1886-1887 " " 12,704,832
1887-1888 " " 13,668,096
-----------
Total, $38,092,620
1888-1889 (economical year), $15,690,293
1889-1890 " " 17,415,154
1890-1891 " " 14,925,363
-----------
Total, $48,030,810
The increase during the second period, if compared with the first one
is: $5,694,884, and the increase of the third period compared with
the second one is: $9,938,190.
Custom Duties.
They are the principal revenue of the Republic. From the year 1882
to the year 1891, the product of the custom duties, calculated by
periods of five years each, has been:
1882, $5,501,360
1883, 6,968,321
1884, 7,749,438
1885, 7,731,264
1886, 6,803,761
-----------
Total, $34,754,144
1887, $ 8,671,243
1888, 8,845,776
1889, 10,786,602
1890, 9,848,735
1891, 8,648,509
-----------
Total $46,800,865
The increase of the second period, if compared with the first one,
has been: $12,046,721.
Licenses, Stamped Paper, Stamps.
The licenses for trade houses, shops, etc., stamped paper and stamps
have produced during the period 1887-1891:
Stamped
Licenses. Paper. Stamps.
1887, $ 783,179 $203,143 $336,688
1888, 888,543 253,610 379,063
1889, 1,180,118 283,009 452,167
1890, 1,219,943 301,058 485,850
1891, 1,001,405 220,882 414,160
---------- ---------- ----------
Totals, $5,073,188 $1,261,702 $2,067,928
Annual}
Middle} 1,014,637 252,340 413,585
Term. }
Public Debt.
On the 1st of January, 1891, the
public debt was $ 89,848,850
Augmentation of the public debt
during the year 86,182
------------
$ 89,935,032
Redemption in 1891 2,145,059
------------
Public debt on the 31st of
December, 1891 $ 87,789,973
All the external public debt has been unified, including in it what
was owed for the guarantee to railways, and also what remained due of
the external debt service. The interest to be paid has been lessened
and definitely established at the rate of 3-1/2 per cent., and the
redemption by the outbidding system has been restored.
The internal consolidated debt has also been unified with an interest
of 4 per cent., and redeemable at the rate of 1 per per cent.,
accumulatively and by outbiddings.
The external consolidated debt (3-1/2 per cent.) is $90,710,000.
The internal unified debt (4 per cent.) is $7,500,000.
The international debts, according to treaties with Italy, France and
Spain, are $1,987,125.
All these debts that will be issued when these lines are published
will form, more or less, a total of $104,000,000, mortgage bank
warranty debt included.
Budget of Expenditure.[1]
[1] Whilst the present monography is being printed the Deputy
Chamber is studying a new project for the budget, the base of
which is the project proposed for the financial year 1891-92,
with a diminution of 10 per cent., which would allow the complete
payment of the expenditure.
The financial year begins on the 1st of July and concludes on the
30th of June of the next year.
From the financial year of 1889-90 it has been the anterior budget
which has gone on ruling, with a general deduction of 10 per cent.,
and with some augments and changes in other parts of the budget.
A new budget for the financial year 1892-93 is going to be voted,
which will consist of the following amounts:
_I.--Administration:_
After a discount of 20 per cent. on
the wages $ 5,840,306.41
_II.--House of Legislation_ 582,558.00
_III.--Passive Classes:_
That is to say, annual allowances paid
to pensioners, civil and military,
soldiers disabled by wounds or age,
widows and sons of the 33 Orientals
who assegurated the national independence
in 1825, citizens who took
part in the Independence wars,
etc. After a discount between 4
and 15 per cent 1,324,503.32
_IV.--Public Debt and Guarantee to Railways_ 5,724,620.24
Various credits 144,394.52
So as to attend to this budget the Republic counts with the following
incomes:
Customs duties $ 8,577,622.84
Duties on property 1,750,549.54
Licenses 925,535.87
Stamped paper 337,141.31
Stamps 219,548.57
Taxes on manufactures 256,751.59
Postage 203,585.73
Public education 219,251,13
Ports 56,414.46
Duties on Inheritances 127,363.80
Duties on the signature of public acts,
being excepted the value of the
stamped paper 15,162.02
Police Duties 36,473.40
Revenue of the municipalities in the
departments 100,320.92
Duties on amphibious fisheries 7,000.00
Cattle-marks 3,000.00
Duties of 1 per cent. on payments 78,049.51
Civil and military house for pawning 56,534.74
Eventual incomes, and revenue of the
renting of lands belonging to the
State 15,570.41
--------------
Total $12,985,875.84
NEW DUTIES.
