,689.

There arrive daily to the Montevideo markets, by railroad and by
the rivers, great quantities of skins, (oxen, horses, sheep) wool,
horns, bones, tallow, ostrich feathers and other products of cattle
industry, and among rural products great quantities of corn, wheat,
flour, canary-seed, barley, mustard-seed, potatoes, garlick, French
beans, onions, pumpkins, eggs, butter, fowl, cheeses, paving and lime
stone, spirits and many other goods it would be too long to mention
here.

There is an important increase every year in the quantity of cattle
destined to local consumption, to the Montevideo saladeros and export.


Trade-Houses, Industries, Professions.

During the year 1891, 20,328 licenses were paid for by trade-houses,
industries, professions and work-houses. The nationality of those who
asked for their trade patent was:

  Natives             4,134
  Argentines            370
  Brazilians            166
  Italians            7,995
  Spaniards           5,336
  French              1,324
  English               130
  Germans               173
  Swiss                 186
  Portuguese            116
  Belgians                7
  Swedish                 7
  Danes                   5
  Norwegians              6
  Dutch                   1
  Austrians              52
  North-Americans        28
  Russians                6
  Peruvians               1
  Chilians               12
  Paraguayan             11
  Other Nations         262

Among the most important industries, must be mentioned: the Liebig
Extract of Meat Company, the _saladeros_ or killing grounds, the
spirits, wine and beer manufactures, flour mills, the starch and
vermicelli manufactures, the soap, suet and oil manufactures, the
gas, electric light and water companies, the match, brick, shoe and
wooden shoe manufactures, the tan-yards, saw-mills, etc., etc.

There are in Montevideo a great many important spirit, wine, brandy,
beer and match manufacturers; and there are sixteen of them in the
departments. The Montevideo manufacturers give an annual product of:

  Alcohol,        2,000,000 litres.
  Beer,           1,700,000    "
  Matches,           55,000 grosses.
  Wine and Spirits, 400,000 litres.

According to the declarations made for the payment of the license
tax, the capital represented by the trade houses, industries, etc, is
$89,329,539.

The clerks employed by all these houses, manufactures and industries,
were 11,639, and the workmen of various nationalities 16,621.

As a demonstration of the industrial importance and progress of the
country, among many other establishments, the description of which
cannot be made here for want of space, one may mention the great
brewery _Germania_, established under the direction of Engineer J. A.
Capurro.

It occupies a magnificent building situated in the "Playa Honda"
in front of the Montevideo Bay. Its construction and interior
distribution completely corresponds to all the technical necessities
required for beer manufacturing. It is provided for night working,
with electric light produced by a eight-horse dynamo and 68 lamps.

The establishment was built and is worked by a stock company.

It receives the waters of the River Santa Lucia, the very purest,
the same that is drank in the town. It possesses, nevertheless, two
immense filters, so as to make the water still purer.

The machinery comes from the renowned German manufacture of Chemnitz;
it is 25 horse-power, and can give from 18,000 to 20,000 litres per
day. The receiving depositories are two, the first one of a capacity
of 12,000 litres, and the second of 8,000 litres; the cooling
depositories can receive 9,000 litres every hour and a-half, with
a temperature that can go to 14° under naught. The clarifying is
made by three filters of the most modern system, without any paper
application. The fermentation cellar contains three large tubs of a
capacity of 3,000 and 3,500 litres. There are also 6 great cellars,
for depositories, with 34 tubs each; 18 of them can contain 5,000
litres each and the other 16, 3,500 litres.

With a compressed air machine they cork 10,000 bottles a day.

The ice depositories are beautiful; they always remain at a
temperature of 12 or 20° under nought.

The "_Germania_" also has many other depositories for the raw
materials, empty bottles and casks, another for 5,000 litre tubs,
brought on purpose from Germany; a forge, a workshop for cask-making,
ten carts and stables for 30 horses, and many offices.

It possesses a quay on the bay for loading and unloading and, during
the season of most activity, employs over a hundred workmen and
clerks.

This establishment represents a capital of over half a million
dollars.

During the season it sells over 200,000 litres per month to nearly
1,500 or 2,000 establishments.

The same society possesses also a starch and an alcohol manufactory.
They are very important establishments, provided with the very latest
inventions of European and North American manufacture.

In the same conditions are also the Richling and Niding Beer
Manufactories.


Banks, Anonymous Societies.

The Republic counts with a great many banks and anonymous societies,
that make easier all commercial transactions.

The emission banks are: The _London and River Plate Bank_, that on
December 31, 1891, had an active capital of $8,911,000; the _Italian
Uruguay Bank_, with an active capital of $7,714,521; the _Spain
and River Plate Bank_, with $4,614,752; the _Italo-Oriental_, with
$10,432,276, and the other banks called _National Bank_, _English
and River Plate Bank_, which actually are in liquidation, being the
active of the first bank, 31st December, 1890, $61,630,320, and that
of the second, $15,298,406.

Among the discounting banks, there are the _Commercial Bank_, the
_French Bank_, the _South America British Bank_, the _Anglo-Argentine
Bank_.

The principal anonymous societies are; The "Credito Real Uruguayo,"
the "Industrial," the "Cobranzas, locacion y Anticipos," the "Agencia
de Tierras," the "Colonization y Fomento del Uruguay," the "Caja
de Credito Uruguayo," the "Auxiliar de Credito y Alquileres,"
the "Co-operativa de Consumo," the "Caja Nacional Uruguaya," the
"Edificadora de Montevideo," the "Mercantil del Plata," the "Vegas
Uruguayas," the "Viticola Uruguaya," the "Viticola Saltena" and many
others that represent important capitals.


Commerce Halls.

In Montevideo there is the important commercial centre called "Bolsa
Montevideana," or Montevideo Exchange Hall. There are also the
French, the Italian and the Spanish Commercial Boards, that make
easier and easier the exchange of goods between the Republic and
France, Italy and Spain.


Means of Communication and Conveyance.

All the towns and villages of Uruguay littoral communicate with
the capital by the regular service of beautiful steamers between
Montevideo and Salto, stopping in all the ports of the Uruguay and
Argentine Republic littoral.

Other steamers start from Montevideo for Paraguay and Matto-Grosso
(Brazil.)

The lines of transatlantic steamers establish constant communications
between the Republic and European and American ports.

By land, a great many places in the Republic are put in communication
by the railways and by the telegraph, established also between
Montevideo and Europe, Brazil, the Pacific and Argentine Republic.

Where the railways are not yet established, there is a good and
regular service of stage-coaches.


Railways.

There are already seven railway lines in the Republic, the service
of which is quite regular and comprehends an extension of 1,567
kilometres.

Some other lines are in way of formation, and for some others the
necessary preliminary studies have begun, comprising a new extension
of 1,231 kilometres.

The railways already established are:

1st. _The Central Uruguay Railway._ It starts from Montevideo, runs
through the whole territory of the Republic, till it reaches the
capital of the Department of Rivera, on the very frontier of Brazil,
in front of "Santa Ana do Livramento," that is to say, with an
extension of 575 kilometres. Besides this, it has also another line
of 32 kilometres from "25 de Agosto" to "San Jose."

2d. _The Northeast Uruguay Railway_, between Montevideo and Minas,
with an extension of 122 kilometres.

3d. _The "East Extension" Railway_, between Toledo Station, which
belongs to the Northeast Uruguay Railway and Nico Perez, with an
extension of 206 kilometres.

4th. _The North Railway_, between Montevideo and Santa Lucia,
where are established the municipal slaughter houses. This railway
furnishes with meat all the Montevideo markets and has an extension
of 23 kilometres.

5th. _The Northwest Uruguay Railway_, from Salto to the River
Cuareim, through the Department of Artigas, with an extension of 178
kilometres. In "Paso del Correo," where this line stops, begins the
Brazilian Uruguayana Line.

6th. _The Midland Uruguay Railway_ joins with the Central Railway in
"Paso de los Toros" and with the Northwest Railway in the town of
Salto and has its principal station in Paysandu, with an extension of
317 kilometres.

7th. _The North Uruguay Railway_ between Isla Cabellos, which belongs
to the Northwest Line and San Eugenio in front of San Juan Bautista
(Brazil). It runs through the Department of Artigas and has an
extension of 114 kilometres.


River Steamers.

There exist many important navigation companies with beautiful and
comfortable steamers for the service of the River Plate, Uruguay and
Parana.

