THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY. (continued 2)

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:

Orchæology814

Numismatics4,201

History140

Paleontology107

Zoology13,741

Botany1,812

Mineralogy3,253

Fine Arts, Industries158

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

1888,888,543253,610379,063

1889,1,180,118283,009452,167

1890,1,219,943301,058485,850

1891,1,001,405220,882414,160

———————————————

Totals,$5,073,188$1,261,702$2,067,928

Annual}

Middle}1,014,637252,340413,585

Term. }

Public Debt.

On the 1st of January, 1891, the public debt was$ 89,848,850

Augmentation of the public debt during the year86,182

——————

$ 89,935,032

Redemption in 18912,145,059

——————

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 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 external consolidated debt (3½ 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]

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 Legislation582,558.00

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 cent1,324,503.32

IV.—Public Debt and Guarantee to Railways5,724,620.24

Various credits144,394.52

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

Customs duties$8,577,622.84

Duties on property1,750,549.54

Licenses925,535.87

Stamped paper337,141.31

Stamps219,548.57

Taxes on manufactures256,751.59

Postage203,585.73

Public education219,251,13

Ports56,414.46

Duties on Inheritances127,363.80

Duties on the signature of public acts, being excepted the value of the stamped paper15,162.02

Police Duties36,473.40

Revenue of the municipalities in the departments100,320.92

Duties on amphibious fisheries7,000.00

Cattle-marks3,000.00

Duties of 1 per cent. on payments78,049.51

Civil and military house for pawning56,534.74

Eventual incomes, and revenue of the renting of lands belonging to the State15,570.41

—————

Total$12,985,875.84

NEW DUTIES.

Augmentation of the duty on slaughterhouses80,000.00

Augmentation of the duty on inheritances140,000.00

Augmentation of the import duties127,500.00

Augmentation of the municipal duties100,000.00

A discount of 20 per cent. on the wages of the clerks of the Montevideo municipality65,350.00

————

512,850.00

RECAPITULATION.

Resources$12,985,875.84

New resources512,850.00

——————

$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,{ ½ " ($5),4 41

Columbia,$20,18 66

{ £1 (20 sh.),4 70

England,{ £½ (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

{ ½ 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.

187415,918,8751,373,72117,292,596

187515,379,0421,166,72116,545,763

187614,801,6961,088,19915,889,895

187714,578,7111,009,30915,588,020

187815,208,5431,378,11416,586,657

187913,468,4551,394,75114,863,206

188014,019,2361,420,64115,439,377

188114,228,3751,472,59815,700,973

188215,297,0931,408,49716,705,590

188316,100,3221,448,12617,548,448

188416,380,6231,450,67917,831,302

188519,293,4351,426,34520,719,780

188617,911,8941,738,30519,650,199

188718,027,8141,272,31419,300,128

188820,499,3251,555,74322,055,068

188924,681,6221,733,48726,415,109

189024,724,2871,021,56825,745,855

189125,087,020847,43525,934,455

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,1914

Brazil,11421

Paraguay,116

Chile,12..

United States of America,1614

Switzerland,131

Great Britain,11632

Germany,17..

Belgium,144

Italy,11717

Portugal,1415

France,1137

Spain,12624

Holland,12..

Sweden, Norway,12..

Bolivy,11..

Austria,1....

Venezuela,..1..

Peru,11..

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 ViceConsular

Countries.General.Consuls.Consuls.Agents.

Argentine Republic,1125..

Brazil,2..63

Chile,1..1..

Bolivy,..1....

Peru,..1....

Equator,1......

Nicaragua,..1....

Salvador,..1....

United States of America, ..211

France,1....8

Italy,1..18

Portugal,..12..

Great Britain,1..6..

Spain,1..20..

Belgium,111..

Sweden,..11..

Denmark,..11..

Hawai,..11..

Switzerland,..12..

Holland,11....

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 powder14

Almonds06

" without the shell11

Canary seed05

Filberts04

Prussian blue, for laundresses01

Car riggings and cordages, indian cane06

Cocoa12

" in powder16

Coffee, grain08

" powder 24

Chicory06

Chocolate30

Indian rockets40

Preserved vegetables16

Preserved eatables of all sorts25

Kerseymere28

Baize31

Dry fruits, dainties40

Fruit syrups25

Pickled fruits10

"Farina"01

Vermicelli, in general08

Flannel and wool cloth75

Wool and cotton flannel62

Cotton flannel28

Brandy fruits10

Cotton sail-cloth25

Iron, bars, plates, joists and rails01

Galvanized iron, idem15

Cakes, pastry16

Lard14

Soap, in general08

Hams24

Cotton white cloth15½

Butter35

Nuts03

Preserved peaches05

Oysters, lobsters16

Brown waste paper05

Raisins.05

Pickled fish07

" in bottles or tin boxes.10

Pickled dry fish, in casks05

" in bottles or tin boxes08

Red cayenne pepper08

Pepper10

" in powder16

Cheeses25

Sausage40

Tea25

Candles14

Vinegar03

Yerba mate, from Paraguay5½

Glazed cotton28

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 sorts3.00

Cigarettes6.00

Tobacco, black or chewing tobacco50

Tobacco, in general1.00

Bitters, brandy, whiskey, etc., that are not over 20 degrees, per litre37

The same, in bottles, from 51 centilitres to 1 litre, per bottle37

Spirits, in casks, per litre37

The same, in bottles, from 51 centilitres to 1 litre, per bottle37

The same, in larger or smaller bottles, in proportion with the capacity

Vermouth, fernet, in casks, per litre37

The same, in bottles, etc., per bottle37

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

Beer, in casks, per litre16

The same, in bottles, etc., per bottle16

The same, in larger or smaller bottles, etc.

Matches$1.30

Preserved vegetables, fish and meat30

Refined sugar6

Sugar, without refining5

Cheese, in general38

Article 2.

Per litre.

Artificial wines, besides the duty already existing on common wines in casks3

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

Per 100 kilogs.

Wheat$ .80

Corn1.35

Corn flour2.70

Lucerne, forage1.00

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 litre31

The same, in bottles, per bottle31

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

Vermouth, fernet, in casks, per litre31

The same, in bottles, etc., per bottle31

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 skins80

Hair1.79

Fat, tallow, oils50

Corned meat40

Preserved meat and tongues1.00

Clutches25

Ashes and bones, per 1,000 kilogs60

Artificial manure, per 1,000 kilogs.60

Salted hides (oxen and cows), each25

Dry " " " "12

Salted hides (horses), each12

Dry " " "6

" " (calves), per 100 kilogs.1.00

Hides (seals), each16

Horns, per 1,0002.50

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.

FOOTNOTE:

Transcriber's note:

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 ...