Augmentation of the duty on slaughterhouses 80,000.00
Augmentation of the duty on inheritances 140,000.00
Augmentation of the import duties 127,500.00
Augmentation of the municipal duties 100,000.00
A discount of 20 per cent. on the wages
of the clerks of the Montevideo
municipality 65,350.00
----------
512,850.00
RECAPITULATION.
Resources $12,985,875.84
New resources 512,850.00
-------------
$13,498,725.84
Weights and Measures.
The law of the year 1862 established the metrical system throughout
the Republic.
Metres.
1 lineal league, = 5,154
1 lineal cuadra, = 85-900 c.
1 lineal vara, = 859 c.
1 lineal foot, = 286 c.
Litres.
1 pipa, or 192 frascos, = 455-424
1 frasco, = 2-370
1 English gallon, = 3-805
Kilogs.
1 fanega, maize, ears, = 274-544
1 " " grains, = 137-272
1 ton, = 918-800
1 quintal (100 lbs.), = 45-940
1 arrobe (25 lbs.), = 11-485
1 livre (pound, libra), = 0-459
1 Pesada (dry hides, 40 lbs.), = 18-376
1 " (salted hides, 75 lbs.), = 34-455
Official Value of Gold Coins.
Argentine Republic, 1 argentino ($5 gold), $ 4 66
Austria, 8 florins, 3 73
Belgium, (the same value as French coins).
{ 20,000 reis, 10 56
Brazil, { 10,000 reis, 5 28
{ 5,000 reis, 2 64
{ 1 condor ($10), 8 82
Chile, { 1/2 " ($5), 4 41
Columbia, $20, 18 66
{ £1 (20 sh.), 4 70
England, { £1/2 (10 sh.), 2 35
{ 100 frcs., 18 66
{ 50 frcs., 9 33
France, { 20 frcs., and also the
{ Italian, Belgian and
{ Swiss 20 frcs. or lire
{ coins, 3 73
Germany, { 20 marks, 4 60
{ 10 " 2 30
Peru, 20 soles (suns), 18 66
Portugal, 1 crown (10,000 reis), 10 45
{ 1 doblon (100 reals
Spain, { and 10 escudos), 4 82
{ 25 pesetas, 4 66
Switzerland, Like French coins.
{ 1 double eagle, $20, 19 32
United States, { 1 eagle, $10, 9 66
{ 1/2 eagle, $5, 4 83
Venezuela, 20 pesos, 18 66
The standard currency in Uruguay is gold.
The nominal unit, $1, 1 peso ($1), has a weight of 1 gramme, 697
mgrm. of gold and 917 mills standard.
The official value of the national silver coin, 1 peso, has a weight
of 25 grammes and 900 milles standard.
The other minor silver coins are: $0.50, $0.20, $0.10.
In all accounts, the limited quantity that can be paid in silver, is
determined by the law, according to the total amount.
Police.
The police under the care of the Political and Police Chief (jefe
politico y de policia) of each department and depending on the
Executive power employs a great many persons, the wages of which are
relatively very small. However, the police service goes on with a
perfect regularity in the capital and in the departments. The whole
police administration costs half a million to the state.
Army.
The organization of the Uruguayan army is perfect, as well in regard
to the discipline as in regard to the military tactics. They are
dressed as well as the best European soldier. They use the Remington
gun; but they are going to be provided with the reformed Mauser
gun. The artillery regiments have 67 Krup, Armstrong and Nordenfeld
cannons.
The army is composed of 23 chiefs, 202 officers and 3,425 soldiers,
forming 10 battalions, that is to say: 4 Hunters battalions, 1
artillery battalion, 4 cavalry battalions and 1 light artillery
battalion, besides which must be counted the general Artigas fort
garrison and the "Prague Nacional" or Arsenal detachment.
One Hunters Battalion and the four Cavalry ones serve as garrisons in
the departments. The other battalions remain in the capital.
Navy.
