| Show SIGNS OF PROGRESS IN URUGUAY THE little republic of uruguay in south america la is receiving at present considerable attention from travelers and men of trade several magazines and innumerable newspaper articles have appeared during the past few months relating to it it is one of the most interesting bof af the latin ameri ca can n countries ji in size ise climate soil and many other particulars it differs from its neighbors the argentine re public and brazil it to la now causing much comment owing to the fact that it to is entering an era of progress and prosperity at the paris exhibition of 1889 it made a fine display and published glowing reports of its resources uruguay to is situated in the south temperate zone it lies between 80 30 degrees and 85 degrees 8 L brazil bounds it on the north and east the atlantic southeast and south and the rivers la plats plata and uruguay on the west and southwest its area is about square miles about one sixth larger than england the country to is well wooded and watered the climate is moist mild and healthy there are only two seasons winter and summer lu in january the maximum heat runs up to 97 degrees P F and in july down to freezing the country presents the aspect of an undulating plain with chains of hills traversing it in various directions and interspersed with rivers lakes and streams the mountains cannot properly be called such the highest being less than 2000 feet the plats plata the uruguay and the negro are important rivers and navigable fur for considerable distances there also thirteen large rivers supplied supplee I by over 1500 tributa ries within the republic making it one of the best beet watered lands in the world every kind of fruit and grain known in the temperate and subtropical sub tropical climes can be grown in uruguay for cattle it is a paradise its mineral wealth is but imperfectly known its ito estimated number of animals in 1887 was comprising horned cattle sheep and borcea its I 1 to greatest industry is Inthe in the beef and hide bide preserving line the establishment at which extract of beef is put up kills 1000 animals dally daily and employs men the population in 1888 was monte video the largest city in 1889 had people of these were foreign born of the latter the italians are the most numerous next to them thein come the spaniards ardos and then the brazilians Brazi lians though roman catholicity is lecog nihed as the religion of the country yet there is perfect freedom for all religious creeds it was not always thus A few years ago the archbishop exercised supreme authority both in religion and politics A at t present the liberal Lil beral party there care nothing for the edicts of the vatican monks and nuns have been absolutely forbidden to live within the republic on the lot of august 1886 1885 all nunneries nunn eries but one were abolished by act of state the one which would not submit to the decree was governed by a mother superior sister of the president Pre eident of chill she bar ricadel the doors and would not admit the officers the doors were broken however aud she with 45 inmates expelled the country protestantism is making marked progress the great drawback to the country is lack of railroad transportation there is 18 a system of All railroads roads built and operated by english capital but it is ar alfrom from sufficient one line runs from monte video to paso toros miles another branch runs from paw paso toros to Pay sandu famous for its canned ox tongues and thence to salto about 40 miles the uruguay northern runs runa from salto to where it connects with the great southern of brazil this is a most moat important branch and does a great business the people live in the moot premature style even the rich rancheros rancheris ran cheros are contented with the simplest kind of huts these fellows own miles on miles of land yet they live like the an dents three generations can be met frequently living under the same roof and eanni at the same table they cannot be persuaded to divide lands or to sell them or even let them but a law compelling the subdivision of lands among heirs has been recently passed by the legislature the constitution of uruguay is modeled after that of our united states the president is supposed to be elected every four years but like most of the politicians all the world over the party in power wants to keep in power elected or not at present however bo weVer the outlook in uruguay is bright and promising trade and commerce are being developed and the government to is inviting and even helping Europ european oan immigration |
