r^briA^V\ . VVCx-o'. INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BAR REIT T. DIRECTOR FRANCISCO J. YANES. SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINE REPUBLIC (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, November, 1908) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARRELTT. D I R El C T O R FRANCISCO J. ^ANES, SECRETARY ■^ MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINE REPUBLIC (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, November, 1 908) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 F .k f r n. i%i i # /t. University of California WITHDRAWN Bancroft- Lihmn' "^ T T "W ¥ 1^ ¥ P A 1 BUEXOS AIRES. THE city of Buenos Aires, capital of the Argentine Republic, on June 30, 1008, had 1,140,865 inhabitants. The rate of increase has been close to 5 per cent from year to year, and promises to rise above this owing to circumstances that are naturally and artificially adyantageous. This groAvth of the city is ^i high as compared to other important cities of both Europe and America, surpassing eyen every city in the United States except Chicago. The reasons for this increase can be traced to three causes. The first is the steady stream of immigration which flows from other "^ countries toward the River Plate: in 1007, 320, 122 individuals landed ^ at the port ; of these 200,103 were immigrants arriving for settlement , within the country. The nationality of these embryo citizens is of great interest ; Italy and Spain send the largest proportion, but Russia, Syria, France, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, and Portu- ^ gal each sends over 1,000; every country in Europe otfers some con- ^ tribution, all divisions of Africa and many of the Latin- American re- ^ publics are represented, while North America, China, and Japan and ^ Africa help to swell the total. Not all of these immigrants become residents of Buenos Aires, some going fartlier into the interior, and Q a measurable proportion returning to their oversea homes (of course >^ this does not imply that the same individuals come and go, but immi- ^ gration usually surpasses emigration by certain fairly accurate accu- ^ rate figures) ; the result, however, is that upward of 100.000 immigrants are added each year to the population. The second cause is the high birth rate enjoyed by Bunos Aires: for several years this has been steadily maintained at close to 35 per 1.000. This is twice as high as that of Paris, half again as high as that of London, higher than that of New York, and surpassed by the birth rate of Xuremburg (Ger- many) only. The third cause is the low death rate of the city, in which respect it compares very favorably with all the cities of the 821 822 IXTERXATIOXAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. ciA-ilized Avorkl, being louver than that of Paris and New York, and higher than that of London. Edinburg. Berlin, and Hamburg. The results in the reduction of the death rate are due unmistakably to the HOTEL METKOPOLE, BUENOS AIRES. One of the many splcnilid hotels of Buenos Aires, situated on Avcnida de Mayo, in the lieart of the business seetion of the Argentine eapital. great progress made by the nnuiicipality of Buenos Aires in all details of ini))roving the hygiene of the city. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICA. 823 Buenos Aires is both a municipality and the capital of the Argen- tine Republic, and as such has an organization as a city as well as an intimate connection with the Federal Government. The latter asso- ciation is maintained by means of an official called the Intendente (Municipal), who i^ appointed by the President (Poder Ejecutivo) of the Eepublic, subject to the approval of the National Senate, for a term of four years, and who receives a salary. He performs to a great degree the function of Mayor in any (North) American city, and is to a large extent amenable to the rules of the deliberate council. Through him municipal matters are presented to the National Assem- bly whenever necessary, and he likewise, as representative of the nation, is empowered, acting thus through the Minister of the Inte- rior, to present to the municipality whatever business has originated in Congress, Other manifestations of this dual character of the city are to be found in the direction of the police and fire departments, which are under the control of, and the expenses of which are met by, the Federal Government. Certain factors of the educational system, and likewise the sanitary regulations of the city, carried out by means of a national department of hygiene and a municipal de- partment of public service— the Asistancia Publica — are partly na- tional in character. These institutions will be examined later. The city, municipality itself, is divided into 20 parishes (Parro- quias), corresponding to the wards of a (North) American city. From these parishes, on a basis of population, representatives are chosen by ballot of the citizens to form a body called the Concejo Deliberante, corresponding in most details to our Common Council. These officials serve without pay for a term of four years, one-half of their number being elected every two years, however. This so-called deliberative body chooses from among its members a President, a First and Second Vice-President. These officials serve as provisional substitutes for the Intendente whenever occasion requires. The great departments of the municipal government may be classi- fied as follows : Finance, which includes the functions usually under- stood in such a department ; Public Works, having charge of munic- ipal buildings, water supply, sewers, streets, paving, repairing and opening of streets and alloys, administration of building laws, control of public markets, bridges, parks, squares, and monuments; Security and Hygiene, giving particular attention to buildings like theaters, where public meetings are held; street cleaning, food supplies, regula- tion of weights and measures, certain authority over hospitals and asylums, prevention or control of epidemics, and the municipal side of the public relief service. Rules for the preservation of public morality are enforced through this department. A Law Department is also maintained. 824 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. Buenos Aires is located geographically at 34° 3G' 21" south lati- tude, and 58° 21' 33" west longitude from Greenwich. It is prac- _ ^ Buenos .■merited by is noted for i'wiJ* K l)hl'AKTMKNT, JU JCNu.S AlKES, AliGKNTlNK KErrBLIC. This handsome building is the central station of the 32 police precincts into which the city of Aires is divided. The police force, consisting of about 4,000 ofticers and men. is suppleme a mounted sfiuiidron oflOO gendarmi's. The police department is well organized, and is iv the . The city measures 02^ MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICA. 825 kilometers (40 miles) in circumference, and has an area of 18,141 hectares (about TO square miles), equal in size, therefore, to Washing- ton, D. C. (which in this respect is coextensive with the District of Columbia), but smaller than London, Marseilles, or Manchester, Greater Xew^ York, New Orleans. Philadelphia, and Chicago, and larger than Paris, Berlin, or Vienna. Ample preparation has been made for future growth, because the open spaces, exclusive of an ex- tensive park system, will permit a much greater population than lives at present within its confines. In the cit}" ten years ago there w^ere 55.000 houses; 64,000 building permits were issued since then to 1906; CHAPEL, CHACHARITA CEMETERY, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTIXE REtUBLIC. This cemetery, consisting of 182 acres of land, is five miles from the center of the city of Buenos Aires, with which it is connected by a tramway. It was opencil for public u^e in 1807. In addition to a fine chapel, the cemetery has an excellently equipped crematory, and tlie location and topog- raphy of the land make it one of the great burying grounds of the Argentine Republic. and in 1907 there Avere 14,489 building permits issued, which is the highest figure reached in the citj^'s history. The city is laid out on the rectangular plan, each square measuring 130 meters (almost -J 00 feet) on a side. The rectangular pattern is more evident away from the older portion of the city, where, despite the radical improA'ements within the past generation, some irregu- larity was unavoidabh' left. Ever}^ corner of street intersections is marked in clear letters b}- the name of the street, easily readable by the foot passenger ; street numbering is on the century system. At the end of 1907, 7,000,000 square yards of pavement had been laid, the most 826 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. generally used being granite blocks with mortar foundation, then granite blocks with sand foundation, stone, wooden blocks, macadam, and asphalt. The number of individual streets passes the 300 mark, but some of the longest have separate names for separate sections. If extended in a straight line they would measure about GOO miles. Many of them are fine, broad avenues 100 feet or more in width, only a few of the narrow passages of the earlier city being left after the recon- struction of the city from 1889 onward, and the law in force to-day is that no street opened in the future can be less than 17.32 meters (almost CO