Among these companies the English company _Platense_ must be
mentioned. With its twenty steamers it represents an important
capital. It possesses its own docks and wharfs in this republic and
in the Argentine Republic. The principal steamers of the _Platense_
are called: _Venus_, _Eolo_, _Apolo_, _Minerva_, _Olimpo_, _Saturno_,
_Cosmos_ and _Helios_, the finest of all, recently constructed. All
these steamers have electric light on board. They all go to Buenos
Ayres and stop in Martin Garcia, Nueva Palmira, Mercedes, Fray
Bentos, Gualeguaychu, Concepcion del Uruguay, Paysandu, Villa Colon,
Guaviyu, Concordin, Salto and vice versa.

The steamers of the other companies have more or less the same
itinerary.

The movement of goods and passengers is important and has always
given good benefits to all the companies.

The journey between Montevideo and Buenos Ayres is of a few hours.
The steamers start from Montevideo at 6 p.m. and get to Buenos Ayres,
generally, at 4 next morning. The very same day, at 10 a.m. they
start again for the ports of the Uruguay; getting to Salto the next
day.


Stage Coaches.

In all the departments where railways are not yet established there
is a regular service of stage coaches putting the various railway
lines in communication and making easier the conveyance of goods and
passengers.


Tramways.

In Montevideo there are nine tramway lines: 1st Union and Maronas
Tramway; 2nd Paso del Molino and Cerro Tramway; 3rd Eastern Tramway;
4th Buceo and Union Tramway; 5th North Tramway; 6th Oriental Tramway;
7th Reducto Tramway; 8th Montevideo Tramway; 9th Central Tramway. In
nearly all the streets of Montevideo there is a tramway line and with
such a shortening of the distances life and activity are a great deal
increased.

In the centre of the town the tramway ticket costs 4 cents, and from
one extremity of the line to the other it costs 10 cents.

During the year 1891 all these tramways made 916,798 journeys, which
represent 9,285,940 kilometres, they conveyed 18,000,000 passengers.
They possess 507 coaches and 3,622 horses. The number of men employed
by the tramway companies is 1029. They have 14 stations.

In the town of Paysandu there is also a tramway line.


Telegraph.

The telegraph, as it may be seen on the map, is established all over
the Republic and in communication with all the towns of Europe and
America. The different telegraph companies are:

                                        Telegraph   Cable.

  The National Telegraph Co      kilom.    951        15
  The Platino Brasilero             "      829       ...
  Rio de la Plata                   "      233       160
  The Western and Brazilian Co.,
      Oriental Line                 "      ...       694
  Telefonica del Plata              "      180        45
  The Oriental                      "    1,362       ...
  The Platense, Brasilero, United
      States direct                 "      250       ...
                                         -----       ---
                                         3,805       914
  Telegraph of the railway lines    "    1,568
                                         -----       ---
                                    "    5,373       914

There are two telegraph companies more between Salto and Concordia
and between Paysandu and Concepcion del Uruguay (Argentine Republic).
But they are of little importance.

The number of telegrams sent by the various companies was, in 1891,
256,467.


Navigation Companies.

Many European and American Companies have their agencies in
Montevideo. The principal ones are:

  Italian Company        _La Veloce._
  French Company         _Chargeurs Reunis._
  English Company        _Royal Mail Steam Packet Company._
  Spanish Company        _La Trasatlantica._
  French Company         _Messageries Maritimes._
  French Company         _Nouvelle Compagnie Marseillaise._
  English Company        _Pacific Steam Navigation Company._
  N. American Company    _United States and Brazil Mail._
  English Company        _Shaw, Savill & Albion Co., limited._
  English Company        _New Zealand Shipping Co., limited._
  Italian Company        _Navigazione Generale Italiana. Societa Riunite_
                            (_Florio e Rubattino_).
  Italian Company        _Fratelli Lavarello Fu Gio Batta._
  Italian Company        _La Genovesse._
  French Company         _Transports Maritimes a vapeur._
  English Company        _Lamport Holt Line._
  Brazilian Company      _Companhia Nacional de Navegacao a vapor._

All these steamers put Montevideo in direct communication with
Barcelona, Genoa, Naples, Dakar, Lisbon, Bourdeaux, Rio Janeiro,
Saint Vincent, Vigo, Bahia, Pernambuco, Marseilles, Havre, Santa Cruz
of Tenerif, Dunkirk, Plymouth, Liverpool, London, New Zealand and
also the ports of the Pacific Ocean and those of North America.


Telephone.

In many points of the Republic telephone lines are established.
The principal lines in Montevideo are: The Co-operative Co., the
Telefonica Nacional Co., the Telefonica de Montevideo Co.

During the year 1891 these lines have had 21,000 daily
communications. They have 3,600 subscribers and the wires they employ
represent 5,500 miles. They have 10 offices and employ 174 persons,
74 men and 100 women. The capital of each company is: The Telefonica
de Montevideo $220,000, the Telefonica Nacional $105,000, the
Telegrafica Telefonica del Plata Company has established a telephone
line between Montevideo and Buenos Ayres.


Postage.

The movement in the Postoffices of the Republic is greater every day,
owing to the continual improvement of the ways of communication.

The following table gives an idea of the movement in the Montevideo
Postoffice:

                 Letters,
  Years.       Papers, etc.

  1885,         12,203,381
  1886,         11,407,596
  1887,         17,157,345
  1888,         20,171,929
  1889,         21,366,472
  1890,         21,534,209
  1891,         20,105,295

The movement during 1891 may be divided thus:

  Letters, in general         6,152,654
  Business papers, samples      543,127
  Official correspondence       423,178
  Post-cards                     55,955
  Papers, etc.               12,930,381
                             ----------
                             20,105,295


Carriages, Coaches, Etc.

The number of coaches is very considerable in the Republic.

Montevideo alone counts over 4,000 carts and more than 700 carriages.


Public Education.

Primary education is gratuitous and obligatory in all the Republic.

The public schools are at the expense of the State, that gives the
books and all the necessary materials.

Since the year 1877, in which was issued the law on public education,
the primary education has improved a great deal.

The reform of the primary schools was initiated in the year 1868 by
a private society, founded by the great reformer, Jose Pedro Varela,
the Horace Mann of Uruguay, under the name of "Friends of Popular
Education Society," which created an application school, called
"Elbio Fernandez," in honor of one of the founders of the society.
Various North American books and manuals were then translated for the
use of the schools and masters. Varela's ideas soon were diffused
among the people, and the reformer was appointed to a high situation
in the Public Instruction Board, in the year 1876. Immediately
he reformed all the official schools, and organized the scholar
administration, being himself appointed principal director of it,
with the title of "National Primary Instruction Inspector."


University.

The number of the students in the University of Montevideo during the
year 1891 was 668, distributed thus:

  For law,                   377
  For social sciences,       176
  For medicine,               85
  For mathematics,            30
                             ---
                             668

Out of those 668 students, 631 were natives and 37 foreigners.

The professors were 75: 14 for law and social sciences, 23 for
medicine, 19 for mathematics and 19 for the preparatory studies;
being 58 of them natives, 12 Spaniards, 3 Italians, 1 German and 1
Frenchman.


Public Schools.

In the year 1891 there were in the Republic 483 public schools; that
is to say, 143 more than in the year 1886.

The number of pupils was then for the whole Republic 43,676 (24,541
boys, 19,135 girls)--14,763 boys and girls in the capital, and 28,913
in the departments.

All the schools cost $690,574, the education of each pupil
representing a value of $13.27.

The professors were 863--272 men and 591 women.

Ninety-four schools were established in buildings belonging to the
National Educational Board and representing a value of $448,541,
and 11 of them in buildings belonging to the State, with a value of
$45,942.


Private Schools.

In 1891 there existed in the Republic 375 private schools, with
21,945 pupils and 930 professors (381 men and 549 women).

We obtain, therefore, the following result:

                       No.        Pupils.

  Public schools       483,  with  43,676
  Private  "           375,   "    21,945
                       ---         ------
      Schools:         868,        65,621


Normal Girl School.

In this national school 114 girls received the title of professor for
the first degree, and 29 for the second degree, from the year 1887 to
the year 1891.

In the same building is established the "_Museo Pedagogico_, or
Pedagogic" Museum, one of the most important institutions of this
kind in South America, under the direction of Mr. A. Gomez Ruano.


Art and Professional School.

