MONTEVIDEO, inim16-Vid',t-t,. ;:p. pron. The capital of Uruguay. situated on the north shore of the estuary of the Rio de la Plata. GS miles east of Buenos Ayres (Map: Uruguay, F 11). It is built on a peninsula running westward from the mainland. and in closing the bay forming the harbor. On the west side of the entrance to the hay, opposite the city. rises the Cerro. a picturesque mountain, in connection with which the name Montevideo The ground of the peninsula rises gradually from the water on either side to the central bridge, giving the city, besides an im posing appearance, an excellent natural drainage, which. together with its pleasant climate. good water supply, sewerage system, and general sani tary conditions. makes it a very healthful place of residence. The streets are wide. straight, and well paved, and are regularly laid out both in the new and the old quarter-. The latter occupies the western end of the pen insula, and is the chief commercial quarter. The central portion. occupying the eastern end of the peninsula, contains the cathedral and the 'hie( public From the base of the peninsula the new parts of the city spread out like a fan over the heights of the mainland. with large avenues radiating in all directions, along nearly all of which street railway lines run to the suburbs.
The principal street is that of the IVeinmetavo de Julio, which runs down the I.ontral ridge of the peninsula, and terminates in the Plaza de la Independieneia. the principal square of the eity, surrounded by prominent buildings and colon There are several other squares. some of which have and statues. :\lany of the streets are lined with shade trees. and the Prado. outside of the city, is a handsome park and promenade. The cathedral is a large and con spicuous, though not very artistic structure, but the Church of the Immaculate Conception is beautiful. The chief educational institution is the university, with faculties of law, medicine, mathematics, and pharmacy, and (18971 600 students. There are also a seminary, a normal school, several Catholic and foreign academies, a national museum, a public library, with 29,000 volumes, and a large number of public schools. The manufacturing industries of Montevideo are inconsiderable, and the city is chiefly important as a commercial centre. As an outlet for the
products of the south central part of the con tinent its position is even more favorable than that of Buenos Ayres. In its present condition the bay has become unsuitable for large modern ocean vessels, as it has begun to fill up. The depth at the entrance is only sixteen feet.
In 1899 a plan for harbor improvements in volving an expenditure of from $15.000,000 to $20,000,000 was approved by the Government. It contemplates the deepening of the channel and other parts where necessary to feet at low water, and the building of a careening dock of sufficient depth to hold the largest vessels. In 1598 S5 per cent. of the imports and 63 per cent. of the exports of Uruguay passed through the port, the values of the imports and exports of the city being respectively $21,135,967 and $19,272, 554. The principal exports are hides, preserved beef, and live cattle, as well as agricultural products. In 1899, 3974 vessels, aggregating 4,105,102 tons, entered the port. The population of Montevideo has grown almost wholly during the last half century, the increase being, chiefly due to immigration. In l828 it had a population of 9000: in 1862. 45.765: in 1892. 238.080; and in 1900 it was estimated at 266.000. Nearly one third of the population are foreigners, the chief nationalities represented being the Italian, Span ish. and Brazilian.
Montevideo owes its origin to a fort built in 1717 by the Viceroy of Buenos Ayres to check the encroachments of the Portuguese. The first settlements of civilians around the fort hegan in 1726. Its commercial importance was not recog nized until fifty years afterwards. In the war of independence the Spaniards maintained pnssession of it until 1814. In 1S28 it was made the capital of the new Republic of Uruguay. Be tween 1S42 and 1851 it was besieged at intervals by Orihe (q.v.). who was supported by the Argen tine dictator, Rosas, and has since been dis turbed by internal dissensions. It has neverthe less steadily prospered, chiefly owing to its great natural advantages.
Consult: Pordoni. liontcrideo e In 'repubblica dell' Uruguay (Milan, 18851; Vincent. Round and About youth .4 wrier/ (New York. 18901; Childs, Spanish American Republics (London, 18911.