Part 16

The chief occupations are sheep raising, agriculture and mining; manufactures unimportant. Mountain valleys are very fertile; mountains are rich in minerals. Between 1853 and 1872, 8,000,000 tons of guano were taken from the Chincha Islands. Latest reliable reports give: imports, $24,000,000; exports (exclusive of guano and nitre), $31,000,000. Principal exports are guano, nitrate of soda, wool, sugar, silver and cinchona.

State finances deranged by the late war with Chili; foreign debt $164,765,000; arrears in interest, $65,954,970. Railway system projected in 1852; miles of line, 1878, 2,030. Telegraph lines, 1878, 1,382 miles. The merchant marine, 1877, consisted of 147 vessels, with a combined capacity of 49,860 tons. Army and navy almost annihilated in the war with Chili; army now consists of 13,200 men; navy, of 18 steam vessels, with 66 guns. {189}

ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. Ar´jen-tine.

A republic of South America. Total area, 1,125,086 square miles. Total population, 1882, 3,026,000. Foreigners: Italians, 123,641; French, 55,432; Spaniards, 59,022; Germans, 8,616; English, 17,950. Population of Buenos Ayres, the capital, was, in 1882, 295,000; Rosario has a population of 32,204; Cordova, 39,651; ten towns have over 10,000 inhabitants. Population rapidly increasing from immigration. In 1877 immigrants numbered 28,708; 1880. 41,615: 1882, 59,843; during first nine months of 1883, 73,210. The country is divided into 14 Provinces. Executive power is vested in a President, elected for a term of 6 years; legislative power is vested in a Congress, composed of a Senate and House of Deputies. President and Vice-President must be Roman Catholics. Constitution almost identical with that of the United States.

Public revenue derived from heavy customs duties. Income for 1884, $32,400,000; Import does, $21,115,000; export dues, $3,010,000; total expenditure, $32,460,000. Annual exports: wool, $28,250,000; hides, $14,000,000; sheep skins, $4,250,000; tallow, $6,000,000; live animals, $1,750,000; maize, $2,100,000.

The area devoted to agriculture is yearly increasing. In 1882 the confederation possessed 14,206,499 horned cattle, 72,683,045 sheep, 4,856,808 horses. Total value of live stock, $210,000,000. In 1882 the wheat product of the province of Santa Fé was 2,250,000 bushels.

Miles of railway, 2,500, and 651 miles are being constructed. In 1884 there were 9,800 miles of telegraph line, 8,060 miles owned by the state.

Many navigable rivers afford excellent facilities for transportation. The Uruguay river is navigable for 200 miles; the Rio Negro, for 500; and the Colorado, for 150.

There are universities at Buenos Ayres and Cordova; professors, 66; students, 923: there are also 28 middle class and normal schools, and 1,985 primary.

The army in 1884 consisted of 7,812 officers and men; militia and National Guard, 350,000. Service in National Guard compulsory; regular army supplied by recruitment.

URUGUAY. Oo-roo-gw[=i]´.

This South American republic formed a Brazilian Province until 1825. Independence recognized by treaty of Montevideo, 1828; constitution proclaimed 1831. Area estimated at 73,538 square miles. Population, 438,245. Government in the hands of a President, elected for four years, assisted by 5 ministers, and a Parliament composed of two houses. Capital, Montevideo; population, 115,500.

The country forms a vast rolling plain, abounding in natural pastures. The chief industry is the rearing of cattle and sheep. It is estimated that 35,000,000 acres are used for pastoral purposes, on which are 6,711,778 cattle and 20,000,000 sheep. Chief agricultural products, wheat and Indian corn. Climate is generally humid, but temperate and healthful.

Revenue derived from customs duties. Commerce active. Value of imports, 1833, $21,634,475; exports, $26,831,555. Principal articles of export, cattle, hides, tallow, and dried and preserved meats.

Permanent army numbers 3,494 men, besides an armed police force of 3,200, and a national guard of 20,000 men. State religion, Roman Catholic. Number of children in all schools, 40,000. Miles of railway, 1884, 271; of telegraph, 1,405. {190}

CHILI. Chil´lee.

A republic of South America. Area, 256,399 square miles. Population, 2,271,949. This country is long and narrow, embracing extremes of temperature. Mean annual temperature at Santiago, 55°; at Valparaiso, 58°. Spring begins in September; winter, in June. Lakes and rivers are few; both are fed by the snow melting in the Andes; they are worthless for navigation, but valuable for irrigation purposes. Surface is mountainous; mean elevation of Andes, 11,830 feet; Aconcagua, the highest peak, 22,420 feet.

Chili is divided into 18 Provinces and 4 Territories. The constitution of 1833 vests the legislative power in a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. Executive power rests with a President, a Council of State, and a Cabinet of 5 ministers. Capital, Santiago; pop., 200,000. The potato is indigenous. Olive trees, mulberries and vines flourish. Cedar is the most important tree in Chili. Fruit is plentiful. This republic is rich in gold and silver, and especially in copper. Wheat the most important cereal product; value of wheat exported in 1882, $6,649,345. Value of chief exports in 1883: iodine, $2,987,490; bar copper, $14,339,460; silver, $4,624,110. Revenue for 1884, $49,900,000, one-half of which was derived from customs duties and monopolies; expenditure, $46,536,550. Total exports in 1883 were valued at $79,732,550; imports, $54,447,060.

The Chilian commercial marine consisted, 1883, of 131 vessels, of 53,071 tons. In 1882, 1,482, of 1,367,849 tons, entered, and 1,428, of 1,431,028 tons, cleared, the various ports of Chili.

One of the first states in South America to construct railways; length of line in 1883, 1,378 miles, of which 600 miles belonged to the state; cost of state lines, $42,141,686. In 1883 there were 6,840 miles of telegraph line, property of the state. By a law of 1884 the strength of the army can not exceed 12,410; at the same date the National Guard numbered 51,826, of whom 17,408 were on duty. Navy consists of over 20 war vessels.

State religion is the Roman Catholic; all creeds are protected; clergy is subsidized by the state; civil marriage is acknowledged by law. Besides the National Institute at Santiago, there are many colleges of different kinds; many agricultural and other special schools. There were, in 1883, 5,042 students attending universities and colleges. The attendance at the 724 public primary schools was 60541

PARAGUAY. Pa-ra-gw[=a]´.

A republic of South America, entirely inland. Area 91,970 square miles. Population, 346,048. Became independent in 1811; was ruled by Dr. Francis for 25 years. The government is entrusted to a President and Congress. Capital, Asuncion; pop., 16,000.

Soil and forests are very great sources of wealth. Manufactures are few and crude. The country is well watered by numerous streams and lakes. Three crops of tobacco per year are grown; home consumption, 15,000,000 lbs.; export, about 7,500,000 lbs. Sugar cane yields well; in 1882 there were 37,500,000 pounds of sugar produced. Maize returns one hundred and forty fold; rice, two hundred and fifty fold. Maté, or Paraguayan tea, the most important product. Imports, 1881, $1,278,000; exports, $1,928,500. The state owes Brazil and allies $236,000,000; Foreign debt, $17,315,000.

Army numbers 607 men, lately reduced in order to diminish expenses. Railway, 45 miles; telegraph, 45 miles. {191}

End of Project Gutenberg's Alden's Handy Atlas of the World, by John B. Alden