feet) in width. In this connection it is worth mentioning that the municipal authorities have a commission for the encourage- ment of architecture in the city, and a prize — a gold medal together Avith a diploma — is offered yearly for the most attractively designed structure erected. In addition to this reward for the architect, the owner of the building is excused from payment of the taxes that would legally be imposed uj^on the premises. The building line, that is, the height of the structure relative to the width of the street, is carefully established and the law regarding it rigidly enforced. For- tunately neither the habit or the taste of the inhabitants encourages high buildings; the area of the city is so great that no special demand need arise for a central but congested " business portion," and there- fore violation of the law would be not only a crime but an unpardon- able offense against the artistic sense Avhich is so characteristic of the Latin race. There is also a law regulating street advertising, and display signs are supposed to be kept within reasonable bounds, but it can not be said that in this respect the artistic temperament is so completely satisfied. The monstrosities of a Broadway do not, to be sure, repel the traveler, but even in Latin-America the tempta- tion seems to be irresistible to occu])y an empty space by a multi- colored signboard. The municipal revenue is derived from many of the same sources that furnish funds to all cities, and is divided into five classes: (1) Revenue other than by taxation; this includes charges for pav- ing and draining, chemical analyses, admission to Zoological Gardens (in Buenos xVires this garden, one of the finest in the world, is mu- nicipall}^ owned and managed), advertising (signifying permits to do so), and other similar payments; (2) charges on private property and municipal enterprises, such as slaughterhouses, markets, cemeteries, crematories (for refuse), property leases, and the National Lottery; (3) direct taxes, including nuuiicipal licenses; (4) indirect taxes, such as those on buildings and hind, inspection fees, control of weights and measures, and i)ayments on admission to race courses; and (5) cas- ual receipts of a miscellaneous character. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICA. 827 Among the sources of revenue included under the tax lists are imposts upon street cars, carriages, dogs, theaters, billiard halls, tele- graph and telephone messages, the use of spaces beneath city streets. THE GENERAL BELGRANO MAUSOLEUM, BUENOS AIRES. This mausoleum cntains the a.slius cf the illustrhms Argentine peiieral and patriot, Manuel Belijrano who took a prominent j.art in in,iu,t,Miratin,i,' tlie revdhition of May25, IslO in Buenos Aires and whose celebrated victories over tlie Spaniards at Tueunutn, in 1812, and Salta, in 1S13, showed him to be oue ot tlic ablest and bravest generals of the Republic. < '■o o, .uo» eu luiu on provisions and wagons conveying them about the city, peddlers, hotels and such public houses, cellars, etc. Such a special taxation 828 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. as cities in the United States impose upon what are here called sa- loons, the intent of which is often quite as much for the purpose of prohibition as it is to raise revenue, is not applied in Buenos Aires, because the people are, in the main, temperate, and the business of dispensing beer, wine, or stronger alcoholic drink is not so specialized MKIHAUU DK I'lLAK, BUKXOS AIKKS, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. One of the numerous markets of the eity of Buenos Aires. The stalls and stands are required to be kept scrupulously clean, and strict hygienic regulations must be observed in the sale of fruits, vegetables, meats, and other simihir products. there. A late report gives the number of cafes at about 400. of which 40 are at the same time restaurants, but of course this does not in- clude the scores of small booths, or what are called delicatessen shops in Germany and tlie United States, where drinks of one kind and MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICA. 829 another are sold alongside of foods, preserves, and the less snbstan- tial provisions for domestic consumption. Many shops sell drink- ables, but saloons or barrooms are to be found only in the congested center of the city, ^Yhere foreign habits have popularized themselves in a cosmopolitan sense. If it can be said to the credit of the inhabi- tants of Buenos Aires that they are not dangerously great drinkers of alcohol, it can be asserted, with equal commendation of their habits and of the watchfulness of the municipal administration, that they are remarkably fond of milk drinks and foods. There were at the last inspection 2T5 tamhos (a milk shop with cows kept on the prem- ises) and innumerable Icchcrias (inspected shops where milk is Ml'XICIPAL SLAUGHTERHOUSES, LINARES, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The municipal slaughterhouses, which furnish Buenos Aires witli an excellent supply of fresh meats, are located at Linares, a suburb within the limitsof the cdrporation, alidiu eight miles distant from the center of the city. These well-equipped establishments are models of neatness and order, and a source of revenue to the municipal government. sold) ; in them pasteurized milk and cream is obtainable at a very moderate price a glass, and the cleanliness of the shops, the neatness of the fittings, and the attractiveness of the attendants go a long way to encourage the desire for milk and to neutralize the Anglo-Saxon custom of asking for malt or stronger alcoholic drinks. As one official puts it, '' frozen milk (the equivalent of ice-cream) is the national drink during the dog days." The daih" supi^ly of milk for the city is close to 400,000 quarts, 93 per cent of which is brought from dairy farms close to the outskirts. All the cows are carefully inspected, and control is exercised over this food until it reaches the consmner. 830 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. The expenses for 1907 of the municipality of Buenos Aires amounted to $20,751,300 national currency ($1 national currency, written also m/n, = $0.15 gold). Of this, $2,552,000 is paid out as interest upon the city's public debt, and this amount equals 12.32 per cent of the total expenses of the municipality. The revenues for the same period amounted to $21,239,108, a surplus being left therefore. For 1908 the budget was given out as $27,220,644 national currency. Of this sum a goodly share goes toward paj'ment of salaries of 7,110 emplo^'ees on the citj^'s pay roll, and the remainder is expended on new market buildings, $500,000; new avenues and streets, $700,000; PRESIDENT MITRE SCHuuL, hi hNi.r, AlKES, AKLiKNilNK KhiH Bi.i< . This commodious and well-equipped edifice was specially constructed by the Federal Government for use of the primary and grammar grades. The public school system of Buenos Aires is under the control of a school board, and primary instruction is obligatory. the Colon Theater, $890,000 ; improvements on the Liniers Abattoir. $540,000; acquiring works of art and for joropagating national art and literature, $50,000, and for a new charity institution, $537,805, with other approi:)riations of a smaller nature. (All these sums are in national currency.) The ordinary expenses of the budget refer to the usual institutions maintained by a modern city. The police and fire departments, however, are supported and their organization controlled by the National (lovernment. Although the municipality has certain jurisdiction over both in so far as they are necessarily subject to the regulations of the city and must be used to enforce fill ^ ^'^ 5' "^ ,^ o «!?' 2. 2 a-^ _ P= C P J., * — i "^ S 3 Oi Eo5 0,52' — 832 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. certain ordinances and functions of the municipalit}', yet the respon- sibility for their i^avment and for their conduct falls upon the nation. The Police Department consists of something- over 4,000 members, at the last official statement the proportion to population being 1 to 260. Of this number, at least 100 are mounted policemen. For police i^urposes the city is divided into 32 districts, with a station in each and a central office in the heart of the city. The cost to the Government of this service is upward of $0,000,000 national currency. The Fire Department has 1,200 members and IG stations in separate mr Itll 1 m: ^ ~^^"*sr'''^-af * -x ., m^^ CANDY AND BISCUIT FACTORY, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The great industrial city of Bnonos Aires is fast becoming a noted niannfactnrins: center, and espe- cially is this true of fond products. Situated in close proximity to the sources of supply of the raw material, and under tlie btucliccnt stimulus of a wise policy of povcniment eucourakement and Erotcction, manufacturiui; I'stablishmeuls are increasing at a rapid rate, and many articles which ave liithcrto been imported in considerable quantities are now manufactured to'such an extent as to meet the demands of local consumption, while in some instances there is a surplus for export to the neighboring republics. divisions of the city, and is considered an efficient brigade in every respect. In 1907 the fire losses amounted to $5,803,075 (national cur- rency), with 172 alarms. Both these departments have the distin- guishing feature of being part of the military system of the country. Officially they are enrolled under the Department of the Interior, but in times of disturbance they are subject to orders of a militaiy char- acter, and tlie discipline maintained is much more military than civil. Sanitation in Buenos Aires is controlled by both the national and the miinicii)al authorities. The former is called the National De- MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIOX IN LATIN-AMERICA. 