This important establishment is actually under the care of the
"National Charity and Public Beneficence Commission." It is
established in a large building of its own, fit for 600 pupils. In
1891 there were 227 of them who received there, besides professional
instruction, a very serious general instruction up to the third
degree.

In that establishment they study for carpenter, cabinet-maker,
ironsmith, shoemaker, bookbinder, typographer, lithographer,
mechanican, turner, silversmith, tinsmith, sculptor, painter, etc.
There are also classes of telegraphing, drawing, gymnastics, singing,
and music. The professors are 46.

_Montevideo Atheneum._--A beautiful establishment is being built for
this literary, scientific and artistic institution, the object of
which is, delivering gratuitous lectures and publishing reviews, to
foment in the Republic the general literary, scientific and artistic
instruction.

_Professional League._--Very good results are attained by this
institution. In its halls the best professors give every night
gratuitous lessons on painting, drawing, architecture and mathematics.


Military School.

This establishment is under the care of the Ministry of War and Navy,
and works according to the latest improvements of military science.

It counts with the best professors of French and German tactics,
physics and natural philosophy, mathematics, geography and history,
lineal drawing and photography, fencing and gymnastics. It possesses
also all the necessary apparatus for physics, chemistry, physiology
and mineralogy, and has a complete library with the newest and best
scientific works.


Religious Schools.

In the Republic there are a great many schools and colleges under the
care of religious communities, in which more than 4,200 children are
taught.


Educational Patriotic League.

Under this name there exists in Montevideo an important
establishment, the object of which is to improve and foment
the primary, secondary, superior, artistical and professional
instruction, not only in Montevideo but also throughout the whole
country. It has also founded an important college.


National Library.

During the 185 days in which that important establishment remained
opened, in the year 1891, the number of the readers have been 2,849.
The number of the books asked for was 2,698 and 64 manuscripts.

The library possesses over 21,000 volumes and 2,500 manuscripts, a
great many engravings, photographs and maps.

There are also the "Archives" where all records are kept, ancient
writings and documents that have a relation with the National History.

In nearly every department there is a public library.

_International Book Exchange._--Uruguay is one of the nations that
signed the Brussels treaty and in Montevideo there is a very useful
office for International Book Exchange.


National Museum.

In the National Museum there are 24,226 objects, that is to say:

  Orchæology                 814
  Numismatics              4,201
  History                    140
  Paleontology               107
  Zoology                 13,741
  Botany                   1,812
  Mineralogy               3,253
  Fine Arts, Industries      158


Newspapers.

Great many newspapers and reviews are published in the Republic. They
are agricultural, industrial, scientific, political, commercial,
literary, religious, judicial, satirical or philosophical.

In 1891 there were 74 papers and reviews issued in Montevideo and 31
in the Departments: total, 105.

Out of them, 96 were written in Spanish, 4 in French, 1 in English, 3
in Italian and 1 in Portuguese.

26 were daily papers and the other monthly.

93 were morning papers and 12 evening papers.


Societies.

In the capital town of each department there are various societies,
the object of which is charity and mutual help.

Among the societies that exist in Montevideo, we must mention the
societies called: Amigos de la Educacion, Ateneo de la Mujer,
Agricola Italiana, Ateneo Militar, Confederacion Cientifica
Literaria, Associacion Rural del Uruguay, Cosmo Italiano, Centro
Catalan, Centro Gallego, Ciencias y Artes, Circulo Catolico de
Obreros, Idem Napolitano, Clubs Aleman, Espanol, Frances, Ingles,
Uruguay, Catolico, Colon, Dramatico Italiano, Societies Garibaldina,
Hannemaniana Uruguaya, Homeopatica, La Lira, La Patrie, Laurak Bat,
Liga Lombarda, Liga Industrial, Liga Masaniello, Nova Stella di
Italia, La Romea, Tiro y Gymnasio Nacional, Union de Obreros, and
also the French, Italian and Spanish commercial boards.

The Uruguay Masonry is represented by a Great Orient on which depend
many other lodges. There exist also many foreign lodges.


Worship and Churches.

Although the State Religion is the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion,
all the other religions are tolerated in the Republic owing to
the liberality of the laws and to the independent spirit of the
inhabitants. There exist Protestant Temples, not only in Montevideo
but also in Salto, Swiss Colony, etc.

The budget of the Republic assigns $19,712 for all the expenses of
the Roman Catholic Church.

The Republic has 43 churches and 36 chapels. The number of the
priests is 161.

Actually they are building 7 more churches.


Public Revenue.

The public revenue is derived from the custom duties, direct taxes on
property, licenses to trade houses, stamped paper, stamps, import and
export duties, port dues, municipal duties in the capital and in the
departments, duties on indirect inheritance, trade patents, cattle
marks, etc.

Its amount has been during the three following periods:

  1882,                        $ 9,095,409
  1883,                         10,928,639
  1884-1885 (economical year),  12,373,688
                               -----------
    Total,                     $32,397,736

  1885-1886 (economical year), $11,719,692
  1886-1887     "         "     12,704,832
  1887-1888     "         "     13,668,096
                               -----------
    Total,                     $38,092,620

  1888-1889 (economical year), $15,690,293
  1889-1890      "       "      17,415,154
  1890-1891      "       "      14,925,363
                               -----------
    Total,                     $48,030,810

The increase during the second period, if compared with the first one
is: $5,694,884, and the increase of the third period compared with
the second one is: $9,938,190.


Custom Duties.

They are the principal revenue of the Republic. From the year 1882
to the year 1891, the product of the custom duties, calculated by
periods of five years each, has been:

  1882,      $5,501,360
  1883,       6,968,321
  1884,       7,749,438
  1885,       7,731,264
  1886,       6,803,761
            -----------
    Total,  $34,754,144

  1887,     $ 8,671,243
  1888,       8,845,776
  1889,      10,786,602
  1890,       9,848,735
  1891,       8,648,509
            -----------
    Total   $46,800,865

The increase of the second period, if compared with the first one,
has been: $12,046,721.


Licenses, Stamped Paper, Stamps.

The licenses for trade houses, shops, etc., stamped paper and stamps
have produced during the period 1887-1891:

                         Stamped
           Licenses.      Paper.        Stamps.

  1887,    $ 783,179     $203,143      $336,688
  1888,      888,543      253,610       379,063
  1889,    1,180,118      283,009       452,167
  1890,    1,219,943      301,058       485,850
  1891,    1,001,405      220,882       414,160
          ----------   ----------    ----------
  Totals, $5,073,188   $1,261,702    $2,067,928

  Annual}
  Middle}  1,014,637      252,340       413,585
  Term. }


Public Debt.

  On the 1st of January, 1891, the
      public debt was                 $ 89,848,850
  Augmentation of the public debt
      during the year                       86,182
                                      ------------
                                      $ 89,935,032
  Redemption in 1891                     2,145,059
                                      ------------
  Public debt on the 31st of
      December, 1891                  $ 87,789,973

All the external public debt has been unified, including in it what
was owed for the guarantee to railways, and also what remained due of
the external debt service. The interest to be paid has been lessened
and definitely established at the rate of 3-1/2 per cent., and the
redemption by the outbidding system has been restored.

The internal consolidated debt has also been unified with an interest
of 4 per cent., and redeemable at the rate of 1 per per cent.,
accumulatively and by outbiddings.

The external consolidated debt (3-1/2 per cent.) is $90,710,000.

The internal unified debt (4 per cent.) is $7,500,000.

The international debts, according to treaties with Italy, France and
Spain, are $1,987,125.

All these debts that will be issued when these lines are published
will form, more or less, a total of $104,000,000, mortgage bank
warranty debt included.


Budget of Expenditure.[1]

  [1] Whilst the present monography is being printed the Deputy
  Chamber is studying a new project for the budget, the base of
  which is the project proposed for the financial year 1891-92,
  with a diminution of 10 per cent., which would allow the complete
  payment of the expenditure.

The financial year begins on the 1st of July and concludes on the
30th of June of the next year.

From the financial year of 1889-90 it has been the anterior budget
which has gone on ruling, with a general deduction of 10 per cent.,
and with some augments and changes in other parts of the budget.

