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diff --git a/42879-0.txt b/42879-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bd1cc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/42879-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4519 @@ +*** 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 + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42879 *** |