833 partment of Hygiene: the latter. Assistencia Publica, or Public Aid Service. The national body controls those conditions that more directly affect the whole country through the gateway of the city. It may be compared to the Marine-Hospital Service in the United States, or rather to what that service will be when harmonized with local boards of health. It watches over sanitary matters at the port, regulates vaccination, inspects drug stores, calls the attention of the municipality to unhygienic conditions it may detect in the city, sup- ports the city authorities in cases of epidemics, and has certain offices to perform in all duties relating to hospitals or other charitable in- THE PWILION FOR ZEBUS AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEXS, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The Zoological Gardens are situated in the large and beautiful Palmero Park, which cornprises an area ol about 1,000 acres. The grounds are artistically laid out, and there are a number of artihcial lakes as well as attractive walks lined with shrubbery and trees. The principal species of an;auals are housed in separate buildings. These gardens become popular resorts on Sundays and holidays, at which time thousands of people visit them to inspect and admire the large collection of animals. stitutions. The Public Aid Service has a more intimate function: it has charge of institutions of public aid ; in its care is the municipal laboratory, the bacteriologic examinations, the machinery for dis- infection, and, perhaps as important a service as any, it has active control of the relief ambulances that are ready for all emergencies and offer remarkably efficacious assistance in accidents of all kinds. The water supply and sewer system of the city are virtually de- partments of the National Government, and the cost of maintenance is paid out of the National Treasury, but it must be noted that no city in the world has a superior service, and that, while the mortality 834 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. rate on account of this service has demonstrably declined to one of the lowest among cities of this class, provision is also made for meet- ing future growth. Water is taken from the River Plate far enough up to avoid any chance of pollution. The supply comes from wells driven beneath the surface of the river, and is pumped through tun- nels to a central station in the city. Here the Avater is sedimented and filtered, and is then distributed to all portions of the city. The average daily water supply for 1907 was 12G liters (32 gallons) per inhabitant, but parts of the municipality are not yet reached by the system, although every effort is made to keep pace with the rapid NEW MODEL MARKET, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The New ISfcKlel Market of Bueiuis Aires is iiniler munieipal control. The arraiig:oment is good and the location convenient. The greatest neatness and cleanliness are ob.served in the salenf food prodncts, and the organization and management of the market i.s a credit to the municipal govern- ment of the city. building going on. The sewerage system can be described in general terms as that of discharge into the liiver Plato below the city, so that it is finally carried out to sea without contaminating surrounding intakes. It is elaborately devised, is modern in every way, and, as gravity is not suflicient to can\y oil' the sewage, a carefully adjusted plan of pumps and relief sewers answers every requirement. The docks and harbors of the city were built by and are under the management of the National (Jovernment. They are divided into two sections, one along the Kiachuclo fonuiiig the soutliern boundarv of the city; the other, composed of the north and south docks or basins, lying in front of the city to the east on the River Plate. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICA. 835 The public lighting of the city of Buenos Aires is eli'ected in four ways, by kerosene, alcohol, gas, and electricity. There are still 5,540 oil lamps in use and 1,163 alcohol lamps. Of gas lamps there are 24,767 (9,358 of which are incandescent). Electricity is supplied to 2,375 lamps of different watts power. There are 3 private gas com- panies with 87.203 subscribers, and rather high rates for the supply. There is onl}^ one electric company, a private organization, which fur- nishes current for both illumination and power. The municipality lights the new slaughterhouses and the outlying city divisions of Palermo, Flores, and Belgrano. The public-school system is partly national, partly municii^al, al- though it is all under the authority of the National Government. There are primary, secondary, commercial, industrial, and higher grades. The first is gratuitous and compulsory for children from 6 to 14 years, and is under the direction of the Xational Council of Education, which is supported by funds from both the Xational Treas- ury and certain municipal taxes. In Buenos Aires there are 88,951 public-school children in attendance in the primary grade, 2,505 in the secondary grade, 1,256 in the Commercial High School for Boys, and 246 in the same school for girls. Other schools of a public char- acter advance the pupil in commercial or technical and industrial education, and finally the candidate for a degree may choose a course in the National University in Buenos Aires. This latter is not co- educational. There are also fine arts schools and special institutions for the deaf and dumb and for the blind. Buenos Aires has only two public libraries, the National, supported by public funds; the other, called the Municipal Library, but sup- ported by a private society. They are not developed to the degree of the many public institutions of the city. There are 16 named theaters, besides several circuses and numerous cinematograph exhibitions. The Opera, but which will hereafter be in the new Colon Theater, is municipally owned and managed, and a source of great pride to the city, although not commercially a paying investment. As a rule, however, the taxpayers do not grumble over the cost, so long as they are sure that during the year they can see and hear the best art the world offers. The attendance at all theaters during the last year was 4,897,450, paying for their amuse- ment $6,481,645 national currency. That the inhabitants love enter- tainment out of doors as well as in, shows itself in the attendance at the Zoological Garden, which was 1,033.000, exclusive of school children (47,000), soldiers, sailors, and infants. This garden belongs to the municipality, together with the entire park system within the city limits of nearly 10,000,000 (4 square miles) square meters, which includes boulevards, squares, open spaces, and hospital gardens. 59477— Bull. 5, pt 1— OS— — i 836 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. There are 9 public parks, the largest of which, 3 de Febrero, covers one-half the entire area, 14 boulevards and gardens, 35 squares, 10 open spaces, 9 hospital gardens, and 8 additions in construction. When it is considered that the prevailing stjde of house construction is one-storied and that the city has planted and cares for 150,856 trees outside all these parks, it will be seen that ample breathing space is j^rovided b}' the municipality. Buenos Aires controls 31 municipal markets, supervises 18 hos- pitals, maintains 3 public baths, a loan and savings bank, a public •slaughterhouse, night refuges, a crematory, and a cemetery. There is a penitentiar3\ which is national, and a city house of correction for males, with a second for females. Local traction is altogether in the hands of j^rivate initiative and operation. There are 14 traction companies, 5 being with horse power and 9 with electric power, with a total length of 550 kilometers (345 miles) over which the zone system of payment is maintained. They carried 225,000,000 passengers in 1907, an increase of 49,000,000 passengers in two years; 6,342 carriages, 1,327 automobiles, 77 motor cycles, and 20,379 carts add to the means of locomotion. The streets were the scene of 3,199 collisions and 1,074 other accidents. The municipality publishes a ]Montlily Bulletin and a Year-Book, both full of statistical and general information. INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARB.E,TT, DIRECTOR FRANCISCO J. YANES. SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, January, 1 909) WASHINGTON. D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARREITT. D I R EL C T O R FRANCISCO J. YANES, SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, January, 1 909) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 ;..,"' * *• ** * ^ M. M.. .l&»^y RIO DE JANEIRO. IX natural beaiit}^ few cities of the world can compare favorabh' with Rio. It is Naples and Stamboul, as seen from the sea, with hundreds of the choicest bits of the ]Morea and the islands of the .Egean and the grandeur of the Norwegian fjords rolled into one. Fifteen j^ears ago it might have been said with truth that in this nature's chef d'ceuvre the handiwork of man appeared to no great advantage. Rio. in area one of the largest cities of the world, was a more or less disjointed group of small villages thrust in here and there between the mountains on the west of the great bay. It ap- peared broken and disconnected, a congeries of settlements, stretching around the sweep of the more or less inaccessible shore, with incur- sions here and there between the hills or up their slopes. On a nearer view the impression was more favorable. There were even then many beautiful buildings and parks. There were even places where one might say : " Here man has wrought worthy of his surroundings." But as a whole the city was disappointing. Perhaps most of all be- cause it lacked unity and because nature pressed too heavily upon the observer and demanded too much. All of this is changing, and most of it is already changed. Fifteen years has worked a marvel in the city, as great as a tale from the " Thousand and One Nights." Eio de Janeiro has been made over. It has been joined together. It is unrecognizable, but it is becoming beautiful. No such work in a city has ever been done before, except perhaps when Ilaussmann cleft Paris through and through into a half dozen great avenues, or when Peter built his capital on the Neva. Many projects for the rebuilding or improvement of Brazil's capital were conceived prior to 1803, but the plan which finally took shape followed the installation of President Koduhues Alves in 1892. He appointed as secretary of public works Senator Lauro Mijller, an engineer, and earnest advocate of the rebuilding plan. It was de- cided to begin the work, and for this purpose two loans were contracted, one a foreign loan of $40,000,000. the other a domestic loan by the municipality of $20,000,000. With these funds the work was begun in virtue of the decree of September 18, 1903. 30 3?§ IP - tT^ cog M n K, o •i. ^ ^ a,Q.-' o -■3 32 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. In brief the plan was: First, the construction of a quay following in general the shore line 3,500 meters long (2^ miles) : Second, the construction of a large avenue parallel with the quay and of the same length : Third, the rectification and prolongation to the sea of the canal known as ^Slangue, with an avenue on either side nearh' 2 miles (8,000 meters) in length and 131 feet in breadth, lit by electricity; Fourth, elevation of the railroad bed and construction of an avenue following the line of Francisco Eugenio street up to the Quinta do Boa Vista, the residence of the late Emperor Dom Pedro ; Fifth, enlargement of the city water supplj^ taking in all the near- by sources: THE WATER FRONT, RIO DE JANEUto. Showinfr a portion of the Avenida Beira-Mar, a 6-niile boiilevarrt skirting: the bay. It is not an exagKeration to sav tliat this avenue is unsurpassefl in picturesque beauty and variety by any driveway of equal" length in the world. On the occasion of the visit of ex-President General Julio Rocii, of Argentina, in 1907, it was gorgeously illuminated throughout its entire length, as a feature in the scheme of entertainment in lionor of that distinguished guest. Sixth, revision of sewerage system : Seventh, construction of an avenue, 1^ miles (1,000 meters) in length and 108 feet (33 meters) broad. This is the Avenida Central: Eighth, cutting down certain hills in the city: Xinth, widening the streets crossing the Avenida Central. These j^lans were almost immediately enlarged through the sug- gestion of the incoming mayor of the city, Dr. Francisco Passos, who was selected by President Kodrkjies Alves as an aid to Doctor MuLLER. The new improvements contemplated the widening of many other streets, the construction of a bay-side drive, 4* miles long and 115 feet wide (T.OOO meters and 35 meters), repaving the streets with asphalt, and other works for embellishing the city. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 33 The improvement of the shore line was a work of the greatest mag- nitude. It involved the building of a stone qua}^ over 2 miles in length along the east front of the city. The quay is built in many places at a considerable distance out from the old shore and incloses several islands and small bays. In front the harbor is dredged to a. depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet) to a distance out, and following the line of the quay for 250 meters (820 feet). This forms a broad ship channel along the face of the quay. Back from the quay the land has been filled in to a depth of from 12 to 40 feet and an avenue 100 meters in width (328 feet) has been constructed following the line of the new shore. This avenue is apportioned in three strips — a paved thoroughfare of 40 meters (131 feet) lined with rows of trees, then a strip of 35 meters for business houses and offices, then 25 meters for railway tracks. The whole quay is finished w^ith the most modern hoisting, loading and unloading machinery and devices, and there are two electric plants for furnishing power and light. Under the contract of September, 1903, the quay work which was begun in March, 1904, must be completed by July 1, 1910. More striking perhaps than even the quay works has been the con- struction of the great Avenida Central, running in a straight line from sea to sea and serving as the principal outlet from the congested business section. The avenue is 1,996 meters long (6,500 feet) and 33 meters wide (108 feet). Over 600 buildings were demolished in pre- paring the way, 3,000 laborers working night and day. Trees are planted along each side and in the center. There are also flower beds in the center. Some of the most beautiful and imposing buildings in Rio have been erected on the Avenida Central. Another great avenue opened is the Avenida Beira Mar, the bay- side avenue. This is nearly 4-|- miles in length (7,000 meters). It begins where the western end of the Avenida Central meets the bay and, following the curves of the city front, stretches away to Botafogo Bay, a beautiful cove inclosed in a green frame of high hills. The work on the Mangue Canal and the building of the two bordering avenues, each 131 feet wide, is progressing rapidly. AMien completed the canal will be nearly 2 miles in length, stone faced, and crossed by numerous artistic bridges. A marked feature in the building of the new streets in Rio de Janeiro has been the use of the rounded corner, the building line being marked on a curve of considerable radius. This adds a beauty and dignity to the architecture of the buildings and a grace to the appearance of the streets, in particular as seen on the Avenida Central, that is lacking in the cities of the United States. 34 IXTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, In addition to the new avenues a nunil)er of streets in Rio de Janeiro have been improved so as to be ahnost unrecognizable to one AVENIDA CENTRAL— lil^LDING UK THE JUKNAL DO I'U.MMEKClU, KiO 1»E JANEIRO. Manv large and handsome office buildhiKS are eloquent in attesting the general business pros- perity notably that ot the Jornal do Commercio, wliiuh appears under constrnetion in the illustmlion. the building has since been completed. Tliis daily was establislied in 1^24, under the name of the "Spectator," but in 1«27 the name was changed to its present title. The Jornal do Commereio is the leading newspaper of Brazil. Tiie greatest statesmen and politicians of the Empire and Republic have been, at difTereiit times, among its contributors. who may have kuowu tlie cily a dozen or more years ago. Among these is the rniouavana. 17 meters wi 505 Trades, professions, and companies 1,891,150 Real estate (house tax) . 3,742,975 Total from taxation 5,7.55,630 Heterogeneous and eventual 995,785 Total ordinary S. -1-15, 840 Extraordinary, loans 7, GSl, 175 Grand total 1<>, 127, 015 38 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. The expenditures for the yaine year were : Executive, prefect, etc $29, 830 Legislature, deinities 1^3, 995 Hygiene aud public assistance 309,545 Education, schools, colleges, and universities 1,427,715 Libraries, museums,- etc 1^' "0^ Total for education 1,444,450 Collection and distribution of revenue 626,985 Administration and other public services 2,329,180 Public works 0, 418, 440 Pensions 266, 975 Eventual and heterogeneous 195. 425 Service of the debt : Foreign funded, amortization and interest 59,620 Internal funded, amortization and interest 3,968,015 Floating debt, amortization and interest 251,965 Total service of the debt 4, 279, 600 Grand total 16. 