Montevideo

the capital and metropolis of Uruguay. It is situated on the northern bank of the Rio de la Plata. The name is Spanish, meaning "mountain view." The city lies on a series of low hills. The streets are straight and roomy. The most important buildings are the Parliament House, Government Palace, and National Bank. There are theaters and club buildings. The warehouses and business blocks are imposing and commodious. Though Spanish is the official and leading language of the city, many languages are spoken familiarly on the streets. With regard to waterworks, street railways, telegraph and telephone lines, electric lights, and other improvements, the city is decidedly modern. In 1908 14,902 seagoing vessels visited the city. The harbor is the best on the river. It has been improved by moles and dredging and embankments involving an expenditure of $11,000,000. The chief exports are hides, tallow, meat, corn, wool, rubber, and fur. The population is growing rapidly. An estimate for 1909 is 316,000. See Uruguay