The national fleet is employed for coast and fort guarding. It is
composed of three large gun-boats and 6 small steamers. They all use
Remington guns; as for the cannons, they belong to various systems.
Montevideo, the Capital of the Republic.
The great maritime town of Montevideo, the capital of the Republic
and the so-called department, was founded in the year 1726 by the
Spanish marshal Don Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, with some Spanish
families, who came from Buenos Ayres and Canary Islands.
The town is built over a rocky peninsula, in the middle of the salt
waters of the River Plate, with a height of over 100 feet above the
sea.
It is actually divided into three large sections called the Antigua
(old) town, the Nueva (new) town and the Novisima (newest) town. All
around the town will run the great boulevard General Artigas. The
whole town consists in 1,600 _manzanas_ or square cuadras, more than
600 of which are already edificed; it must be added that every day
new buildings are begun everywhere about the town. In all directions
new streets are opened and new houses are built and new suburbs
created, making Montevideo larger and larger every day.
The streets are all straight and nearly all of them well paved with
granite stone. In the old town they are 10 and 11 metres wide and in
the new town 17 metres, with broad pavements and trees planted on
both sides.
The principal roads that lead to the town are broad, part of them
covered with a bed of macadam and the others with a bed of stones.
There are six public squares, called, Zabala, Constitucion,
Independencia, Libertad, Treinta y Tres, General Flores, and the
smaller ones called Solis and Muelle Viejo.
In all these squares there are trees and banks; they are lit with
electric light and the paths that surround them are made of the
finest granite.
Most of them are one manzana large, that is to say 7,378 square
metres. The square called Independencia is a parallelogram 221 metres
long by 232 metres broad with an area of 29,260 metres. In it is
situated the government palace. The boulevard called 18 de Julio is
the continuation of the Independencia Square, from W. to E., being 26
metres broad.
The common sewer has an extension of 93,000 metres and more than
7,500 are directly its conduits.
The drinkable water comes from Santa Lucia (61 kilometres from
Montevideo); the various conduits have an extension of over 180
kilometres.
All the streets and even the suburbs have the electric light; some
others have still the gas light.
Three gasometres, two of them 100,000 cubic feet and one 70,000, are
employed for the preparation of the gas. The gas pipes represent an
extension of 128 kilometres. The power of each light is equivalent to
that of 18 candles.
There are two important establishments for the preparation of the
electric light, which is now used by a great many trade houses and
shops.
The town is composed of over 19,000 houses--20 per cent. of them
being houses with two stories; a good many of them have three and
four stories. The architecture of the houses is most elegant,
especially of those which were built during the last fifteen years.
Among the public buildings remarkable for their importance are: the
Cathedral, the Charity Hospital, the Insane Asylum, the Central
Cemetery, Solis Theater, Normal School, Government Palace, Parliament
House, Custom House, Professional School, National Bank, San Felipe
and Cibils Theatres, London Bank, South America British Bank, Uruguay
Club, Gas Works, Prison, San Francisco, Capuchin Friars, Concepcion
and Carmen Churches, Orphan Asylum, Seminary, English Church, Music
Academy, Oriental Hotel, Gounouilhou Baths, etc.
The suburbs and environs are most picturesque, with a great quantity
of the most elegant country houses, built all along the avenues
called Agraciada, Paso del Molino, Duranas, Miguelete, Sierra, Goes,
Suarez, Larranaga and many others.
Being the capital of the Republic, Montevideo is the residence of the
three high powers of the state, of the aggregate of foreign ministers
and consuls and also of the bishop. It is the centre of all the
most important business of the Republic and reputed one of the best
markets in the River Plate.
In Montevideo reside all the principal Societies and Associations in
the Republic.
The aspect of the town is agreeable and quite that of a European
city, and its population is quite a cosmopolitan one.
The census of the year 1891, Dec. 31, gave a result of 234,688 souls
for the department of Montevideo, 190,000 more or less belonging
exclusively to Montevideo, and 53 per cent. of them being natives and
47 per cent. foreigners.
All the most important trade-houses are in Montevideo, the largest
and finest hotels; there are three theatres, fifteen churches and
nine chapels, three cemeteries and three markets, etc.
During the bathing season a great many foreigners come to Montevideo,
owing to its fine shore and beautiful bathing establishments, like
the one called Los Pocitos, where exists a beautiful and elegant
building for the foreigners, and those called Romirez and Capurro.
