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  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year 1892 are not yet to be had, as the "Board of Statistics" do not
publish the "Annual" till the second quarter of the year 1893, and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 deg., 5' and 35 deg.
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 Haedo, 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 deg., and that of cold
in the month of July is 3 deg. 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 <DW64> (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 <DW64> 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 <DW64> 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 <DW64>, 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