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it is because complete general statistics covering the year 1892 are not yet to be had, as the "Board of Statistics" do not publish the "Annual" till the second quarter of the year 1893, and also because it has been considered better to conserve a certain general unity in the compiling of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.

VICE-CONSULS.

THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY.

(SOUTH AMERICA.)

Discovery—Situation—Limits—Configuration—Perimeter—Superficies.

The

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

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

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:

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

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:

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 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: