In all these squares there are trees and banks; they are lit with
electric light and the paths that surround them are made of the
finest granite.
Most of them are one manzana large, that is to say 7,378 square
metres. The square called Independencia is a parallelogram 221 metres
long by 232 metres broad with an area of 29,260 metres. In it is
situated the government palace. The boulevard called 18 de Julio is
the continuation of the Independencia Square, from W. to E., being 26
metres broad.
The common sewer has an extension of 93,000 metres and more than
7,500 are directly its conduits.
The drinkable water comes from Santa Lucia (61 kilometres from
Montevideo); the various conduits have an extension of over 180
kilometres.
All the streets and even the suburbs have the electric light; some
others have still the gas light.
Three gasometres, two of them 100,000 cubic feet and one 70,000, are
employed for the preparation of the gas. The gas pipes represent an
extension of 128 kilometres. The power of each light is equivalent to
that of 18 candles.
There are two important establishments for the preparation of the
electric light, which is now used by a great many trade houses and
shops.
The town is composed of over 19,000 houses--20 per cent. of them
being houses with two stories; a good many of them have three and
four stories. The architecture of the houses is most elegant,
especially of those which were built during the last fifteen years.
Among the public buildings remarkable for their importance are: the
Cathedral, the Charity Hospital, the Insane Asylum, the Central
Cemetery, Solis Theater, Normal School, Government Palace, Parliament
House, Custom House, Professional School, National Bank, San Felipe
and Cibils Theatres, London Bank, South America British Bank, Uruguay
Club, Gas Works, Prison, San Francisco, Capuchin Friars, Concepcion
and Carmen Churches, Orphan Asylum, Seminary, English Church, Music
Academy, Oriental Hotel, Gounouilhou Baths, etc.
The suburbs and environs are most picturesque, with a great quantity
of the most elegant country houses, built all along the avenues
called Agraciada, Paso del Molino, Duranas, Miguelete, Sierra, Goes,
Suarez, Larranaga and many others.
Being the capital of the Republic, Montevideo is the residence of the
three high powers of the state, of the aggregate of foreign ministers
and consuls and also of the bishop. It is the centre of all the
most important business of the Republic and reputed one of the best
markets in the River Plate.
In Montevideo reside all the principal Societies and Associations in
the Republic.
The aspect of the town is agreeable and quite that of a European
city, and its population is quite a cosmopolitan one.
The census of the year 1891, Dec. 31, gave a result of 234,688 souls
for the department of Montevideo, 190,000 more or less belonging
exclusively to Montevideo, and 53 per cent. of them being natives and
47 per cent. foreigners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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