The special trade (merchandise only) was as follows in dollars gold (4.7 dollars 17.) : -- In 1907 the customs receipts amounted to 2,807,4517.; in 1908, to 2,901,7682. For the year 1906 the imports and exports were as follows : In 1906 the imports and exports were distributed as follows (gold pesos): In 1909 Uruguay had 32 steamers of a total net tonnage of 24,826 tons, and 62 sailing vessels of a total net tonnage of 27,698 tons. There entered at the port of Montevideo in 1908, 3,316 vessels of 6,937,983 tons, and cleared 3,298 of 6,717,544 tons. Of the shipping entered 1,191 of 3,312,916 tons were British vessels. The port of Montevideo is visited by the steamers of 20 different companies, of which 12 are British, German, 3 French, 2 Italian, and 1 Spanish. The port is being improved, the entrance channel having been deepened to 30 feet, and breakwaters on the east and west having been built. On the land which has been reclaimed (148 acres) warehouses and other accommodation will be provided. The National roads of Uruguay have a total length of 2,240 miles, and there are about 3,100 miles of departmental roads. The construction and improvement of roads and bridges continues. The hydrographic conditions of the country also supply convenient means of communication. The maritime and river coast from Chuy, the most easterly maritime point, to Santa Rosa, the most northerly point on the river frontier, extends to the length of 685 miles; while the many affluents of the Uruguay river (about 1,000 miles in total length) provide channels for inland navigation. In 1909 the railway system of Uruguay open for traffic had a length of 1,380 miles, all in British hands. Important extensions are in progress especially towards the Brazilian boundary. There are 170 miles of tramway in operation; the tramway lines of Montevideo have been electrified. The telegraph lines in operation have a total length of 4,850 miles; in 1908 319 offices through which 492,000 telegrams passed. Two telephone companies have 16,518 miles of wire. A Government or municipal telephone scheme is under consideration. In 1908 there were 972 post offices. The correspondence movement comprised 108,113,772 letters, packets, &c. Money and Credit. The Bank of the Republic has a nominal capital of 12,000,000 dollars. This bank has the exclusive right to issue notes. The president and directors are appointed by the Government. The principal banks in Montevideo, in addition to the Bank of the Republic, are the four British banks, viz., the London and River Plate Bank, the London and Brazilian, the British Bank of South America, and the Anglo-South American Bank; there are also the German Transatlantic Bank, the Spanish Bank, and the French and the Italian Banks. Uruguayan Commercial and the Popular Banks enjoy excellent financial reputations, and there are also various land and mortgage banking institutions. Money, Weights, and Measures. The There is no Uruguayan gold coin in circulation, but the monetary standard is gold, the theoretical gold coin being the peso nacional, weighing 1·697 grammes, 917 fine. The law of June 23, 1862, authorised the coinage of the doblon, or 10-peso gold piece, but, as yet, only foreign gold is in circulation. The silver peso or dollar weighs 25 grammes, 900 fine. Other silver pieces are half, fifth, and tenth of a peso. Bronze coins are 4, 2, and 1 centesimo pieces. The metric system of weights and measures has been officially adopted. The chief denominations of the old system are as follows: BOOKS OF REFERENCE Diplomatic and Consular Representatives. 1. OF URUGUAY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Envoy and Minister.-Frederico R. Vidiella. Naval Attaché.-Lt. Eduardo M. Saez. 2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN URUGUAY, Minister Resident and Consul-General.—R. J. Kennedy, C.M.G. 1315 Vice-Consuls at Colonia, Fray Bentos, Maldonado, Paysandú, and Salto. Books of Reference concerning Uruguay. The Statistical Reports of the various Government Departments. Foreign Office Reports. Annual Series. . London. La República Oriental del Uruguay. Por Ramon Lopez Lomba. Montevideo, 1884. Roustan (Honoré), and Pena (C. M. de), La Republica Oriental del Uruguay en la Exposicion Universal Colombiano de Chicago. Montevideo, 1893. Resumen Anual de Estadistica Municipal de Montevideo. Montevideo. Bauza (Francisco), História de la dominacion española en el Uruguay. Montevideo 1880. Keane (A. H.), Central and South America. 2nd ed. Vol. I. In Stanford's Compendium of Geography and Travel. London, 1909. Martin (P.F.), Through Five Republics. London, 1905. Palgrave (W. G.), Ulysses [chapter entitled 'From Montevideo to Paraguay']. 