The evening times., 1899-09-01
PROGRESS In URUGUAY.
Plans to Create a Great HarbOr foI
MonteyideO.

| William R. Finch United States Minis
! ter at Monteyideo, has submitted to the
State Department an interesting report on
the proposed port at that place. Minister
Finch epitomizes the report of the Minis
ter of Public Works, which was published
in the official paper of the Republic OF
Uruguay, on August % and which was
approved by the President and his cabinet
and is now being considered by the Cen
1 eral Assembly. Minister Finch, in his re-
port. says that DR.. Pena, the Minister of
| Public Works, states that when he came
into office in March last, and the problem
| of the port was first formally presented for
| his consideration he found that, by the
operation of the law of July IA, 1894,
amended by that of September 80, 1895, the
technical part of the problem had already
been very thoroughly dealt with, extensive
surveys having been made by the COM
mission appointed for the purpose under
the direction and with the assistance of
| the eminent engineers Herr Hummer and
| Mr.. Guerard.
| Herr Hummer was director of the hy-
| drauiic section OF the Ministry of Public
| Works in Prussia and privy councillor and
relator in the German Ministry Of Public
| Works. Mr.. Guerard was general inspect
ing engineer of roads and bridges in
France, and director of the port works at
Marseilles. The engagement of two such
eminent specialists, who were assisted in
| their labors by the national staff of en-
gineers, Should place the government be-
yond reproach as regards the technical side
of the problem. The result of these sur
Veys was the scheme elaborated by Mr..
Guerard which had been subjected to am
pie public debate and criticism from every
point OF view. The principal objection
raised to the scheme had been reviewed at
length by Senor Varela In the memoran-
dunn published last year, and, for the most
part, had been solved in favor of Mr.
Guerard's scheme or by the introduction
or minor alterations approved by Mr..
Guerard. Reporting on this, in Septem-
ber. 1898, Herr Hummer had expressed his
firm belief that the carrying out of the
Guerard scheme was to be warmly recon-
mended as absolutely the best for the port
or Montevideo from the technical and eco
nomical point of view. On this side OF the
question, therefore, it was not necessary
to say more.
| Having Justified the acceptance Of the
Guerard plan. the minister proceeds to ex-
anime with great minuteness the financial
part OF the scheme. The first estimate
presented was for $4,000. 900, which was
| OIllttlDZ
some OF the docks and works originally
, designed this was reduced TO So 900 900
another $500, 600 being required for land
constructions and annxes Various schemes
for raising the money We're discussed all
more or less based on the port dues After
carefully considering these Senor Varela
resolved to put them aside considering
this basis iapraetcable. though the dues
might be taken TO form part OF the fund
4 Enr hn l.
: of Messrs Greenwood and Pearson were
i rejected in form, though accepted in prin-
| cipie. awaiting notifications. These pro-
' posas We're withdrawn before the revolu-
E tion of 1897. Senor Varela suggested the
r restoration OF the 1-2 per cent additional
import duty (which he proposed to increase
to 3 per cent?, and the establishment of a
= | new export duty OF l per cent. With these
he calculated an annual revenue OF
2 | some S996,0G0 as base for the financial op-
y erations. With this base he proposed the
= issue OF loan of s15 400. 600 at 8 per cent
, | interest. and fixed annual amortization OF
y 950,00O, or, say. s2S5,000 the bonds OF
n which would be issued gradually as re-
= quired TO pay for work done Calculating
the cost of the port at $751; 600, the works
g would be terminated in eight years. at tht
il end OF which period there would be left
4 in circulation bonds for S1T 900 eco
l. | The above was the original scheme, as
8 | outlined BY Mr. Varela while occupyins
) the Office of minister of public works. The
Il amendments or changes suggested by the
present minister of public works are out
n lined in what follows
O The cost Of constructing the port is re-
!. duced to sl1.000. coo, which will provide fol
q a port accommodating easily traffic oi
d ]. zoo. .0O0 tons. The technical expenses will
II consume some S5900G0 more or 536 pei
s cent on the cost of the works as against
II ~ per cent in the Madero Port of Bueno:
) Ayres. To meet this expense the proposed
! 2l3 per cent additional import duty and ar
export duty of l per cent will be willingly
submitted to by commerce and production
in view of the benefits the port will bring
His plan also allows for a gradual reduc-
;, tion of duties as the position of the treasu.
Try impI owes, or as increased Comme-ce aug
ments the revenue, These two taxes will
II be set aside to form the port fund under
i control of a special commission, and any
n part of the fund not employed will be in
, vested in consolidated debt. so as not Il
:. remain Improbable The expenditure re-
u CURED for the construction works is cal
= culated as follows: First year $500 900
/, second year, S700, ,0G0; third year 81 400 900
n fourth year, 81, 100000; fifth year. $4,000
10 co; sixth year. 81. 300, eco; seventh year
IS 81 600, 600; total 81 900, 000 To this mus
N be added $59S,000 during eight years 70
expenses of the technical and inancia
ic commissions.
: The revenue from the additional duties i
le calculated in round figures taking as
is base the average of the customs revenu
ic for the period 1S96-1S9S at $3.50 600 durin
st eight years for expenses of the technica
1t and financial commissions.
ct The revenue from the additional dutie
lg is calculated in round figures taking a
h a base the average of the customs revenu
at for the period 1S96-1S9S, at SS5000 pc
year, or S6,S00, 900 in eight years. 1t is ex
petced that $322. 900 will be gained as in
terest on the surplus accruing in the frs
three years, $500 900 from sale of lands re
of deemed from the bay, and 81 100. 900 fo
ct rent or revenue of the port in the las
te three years. These bring the total re
th sources up to sS,622, coo.
nd The 'Montevideo Times referring
DR.. Pena's report. says that for twent
years at least the idea of building me-
port for Montevideo has been more or les
to the fore, it being recognized that tt
ut bay in its present condition which is lit
~ tie batter than that of nature afforde
lie neither sselter nor the facilities squisit
to sustain the commerce of the capital c
Bueno5 Ayres, La Plata, and Ensenad;
One government after another has mad
he more or less of an effort to solve th
w. great problem but none with the least az
i'll proach of success.
no The Hosts of the Heathen.
he (From Golfers Weekly)
be According to the latest statistics, there Al