URUGUAY: AREA, HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, POPULATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Uruguay, still occasionally called the Banda Oriental (the land east of
the Uruguay River), is the smallest Republic of South America.
AREA, POPULATION, BOUNDARY
=Area.= With an area of 72,172 square miles, Uruguay is larger than New
England.
=Population.= The country has now about 1,500,000 inhabitants.
=Boundary.= Uruguay is nearly surrounded by water, having the Atlantic
Ocean for 120 miles on the east. The river or estuary of La Plata
235 miles on the south, and the Uruguay 270 miles on the west, both
separate the country from Argentina; on the north and east between
Uruguay and Brazil three rivers and Lake Mirím form the boundary most
of the way, with the Santa Hills for some distance.
HISTORY
In 1512 the explorer, Juan de Solis, entered the gulf-like River Plata
and landed upstream, 70 miles beyond Montevideo. Here were found
Charrúa Indians, accounted by the Guaranís rather ferocious. On his
next visit, 1515-16, Juan de Solis was slain by them with all his
party that had gone on shore. It was many years later that permanent
settlements were made in this region by Portuguese or Spaniards and not
until 1726 was the city of Montevideo founded by Spaniards. In 1777 a
rival Portuguese settlement was driven out by General Zavala of Buenos
Aires. Subsequent to 1750 Montevideo was independent of Buenos Aires.
After the Junta was formed in that city in 1810 the Spanish Viceroy
for a short time had his seat at Montevideo; but the people soon
became eager for independence. Under Artigas they waged war for years
against the Spanish, the Portuguese, and also the Porteños of Buenos
Aires. When in 1824 the power of Spain was finally destroyed in Peru,
Uruguay alone was not independent. Accordingly a refugee in Buenos
Aires, Lavalleja, with others, 33 in all (Treinta y Tres, a popular
name in Uruguay), set out from Argentina, crossed the Uruguay River,
gained adherents, captured Dolores, and August 25, 1825, established
a government at Florida. In August, 1828, after many struggles
Brazil and Argentina both acknowledged the independence of Uruguay;
and May, 1829, Lavalleja entered Montevideo. In 1830 the Assembly
elected Rivera President, after which Lavalleja tried to overthrow
the Government. Under the second President, Uribe, one of the 33, a
battle occurred when the colors red and white were used by the opposing
parties, from which date the two parties: Red, Colorados, party of
Rivera; Whites, Blancos, of Uribe and Lavalleja. Strife continued,
the deaths of the leaders making no difference to the factions, and
the parties continuing to the present with these names. In February,
1865, Flores, who had secured the support of Brazil, became dictator,
but Paraguay having been previously asked to interfere continued the
fight. Flores was assassinated, in 1868 occurred a terrible visitation
of cholera, and in ’69 a financial crisis that ruined thousands.
Troubles continued; until within the last few years no President has
had an entirely peaceful term. In view of this fact the development and
prosperity of the country has been remarkable.
GOVERNMENT
The government of the country is that of a centralized republic with
the usual divisions; the President is elected for four years and
not eligible for reëlection. The new Constitution which began to
operate March 1, 1920, is unusually radical in character, a tendency
observed in Uruguay some years ago. The Executive Power is shared by
the President and a National Commission of nine members elected by the
people. Some Members of the Cabinet are appointed by the President,
others by the Commission. Congress elects the members of the Supreme
Court, approves or rejects treaties. Bills may be presented to either
Chamber by Cabinet Members, who may take part in deliberations or
be summoned by a vote of one third to answer questions. A permanent
committee, two Senators and five Deputies, represents Congress when it
is not in session, and has power to convoke it.