044, 435 The public debt of the federal capital, in 1902, amounted to $878,395 T .lited States gold; in 1903, to $793,200; in 1904, to $1,170,885; in 1905, to $1,730,300; in 190G, to $2,699,245; and in 1907, to $2,790,610, shoAving an increase in six j^ears of 31.5 per cent. Protection to life and property is adequately assured in the Federal District through a highly organized and efficient police force of more than 4,000 men and a civil guard of 600, which latter force is divided into two classes, the first having 400 men and the second 200. One hundred of the civil guards are held as a reserve. Besides the ordi- nary police, there is stationed in the federal capital a military estab- lishment of one brigade each of the artillery and cavalry and seven brigades of the infantry of the Brazilian national army. Rio de Janeiro is divided, for police and civil administration purposes, into 20 urban and 8 suburban wards, each of which has its local prefect and other administrative agents. The entire police department is under the supreme supervision of a general stall', consisting of a commandant-general, an assistant of the ministry of justice, an assistant of material, an assistant of the personnel, a secretary, and an adjutant of orders. The department is divided into the following sections: 1. Passports, licenses, and corresj)()ndciice. 2. Criminal section. 3. Statistics. 4. Accouutautship and excluMiuor. 40 IXTERNATIOXAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. 5. Medical service, with 1 director and 1-2 physicians. G. Sanitary service, having 1 inspector, 1 fiscal, 10 physicians, 4 chemists, 1 assistant chemist, 1 surgical dentist, 1 oculist, and 7 tem- porar}' j^ractitioners, 7. Archives. 8. Detention of prisoners, 9. Cabinet of identification and statistics, which has the subdivi- sions of identification, statistics, information, and photography. 10. Treasury. 11. Harbor police. INSPECTION OF FIREMEN, RIO DE JANEIRO. Thefire-fiKhtiiii? force consists of 600 officers and men, organized on a militarv basis. The corps and eiiuipment are so efficient and modern, and the service so well arranged, that only twenty seconds are required to get the engines out of the tire halls. All repair work is done by the firemen in the shops which adjoin the central station. 12. Inspectorshij) of the corps of investigation and public safety. 13. Inspectorship of vehicles (composed of 1 inspector. 2 account- ants, and 00 assistants). Each administrative district of the Federal Capital has a " delegate,'' representing the commandant-general of police, besides an official of justice, an accountant, generally, and several "commissioners," varying in number according to the imi)ortance of the district. The entire police force of Rio de Janeiro City is organized on a strictly niiHtary basis, and has one regiment of cavalry and two regiments of infantry. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IX LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 41 The house of detention of the federal capital is under one admin- istrator, assisted by a physician. The house of correction is administered by one director, aided by one assistant director. Rio de Janeiro in latitude 22°, 54' S., and longitude W. from Greenwich 43 °, 10 ', is about as far south of the equator as Havana, Cuba, is north. Its climate must generally be regarded as warmer than that of Havana, except on the summits of the surrounding mountains. There is a dry season from May to Xovember, and a Avet season from November to Mi\y. The mean annual temperature is 75°, the maximum 80°, in February, and the minimum 70°, in July. TREASURY BUILDING, RIO DK JANEIRO, BRAZIL. The Caixa de Amortiza?ao, or Treasury Building, of the federal capital, fronts on tlie new Avenida Central, and commands especial attention because of its imposing proportions and attractive style of architecture. It is solidly and artistically constructed of stone. Climatic conditions are modified by the southwest and southeast trade winds from the Atlantic. Sudden changes of twenty degrees, in the course of a day, are not infrequent. Health conditions are excellent. A comparison of the annual death rate of Rio de Janeiro, in 1005, with that of the leading cities of the world shows that the Brazilian federal capital, with a mortality per thousand of 21.7, is about on a par with Havana, 21.2; Genoa, 21.5; Dublin, 21.2; Milan, 21.1; and Marseilles, 21.4. The record for 1007, according to figures furnished by the board of health of Rio de Janeiro, proves that there was a marked decrease in the mortality of that city, notwithstanding 65357— Bull. 1—09 i 42 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. a considerable growth in population. The mortality for 1906 and 1907 was 13,9G0 and 12,100, respectively. This diminution is largely CENTRAL STATION OP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, RIO DE JANEIRO. This most important institution for the protection of public nnd private property embraces n ccn- tnil station and six substtitions, one of whicli is located on tlie sliori' of llii' bay, and in addition to the usual e(iuipmeiit, is j)rovided witli two large lireboals for the protection of the harbor shipping. The central station is a handsome modern building, in whieli are maintained manu- facturing and repair shops for the use of the department. due to the admirable system of having in each urban and suburban district a branch of the central health department, where free medi- MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 43 cal assistance and advice are given to the poor, and whenever neces- sary skilled i^hysicians and nurses visit them in their homes. The capital is, moreover, now exempt from yellow fever, a resvdt which has been achieved by the distinguished Brazilian physician, Doctor Cruz, whose energetic ett'orts have exterminated that former scourge of Rio de Janeiro. The local census, taken September '20, 1900, showed that the federal district had on that date 811,443 inhabitants, •403,453 males and 347,990 females, living. The population has increased since 1890 by 288,792 souls — that is, by 55.20 per cent. The annual increase was 3.515 pev cent. Rio de Janeiro thus compares very favorably with RUA DA CARIOCA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. This typical business street of the metropolis of the Republic is important in retail trade. Chicago, Pittsburg, Buffalo, and Clevelan.l. The annual 1)irth rate in 1900 was 209.5 per 1,000. The area of the federal district is 538 square miles, and had. in 1900, a density of 1.338 inhabitants per square mile. Its area is nearly one and one-half times larger than that of New York, approximately twice as large as that of Chicago, virtually three and one-half times as nuich as that of Philadelphia, almost four times as large as that of London, and nearly eight times larger than that of the District of Columbia. Although education has not as yet been made compulsory in Brazil, both the National Government as well as the municipality are pro- moting in every possible way universal instruction and self-improve- 44 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. ment among; the inhabitants of the federal capital Public as well as private instruction is conducted under the supervision of a " General directory of public instruction." and a " Superior counsel of instruc- tion."* The former organization is under a director-general. Public instruction is divided into primary, corresponding to the primary and grammar grades of the United States, superior (high school and academic), and university. Under the first-named de- j)artment it is interesting to note that there were 18G " primary public schools "" in Rio de Janeiro City in 1007, of which 134 were for girls, 49 for boys, and 3 mixed. Sevent^^-two teachers, and 200 assistant teachers were employed in the primary department. The instruction GOXQALVES BIAS SCHOOL, RIO DE JANEIRO. This handsome school edifice in Rio is surrounded by a beautiful garden filled with tropical plants and trees. It faces Christovao I'ark, and is one of the most solidly constructed school buildings of the capital. given was purely secular and comprised reading, writing, arithmetic,. Portuguese grammar, geography, history, and general moral, scien- tific, and civic principles, drawing, calisthenics, and sewing, divided into three courses, elementary, intermediate, and higher. The pri- mary schools are supplemented by Avhat are known as "elementary schools," which are private institutions. They receive a subvention from the municipality on condition that they shall adopt the official j)rogramme and admit a certain number of children free. There are at present 79 schools of this sort, with 5,130 pupils and an average attendance of 2,370. The teachers are either normal-school graduates or have passed a special government examination. