Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-09-26
LETTER FROM SOUTH AMERICA.


MoNTEvIDEo, URUGUAY, Aug. 18th, 1870.
To the Editor Of the Kennebec Journal:
Our friends nearly seren thousand miles
distant may have some interest in facts and
affairs of this part of the world. Owing to
the want of properly organized communica-
ton between this portion of South America
and the United States, and to other decisive
causes, the North American public is greatly
deficient in accurate information as to cities,
trade, and affairs on the River Plate and its
tributaries. AS an example, the standard
works of our libraries and schools give the
population of this city at from $4,000 to TO-
900, whereas reasonable statement of the
number of people now inhabiting the city
and its suburbs would be $4,000 to l00,-
600. Montevideo was founded by the Span
iards in 1929, and was the focal point from
which went forth the people and influences
which dominate in the extensive domain
Of country drained by the immence river
and its branches at the mouth of which the
city is located. Its founders could not well
commercial Importance and beauty of loca-
ton. On the whole mmence chain of At
lantic coast of the two Americas no city has
more attractive advantages of situation. 1t
is built on narrow peninusla, the land rising
gradually on three sides from the water, the
highest line of elevation being less than two
hundred feet above the sea tide. The streets
are laid at right angles, running to the water,
allowing the ocean breezes unobstructed pas
sage through its numerous avenues and af-
fording rapid and complete drainage, which
tends greatly to the cleanliness and health of
the city. On the landward side the Spaniards
originally constructed strongly fortified wall.
But the growth of the city has gone much be-
yond this ancient limit, and the wall, its gates
and defences are now regarded merely as
monuments of the past The streets have
good width, and are well paved with granite
taken from abundant sources of supply within
the city, which are also adequate for extern
sive improvements contemplated in the future.
The sidewalks are admirably laid with gran
lite tagging or heavy marble tile imported
from Europe. The water to supply the city
is soon to be brought from the country at the
distance of nearly forty miles, at cost of be-
tween two and three millions of dollars, the
works for the same being nearly completed.
Originally the houses were of one story, built
in the old Spanish style, with brick walls,
horizontal roofs covered solidly with tile, the
exterior and interior of the houses having a
thick coating of fine mortar. To many of
these houses of one storya second and third
are being aided, so largely has the value of
the lots increased as to afford one of the besti in
vestments of capital to make these additions
to the capacity of the houses and stores. Most
of the new buildings erected in late years
have been two, three, or four stories. Many
of the houses are almost palatial in size and
expense of finish. Most of the principal resi-
dences have heavily constructed halls and
stairways, the floors and steps of which are
chiefly of marble imported from Europe. The
amount of this material from foreign quarries
used in the houses and public buildings of
Montevidco greatly surprise those who view
them the first time. The stores, dwellings,
hotels, and churches are as unlike those in
the United States as the civiliz atoms of the
two Americas. More than two-thirds of the
inhabitants of the city are natives of Europe,
or the children of recently arrived immigrants.
OF the foreign population the most numerous
are the Italians, and there are many French,
Germans, Spanish, Basques. English, Scotch,
and a liberal sprinkling of other nationalities.
The foreign population, though in large
majority in the city and probably constituting
full half the people of Uruguay, take no &C.
tive part in its political affairs, while more
than half of the property and commerce of
the country is in their hands. This city is
said to be the wealthiest of its size in South
, America. 1t has a banking capital of nearly
, ten millions Of dollars. 1t has trade OF
twenty five millions to thirty millions of dol
, lars per annum. Notwithstanding the civil
commissions and unsettled condition of thu
country the population, trade and wealth o
, Montivedeo have rapidly increased the las
! ten years 1t has six miles of horse railroad