MONTEVIDEO, mon-t-vld'e-8 (Sp. mon ta-ve'cli-o), Uruguay, capital of the depart ment of the same name; also capital and emporium of the republic; situated on the northern coast of the Rio de la Plata (see La PLATA, RIO Da). Founded in 1726, its inhabit ants numbered only 3,500 in 1818, and 9,000 in 1829; indeed, it was scarcely more than a fortress until 1834, and at various times the governments of Argentina, England and Brazil attempted to gain possession of this stronghold, commanding the entrance of the great water way of the south. Montevideo was taken by a British force of 4,600 men on 2 Feb. 1807, after a vigorous assault by land and sea lish fleet under Commodore Popham). Subse quently the combined English forces in the river, under command of General Whitelocke, were defeated at Buenos Aires, and, withdraw ing from Montevideo, abandoned the Rio de la Plata. The demolition of the walls, the ing of new streets, and (in 1836) the beginning of foreign immigration, transformed the place. In the years from 1838 to 1841, about European immigrants entered the port. There i were 45,000 inhabitants in 1860; 105,000 in 1872, 238,080 in 1892; and at the beginning of 1902 about 278,186 in the territory of 256 square miles embraced in the department. Immigrants arriving in 1901 were: Italian, 3,777; Spanish, 2,708; Brazilian, 715; French, 512; German, 336; and English, 209. The harbor is the best on the Rio de la Plata; but formerly was far from satisfactory. An elaborate system of moles and docks, projected for harbor improve ment, began in July 1901. The water at the harbor's entrance being but 15 to 17 feet deep, vessels of great draught formerly anchored in the outer roadstead and discharged their car goes on lighters. Since 1913 further improve ments have increased the port's facilities. The city is built on a chain of hills of moderate ele vation with a gradual slope toward the shore; the conditions are therefore favorable for effi cient drainage. An active commerce is main
tained with foreign countries and towns of the interior. As it is the only port of entry it furnishes nearly all of the revenue of the gov ernment, receiving or forwarding about 90 per cent of the importations of the entire country and about 67 per cent of the total exportations. The imports in a recent year amounted to $21,876,987, and exports to $23,340,239. The steamers of 20 different companies, including 12 British and three French, visit the port peri odically. Conspicuous buildings are the Parlia ment House, Government Palace, National Bank, Solis and San Felipe theatres, Uru guay Club and School of Arts and Sciences. There are commercial houses of every class, street railways, telegraph and telephone serv ice, electric-light works, printing establish ments and foundries. The streets are wide, straight and generally well kept. The water supply is obtained from the Saint Lucia River, at a point about 12 miles distant. Plazas, 16 in number, occupy high ground in the middle of the city, the most attrac tive of these public squares being the Zabala, Independencia and ConstituciOn. The Uni versity of Uruguay has more than 400 stu dents and a relatively very large number of native and foreign professors; there are also normal and elementary schools, a military col lege, etc. Banks are: English (2), and Italian, Spanish and French (1 each). No city in South America is more cosmopolitan in character: nearly all the languages of the civilized world are heard in its streets. The environs contain beautiful residences surrounded by gardens; at a distance of about three miles from the city is the fine park called El Prado.