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 45 A.mono- the i^iiblic institutions for superior instruction, should be mentioned the Institute Professional for Mules, which is limited to 300 pupils. Students enter at the age of 12 and leave at -20. The subjects taught are: rrinuiry courses, music and drawing, carpentry, cabinetmaking, sculpture, typesetting, bookbinding, tailoring, iron and tinsmith's work, and bootmaking. In the Female Instituto the number of pupils is limited to 120 and ai)plicants are admitted up to 15 years of age. Instruction is given in the primary courses, elements of hygiene, shorthand, typewriting, domestic economy, draw- ing, music, sewing, embroidery, and artificial-flower making. The federal capital maintains five " model schools " in which certifi- cated teachers, intending to become professors, ure trained as assistants. The normal school, or '• pedagogium," has a curriculum of four series: (1) Portuguese, French, arithmetic, geography, music, manual train- ing, needlework, handwriting, and calisthenics; (2) Portuguese, French, algebra, geometry, geography, history, linear drawing, music, and needlework; (3) Portuguese, French, American history, physics, pedagogy, manual training, and ornamental designing; (4) Brazilian literature, chemistry, history of Brazil, and civic instruction, pedagogy, hygiene, and drawing from the model. The school is under the direct superintendence of the council of education. From 1900 to 1904, 320 students received certificates as normal teachers. All such certificated teachers must practice under certificated professors for one year and obtain certificates of competence as professors. The pedagogium is also intended to serve as a school for higher education of primary professors. Classes are held at night and comprise " permanent courses " of physical and natural sciences, " contracted courses "' on letters, biology, and pedagogy, and " free courses " on mathematics, philology, sociology, technical industries, arts, etc. In 1902 seven courses w^ere given; the number of students was 153. In 1903 ten courses, with 143 students, were given, and in 1904, IT courses with 194 students. There is in Rio de Janeiro city no university, properly so called, but there are in Brazil six faculties which confer degrees, of which two — the Faculty of Medicine and the Polytechnic School — are located in the capital. The cost of university education is provided — by an annual grant that for the last ten years has ranged from 2,()00,000 milreis to 3,400,000 milreis ($866 667 to $1,133,334 United States gold). The Polytechnic School was founded December 4, 1810. It grants certificates of civil, mining, industrial, and mechanical engi- neer, and the title of agronomist and geographical engineer. This school ranks in every respect among the best of technical institu- tions in the world and offers six distinct courses, namely, a " funda- 46 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. mental course*' (three years), a course of civil enaineerino- (two years), a course of miiiino- engineerino- (two years), a course of indus- trial engineering (two years), a course of mechanical engincei-ing COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE BriLDINGS, AVEXIDA CENTRAL. RIO PE JANERIO. This fiuiious avtiine was laid out and many of Uic old l)i!ildinf;s demolished and reconstnicted within a remarkably short period of time, presenlinjr an examitle of aetivitv ami proirress in city huildinf? nneiinaled in the worhL Some of the editiees eover an entire square and repre- sent an expenditure of sums from half a million to live millions of dollars. (two years), and a course of agricuhuial engineering (two years). There are 52 professors among the faculty of the school. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 47 The total number of professors at the different municipal schools of the federal district is 875, as follows: There are 6 directors of model schools, 193 head masters, 300 permanent professors, 7 of the elementary first class, and 72 of the elementary second class; total, 778. The normal school (Pedagogium) has 45 professors and assist- ants. Technical education has 52 professors. Private initiative and philanthropy (both on the part of the native Brazilians, as well as of the foreign residents) have ably cooperated with the public authorities in increasing the opportunities for uni- versal education by establishing and maintaining throughout the federal capital a great variety of primary schools, academies, col- leges, and other institutions of instruction, which are of the high- est excellence. The National Government of Brazil maintains in the federal capital the following educational institutions: Deaf and dumb and blind asylums, the National School of Music, the National School of Art, the JNIilitary Academy, the Preparatory School of Tactics, and the Naval School. The National School of Art was founded in 1816. A fine new building is now in course of erection in the Central avenue. The National School of Music was founded in 1847. The staff consists of 19 professors and 13 assistants. The Military College was founded in 1889. Children and grandchildren of army officers and of privates killed in action are educated at public expense: civilians are admitted on payment. From this college students pass to the higher military or naval school, but it is not obligatory. The School for the Blind, called the '' Instituto Benjamin Con- stant," was founded in 1857. The land on which the building stands covers 9.51G square meters, or 102,373 square feet, on the shores of the beautiful bay of Botafogo, and was a gift from the P]mperor DoM Pedro II. The Deaf and Dumb School was founded in 1856. There are about 600 children Avho receive oral instruction in this institution. The city of Rio de Janeiro is well provided with libraries, of which there are 12. Two of these, the National and the Municipal, and the rest belong to associations or to the Brazilian army and navy. The National Library Building, now in course of construction, will be the most magnificent in South America. The origin of this library Avas due to the flight of King Joao VI, of Portugal, to Brazil, in 1807. It contained, in 1907, 130.000 volumes, a valuable collection of 25,150 medals, many of them very rare, and 100,000 engravings. The average monthly attendance of readers is 3,300. The " Gabinete Portuguez de Leitura " is the most beautiful build- ing in Eio de Janeiro. The library comprises 7,000 volumes, ad- MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IX LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 49 mirably arranged. The collection of ctunocnana (Canides) is believed to be the most perfect in existence. The hospitals and asylums of the Federal District are undertaken chiefly by private associations assisted by the Government. Among the most important of these institutions are the following: Ma- ternidade, or lying-in hospital, which is a private association as- sisted by the National Government. The Institute for the Protection and Assistance of Children. The society, besides giving medical advice and aid to poor children, is of inestimable benefit to women who are about to become mothers. The HosjDital da ]Miseric()rdia, of Spanish origin, was founded by the Jesuit priest Father Anchieta in the sixteenth century. Its modern reorganization was in 1840. Thirty years were rec|uired t ) complete the edifice. It can take care of 1.200 patients, and is de- signed especially for the accommodation of sick sailors of all nations. The hospital is divided into f )ur departments: The Asylum of Misericordia for Abandoned Girls; the Asylum of Santa Maria for Old Women: the Hospital of Xossa Senhora dos Dolores at Casadura, for Consumption, and the Pasteur Institute for the Treatment of Hvdrophol)ia. The Casa de Sao Jose for male orphan or neglected children of 6 to 12 years of age is accomplishing excellent work. There is a similar asylum for female children. Both institutions are maintained by the municipality. The Fifteenth of November Reformatory for Va- grant Children is an institution of the National Government, and is under the supervision of the police. The Goncalves Araujo Asylum is conducted and supported l)y the Candelaria Brotherhood. Among the most interesting of other philanthropical associations are the 181 registered " friendly societies," whose accumulated funds in 1902 amounted to $3,550,235, and they had an aggregate income of $391,515. They distributed, in 1902, $30,915 among associates, and since the founding of the earliest of these associations, a Swiss society, in 1821, have distributed $3,398,635. The 181 societies, in 1902, had a total of 93,851 associates. The government of the Federal District maintains a strict super- vision over factories and stores. Under the present law the majority of shops close at 8 oVlock on ordinary nights and at 4 on holidays. Only cafes, bars, and restaurants are open all day on Sundays, and grocers and tobacconists up to 12 (noon). Other places of business are required to be closed. Lighting, rapid transit, and motive power are exclusively furnished in the Federal District by the Rio de Janeiro Tramway, Light and Power Company, operating under a concession from the numicipality, and registered in Toronto, Canada. The company possesses a tre- 50 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. mendoiis natural source of power on the River Das Lages, 51 miles distant from the city of Eio de Janeiro. It has installed at this point one of the most extensive and modern hydraulic-electric generating systems in the world. The company is the owner of the share capital of the Companhias Sao Christovtio, Carris Urbanos and Villa Isabel, which provides about three-fourths of the tramway service of Rio de Janeiro. The various concessions granted by the federal capital were consolidated and extended until 1970, by virtue of a contract made with the municipality, in November, 1007, the Rio de Janeiro Tram- way, Light and Power Company to install electric lighting and power THE I'ALAl'K OF THE rUKSIDEXT, KIO DK JANEIKO, nUA/IL. througliout the cai)ital within a period of about three years, and to construct about 'JOO miles of new lines. The lines of the Villa Isabel are already electrified, and the work of transforming the traction of the other companies is commenced. The Societe Anonyme de (Jaz de Rio de Janeiro, a Belgian enter- prise, was acquired by the conqiany, which now controls the whole of the illumination of the capital by gas and electricity, through