It is regrettable, from several points of view, that the National Statistics of Uruguay are not kept and published with the same promptitude and regularity as those of Argentina, to say nothing of the admirable clearness of the forms in which the latter are issued. The Uruguayan authorities should really know that the absence of any complete scheme of statistical information regarding their country is more than apt to preserve a very common though erroneous impression that Uruguay can be of but little account since so little is known or heard of it. Little indeed is known with any accuracy of its production, outside the circle of persons directly interested in its trade; but this obscurity is due only to indifference to and negligence of the art of self-assertion. [Illustration: INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE, AND URUGUAY] In point of fact Uruguay might well be proud of the statistics of her productivity; for, in reality, she has more cattle than and nearly as many sheep as the Argentine Province of Buenos Aires while her superficial area is only some two-thirds of that of that Province. Uruguay exports wool to the average value of some £4,000,000, hides £1,500,000, frozen and chilled meat £1,110,000, and animals on the hoof £230,000 annually. The value of its wheat exports for the five years ending 1910 has been stated at £730,000; flour £234,000, maize £82,000 and linseed £460,000 during the same period. As we have seen, the value of Uruguayan trade for the year 1913 was £23,900,000, and this figure, as well as those representing Cereal production and exports, are likely to be rapidly increased under normal conditions. INCREASE OF ARGENTINE CEREAL EXPORTS IN TEN YEARS 1904. $ gold. 1913. $ gold. Wheat 66,947,891 102,631,143 Maize 44,391,196 112,292,394 Linseed 28,359,923 49,910,201 Oats 541,973 20,447,278 ----------- ----------- 140,240,983 285,281,016 =========== =========== INCREASE OF ARGENTINE MEAT EXPORTS IN TWENTY-NINE YEARS 1885. $ gold. 1913. $ gold.