A new budget for the financial year 1892-93 is going to be voted,
which will consist of the following amounts:

  _I.--Administration:_
    After a discount of 20 per cent. on
      the wages                                       $ 5,840,306.41
  _II.--House of Legislation_                             582,558.00
  _III.--Passive Classes:_
    That is to say, annual allowances paid
      to pensioners, civil and military,
      soldiers disabled by wounds or age,
      widows and sons of the 33 Orientals
      who assegurated the national independence
      in 1825, citizens who took
      part in the Independence wars,
      etc. After a discount between 4
      and 15 per cent                                   1,324,503.32
  _IV.--Public Debt and Guarantee to Railways_          5,724,620.24
  Various credits                                         144,394.52

So as to attend to this budget the Republic counts with the following
incomes:

  Customs duties                           $ 8,577,622.84
  Duties on property                         1,750,549.54
  Licenses                                     925,535.87
  Stamped paper                                337,141.31
  Stamps                                       219,548.57
  Taxes on manufactures                        256,751.59
  Postage                                      203,585.73
  Public education                             219,251,13
  Ports                                         56,414.46
  Duties on Inheritances                       127,363.80
  Duties on the signature of public acts,
    being excepted the value of the
    stamped paper                               15,162.02
  Police Duties                                 36,473.40
  Revenue of the municipalities in the
    departments                                100,320.92
  Duties on amphibious fisheries                 7,000.00
  Cattle-marks                                   3,000.00
  Duties of 1 per cent. on payments             78,049.51
  Civil and military house for pawning          56,534.74
  Eventual incomes, and revenue of the
    renting of lands belonging to the
    State                                       15,570.41
                                           --------------
      Total                                $12,985,875.84


NEW DUTIES.

  Augmentation of the duty on slaughterhouses      80,000.00
  Augmentation of the duty on inheritances        140,000.00
  Augmentation of the import duties               127,500.00
  Augmentation of the municipal duties            100,000.00
  A discount of 20 per cent. on the wages
   of the clerks of the Montevideo
   municipality                                    65,350.00
                                                  ----------
                                                  512,850.00


RECAPITULATION.

  Resources           $12,985,875.84
  New resources           512,850.00
                       -------------
                      $13,498,725.84


Weights and Measures.

The law of the year 1862 established the metrical system throughout
the Republic.

                                       Metres.
  1 lineal league,                    = 5,154
  1 lineal cuadra,                    =    85-900 c.
  1 lineal vara,                      =       859 c.
  1 lineal foot,                      =       286 c.

                                       Litres.
  1 pipa, or 192 frascos,             =   455-424
  1 frasco,                           =     2-370
  1 English gallon,                   =     3-805

                                       Kilogs.
  1 fanega, maize, ears,              =   274-544
  1    "      "    grains,            =   137-272
  1 ton,                              =   918-800
  1 quintal (100 lbs.),               =    45-940
  1 arrobe (25 lbs.),                 =    11-485
  1 livre (pound, libra),             =     0-459
  1 Pesada (dry hides, 40 lbs.),      =    18-376
  1    "   (salted hides, 75 lbs.),   =    34-455


Official Value of Gold Coins.

  Argentine Republic, 1 argentino ($5 gold),  $ 4 66

  Austria,            8 florins,                3 73

  Belgium,            (the same value as French coins).

                    { 20,000 reis,             10 56
  Brazil,           { 10,000 reis,              5 28
                    { 5,000 reis,               2 64

                    { 1 condor ($10),           8 82
  Chile,            { 1/2 " ($5),               4 41

  Columbia,           $20,                     18 66

                    { £1 (20 sh.),              4 70
  England,          { £1/2 (10 sh.),            2 35

                    { 100 frcs.,               18 66
                    { 50 frcs.,                 9 33
  France,           { 20 frcs., and also the
                    {    Italian, Belgian and
                    {    Swiss 20 frcs. or lire
                    {    coins,                 3 73

  Germany,          { 20 marks,                 4 60
                    { 10   "                    2 30

  Peru,               20 soles (suns),         18 66

  Portugal,           1 crown (10,000 reis),   10 45

                    { 1 doblon (100 reals
  Spain,            {   and 10 escudos),        4 82
                    { 25 pesetas,               4 66

  Switzerland,        Like French coins.

                    { 1 double eagle, $20,     19 32
  United States,    { 1 eagle, $10,             9 66
                    { 1/2 eagle, $5,            4 83

  Venezuela,          20 pesos,                18 66

The standard currency in Uruguay is gold.

The nominal unit, $1, 1 peso ($1), has a weight of 1 gramme, 697
mgrm. of gold and 917 mills standard.

The official value of the national silver coin, 1 peso, has a weight
of 25 grammes and 900 milles standard.

The other minor silver coins are: $0.50, $0.20, $0.10.

In all accounts, the limited quantity that can be paid in silver, is
determined by the law, according to the total amount.


Police.

The police under the care of the Political and Police Chief (jefe
politico y de policia) of each department and depending on the
Executive power employs a great many persons, the wages of which are
relatively very small. However, the police service goes on with a
perfect regularity in the capital and in the departments. The whole
police administration costs half a million to the state.


Army.

The organization of the Uruguayan army is perfect, as well in regard
to the discipline as in regard to the military tactics. They are
dressed as well as the best European soldier. They use the Remington
gun; but they are going to be provided with the reformed Mauser
gun. The artillery regiments have 67 Krup, Armstrong and Nordenfeld
cannons.

The army is composed of 23 chiefs, 202 officers and 3,425 soldiers,
forming 10 battalions, that is to say: 4 Hunters battalions, 1
artillery battalion, 4 cavalry battalions and 1 light artillery
battalion, besides which must be counted the general Artigas fort
garrison and the "Prague Nacional" or Arsenal detachment.

One Hunters Battalion and the four Cavalry ones serve as garrisons in
the departments. The other battalions remain in the capital.


Navy.

The national fleet is employed for coast and fort guarding. It is
composed of three large gun-boats and 6 small steamers. They all use
Remington guns; as for the cannons, they belong to various systems.


Montevideo, the Capital of the Republic.

The great maritime town of Montevideo, the capital of the Republic
and the so-called department, was founded in the year 1726 by the
Spanish marshal Don Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, with some Spanish
families, who came from Buenos Ayres and Canary Islands.

The town is built over a rocky peninsula, in the middle of the salt
waters of the River Plate, with a height of over 100 feet above the
sea.

It is actually divided into three large sections called the Antigua
(old) town, the Nueva (new) town and the Novisima (newest) town. All
around the town will run the great boulevard General Artigas. The
whole town consists in 1,600 _manzanas_ or square cuadras, more than
600 of which are already edificed; it must be added that every day
new buildings are begun everywhere about the town. In all directions
new streets are opened and new houses are built and new suburbs
created, making Montevideo larger and larger every day.

The streets are all straight and nearly all of them well paved with
granite stone. In the old town they are 10 and 11 metres wide and in
the new town 17 metres, with broad pavements and trees planted on
both sides.

The principal roads that lead to the town are broad, part of them
covered with a bed of macadam and the others with a bed of stones.

There are six public squares, called, Zabala, Constitucion,
Independencia, Libertad, Treinta y Tres, General Flores, and the
smaller ones called Solis and Muelle Viejo.

In all these squares there are trees and banks; they are lit with
electric light and the paths that surround them are made of the
finest granite.

Most of them are one manzana large, that is to say 7,378 square
metres. The square called Independencia is a parallelogram 221 metres
long by 232 metres broad with an area of 29,260 metres. In it is
situated the government palace. The boulevard called 18 de Julio is
the continuation of the Independencia Square, from W. to E., being 26
metres broad.

The common sewer has an extension of 93,000 metres and more than
7,500 are directly its conduits.

The drinkable water comes from Santa Lucia (61 kilometres from
Montevideo); the various conduits have an extension of over 180
kilometres.

All the streets and even the suburbs have the electric light; some
others have still the gas light.

Three gasometres, two of them 100,000 cubic feet and one 70,000, are
employed for the preparation of the gas. The gas pipes represent an
extension of 128 kilometres. The power of each light is equivalent to
that of 18 candles.

There are two important establishments for the preparation of the
electric light, which is now used by a great many trade houses and
shops.

The town is composed of over 19,000 houses--20 per cent. of them
being houses with two stories; a good many of them have three and
four stories. The architecture of the houses is most elegant,
especially of those which were built during the last fifteen years.

Among the public buildings remarkable for their importance are: the
Cathedral, the Charity Hospital, the Insane Asylum, the Central
Cemetery, Solis Theater, Normal School, Government Palace, Parliament
House, Custom House, Professional School, National Bank, San Felipe
and Cibils Theatres, London Bank, South America British Bank, Uruguay
Club, Gas Works, Prison, San Francisco, Capuchin Friars, Concepcion
and Carmen Churches, Orphan Asylum, Seminary, English Church, Music
Academy, Oriental Hotel, Gounouilhou Baths, etc.