* * * * *
The following table gives an idea of the immense yearly consumption
of meat in Montevideo:
======+=============+============+=============+
| OXEN, COWS. | SHEEP. | TOTAL. |
YEARS.| ---- | ---- | ---- |
| Kilogs. | Kilogs. | Kilogs. |
------+-------------+------------+------------ +
1874 | 15,918,875 | 1,373,721 | 17,292,596 |
1875 | 15,379,042 | 1,166,721 | 16,545,763 |
1876 | 14,801,696 | 1,088,199 | 15,889,895 |
1877 | 14,578,711 | 1,009,309 | 15,588,020 |
1878 | 15,208,543 | 1,378,114 | 16,586,657 |
1879 | 13,468,455 | 1,394,751 | 14,863,206 |
1880 | 14,019,236 | 1,420,641 | 15,439,377 |
1881 | 14,228,375 | 1,472,598 | 15,700,973 |
1882 | 15,297,093 | 1,408,497 | 16,705,590 |
1883 | 16,100,322 | 1,448,126 | 17,548,448 |
1884 | 16,380,623 | 1,450,679 | 17,831,302 |
1885 | 19,293,435 | 1,426,345 | 20,719,780 |
1886 | 17,911,894 | 1,738,305 | 19,650,199 |
1887 | 18,027,814 | 1,272,314 | 19,300,128 |
1888 | 20,499,325 | 1,555,743 | 22,055,068 |
1889 | 24,681,622 | 1,733,487 | 26,415,109 |
1890 | 24,724,287 | 1,021,568 | 25,745,855 |
1891 | 25,087,020 | 847,435 | 25,934,455 |
======+=============+============+=============+
Public Beneficence.
There are in the Republic many beneficent establishments, hospitals,
charity and mutual assistance societies, that do important services
to all who need them without any distinction of nationality.
In the capital there are, under the care of the State and of the
National Charity and Beneficence Commission, the Charity Hospital,
the Alms House, the Insane Asylum, the Orphan Hospital, the Maternal
Asylum and also a small-pox Lazaretto.
There exist also, under the care of private beneficence, the English
Hospital, the Italian Hospital, and soon there will be a Spanish
Hospital.
For a long time there have been many Ladies' Beneficence Societies,
and many Mutual Assistance Societies: La Junta Central Espanola de
Beneficencia, La Fraternidad, Societa Italiana, Circolo Napolitano,
Societe Francaise de Seccours Mutuels.
The number of the members of all the societies is more or less 25,000.
_Charity Hospital._--In the beginning of the year 1891, there were
489 ill people in the hospital; from January to December of the same
year, there entered 5,361; therefore, during the year 1891, 5,850
persons were attended at the hospital. Out of them 5,022 were cured,
4 ran away and 451 died, remaining 373 persons for the year 1892.
Out of the 5,361 persons who went to the hospital, 1,529 only were
natives and 3,832 foreigners.
_Insane Asylum._--In 1891 the number of people attended to was 987.
During the year, 58 went out and there remained for 1892, 768 persons.
The 258 people who came to the hospital in 1891, were 107 natives and
151 foreigners.
_Alms House._--Out of 473 beggars living in the asylum, the greatest
number, in the year 1891, were foreigners.
_Orphan and Foundling Asylum._--In the beginning of 1891 there were
397 children. During the year there entered 574; thence there were
971 children in the hospital during the year 1891. Out of them 56
foundlings were claimed for by their parents and 22 orphans by their
relations; 63 orphans were adopted by various families.
_Maternal Asylum._--The three Maternal Asylums received during the
year 1891, 1,937 children of both sexes, who were attended to by the
Charity Sisters.
* * * * *
In all the departments there exist Beneficence and Mutual Assistance
Societies that do great services to the poor people.
Powers of the State.
EXECUTIVE POWER.
_President of the Republic_--Doctor Don Julio Herrera y Obes.
_Government Minister_--Don Francisco Bauza.
_Minister of Commerce, Industry, Railways and Public
Education_--Engineer Don Juan Alberto Capurro.
_Minister of Finance_--(Interium) Don Eugenio Madalena.
_Minister of War and Navy_--General Don Luis E. Perez.
_Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship_--Doctor Don Manuel Herrero
y Espinosa.
LEGISLATIVE POWER.
_President of the Senator Chamber and General Assembly_--Don Tomas
Gomensoro.
_President of the Deputy Chamber_--Doctor Don Miguel Herrera y Obes.
JUDICIAL POWER--TRIBUNALS OF APPEAL.
_President of the Tribunals_--(1st) Doctor Don J. M. Vilaza. (2d)
Doctor Don Trofilo Diaz.
Ministers of the Republic Abroad.
In France --_Minister_, Mr. Alejandro Herosa.
In Italy --_Minister_, Dr. Don Jose Vazquez Sagastune.
_Secretary_, Eurique Rovira.
In Germany --_Minister_, Dr. Don Federico Susviela Guarch.
_Secretary_, Dr. Luis Garabelli.
In Great Britain --_Minister_, Dr. Don Alberto Nin.
_Secretary_, Alfonso S. Zumaran.
In Spain and Portugal --_Minister_, Dr. Don Juan Zorrilla de San Martin.
_Secretary_, Eduardo Herrera y Obes.
In Chile --_Minister_, Mr. Jose C. Arrieta.
In Argentine Republic --_Minister_, Dr. Don Ernesto Frias.
_Secretary_, Dr. Don Pablo Perez Gomar.
In Brazil --_Minister_, Mr. Blas Vidal.
_Secretary_, Julian Alvarez Conde.
In Paraguay --_Minister_, Mr. Ricardo Garcia.
_Secretary_, Dionisio Ramos Montero.
Consuls of the Republic.
_Consul_ _Vice_
_Countries._ _General._ _Consuls._ _Consuls._
Argentine Republic, 1 9 14
Brazil, 1 14 21
Paraguay, 1 1 6
Chile, 1 2 ..
United States of America, 1 6 14
Switzerland, 1 3 1
Great Britain, 1 16 32
Germany, 1 7 ..
Belgium, 1 4 4
Italy, 1 17 17
Portugal, 1 4 15
France, 1 13 7
Spain, 1 26 24
Holland, 1 2 ..
Sweden, Norway, 1 2 ..
Bolivy, 1 1 ..
Austria, 1 .. ..
Venezuela, .. 1 ..
Peru, 1 1 ..
Russia, .. .. ..
Greece, .. 1 ..
Haite, .. 1 ..
Denmark, .. 1 ..
Turkey, .. 1 ..
Foreign Ministers in the Republic.
Italian --_Minister_, Commander Jose Anfora, Duke of Lucignano.
1st _Secretary_, E. Ferrara Dentrice.
2d _Secretary_, Emanuel Berti.
Portuguese --_Minister_, Viscount de Favia.
German --_Minister_, Dr. R. Kranel.
_Secretary_, G. von Pilgrim Ballazzi.
Brazilian --_Minister_, Don Pedro C. Alfonso Carvalto.
Argentine --_Minister_, Don Enrique B. Moreno.
_Secretary_, Solano Torres Cabura.
British --_Minister_, Hon. Ernest M. Latou.
Austrian --_Minister_, Baron of Salzberg.
Spain --_Minister_, Don Jose de la Rica y Calvo.
_Secretary_, A. Alava y Amoros.
Belgian --_Minister_, Mr. Ernest Van Bruyssel.
French --_Minister_, Mr. A. Bourcier Saint Chaffray.
_Secretary_, J. A. Larret.
Saint Marinan --_Minister_, Don Francisco Brin.
_Secretary_, Arthero Brin.
Equatorian --_Minister_, Don. Francisco A. Gomez.
Swiss --_Minister_, Coronel E. Rode.
_Secretary_, J. Choffar.
_Chancellor_, F. Chury.
Paraguayan --_Minister_, Don Jose Segundo Decond.
Foreign Consuls in the Republic.
_Consul_ _Vice_ _Consular_
_Countries._ _General._ _Consuls._ _Consuls._ _Agents._
Argentine Republic, 1 12 5 ..
Brazil, 2 .. 6 3
Chile, 1 .. 1 ..
Bolivy, .. 1 .. ..
Peru, .. 1 .. ..
Equator, 1 .. .. ..
Nicaragua, .. 1 .. ..
Salvador, .. 1 .. ..