a concession granted by the (Jovermnent in 100.") with a monopoly until 1915. All parts of the city are now illuminated by gas, the electric lighting being confined for the present to the new avenues recently opened and the central connnercial section. Electric light- MUNICIPAL, ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 51 ing is to be greatly extended during the present year. The Rio de Janeiro Tramway, Light and Power Company (by a concession from the municipality) enjoys a monopoly for the distribution of electric power, produced in a hydraulic installation until 1915, and thereafter the right continues without monopoly until 1900. There is now furnished 3,000 horsepower, but this will soon be greatlv increased. Concessions recently acquired by the company give it full control of the telephones throughout the Federal District. The entire system has been largely reconstructed with a new building, having a new central telephone board of the most modern design. Improved instruments have been given to the 2,500 subscribers, whose number will soon be increased to 5,000. Street circuits have been rebuilt and a large amount of aerial cables has been installed to take the place of the network of overhead wires in the streets, thus greatly improving the service. A large part of the system is in underground cables, and it is expected that this will be extended from year to year until all overhead wires in the populous districts have been removed. ^r; INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBUCS JpHNBARRE^TT. DIRE^CTOR FKANCISCO J. YANES, SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA SANTIAGO DE CHILE (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, March, 1 909) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARREITT. D I R EL C T O R FRANCISCO J. YANES, SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA SANTIAGO DE CHILE (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, March, I 909) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 #1 Ti 4 I SANTIAGO DE CHILE. SAXTIAGO lies at the head of the great central valley of Chile on the Mapocho River. To the west, the Cordillera of the Coast stretches north and south, a range of hills and low mountains parallel with and near to the Pacific. This range now represents the worn-down remnants of Avhat was once a great mountain system and the oldest land in the southern half of South America. To the east rises in magnificent grandeur that great fold of the earth's crust known as the Cordillera of the Andes. The Andes are new mountains, with their angularity and roughness unworn ;uid unsmoothed by long-continued action of the elements. Between the two Cordilleras, the old and the new, lies the central valley of Chile, shut off at the north by a spur of the Andes extending to the coast. At the foot of this spur lies Santiago. By railway from Valparaiso one arrives at the capital unexpect- edh'. After leaving Llai-llai the line runs through a more or less barren country", rough and rocky, and then suddenly from out of this wilderness the train enters a long street between walls and houses, and the traveler finds himself almost in the center of a large city and at the beginning of the most beautiful street in that Q\iy. This street, the Alameda, is one of the beautiful avenues of South America. It is a fine, broad driveway planted with a double row of gigantic i^ojolars and lined for its greater length with fine buildings. The promenade in the center is set with statues erected to the memory of the heroes of the war of independence, San Martin, O'Higgins, FiJKiHE, Molina, Carijera, and others. The most notable natural feature of Santiago is the liill or rock of Santa Lucia, 300 feet in height, which rises almost from the heart of the city. On Santa Lucia, Pkdro de Vaedivia established his strong- hold, and around its base he founded the first town in Chile, which he named after the j)atron saint of Spain. The (own was laiil out in squares, as it is to-day, with the lines running east and west and north and south. 430 432 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. To each of Valdivia's followers was given one square for a garden and upon Avhicli to build his house. After the conquest, for four hundred years Santa Lucia remained what it was in Valdivia's time, a bold and unsightly rock rising out of the midst of the growing city. After it ceased to be a stronghold and refuge from the Indians, it had no use until about a hundred j-ears ago, when it began to be used as a Protestant cemeteiy. Near the close of the nineteenth cen- tuiT Santiago determined to convert this unsightly eminence into the beautiful park it is to-day. The necessary expense was borne, not alone by the Government and the municipality, but, in a hirge meas- ure, by private contriljution. The scheme included not only the beautification of Santa Lucia, but also the laying out of other parks, the broadening and repaving of streets, and, what Avas the greatest Avork of all, the rebuilding of the Alameda de las Delicias, the Via Appia of Santiago. Cousiho Park, one of the most popular retreats in Santiago, is named after Don Luis Cousixo, who donated the park of 330 acres to the city. Beginning in 1872, under the administration of Don Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, the improvement of Santiago has been continued down to the present time. ^^Tien Santiago was merely a Spanish colonial village on the banks of the Mapocho River, the Alameda de las Djelicias was the ordinary main higliAvay leading to the town. ]Much of the land over which the road passed was Ioav and marshy, and for a distance it occupied what had been the bed of a small branch of the ]\Iapocho. As late as lift}' 3'ears ago it was an ill-kept and most unattractive thorough- fare, paved with rough, uneven, and ill-set stones. To-day it is a broad avenue, ?>^>0 feet wide and nearly 3 miles long, extending across the city from the hill of Santa Lucia to the Central Railway' Station. Trees and floAvers are everywhere intersj^ersed Avith fountains, stat- uary, and other Avorks of art. Tavo of the most noted pieces of statuary are the equestrian statues of San Martin and O'Higgins. The celebrated liberator. General Jose San Martin. avIio led the patriot army across the Andes in the cause of Chilean independence, is represented holding in his hand the standard of liberty, the horse thrown back on his haunches. Gen- eral Bernardo O'IIiggins, '' the braA^est of the braA'c,'' is shoAvn with sword extended at arm's length in air, his horse in the act of leaping some obstacle on the battlefield of Rancagua. Santa Lucia is noAV one of the most renuirkable parks in existence. The Avhole hill presents one mass, almost bewildering, of grottoes, terraces, stairAvays, stucco Avork of all kinds, planted with a luxuriant growth of semitro])ical vegetation through Avhich paths Avind in and out to shady nooks or observation ])()ints. The view from any one of these points is most attractive. At the foot, the city Avitli a poj^ula- MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 435 tion of 400,000 stretches out around the hill and on both sides of the Mapocho, with parks large and small relieving the geometrical regularity of rectangular crossings. Through the whole cuts the broad Alameda lined with stately and beautiful buildings with the broad promenade dowm the middle masked in a floral wealth of almost tropic luxuriance. To the east and northeast, seemingly almost within touch, rise 17,000 feet in air the rugged and overpowering Andes, jagged, scarred, snowcapped, and awe inspiring. To the west the low coast range shuts off the ocean, and to the south, spreading out until lost in the distance, lies one of the garden spots of the world, the rich Central Valley of Chile. There appear to be no foothills ; the Andes rise abruptly from the plains, making the picture as seen from the crest of Santa Lucia the more perfect and satisfying. Among the most striking buildings in Santiago are: La Moneda, the residence of the President of the Eepublic, in which are located also the offices of several of the Government departments; the national Congress Hall, a modern construction of vast size and magnificent architecture; the Intendancy of the province and the city hall, in which are installed the principal offices of local administration; the cathedral, which has been completely reconstructed and adjoining which is the archiepiscopal palace, the residence of the Metropolitan of Chile; the post-office, a modern and handsome building; the National Library, a large edifice covering 22,000 square feet, con- taining about 15,000 volumes; the Palace of Justice, in which the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal, and several minor courts and offices are located ; the Army Building, the headquarters of the army, and also the barracks of the President's guard of honor. Other public buildings are the Municipal Theater, one of the best in America; the Palace of the Exposition, the University, the Ordnance Building, Medical School, School of Arts and Trades, Astronomical Observatory, Home for Orphans, Insane Asylum, Agricultural Institute, National Conservatory of Music, and the Catholic Seminary. Near the Cousino Park is the racing park, one of the most popular meeting places in the city. The Agricultural School Farm, one of the most interesting