The suburbs and environs are most picturesque, with a great quantity
of the most elegant country houses, built all along the avenues
called Agraciada, Paso del Molino, Duranas, Miguelete, Sierra, Goes,
Suarez, Larranaga and many others.

Being the capital of the Republic, Montevideo is the residence of the
three high powers of the state, of the aggregate of foreign ministers
and consuls and also of the bishop. It is the centre of all the
most important business of the Republic and reputed one of the best
markets in the River Plate.

In Montevideo reside all the principal Societies and Associations in
the Republic.

The aspect of the town is agreeable and quite that of a European
city, and its population is quite a cosmopolitan one.

The census of the year 1891, Dec. 31, gave a result of 234,688 souls
for the department of Montevideo, 190,000 more or less belonging
exclusively to Montevideo, and 53 per cent. of them being natives and
47 per cent. foreigners.

All the most important trade-houses are in Montevideo, the largest
and finest hotels; there are three theatres, fifteen churches and
nine chapels, three cemeteries and three markets, etc.

During the bathing season a great many foreigners come to Montevideo,
owing to its fine shore and beautiful bathing establishments, like
the one called Los Pocitos, where exists a beautiful and elegant
building for the foreigners, and those called Romirez and Capurro.

       *       *       *       *       *

The following table gives an idea of the immense yearly consumption
of meat in Montevideo:

  ======+=============+============+=============+
        | OXEN, COWS. |   SHEEP.   |   TOTAL.    |
  YEARS.|    ----     |    ----    |    ----     |
        |   Kilogs.   |   Kilogs.  |   Kilogs.   |
  ------+-------------+------------+------------ +
  1874  |  15,918,875 |  1,373,721 |  17,292,596 |
  1875  |  15,379,042 |  1,166,721 |  16,545,763 |
  1876  |  14,801,696 |  1,088,199 |  15,889,895 |
  1877  |  14,578,711 |  1,009,309 |  15,588,020 |
  1878  |  15,208,543 |  1,378,114 |  16,586,657 |
  1879  |  13,468,455 |  1,394,751 |  14,863,206 |
  1880  |  14,019,236 |  1,420,641 |  15,439,377 |
  1881  |  14,228,375 |  1,472,598 |  15,700,973 |
  1882  |  15,297,093 |  1,408,497 |  16,705,590 |
  1883  |  16,100,322 |  1,448,126 |  17,548,448 |
  1884  |  16,380,623 |  1,450,679 |  17,831,302 |
  1885  |  19,293,435 |  1,426,345 |  20,719,780 |
  1886  |  17,911,894 |  1,738,305 |  19,650,199 |
  1887  |  18,027,814 |  1,272,314 |  19,300,128 |
  1888  |  20,499,325 |  1,555,743 |  22,055,068 |
  1889  |  24,681,622 |  1,733,487 |  26,415,109 |
  1890  |  24,724,287 |  1,021,568 |  25,745,855 |
  1891  |  25,087,020 |    847,435 |  25,934,455 |
  ======+=============+============+=============+

Public Beneficence.

There are in the Republic many beneficent establishments, hospitals,
charity and mutual assistance societies, that do important services
to all who need them without any distinction of nationality.

In the capital there are, under the care of the State and of the
National Charity and Beneficence Commission, the Charity Hospital,
the Alms House, the Insane Asylum, the Orphan Hospital, the Maternal
Asylum and also a small-pox Lazaretto.

There exist also, under the care of private beneficence, the English
Hospital, the Italian Hospital, and soon there will be a Spanish
Hospital.

For a long time there have been many Ladies' Beneficence Societies,
and many Mutual Assistance Societies: La Junta Central Espanola de
Beneficencia, La Fraternidad, Societa Italiana, Circolo Napolitano,
Societe Francaise de Seccours Mutuels.

The number of the members of all the societies is more or less 25,000.

_Charity Hospital._--In the beginning of the year 1891, there were
489 ill people in the hospital; from January to December of the same
year, there entered 5,361; therefore, during the year 1891, 5,850
persons were attended at the hospital. Out of them 5,022 were cured,
4 ran away and 451 died, remaining 373 persons for the year 1892.

Out of the 5,361 persons who went to the hospital, 1,529 only were
natives and 3,832 foreigners.

_Insane Asylum._--In 1891 the number of people attended to was 987.
During the year, 58 went out and there remained for 1892, 768 persons.

The 258 people who came to the hospital in 1891, were 107 natives and
151 foreigners.

_Alms House._--Out of 473 beggars living in the asylum, the greatest
number, in the year 1891, were foreigners.

_Orphan and Foundling Asylum._--In the beginning of 1891 there were
397 children. During the year there entered 574; thence there were
971 children in the hospital during the year 1891. Out of them 56
foundlings were claimed for by their parents and 22 orphans by their
relations; 63 orphans were adopted by various families.

_Maternal Asylum._--The three Maternal Asylums received during the
year 1891, 1,937 children of both sexes, who were attended to by the
Charity Sisters.

       *       *       *       *       *

In all the departments there exist Beneficence and Mutual Assistance
Societies that do great services to the poor people.


Powers of the State.

EXECUTIVE POWER.

_President of the Republic_--Doctor Don Julio Herrera y Obes.

_Government Minister_--Don Francisco Bauza.

_Minister of Commerce, Industry, Railways and Public
Education_--Engineer Don Juan Alberto Capurro.

_Minister of Finance_--(Interium) Don Eugenio Madalena.

_Minister of War and Navy_--General Don Luis E. Perez.

_Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship_--Doctor Don Manuel Herrero
y Espinosa.


LEGISLATIVE POWER.

_President of the Senator Chamber and General Assembly_--Don Tomas
Gomensoro.

_President of the Deputy Chamber_--Doctor Don Miguel Herrera y Obes.


JUDICIAL POWER--TRIBUNALS OF APPEAL.

_President of the Tribunals_--(1st) Doctor Don J. M. Vilaza. (2d)
Doctor Don Trofilo Diaz.


Ministers of the Republic Abroad.

  In France              --_Minister_, Mr. Alejandro Herosa.
  In Italy               --_Minister_, Dr. Don Jose Vazquez Sagastune.
                           _Secretary_, Eurique Rovira.
  In Germany             --_Minister_, Dr. Don Federico Susviela Guarch.
                           _Secretary_, Dr. Luis Garabelli.
  In Great Britain       --_Minister_, Dr. Don Alberto Nin.
                           _Secretary_, Alfonso S. Zumaran.
  In Spain and Portugal  --_Minister_, Dr. Don Juan Zorrilla de San Martin.
                           _Secretary_, Eduardo Herrera y Obes.
  In Chile               --_Minister_, Mr. Jose C. Arrieta.
  In Argentine Republic  --_Minister_, Dr. Don Ernesto Frias.
                           _Secretary_, Dr. Don Pablo Perez Gomar.
  In Brazil              --_Minister_, Mr. Blas Vidal.
                           _Secretary_, Julian Alvarez Conde.
  In Paraguay            --_Minister_, Mr. Ricardo Garcia.
                           _Secretary_, Dionisio Ramos Montero.


Consuls of the Republic.

                            _Consul_                           _Vice_
    _Countries._           _General._       _Consuls._       _Consuls._
  Argentine Republic,         1                9                 14
  Brazil,                     1               14                 21
  Paraguay,                   1                1                  6
  Chile,                      1                2                 ..
  United States of America,   1                6                 14
  Switzerland,                1                3                  1
  Great Britain,              1               16                 32
  Germany,                    1                7                 ..
  Belgium,                    1                4                  4
  Italy,                      1               17                 17
  Portugal,                   1                4                 15
  France,                     1               13                  7
  Spain,                      1               26                 24
  Holland,                    1                2                 ..
  Sweden, Norway,             1                2                 ..
  Bolivy,                     1                1                 ..
  Austria,                    1               ..                 ..
  Venezuela,                 ..                1                 ..
  Peru,                       1                1                 ..
  Russia,                    ..               ..                 ..
  Greece,                    ..                1                 ..
  Haite,                     ..                1                 ..
  Denmark,                   ..                1                 ..
  Turkey,                    ..                1                 ..


Foreign Ministers in the Republic.