8. London, 1887. Review of the River Plate. Weekly. Buenos Aires. Rumbold (Sir H.), The Great Silver River. London, 1888. Uruguay its Geography, History, Industries, &c. [Author not named]. Liverpool, 1897. Vincent (Frank), Round and About South America. New York, 1890. VENEZUELA. (ESTADOS UNIDOS DE VENEZUELA.) Constitution and Government. THE Republic of Venezuela was formed in 1830 by secession from the other members of the Republic of Colombia. The Constitution in force is that of August 5, 1909. Legislative authority is vested in a Congress of 2 chambers, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The former consists of 40 members elected for 4 years, 2 for each State, Venezuelans by birth and over 30 years of age. The latter is constituted as follows: Each State chooses by direct election for 4 years one deputy, a Venezuelan by birth and over 21 years of age, for every 35,000 inhabitants, and one more for an excess of 15,000. State with fewer than 35,000 of population will have one deputy. The Federal District and the Territories which have, or may reach, the population fixed by law will also elect deputies. A The executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic in conjunction with the Cabinet Ministers through whom he acts, and the Council of Government in certain cases determined by the Constitution. The President is elected by Congress for 4 years, must be a Venezuelan by birth and over 30 years of age; he may not be re-elected for the following presidential period. Failing the President, temporarily or absolutely, his place is supplied by the presiding member of the Council of Government. This Council consists of 10 members, 1 for each 2 States, who are chosen by Congress for 4 years. President of the Republic.-General J. V. Gomez, installed June, 1910. The Cabinet consists of 7 Ministers: the Ministers of the Interior, of Foreign Affairs, of Finance and Public Credit, of War and Marine, of Fomento, of Public Works, and of Public Instruction. The seat of the General Powers of the Nation is at the City of Caracas, but, when any unforeseen circumstance requires, the Executive Power may fix its residence at any other point of the Federal District. The States are autonomous and politically equal. Each has a Legislative Assembly, whose members are chosen in accordance with their respective Constitutions. Each State has a President, a general Secretary, and a Council of Government. The States are divided into districts and municipalities. Each district has a municipal council, and each municipio a communal junta. The Territories are administered by the President of the Republic through Governors, who in turn appoint secretaries. Area and Population. Venezuela has an area of about 393,870 square miles, with a population of AREA AND POPULATION-RELIGION AND INSTRUCTION 1317 2,664,241 in 1908. It is now divided into a Federal District, 20 States and 2 Territories, as follows: In 1908 the marriages within the Republic, according to the official statistics, numbered 6,050; births, 71,003; deaths, 57,008; entrances of passengers, 4,280; departures, 3,979 Religion and Instruction. The Roman Catholic is the State religion, but there is toleration of all others. The Archbishop of Caracas has 5 suffragan bishops. Instruction is given both in public and private schools, the former belonging to the Nation, the States, or the Municipios; the latter to private persons. Elementary instruction is free, and from the age of 7 to the completion of the primary grade, compulsory. The elementary schools number 1,217 with 26,988 pupils, secondary schools 57, 29 for boys and 28 for girls. In Caracas there are 2 normal schools, one for males the other for females. To each is annexed an elementary school with first and second grade pupils. There are 54 national colleges, 21 of which are subventioned. The former have each a 2 years' preparatory course and a 4 years' course in philosophy or for the bachelor's degree. In some of these commercial instruction is also given. At Caracas is the central University, and in Mérida is the University of Los Andes. In the former are faculties of Political, Medical, Mathematical, and Ecclesiastical Sciences, the chairs of the last-named faculty being in the metropolitan seminary. The Los Andes University has faculties of Political and of Ecclesiastical Sciences. The University rectors and vice-rectors must be Venezuelans by birth, and they and the professors must hold the degree of Doctor of a Venezuelan University. Through faculty councils university graduates have some influence on the organisation and improvement of scientific teaching. Special institutions are the National Academy of Fine Arts, National Library, College of Engineers, School of Arts and Trades, Military Academy, Nautical School, and a School of Engineering carried on at the Central University. Justice. Federal judicial authority resides in the Court (which is also Court of Cassation) and in various tribunals and courts established by special laws. The Federal Procurator-General is appointed by Congress for 2 years. The States' The States have each a Supreme Court with 3 members called respectively President, Relator, and Chancellor. Each State has also a superior court, courts of first instance, district courts, and municipal courts. judicial officers hold their posts for 3 years. In the Territories there are civil and criminal judges of first instance, and also judges in the municipios. |