Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-15
Rivals ON The southern ConiInent

Rivals ON the southern Contineut.
The rapid growth Of cities in North
America finds a parallel Of late years in
South America, where, through variable
ness Of climate and other natural causes,
and through want Of stability in govern
ments, the progress during the early
parts OF the century was slow. and
scarcely more noticeable than that of
the older countries OF Europe. Among
the remarkable changes that have re-
Gently taken place, is the growth in
population and commerce of Monte
video, the capital Of the republic OF Uru,
quay. II is situated on the Rio de la
Plata, l05 miles east OF Buenos Ayres,
and ten years ago was surrounded by a
strong stone wall, mounted with guns,
aud further defended by citadel. To-
day the Notifications have nearly all dis
appeared, and what was the boundary
OF the tswn, when they guarded it, forms
but small portion Of the present city.
Montevideo was for many years under
the disadvantage Of having no supply Of
pure water, either for the inhabitants or
for the vessels arriving at the port
from long voyages. During the last
two years, however, the supply has been
ample, the water being pumped eighteen
miles to an elevation of three hundred
and fifty feet, and thence distributed
throughout the city. An American
built the water works, and native of
Pennsylvania laid the water pipes. The
latter has also built a railroad from
Montevideo TO San Lucia. The chief
national disadvantage of Montevdeo
having been overcome by the building Of
waterworks, its growth was remarkable.
Ten years ago its population was esti-
mated at from IS, 600 to 10000, and it is
now supposed to be not less than l25,-
OO0 The growth of Buenos Ayres, the
capital of the Argentine Republic, which
is situated on the opposite side of Il e
Rio de la Plata, has also been great but
not so noticeable as that of Montevideo,
for vessels of greater draught than
twelve feet cannot approach within six
miles of Buenos Ayres, and the surf on
the beach is dangerous when the wind is
from the southeast. Montevideo on the
contrary, is open to the southwest and is
the best port on the Rio de Plata,
river, or rather estuary, the tributaries
of which are navigable for several hun
dred miles through the heart of the
South American continent. The mean
annual temperature of Montevideo is
only sixty-eight degrees, but it is ex
tremely variable, and ranges from
ninety to thirty-fve degrees. The gem
eral good health of the city, its good
port and its situation with respect to ma
tural lines of inland transportation have
made Montevideo one Of the prnci
pal commercial cities Of South Amer
lea. In lo49 the exports amounted
in value to $5,078,2lS, and in 1870
the estimated value of exports was over
fifty millions of dollars. Within the
last three years, however, the business
has been increased in a still larger pro-
portion, but there are no statistics of the
money value of exports. In the moGth
of November, 1871, there we're sixty
eight steamers trading at the port with
an average tonnage OF 5000 tons. There
are now trading regularly in the Rio de
la Plata one hundred and fifty six steam
ers. About three steamers sail each week
for European ports, but there is no direct
stearn communication with the United
States. The articles exported consist
chiefly of hides, wool, hair, sheepskins,
etc. The gross exports to the United
States in 1870 amounted to only little
over two millions of dollars. The
growth of trade with the South Amer
lean cities on the estuary Of the
Plata will open up p rich country
east Of the Andes mountains, which
has many natural advantages, and few Of
the drawbacks Of other tropical regions,
for the trade winds, and the great
stretches OF woodland where one might
expect to find sandy deserts, temper the
rays of the sun and make the climate
exceptionally healthy the deaths in the
coa.tsy districts being estimated at
only one ia forty per annum.
With all its advantages, how
ever, South America is not alto
gether a paradise There is no fuel
near Buenos Ayres except the fruit trees |
planted by the Jesuits, in the sixteenth |
century, and iRnapeFable. panthers con-
test the claims of the paopfe TO eFen this
Seant supply. Railroads and water
works, built by American engineers, will
soon, however, drive these animals and
other annoyances, beyond the noun
tains, and then we may expect to find
sturdy rivals in the republics Of the
Southern Continent.