  Italian        --_Minister_, Commander Jose Anfora, Duke of Lucignano.
                      1st _Secretary_, E. Ferrara Dentrice.
                      2d _Secretary_, Emanuel Berti.
  Portuguese     --_Minister_, Viscount de Favia.
  German         --_Minister_, Dr. R. Kranel.
                   _Secretary_, G. von Pilgrim Ballazzi.
  Brazilian      --_Minister_, Don Pedro C. Alfonso Carvalto.
  Argentine      --_Minister_, Don Enrique B. Moreno.
                   _Secretary_, Solano Torres Cabura.
  British        --_Minister_, Hon. Ernest M. Latou.
  Austrian       --_Minister_, Baron of Salzberg.
  Spain          --_Minister_, Don Jose de la Rica y Calvo.
                   _Secretary_, A. Alava y Amoros.
  Belgian        --_Minister_, Mr. Ernest Van Bruyssel.
  French         --_Minister_, Mr. A. Bourcier Saint Chaffray.
                   _Secretary_, J. A. Larret.
  Saint Marinan  --_Minister_, Don Francisco Brin.
                   _Secretary_, Arthero Brin.
  Equatorian     --_Minister_, Don. Francisco A. Gomez.
  Swiss          --_Minister_, Coronel E. Rode.
                   _Secretary_, J. Choffar.
                   _Chancellor_, F. Chury.
  Paraguayan     --_Minister_, Don Jose Segundo Decond.


Foreign Consuls in the Republic.

                         _Consul_                   _Vice_      _Consular_
     _Countries._       _General._   _Consuls._   _Consuls._    _Agents._

  Argentine Republic,        1          12            5            ..
  Brazil,                    2          ..            6             3
  Chile,                     1          ..            1            ..
  Bolivy,                   ..           1           ..            ..
  Peru,                     ..           1           ..            ..
  Equator,                   1          ..           ..            ..
  Nicaragua,                ..           1           ..            ..
  Salvador,                 ..           1           ..            ..
  United States of America, ..           2            1             1
  France,                    1          ..           ..             8
  Italy,                     1          ..            1             8
  Portugal,                 ..           1            2            ..
  Great Britain,             1          ..            6            ..
  Spain,                     1          ..           20            ..
  Belgium,                   1           1            1            ..
  Sweden,                   ..           1            1            ..
  Denmark,                  ..           1            1            ..
  Hawai,                    ..           1            1            ..
  Switzerland,              ..           1            2            ..
  Holland,                   1           1           ..            ..
  Paraguay,                  1          ..           ..            ..
  Germany,                  ..           1           ..            ..
  Columbia,                 ..           1           ..            ..
  Russia,                   ..           1           ..            ..
  Austria,                  ..           1           ..            ..
  Saint Marinan,            ..           1           ..            ..
  Mexico,                   ..           1           ..            ..
  Venezuela,                ..           1           ..            ..


Custom-House.

The Montevideo custom-house produces the principal revenue the public
treasury counts with. The other custom-houses all over the littoral
and in the Brazilian frontiers are comparatively a great deal less
important.

Imports have to pay general duties _ad valorem_, which vary between 8
and 51 per cent., and also specific duties, such as for wine, brandy,
tobacco, rice, sugar, petroleum, olive oil, beer, matches, etc.

There is a law regulating these specific duties.

According to the law of the year 1888 all national products were free
from duty; but in the year 1890 a new law restored the specific duty.

Corn, wheat, flour and lucerne pay also the specific duty.

Since the year 1888 many modifications have been introduced in the
custom duties laws, in order to increase the revenue and also to
protect national industry.

Besides the duties _ad valorem_ there is also an additional duty of 5
per cent.


Laws.

IMPORTS.

Article 1. All goods imported from foreign countries for consumption
will pay a duty of 31 per cent. of its value, excepting the following
goods, which will pay:

1, 51 per cent.--arms, powder, ammunitions, snuff, tobacco,
perfumery, cheese, butter, ham, preserved meats and all eatables
preserved in tin boxes or in bottles, rockets and mine, quarry and
gun powder.

2, 48 per cent.--brushes in general, painting brushes, shoes of
all sorts, ready-made linen, hats, furniture, coaches, harnesses,
medicaments, formularies and business papers either lithographed or
printed.

3, 44 per cent.--cakes and pastry of all sorts, chocolate, candles in
general, vermicelli, jams, soles and tanned skins.

4, 20 per cent.--lumber in general, iron, either plate, crow, joist
or ingot, steel plate, copper and brass ingots, tin plate, lead bar
or plate, zinc plate or ingot, fresh fruits, roof tiles, slates,
Roman cement, vegetal coal, quicksilver, tin, talc, plaster, tar,
pitch, sack-cloth, forage in general and empty match-boxes.

5, 12 per cent.--potatoes of all sorts, even those imported for
sowing.

6, 8 per cent.--printed and bound books, typography or lithography
machines or presses, printing types, white paper for newspapers,
lithography paper, 87 centim. long by 54 broad, printing ink, flower
and vegetable seeds, sulphuric, nitric and chlorhydric acids, gums,
phosphorus, gold jewels and gold and silver watches.

7, 6 per cent.--printed books without binding, maps and geographical
globes and all things necessary for natural, physical and
mathematical studies, mineral coal in general, sea or rock salt and
precious stones.

Art. 2. All things necessary to divine worship, the introduction of
which may be asked by the ecclesiastical authority, shall be free
from all duty.

2. All things introduced for the personal use of the foreign
ministers and consuls residing in the Republic, provided there be
reciprocation for our ministers and consuls.

3. All the machinery for steamers that are going to be built in the
country, stamped gold and silver, gold and silver paste or powder,
sheep-curing specific, live plants except vines, live-stock and
blooded animals, luggage, linen, clothes and instruments and tools
for personal use, all special materials to be employed in building
ships in the country, ploughs, machinery for ships and industries,
common and double sodium, hop, saffron, agricultural machines, hemp,
indian cane, rabbit hair, otter and hare skin for hat-making, sewing
machines, glass or clay bottles, potash and chlorate of potash for
industry, capsules for bottles, dynamite, wires for fencing, lucerne
seeds, and sulphur flower.

Art 3. The introducing of all coloring substances employed in the
falsification of wine is forbidden, as well as all substances the
Public Health Board will consider as hurtful, etc., etc.


Law on Specific Duties.

Article 1. The goods hereafter mentioned, imported from foreign
nations since the 1st of January, 1889, shall pay the following
specific duties:

                                        Kilogs.
  Red Indian dwarf pepper                 $ 09
      "             "    in powder          14
  Almonds                                   06
      "   without the shell                 11
  Canary seed                               05
  Filberts                                  04
  Prussian blue, for laundresses            01
  Car riggings and cordages, indian cane    06
  Cocoa                                     12
    "  in powder                            16
  Coffee, grain                             08
    "  powder                               24
  Chicory                                   06
  Chocolate                                 30
  Indian rockets                            40
  Preserved vegetables                      16
  Preserved eatables of all sorts           25
  Kerseymere                                28
  Baize                                     31
  Dry fruits, dainties                      40
  Fruit syrups                              25
  Pickled fruits                            10
  "Farina"                                  01
  Vermicelli, in general                    08
  Flannel and wool cloth                    75
  Wool and cotton flannel                   62
  Cotton flannel                            28
  Brandy fruits                             10
  Cotton sail-cloth                         25
  Iron, bars, plates, joists and rails      01
  Galvanized iron, _idem_                   15
  Cakes, pastry                             16
  Lard                                      14
  Soap, in general                          08
  Hams                                      24
  Cotton white cloth                        15-1/2
  Butter                                    35
  Nuts                                      03
  Preserved peaches                         05
  Oysters, lobsters                         16
  Brown waste paper                         05
  Raisins.                                  05
  Pickled fish                              07
      "       in bottles or tin boxes.      10
  Pickled dry fish, in casks                05
      "       in bottles or tin boxes       08
  Red cayenne pepper                        08
  Pepper                                    10
    "   in powder                           16
  Cheeses                                   25
  Sausage                                   40
  Tea                                       25
  Candles                                   14
  Vinegar                                   03
  Yerba mate, from Paraguay                  5-1/2
  Glazed cotton                             28
  Dry vegetables, beans, French beans,
      lentils, etc.                         05

Art. 2. The specific duties on common wines, in casks, will be 6 per
cent. the litre. Etc., etc.


New Laws on Specific Duties.

ARTICLE 1.

