Diario las Américas., 1958-07-16
Know thv
Neighbor
Be- ANTONIO RUIZ

VA liz GQSlC1 1tC-
public of Uruguay, usually called
just Uruguay, was so named in the
colonial days because of its loca-
ton on the east bank of the Uru-
quay River, which in the language
OF the Guaranis, the Indians who
once inhabited this region, means
"River of the Painted Birds. The
population of Uruguay is. formed
mostly by descendants of Italian
and Spanish settlers, and is all
white, since there have been no
Indians in the country since 1882.
OF some three and a half million
inhabitants, over one million live
in the capital, Montevideo.
The whole country lies within
the temperate zone of the south
west part of the Continent. AL
though it is one of the smallest
countries in South America, it
could easily contain within its
boundaries, the Netherlands, Bel
GUM, Denmark, and Switzerland.
The climate is tempered by the
water which almost completely sur
rounds the country; the Uruguay
River, which separates Uruguay
from Argentina on the west, and
from Brazil in the east, and the
La Plata River and Atlantic Ocean,
complete the coastline of the coun-
try. The average year-round TEN.
perature is about 81 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Uruguay's altitude is midway
between the high mesas of Sou
thern Brazil and the flat plains of
Argentina. Rolling grain fields,
orchards and pastures are richly
carpeted with intense green, con-
trasting with the black, newly tur-
ned earth. The highest points are
no more than 1000 feet above
sea level, leaving almost all the
land suitable for cultivation; pro-
ductive land, fertile and well sup
piled with rainfall.
About As million acres of fine
pasture land are devoted to the
grazing of high-grade animals. The
more than eight million head of
cattle are mostly Hereford, Shor-
thorn, Holland or Norman. The
more than % million sheep are
principally Merino. The wool, over
10000 tons per year, brings top
prices in the world markets. On
the cultivated part of the % mil
lion acres of arabic land, excellent
crops of linseed, wheat, rice corn,
Sunflower seed, etc, r raised.
There are extensive paintings of
pears, apples, grapefruit, peaches,
plums and cherries, and a great
quantity of citrus fruits for export,
as well as domestic use. Beer, 81
milar to the European, is made in
large quantities, as we'll as soft
drinks and other beverages.
The industries holding first place
in Uruguay are those derived from
cattle. Under strict hygiene re-
gulations, national and foreign
meat packers prepare chilled beef
extracts, canned meats, and fat by
products. The dairy industry is
also an important element in the
national economy. The leather IN.
dustry is still in its infancy, since
most of the better hides are ex.
ported. The textile industry, how.
ever, is well developed. Good qua.
lily suitings, dress and upholstery
materials, canvas, ETC., as well as
combed and carded wool are pro.
duced.
Uruguayan marble quarries are
famous; cement works are impor,
tant. There are deposits of tale and
semi-precious stones, such as
opals, agates, onyx, and others,
Uruguay is considered to be tie
third South American country for
coastwise fishing, which attracts
many tourists. Although no depo-
site of coal have been discovered,
there isl an abundance of hydro
electric power.
Products derived from ~agricultu,
re and cattle form the greater part
of the country's exports: meat,
wool, food products and derivati.
YES, skins, furs, raw and prepared
agricultural products, which go
principally to the United States,
Great Britain, France, and also
Belgium, which buys wool and
hides. - Continued tomorrow.