The army in 1884 consisted of 7,812 officers and men; militia and National Guard, 350,000. Service in National Guard compulsory; regular army supplied by recruitment.
URUGUAY.Oo-roo-gwī´.
This South American republic formed a Brazilian Province until 1825. Independence recognized by treaty of Montevideo, 1828; constitution proclaimed 1831. Area estimated at 73,538 square miles. Population, 438,245. Government in the hands of a President, elected for four years, assisted by 5 ministers, and a Parliament composed of two houses. Capital, Montevideo; population, 115,500.
The country forms a vast rolling plain, abounding in natural pastures. The chief industry is the rearing of cattle and sheep. It is estimated that 35,000,000 acres are used for pastoral purposes, on which are 6,711,778 cattle and 20,000,000 sheep. Chief agricultural products, wheat and Indian corn. Climate is generally humid, but temperate and healthful.
Revenue derived from customs duties. Commerce active. Value of imports, 1833, $21,634,475; exports, $26,831,555. Principal articles of export, cattle, hides, tallow, and dried and preserved meats.
Permanent army numbers 3,494 men, besides an armed police force of 3,200, and a national guard of 20,000 men. State religion, Roman Catholic. Number of children in all schools, 40,000. Miles of railway, 1884, 271; of telegraph, 1,405.
CHILI.Chil´lee.
A republic of South America. Area, 256,399 square miles. Population, 2,271,949. This country is long and narrow, embracing extremes of temperature. Mean annual temperature at Santiago, 55°; at Valparaiso, 58°. Spring begins in September; winter, in June. Lakes and rivers are few; both are fed by the snow melting in the Andes; they are worthless for navigation, but valuable for irrigation purposes. Surface is mountainous; mean elevation of Andes, 11,830 feet; Aconcagua, the highest peak, 22,420 feet.
Chili is divided into 18 Provinces and 4 Territories. The constitution of 1833 vests the legislative power in a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. Executive power rests with a President, a Council of State, and a Cabinet of 5 ministers. Capital, Santiago; pop., 200,000. The potato is indigenous. Olive trees, mulberries and vines flourish. Cedar is the most important tree in Chili. Fruit is plentiful. This republic is rich in gold and silver, and especially in copper. Wheat the most important cereal product; value of wheat exported in 1882, $6,649,345. Value of chief exports in 1883: iodine, $2,987,490; bar copper, $14,339,460; silver, $4,624,110. Revenue for 1884, $49,900,000, one-half of which was derived from customs duties and monopolies; expenditure, $46,536,550. Total exports in 1883 were valued at $79,732,550; imports, $54,447,060.