                                      Per kilog.
  Havana cigars.                          $6.00
  Cigars of all sorts                      3.00
  Cigarettes                               6.00
  Tobacco, black or chewing tobacco          50
  Tobacco, in general                      1.00
  Bitters, brandy, whiskey, etc., that are
      not over 20 degrees, per litre         37
  The same, in bottles, from 51 centilitres
      to 1 litre, per bottle                 37
  Spirits, in casks, per litre               37
  The same, in bottles, from 51 centilitres
      to 1 litre, per bottle                 37
  The same, in larger or smaller bottles, in
  proportion with the capacity
  Vermouth, fernet, in casks, per litre      37
  The same, in bottles, etc., per bottle     37
  The same, in larger or smaller bottles,
      etc., etc.
  Beer, in casks, per litre                  16
  The same, in bottles, etc., per bottle     16
  The same, in larger or smaller bottles, etc.

                                      Per kilog.
  Matches                                 $1.30
  Preserved vegetables, fish and meat        30
  Refined sugar                               6
  Sugar, without refining                     5
  Cheese, in general                         38


ARTICLE 2.

                                         Per litre.

  Artificial wines, besides the duty already
    existing on common wines in casks          3

According to another law, January 19, 1891, the following goods pay
specific duties:

                                Per 100 kilogs.
  Wheat                                  $ .80
  Corn                                    1.35
  Corn flour                              2.70
  Lucerne, forage                         1.00

According to the same law (Article 3) the sulphate of copper,
destined to agriculture, is free from all duty.

       *       *       *       *       *

The law of August 27, 1891, says:

     Article 1. The specific duty charged on all foreign brandy, when
     its alcoholic strength is not over 20 degrees, shall be $13.60
     per litre. If the alcoholic strength be over 20 degrees, each
     additional degree shall pay 68.1000.

     The duty on the brandy manufactured in the country is raised to
     $13.20 per litre, whatever may be its strength.

     Article 2. The duty on vermouth, brandy, bitters, artificial
     wines (3 and 12 cents per litre) is abolished.

     Bitters, whiskey, vermouth (not being over 20 degree), shall be
     31 cents per litre.

     The same, in bottles from 51 centilitres to 1 litre, also 31
     cents per litre.

     The same, in larger or smaller bottles, in proportion.

  Spirits, in casks, per litre              31
  The same, in bottles, per bottle          31
  The same, in larger or smaller bottles, in proportion.
  Vermouth, fernet, in casks, per litre     31
  The same, in bottles, etc., per bottle    31
  The same, in larger or smaller bottles, in proportion.

       *       *       *       *       *

Article 3. The Executive Power may oblige the brandy manufacturers to
employ the Tiermen-Halske counters, or others.

Article 4. Are free from duty the liquors the grocers make themselves
with peaches or cherries.


Exports.

The law of January 30, 1888, says:

Article 1. All natural products, fruits and goods manufactured in the
country are free of all export duty.

Article 2. Are excepted undressed stone, sand and live-stock.

       *       *       *       *       *

Another law of October 4, 1890, has created the following export
duties:


ARTICLE 2.

                                Per 100 kilogs.
  Wool, in general                       $1.80
  Woolly skins                              80
  Hair                                    1.79
  Fat, tallow, oils                         50
  Corned meat                               40
  Preserved meat and tongues              1.00
  Clutches                                  25
  Ashes and bones, per 1,000 kilogs         60
  Artificial manure, per 1,000 kilogs.      60
  Salted hides (oxen and cows), each        25
  Dry     "       "       "      "          12
  Salted hides (horses), each               12
  Dry      "      "       "                  6
   "       "   (calves), per 100 kilogs.  1.00
  Hides (seals), each                       16
  Horns, per 1,000                        2.50
  Extract of meat, per kilog.               10


Law on Immigration.

Among other articles the law on immigration of June 12th, 1890, says:

Article 2. The consular agents must give all the information, notices
and references, the immigrants, agents of navigation companies, or
other persons whoever, may ask them about legislation, statistics and
general situation of the Republic.

Art. 3. The agents shall not receive, on pain of being destituted,
any particular retribution for the services the present law imposes
on them, or those that any future law may impose on them.

Art. 7. Is considered as an immigrant every honest workman who comes
to the Republic on board any steamer or vessel, with a second or
third class passage, with the intention of fixing here his residence.

Art. 8. Every immigrant on his landing will enjoy the following
favors:

1. Introduction, free from all duty, of his luggage, linen,
furniture, tools or agricultural machines.

2. Disembarking of all his luggage without anything to pay.

3. All the necessary information is gratuitously taken for him, so as
to provide him with the kind of work he has chosen.

The immigrants with their passage paid by the Government have a right:

1. To be lodged and fed during the first eight days.

2. To be taken over gratuitously with his luggage to the place in the
national territory he has chosen for his residence.

These last benefits may also be granted by the executive power to the
spontaneous immigration.

Art. 10. The immigrant will prove his good conduct and aptness to
work by a certificate gratuitously given to him by the consular agent
of the port from which he sailed, and duly legalized by the consular
authority of his own country.

Art. 24. All ships coming here with immigrants will enjoy all the
possible exemptions of taxes.

Art. 25. As a compensation to the anterior article, the immigrants
bound for the Oriental Republic will enjoy on board the ships the
very same treatment, as regards the food, lodging and comfort, as the
immigrants going to other ports in the River Plate.

Art 33. A special inspector shall look carefully over the gratuitous
disembarking of the immigrants and their luggage.

Art. 34. He will accompany them until they be put into possession
of their luggage, taking good care lest any one should ask them any
retribution in the "Immigrants' Hotel."

Art. 36. In case of serious illness, contracted during the journey,
their lodging, maintenance and medical assistance shall be at the
expenses of the State, even if the eight days granted by the law have
passed.

Articles 37, 38 and 40, inclusive, stipulate that the Immigration
and Agricultural Board shall attend to all the necessities of the
national industry by placing all the immigrants who will submit
themselves to this law: That it will note down in a special register
the names of all workmen, ploughmen, etc., in search of work; that
it will by all means try to place them advantageously; that it will
mediate, if it be required, in all contracts, and take good care lest
the patrons should not observe them faithfully.

In no case at all shall the Immigration and Agricultural Board
receive any commission or retribution whatever.

In case it be necessary to send the immigrant over to some other
department the travel would be at the expense of the State.


Historical Sketch.

(A COMPILATION.)

Four years after the River Plate was discovered by Juan Diaz de
Solis, Hernando de Magallanes, following the same route as the
former, went up the River Plate and discovered part of the rivers
Uruguay, Guazu and Parana. But as he could not find the channel,
which, he thought, ought to lead him to the East Indies, he soon came
back and sailed southward, discovering afterwards the strait.

In the year 1527, Sebastian Gaboto who had travelled over the Rivers
Uruguay, Parana and Paraguay, built the first fort on the coast of
the River San Salvador at a short distance from the Uruguay, so as to
defend himself against the Indians who peopled the territory that now
belongs to the Republic.

Then began the first essays of colonization made by the Spaniards,
notwithstanding all kinds of difficulties and fights against the
Indians who, with great constance and heroism, went on defending the
land that was theirs.

In the year 1550, Irala sends from the Asuncion a few people over to
the Oriental territory; and the first settlement is there founded, on
the banks of the river San Juan, with the name of San Juan Bautista.
Two years after the settlers gave up the place and went away, on
account of the increasing attacks of the Indians which they could not
resist.

In the year 1574, Zarate had a new fort built in the very same place
where Gaboto in 1527 had already built one and gave it the name of
San Salvador. Two years later, the settlers had to go away for want
of resources and on account of the continuous wars with the natives.

In the year 1624, Fray Bernardo de Guzman began founding a new
settlement, the most ancient one in the Republic, called Santo
Domingo de Soriano, two leagues distant from the mouth of the Black
River, Rio Negro.

In 1680 was founded Colonia del Sacramento, by Don Manuel de Lobo,
the governor of Janeiro.

In 1724 the field-marshal, Don Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, founded the
town of Montevideo.

From that time many more towns and important settlements went on
being founded. In 1762, Villa de San Carlos, in 1763, the town of
Maldonado, in 1778, Villa de San Juan Bautista, now Santa Lucia,
1782, the settlement of Paysandu, in 1783, Minas and in 1793, Rocha.

Early in the nineteenth century, the question of dominion was finally
settled in favor of the Spaniards; and in the mean time, in spite of
wars, the Banda Oriental was being peopled and civilization continued
to advance. In the central districts, as well as on the coasts of
the Atlantic and of the large rivers, the Spaniards had founded many
small towns and ports, the most important of which was Montevideo.

