The Tomahawk., 1917-05-24

THE URUCUK1 RIVER
is description of one of the many CO.'S
tunes worn by these plainsmen as I
saw them gallOp into Paysandu; it is
typical Of the costume donned for spe-
cial occasions or fiestas: The trousers
are bright yellow, very baggy, Of di-
mansions the stranger would consider
three sizes too large for the wearer.
Boots reach to the knees, broad red
belt, soft shirt Of gray, red handker-
chief tied loosely about the neck,
broad-brimmed yellow felt hat turned
up in front from long riding against
the wind, heavy spurs that clink at
every step or that at times drive the
steed forward at lightning speed. Truly
q picturesque figure of physical fitness
for any task in the care and manage
ment of the shoots and horns upon the
hills"
Other features of rural progress
noted in various regions Of the republic
are the unusually wide reservations
made for highways. Wire fencing is be-
coming common, and in many cases it
incloses a roadway recently opened and
which will eventually be improved and
made disable even during the season Of
heavy rains. Today such dirt roads
are several times wider than the aver
age highway in the United States, and
the evident reason seems to be that
many oldtime Uruguayan carts are
still pulled along these roads by long
strings Of oxen; when the roads are
muddy the team winds from side to
side, requiring considerable space.
AS a complement to these new out
lines Of future highways, and to many
miles of completed roads upon which
large sums have been expended, is the
modern steel bridge. In past years the
wagon team travelling toward Uru-
guayan markets was forced to ford
watercourses that lay across the route;
today in numerous cases q substantial
bridge spans the stream and thereby
greatly facilitates all kinds of travel.
Automobiles Becoming Common.
Still another feature Of progress is
the automobile, which is fast becom-
ing a common and necessary vehicle
even on the far-off ranch. The new
bridges and increased attention to road
building are, Of course, having a stimu-
lating effect on motor transportation
and on cross-country automobile rae
ing, the latter q pastime that has
grown into favor during recent years.
The federal appropriation for the fis-
cal year of 100000 for highway con-
struction and the improvement Of exist
ing roads, which is typical of former
large appropriations for similar pur-
poses, will add many more leagues to
Uruguay's gradually increasing high
way mileage.
The visit to Uruguay is not complete
unless one has inspected the activities
at Fray Bentos on the Uruguay river.
This is the nations greatest workshop,
for in the meat-packing plants located
there approximately $500 cattle in nor
NAL times are turned into extracts
daily. BY reason of this enormous in
dustry Uruguay claims "the greatest
kitchen in the world" and those of us
who have visited the enormous plants
are not inclined to question the asser-
| ton.
The people Of Uruguay form a cos
mopolitan population, and in recent
years immigration has gradually added
to their number. More than $4,000 1tal-
ians, $1,000 Brazilians, $4,000 Argen-
tines, 5000 French, and thousand
each of Swiss, English, Germans and
North Americans have arrived within
the borders Of Uruguay to find homes
and to enter the varied lines of busi-
ness activity typical Of the country.
| The citizens Of Montevideo must be
numbered among the best-dressed peo-
pie to be found in South America; they
are hospitable and many are charming,
while the fame of the beauty of the
ladies has spread afar.