----------------------+---------+----------+--------------+-----------
DEPARTMENTS | AREA, |POPULATION| CAPITALS |POPULATION
|in square| | |
| miles | | |
----------------------+---------+----------+--------------+-----------
_On the Uruguay River_| | | |
Artigas | 4,400| 37,000 |San Eugenio | 9,000
Salto | 4,900| 69,000 |Salto | 30,000
Paysandú | 5,100| 63,000 |Paysandú | 22,000
Rio Negro | 3,200| 30,000 |Fray Bentos | 12,000
Soriano | 3,600| 52,000 |Mercedes | 18,000
| | | |
_On the Plata River_ | | | |
Colonia | 2,200| 78,000 |Colonia | 15,000
San José | 2,700| 56,000 |San José | 15,000
Montevideo | 256| 400,000 |Montevideo | 435,000
Canelones | 1,800| 110,000 |Canelones | 10,000
Maldonado | 1,600| 38,000 |Maldonado | 4,000
| | | |
_On the Atlantic_ | | | |
Rocha | 4,300| 44,000 |Rocha | 12,000
| | | |
_Bordering on Brazil_ | | | |
Treinta y Tres | 3,700| 38,000 |Treinta y Tres| 8,000
Cerro Largo | 5,800| 55,000 |Melo | 14,000
Rivera | 3,800| 44,000 |Rivera | 15,000
| | | |
_In the Interior_ | | | |
Tacuarembó | 8,100| 58,000 |San Fructuoso | 9,000
Durazno | 5,500| 53,000 |Durazno | 17,000
Flores | 1,700| 17,000 |Trinidad | 13,600
Florida | 4,600| 55,000 |Florida | 10,000
Minas | 4,800| 64,000 |Minas | 15,000
----------------------+---------+----------+--------------+-----------
The 19 Departments or States with approximate area, population, and
capitals, beginning at the northwest, are given on the preceding page.
POPULATION
The population of Uruguay, about 1,500,000, is practically of the
Caucasian race with slight intermixture of Indian and Negro. The Indian
tribes previously inhabiting the country were mostly exterminated, a
few departing into adjoining regions, a few of the milder tribes being
absorbed by their conquerors. In the north are some negroes near the
Brazilian border and some of mixed blood. More than any other country
of South America Uruguay is inhabited by a homogeneous white population.
EDUCATION
A fine educational system has been developed, with primary and graded
schools throughout the country, so that hardly more than 25 per
cent of the population is illiterate. Primary education is free and
obligatory. In the Capital is a well equipped University with the usual
Departments, including Engineering and Architecture; a School of Arts
and Trades, kindergartens, and two Normal Schools; six of the latter
are found in other cities. In the suburb of Montevideo is a School of
Agriculture; four model farms are located at Colonia, Salto, Paysandú,
and Cerro Largo.
PRESS, RELIGION, ETC.
=The Press= is of high character with a number of good papers in
Montevideo, and some in other cities.
=The Religion=, of course, is Roman Catholic, although there is no
State Church. Complete toleration exists for other forms of worship.
=Telegraph=, etc. The Government has about 4800 miles of telegraph
lines and four wireless stations. Wireless is compulsory on all
steamers visiting Uruguayan ports. Telephones belonging to two private
companies are likely to be taken over by the Government; 19 towns have
this convenience.
=Money.= The gold standard was long ago adopted, but no gold was coined
and no bullion is carried by the State. In spite of this we have the
curious fact that the paper peso is equivalent to gold, and in ordinary
times to $1.034 of our money; though unhappily when once I received
some of the bills here, exchange being normal, I could obtain but 90
cents on the dollar for them. One broker even offered me 80 cents.
Subsidiary coins are of silver and nickel, and a silver dollar is
carried at par. The credit of Uruguay is obviously excellent, and its
bonds are often above par.
=Weights= and =Measures= according to the metric system are obligatory.
The importation even of other weighing apparatus is forbidden.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Uruguay is roughly a right-angled triangle in shape, its apex at the
northwest, the western boundary line nearly perpendicular, the south
side almost at right angles with it, and the Brazilian boundary the
hypothenuse; with a little extra piece at the southeast bordering on
the Atlantic. For the most part a gently rolling country well suited
to agriculture as for cattle raising, it slopes towards the east,
west, and south; having rougher and higher land at the north, where
the greatest elevation is a little above 2000 feet. A central cross
depression is the Valley of the Rio Negro. The perimeter of Uruguay
measures 1148 miles, of which 668 are on the ocean or large rivers.
The country is well supplied with rivers, some of which are navigable.
Besides the Plata and Uruguay, there are the Negro, Tacuará, Cebollati,
Climar, and the Yaguarón; also Lake Mirím. Besides Mirím on the
Brazilian border there are a few lakes along the ocean front; a few
islands lie off the coast. The country differs from the Argentine campo
in having plenty of stone.
CLIMATE
Extending from 30° to 35° South Latitude with no considerable elevation
and being close to the sea, Uruguay naturally has a temperate climate
with no great variation over its limited area. The temperature
generally ranges from 40° to 90°. There is sufficient rainfall, about
40 inches, and the country is well watered. Its coast offers agreeable
places for summer resorts, which are patronized both by natives and
by Argentines. The country in general has a particularly salubrious
climate, 244 sunny days, it is said, in the year.