In the early days of the Spanish settlements in these regions, the
whole of the River Plate district was included in the Viceroyalty
of Peru. Subsequently a separate viceroyalty was created in Buenos
Ayres and the Banda Oriental, which had been subject to the Colonial
Government of Paraguay, was transferred to that of Buenos Ayres. At
the beginning of the century, Montevideo was ruled by a military and
political governor appointed by the Crown of Spain. Since the year
1730, Montevideo had a _Cabildo_ or Municipality.

Soriano, Maldonado, Colonia and other places were subject to
military commands and also had their own cabildos. The population
of Montevideo was then about 15,000 inhabitants; the same number of
people existed in the interior of the province.

At the beginning of the century Montevideo already possessed a
gratuitous school, paid by private persons, and also primary schools,
under the care of friars of the Order of St. Francis; it had a
comedy hall, had finished giving names to all its streets, and
established the light service in the principal ones; and its cabildo
or municipality, listening to the proposals made by the Governor
Bustamante y Guerra, was already thinking of providing the town
with a good hygiene service, with pavement, with causeways, with a
regular drinkable water service, with a public washing place, with
a complete service for the cleaning and conservation of the port,
with the building of bridges over the Miguelete, Paso del Molino and
Arroyo Seco, designing for the public municipal service the amount
of $47,600, which would be taken from the product of the cattle
outbidding sales for the slaughterhouses during the years 5th and 6th.

Undoubtedly the administration of the Governors Bustamante y Guerra
and Ruiz Huidobio was an era of prosperity for Montevideo (1797 to
1807). Uruguay had lived under despotism until those governors came
and raised it to the very rank it deserved by its topographical
position and natural riches.

Such was the situation of Montevideo when took place the English
invasions in the River Plate.

On the 27th of June, 1806, Buenos Ayres fell to the power of the
expedition commanded by Berresford and Popham.

Montevideo, with all its war elements and all the popular elements
enrolled in the very moment, succeeded in reconquering Buenos Ayres.
The first English invasion was repelled. A new attack of the English
gave as a result the taking of Montevideo after a furious fight on
the 3d of February, 1807.

Seven months later the English had to withdraw from Montevideo after
the defeat suffered in Buenos Ayres by General Whitelock, who, on
capitulating, had to surrender Montevideo and all other places
occupied by his troops.

On the 25th of May, 1810, the people in Buenos Ayres gave the
first decisive step for the conquering of the independence of this
continent.

The Governor and Municipality of Montevideo did not join then the
movement.

The Junta or Revolutionary Committee, established in Buenos Ayres,
sends regular troops to the Banda Oriental. General Don Jose G.
Artigas commands the Oriental troops.

After various encounters and fights that were all favorable to the
Revolution, the Spanish power was forever destroyed in the River
Plate, on the 23d of June, 1814.

General Artigas does all he can that the Banda Oriental be one of the
confederate provinces among the united ones of the River Plate. There
occur some difficulties and the general government is obliged to
surrender Montevideo, and the troops retire on the 23d of February,
1815.

The Portuguese, who greedily sought after possessing this territory,
invades it then with a powerful army. Fortune is first favorable
to them; and, on the 20th of January, 1817, General Lecor takes
possession of Montevideo and other places, giving to the Banda
Oriental the name of Cisplatine State (Estado Cisplatino).

The Brazilians part from the crown of Portugal, and after they have
declared themselves independent the new Cisplatine state becomes a
dependence of the Brazilian empire, the troops of which enter into
Montevideo on the 28th of February, 1824, and take possession of the
whole land.

Some emigrated Orientals, residing in Buenos Ayres, do all that they
possibly can so as to conquer again their independence and native
country.

They join the few elements they can dispose of and on the 19th of
April, 1825, thirty-three fearless patriots, under the command of
the Oriental General D. Juan Antonio Lavalleja, tread the shore of
the Agraciada, near Nueva Palmira, and with the device, "_Libertad o
Muerte_" (Liberty or Death), written on the national flag, begin the
heroic campaign--the liberating expedition to which the whole country
joins.

The first encounters were favorable to the Oriental arms. General
Lavalleja convokes the people for the electing of Deputies, and in
the Villa de la Florida establishes itself the Deputy Chamber, which,
on the 25th of August, 1825, sanctions--giving the strength of a
law--the Declaration of the Independence of the River Plate Oriental
Province.

The Brazilians complain to the Argentine government on account of the
decided protection it had given to the Oriental Revolution, and a war
ensues between both nations that obliges the Argentines to send an
auxiliary army to this territory.

The struggle went on, being a series of victories for the united
republican arms: the Imperial power was defeated, the last encounter,
that put that memorable campaign to an end, taking place in Bacacay.
Negotiations of peace were undertaken, and on the 27th of August,
1828, the preliminary treaty was signed, by which the Oriental
Province of Uruguay was declared sovereign and independent.

A provisional government was appointed and, after the country had
recovered peace and quiet, a constituent and legislative Assembly was
elected which compiled and published the Constitution that nowadays
is still ruling, and that was solemnly sworn amid the greatest
popular joy on the 18th of July, 1830.

It was at this period that a man rose into note in the Argentine
Confederation who was destined to exercise an overshadowing and
pernicious influence on both sides of the River Plate. In 1829 Don
Juan Manuel Rosas became Governor of Buenos Ayres. Possessed of
great capacity he maintained tranquility in his native province and
extended his sway over the neighboring states of the Confederation;
but his system of government was despotic, and his rule was for some
years one of sanguinary terror. His intervention in the intestine
quarrels of the Republic of Uruguay, and his attempt to close the
River Parana to foreign vessels, led him into hostilities with
England and France, whose joint naval squadrons protected Montevideo
from his attacks by sea, whilst his troops and their Oriental allies,
under General Oribe, besieged the city. The siege of Montevideo by
the _Blancos_ or _Whites_, as the Oriental partizans of Oribe were
called, continued for nine years, and for that period, from 1843 to
1851, the history of the Republic of Uruguay is the history of the
defence of Montevideo.

The defence concluded with a treaty of peace on the 8th of October,
1851, in which it was declared that there were neither conquered or
conquerors.

On the 3rd of February in the following year, Rosas himself was
completely overthrown at Monte Caseros, near Buenos Ayres, by the
combined forces of Brazil, Oriental Republic and the Argentines in
revolt under the governor of Entre Rios General Justo Jose Urquiza,
the commander-in-chief of the allied army. From that date, when the
normal intercourse of Montevideo with Buenos Ayres and the riverain
ports of the Uruguay and Parana, as well as with the interior of
the Republic itself and with Brazil, was resumed, the Oriental
Republic may be said to have recommenced its national existence.
Whilst her material progress has continued with little intermission,
her political history during the last thirty or forty years has
been again chequered by many internal troubles and domestic events,
one too recent, the others too insignificant to be included in
the present historical sketch. But the old parties, _Blanco_ and
_Colorado_, have long since been transformed; and at the same time
that new rivalries and new parties were coming out, the hatreds and
exclusive passions of the ancient times have all disappeared; the
constant communication with Europe, and the general influence of a
newer education and of different ideas is permeating all classes
in the capital, and gradually extending to the rural districts,
where foreigners are introducing the habits and industrial methods
of European countries: all which, owing to the national culture
and civilization permits to count for the future with a complete
stability in the institutions and government of the country, this
stability being the strongest wish of all the parties, whilst it is
also the best and most solid warranty of the progress and increase of
the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

[Illustration: CARTA GEOGRAFICA]

       *       *       *       *       *

Transcriber's note:

"++ PLEASE NOTE MAP." The ++indicates the hand symbol with finger
pointing right.

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals.

Variations in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been
retained except in obvious cases of typographical error.

The cover for the eBook version of this book was created by the
transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

Page 16: "1891 104,945 8,74 291". There is a missing digit - the
transcriber has added "5" to make 8,745.

Page 25: The transcriber has supplied the closing round bracket in
the following: The plantations are 80 hectares, planted with vines
(the plants are 2 and 3 years old); three millions of vine-shoot ...

Page 25: The ^ followed by a number indicates a superscripted number.
Example: 1^m 80 high, by 0^m thick.





End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Oriental Republic of Uruguay at
the World's Columbian Exhibition, Chicago, 1893, by Carlos Maria de Pena and Honore Roustan

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