The Oriental Republic of Uruguay at the World's Columbian Exhibition, Chicago, 1893

by Carlos María de Pena; Honore Roustan

The population has not yet reached a great density. The best part of the territory is destined to cattle, sheep, and horse breeding, in establishments called estancias. A suerte or estancia is equivalent to 1992 hectares 2787 metres, or one league and a half in length by a half league in width, or three quarters of a square league or 4,923 square acres 333 square yards.

The price of a suerte varies according to the department and also to its situation. The lowest price of a suerte is generally no less than $7,000 and rises above $50,000 in the departments quite close to the capital, that are still devoted to pastoral land.

In the north, next to the frontier, land may be purchased at the rate of $3 to $10 an hectare.

In the centre, from $6 to $15.

In the south, the land rises to higher prices, which vary from $10 to $100 per hectare.

The agricultural land in the environs of towns and villages, and in the departments of Canelones, Colonia, Soriano, San Jose, Paysandu, Salto costs $10, $20, $40, $50 and $100 an hectare. In the department of Montevideo it rises to $100, $200 and $300, according to the situation.

There are no restrictions or difficulties in purchasing or transfer.

Great companies established abroad, above all in England, and others in the Republic have purchased great tracts of land in order to improve cattle breeding, agriculture, sand and stone extraction along the banks of the River Plate and Uruguay, and other important rural industries.

During these last two years the agricultural industry has notably spread itself, above all that of cereals, forage, firewood trees, vine, olive trees, tobacco and oleoginous and textile plants.

The lowest rate at which a suerte of land for cattle feeding can be hired is $400 a year. There are fields, however, that can produce two, three and four times more. The hectare of agricultural land may be hired at a yearly price of $1.20. In some departments, like that of Canelones, where the agricultural industry has improved a great deal, the yearly renting is $4.00 and more.