United States of America, .. 2 1 1
France, 1 .. .. 8
Italy, 1 .. 1 8
Portugal, .. 1 2 ..
Great Britain, 1 .. 6 ..
Spain, 1 .. 20 ..
Belgium, 1 1 1 ..
Sweden, .. 1 1 ..
Denmark, .. 1 1 ..
Hawai, .. 1 1 ..
Switzerland, .. 1 2 ..
Holland, 1 1 .. ..
Paraguay, 1 .. .. ..
Germany, .. 1 .. ..
Columbia, .. 1 .. ..
Russia, .. 1 .. ..
Austria, .. 1 .. ..
Saint Marinan, .. 1 .. ..
Mexico, .. 1 .. ..
Venezuela, .. 1 .. ..
Custom-House.
The Montevideo custom-house produces the principal revenue the public
treasury counts with. The other custom-houses all over the littoral
and in the Brazilian frontiers are comparatively a great deal less
important.
Imports have to pay general duties _ad valorem_, which vary between 8
and 51 per cent., and also specific duties, such as for wine, brandy,
tobacco, rice, sugar, petroleum, olive oil, beer, matches, etc.
There is a law regulating these specific duties.
According to the law of the year 1888 all national products were free
from duty; but in the year 1890 a new law restored the specific duty.
Corn, wheat, flour and lucerne pay also the specific duty.
Since the year 1888 many modifications have been introduced in the
custom duties laws, in order to increase the revenue and also to
protect national industry.
Besides the duties _ad valorem_ there is also an additional duty of 5
per cent.
Laws.
IMPORTS.
Article 1. All goods imported from foreign countries for consumption
will pay a duty of 31 per cent. of its value, excepting the following
goods, which will pay:
1, 51 per cent.--arms, powder, ammunitions, snuff, tobacco,
perfumery, cheese, butter, ham, preserved meats and all eatables
preserved in tin boxes or in bottles, rockets and mine, quarry and
gun powder.
2, 48 per cent.--brushes in general, painting brushes, shoes of
all sorts, ready-made linen, hats, furniture, coaches, harnesses,
medicaments, formularies and business papers either lithographed or
printed.
3, 44 per cent.--cakes and pastry of all sorts, chocolate, candles in
general, vermicelli, jams, soles and tanned skins.
4, 20 per cent.--lumber in general, iron, either plate, crow, joist
or ingot, steel plate, copper and brass ingots, tin plate, lead bar
or plate, zinc plate or ingot, fresh fruits, roof tiles, slates,
Roman cement, vegetal coal, quicksilver, tin, talc, plaster, tar,
pitch, sack-cloth, forage in general and empty match-boxes.
5, 12 per cent.--potatoes of all sorts, even those imported for
sowing.
6, 8 per cent.--printed and bound books, typography or lithography
machines or presses, printing types, white paper for newspapers,
lithography paper, 87 centim. long by 54 broad, printing ink, flower
and vegetable seeds, sulphuric, nitric and chlorhydric acids, gums,
phosphorus, gold jewels and gold and silver watches.
7, 6 per cent.--printed books without binding, maps and geographical
globes and all things necessary for natural, physical and
mathematical studies, mineral coal in general, sea or rock salt and
precious stones.
Art. 2. All things necessary to divine worship, the introduction of
which may be asked by the ecclesiastical authority, shall be free
from all duty.
2. All things introduced for the personal use of the foreign
ministers and consuls residing in the Republic, provided there be
reciprocation for our ministers and consuls.
3. All the machinery for steamers that are going to be built in the
country, stamped gold and silver, gold and silver paste or powder,
sheep-curing specific, live plants except vines, live-stock and
blooded animals, luggage, linen, clothes and instruments and tools
for personal use, all special materials to be employed in building
ships in the country, ploughs, machinery for ships and industries,
common and double sodium, hop, saffron, agricultural machines, hemp,
indian cane, rabbit hair, otter and hare skin for hat-making, sewing
machines, glass or clay bottles, potash and chlorate of potash for
industry, capsules for bottles, dynamite, wires for fencing, lucerne
seeds, and sulphur flower.
Art 3. The introducing of all coloring substances employed in the
falsification of wine is forbidden, as well as all substances the
Public Health Board will consider as hurtful, etc., etc.
Law on Specific Duties.