The Oriental Republic Of Uruguay At The World's Columibian Exhibition, Chicago, 1893

THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY

— AT THE — World's Columbian Exhibition , CHICAGO, 1893. GEOGRAPHY, RURAL INDUSTRIES, COMMERCE, GENERAL STATISTICS . — BY —...

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CARLOS MARIA DE PENA

— AND — HONORE ROUSTAN, Director of the General Statistics Office TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY J. J. RETHORE. MONTEVIDEO. ——— 1893...

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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

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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 l

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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 m

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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 wi

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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 1

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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 blac

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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, th

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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: 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 Sal

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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 li

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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 t

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Population—Its Density.

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

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Movement of the Population.

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

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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: 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....

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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 e

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

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: 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 al

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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.

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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

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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:...

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Mortgages.

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

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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 Monte

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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

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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 depar

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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 m

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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 hectare

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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 impro

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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

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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. A desc

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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

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

IMPORTS. I.—Drinks, in General. II.—Eatables, Cereals, Spices. III.—Tobacco, Cigars. IV.—Stuffs, Cloth, Etc. V.—Linen, Clothes. VI.—Materials for the Industries, Machinery. VII.—Various Goods. EXPORTS. I.—Live-stock. From the year 1882 to the year 1891, there was no export of live-stock. II.—Cattle Industry, Saladeros. III.—Rural Products. From 1882 to 1885 there was no export. IV.—Various Goods....

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Money.

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

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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: 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 st

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Goods.

According to the statistics the goods moved in the harbor of Montevideo during the last five years are calculated thus: That is to say, a middle term of 1,355,828 tons moved per year, or 112,985 per month....

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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....

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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....

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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

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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: 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 an

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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,

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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....

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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 t

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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 Riv

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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 al

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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....

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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 ex

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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: 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....

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Navigation Companies.

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

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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 $10

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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: The movement during 1891 may be divided thus:...

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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....

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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 Educ

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University.

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

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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

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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:...

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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....

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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, sc

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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....

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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....

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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....

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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 librar

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National Museum.

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

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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....

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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, Ur

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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 buildi

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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: 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:

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

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Licenses, Stamped Paper, Stamps.

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

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Public Debt.

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 3½ 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 ex

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Budget of Expenditure.[1]

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: After a discount of 20 per cent. on the wages That is to say, annual allowances paid t

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Weights and Measures.

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

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Official Value of Gold Coins.

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....

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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....

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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 ca

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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....

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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

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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 E

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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. Pr

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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

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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, harnesse

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

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New Laws on Specific Duties.

Article 1. Article 2. According to another law, January 19, 1891, the following goods pay specific duties: 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

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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....

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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 t

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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 Para

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