Manufacturing is non-existent, aside from the quebracho and sugar mills, save for a few necessities of life, as by many regarded. Beer comes first with the largest investment of capital, flour mills next, then boots and shoes, furniture, brick, tiles, matches, hard and soft drinks, soap, vegetable oils, etc. The opportunities are vast for the development of electric power. Labor in general is fair and loyal, undeveloped, but with good intelligence. The men lack steadiness and a feeling of responsibility. There has been less labor trouble than in Argentina and Chile, but men from Argentina have been attempting to unionize them. Strikes are common. Wages are from 50 cents to $3.00 a day, the lower with quarters. At the frigorificos $1.00 is paid with free rent, for ten hours’ daily work.
Investments
Perhaps no other country of South America presents to the small farmer and willing worker, with or without small capital, openings more favorable than Paraguay, if equal to these. Some stock raising for local use or for the packing houses might gradually be added to agriculture. The dairy industry ought to be profitable. Fruit raising for export or for canning is undoubtedly of excellent promise; a large proposition of this nature is now being considered by an American corporation. Saw mills and lumbering would give good returns. Small industries, well managed, might afford fair earnings. For quebracho, yerba mate, or large scale stock raising, much capital is required, yet a modest sum here might go farther for stock than in any other country. Thousands of acres of land suited to agriculture are available for colonists in accordance with their liberal colonization and homestead laws. The price goes from $1 to $13 an acre. Grazing land costs $2-$5, agricultural $5-$20, Chaco land $1-$2.50 an acre. Special arrangements are made for and with a party of colonists as in all of the countries.
CHAPTER XLII
URUGUAY: AREA, HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, POPULATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Uruguay, still occasionally called the Banda Oriental (the land east of the Uruguay River), is the smallest Republic of South America.
Area, Population, Boundary
Area. With an area of 72,172 square miles, Uruguay is larger than New England.
Population. The country has now about 1,500,000 inhabitants.
Boundary. Uruguay is nearly surrounded by water, having the Atlantic Ocean for 120 miles on the east. The river or estuary of La Plata 235 miles on the south, and the Uruguay 270 miles on the west, both separate the country from Argentina; on the north and east between Uruguay and Brazil three rivers and Lake Mirím form the boundary most of the way, with the Santa Hills for some distance.