Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-11-04
eureka Dailp Gentinel.
wEALTII OF URUGUAY.

an interesting letter concerning a oun
try, though obscure, is growing into
commercial prominence. He says: "The
great wealth Of Uruguay is at present in
cattle and sheep, and its chief exports
are wool and beef, but the agricultural
resources Of the country will be the basis
of its future greatness, and it will enter
into competition with the United States
in supplying the world with breadstuffs
and provisions. When a total popula.
tion of only 100000, including men,
women and children, carries OH a CON.
merce of nearly $50, 900, 900 annually, or
$4,000 per capita. it can be inferred
that there is energy and industry at
work, and a productive field for it to en-.
large in.
at is claimed that Uruguay has
greater natural resources Thar any other
South American country, and it is prob.
ably true. 1t is also claimed that the
profits on labor are greater there than
elsewhere on the continent, which the
statistics demonstrate, and also that it is
the cheapest place to live in the world,
which is shown by the cost of food. Beef
is 4 and 6 cents a pound. Good horses
are worth $40. Other things except
clothing and imported Injuries are in
proportion.
Labor is scarce and high, and it costs
more to hire a man by the day than a
team of horses. Common laborers re.
ceive 50 q day, farm hands $25 and $50 a
month, with $40 extra during the busy
season, while skilled labor is so scarce
that mechanics usually charge by the job
and not by the amount of time occupied.
Most of the labor is done by Italians,
who are so numerous that Montevideo is
becoming almost as much of an Italian
city as Naples. Italy furnishes the
architects and builders as we'll as the
mechanics of every sort.
1.-THE largest export of Uruguay is
wool, ll,000,0 900 sheep making a clip
worth over Sc. 600, 900 for expectation.
The increase in sheep has been $40 per
cent in ten years. The next article of
export is beef, valued at about Sc, 00O,.
600 also. being the product of about
1000, 900 cattle, which are also rapidly
increasing. The third export in value is
hides. of which 50, SOC, 900 worth are
annually shipped. Then comes about
SO. 500. 900 worth of wheat, l,Co0,.
600 worth of corn, and 81, 500, 900
worth of other agricultural products.
All Of these have more than doubled
within the last ten years, and are now
increasing like compound interest.
ave are accustomed to regard Uru.
quay as an obscure and insignificant
country, worth not even a thought, but
the commercial strides she is making
show that she means competition with
the United States in the neal future.
Chill has taken the -four market of the
west coast of South America away from
California, and Uruguay and the Argen.
tine Republic are soon to meet our Da.
kota, Illinois and Kansas wheat in the
markets of Europe, while they threaten
an even greater danger to our cattle in.
terests. With 100, 900. 900 sheep in the
Argentine Republic, and IL 900. 900 sheep
in Uruguay; with 80, 900, 900 cattle in
one country and 1000, 900 in the other,
and only about 100000 people to fur.
nish domestic consumers between them.
it is easy to see what the supply OF beef
and wool and mutton will soon be for ex.
portation.
"One Of the greatest advantages the
cattle producers of Uruguay and Argen.
tina will always have over those of the
United States is the nearness Of their
ranges to the sea. The present supply
Of beef in both these countries for the ex.
port market from within 0 radius
OF 100 miles from the ocean harbor, in
which can be found the steamers of
every maratime nation on the earth ex.
cept our own. Ocean vessels can go
1000 miles up the River Platte, and 500
miles up the Uruguay river into the
heart of the cattle country, and almost
tie up to the trees on the ranches, while
our cattle have to be carried 1900 to
1900 miles on the cars. The geograph-
ical and navigable conditions Of these
countries are such that ours would only
equal them if ocean steamers could visit
Denver and Fort Dodge. Any man of
business can calculate the difference in
the value of the product and the differ.
ence in profits"
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