and valuable centers of instruction, covers 320 acres and was founded in 1842. Connected with the school farm are several institutes — the botanical garden with four large conservatories containing several thousand plants; the agricultural institute, which has under its charge the higher branches of agriculture ; the agricultural training school, whose principal aim is to create specialties in agriculture, having, with other dependencies, departments of viticulture and viniculture; vaccine institute, veterinary institute, and laboratories devoted to 721ST— Bull. 3—09 G MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 437 agricultural chemistry and vegetable pathology. Agricultural in- struction is free and is supported by government. Mining instruction is given in the university and in a sf»ecial school devoted to training mine superintendents. Industrial instruction in most branches has been very highly organ- ized both in the university and in the School of Arts and Trades. This institute is one of the most important in the country. The Sociedad de Fomento Fahril has founded and manages schools of industrial drawing, modeling, and electricity. A commercial tech- nical institute has over 500 pupils. THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE, SANTIAGO, CHILE. This government institution was founded in 1843, with Don Andres Bello, a philologist of world-wide reputation, as its first president. The courses of study in its several schools cover a period of five to seven years. The university offers instruction through faculties of law, medi- cine, and engineering. Courses in law and engineering are five years each; medicine is a six years' course. The School of Medicine in particular enjoys a very high reputation in all Latin- American coun- tries. The Institute of Pedagogy is for the preparation of teachers in schools of secondary instruction and the two normal schools for teachers in primary schools. The Board of Public Hygiene has charge of matters of sanitation. The Institute of Hygiene, directed by the board, is divided into five departments — hygiene and statistics, chemistry and toxicology, microscopy and bacteriology, seroterapathy, and disinfection. In MUNICIPAL OEGANIZATIOX IX LATIN-AMERICATST CAPITALS. 439 addition there are special departments of pnblic health having charge of matters pertaining to infectious diseases, vaccination, and chemical study and analysis of food products. One of the most important establishments for securing instruction is the National Institute, with a roll of about 1.500 matriculates. Private and church schools supply instruction to about 30,000 pupils a year, and instruction in the fine arts is given in the School of Fine Arts and in the Conservatory of Music. Military instruction is given in the Military School, which corre- sponds to West Point in the United States, and where young men in preparation to become army officers are educated ; also in the War THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SANTIAGO, CHILE. The library contains more than 150,000 vohimes and manuscripts!, and circulates about 40,000 volumes annually To the left is a statue of Don Andres Bello, first president of the National I niversity of Chile, who, although bom in Venezuela, spent most of his life in Chile working for the intellectual uplift of its people. School, attended by army officers of all grades and where the higher branches of military art are studied; in the Target Practice School, which is specially devoted to practice and instruction in ballistics, and the School for Xon-commissioned Officers, where young men are prepared for the lower grades of army command. The city of Santiago is a municipality in the Department of Santi- ago, Province of Santiago. The idea of communal autonomy, so common and basic, not only in the political economy of Greece and Rome, but also in that of the Teutonic and Sclav races of the north and east of Europe, has had SOLDIER OF A CHILEAN CAVALRY REGIMENT ON A WAR FOOTING. ThP militarv (.ruaiii/iition of Chile is inoric'lecl after the German array, ami <^^ermim instructors are emplovec?w ith in view. The active army in time of peace consists of sixteen batta hons oHnfantrv six regiments of cavalry, an.l seven rcKiments of artillery, witli anxiliaries All able- bodredciUzenyof Chile are obliged to serve, liability for which extends irom the eighteenth to the forty-fifth year. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 441 but scant hold in Spain since the lionian colonial period and until very recent times. It never had any foothold whatever in the Spanish colonies. As said by Sehor Augustin Correa Bravo, one of the lead- in<2: jurists of Chile, in his Coniinentaries on tlie Law of INTunicipal Organization : In Chile, as in all the old Spanish colonies, the commune was unknown vnitil estaltlished by law. From the earliest period of the conquest the system of encomlcndas prevailed in our country, by virtue of which the conquerors di- vided among themselves the land and the people inhabiting it, thert'l)y making impossible those groupings of small proprietors and of local interests which elsewhere formed the base or were the actuating cause of the nuniicipality. Nor was the period of political and social reconstruction which followed In- dependence the most appropriate for promoting the organization of the com- mune, and the Isolated efforts made in this direction were unfruitful. The habits and unprogressive customs of the colonial period continued under the new regime. The first law in Chile having to do with the organization and at- tributes of municipalities was promulgated November 8, 1854, and this law was enacted for the express purpose of bolstering the system of administrative centralization against which complaints were more or less openly made. By virtue of this law all municipal services were under the innnediate direction of intendentes and governors, the immediate agents of the President of the Republic. The munici- pal councils which had been provided for in the constitution (Art. 113) were treated as purely consult! ve. The law of September 12, 1887, gave a new organization to munic- ipal affairs and stripped the intendentes and governors of a part of the attributes they had before enjoj^ed. This law marks the effective establishment in Chile of municipal as opposed to centralized govern- ment of cities. Following this law came the present organic act, the law of De- cember 22, 1891, which is the charter and constitution of all city government in Chile. Article 2 of this act provides that the city of Santiago shall be divided into ten sections or wards {circumscrip- clones) wdiich shall elect each three miniicipal coimcilors who to- gether shall compose the municipal council. The three councilors in each ward form a local board having cer- tain local powers and duties mainly in connection with elections.. Municipal councilors are chosen by popular election. They must be citizens of at least five years" residence in the nuniicipality, must have no interest in national or municipal contracts or supplies, and must hold no other public office or commission. The council from among its members elects three alcaldes, fixing the order of preced- ence amons' the three; also a secretary and treasurer. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 443 The i)owers and jurisdiction of the council are of the fullest. The entire government of the cit}^ is in its hands subject only to the con- stitution and the organic act of December, 1891. The municipal revenues are derived from a personal tax levied for school purposes, a personal-property tax, a tax on sale of liquors and tobacco, a license tax on industries and professions, revenues derived from city property, and an annual grant from Congress. m INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARREITT, DIRECTOR FRANCISCO J. YANES. SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA HAVANA, CUBA (Reprint of an article from the' Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, April, 1909) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARRELTT. D I R EL C T O R FRANCISCO J. YANES, SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA HAVANA, CUBA (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, April, 1 909) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 "M'l'Tmii'r^i'Ti k ¥ f\"r%f^ k m't^-f % ■% HAVANA. HAVANA, the " Key of the New World " {Uave del yuevo Mnndo)^ as reads the legend on its coat of arms, was founded on its present site by Diego Velasquez in 1519. Better than any other of the Latin-American cities is it- known to foreigners. Thousands, not only citizens of the United States but Europeans, Avho know but little, if anything, of the capi- tals of the larger Republics of Brazil, Argentina, or Mexico, are familiar with this capital city of the Pearl of the Antilles. They know the beauty of its situation, the quaintness and charm of its architecture, and the geniality of its welcome. As one ap- proaches from the sea, where the deep blue of the Gulf changes to the pale green of the inshore waters, the city comes into view, lying like a great carpet of rich oriental colors fringed around by the mot- tled dark gi^een of the hills behind, fading away to right and left into a lighter green and then into a blue. The entrance to the harbor is a narrow cut of less than 400 yards in an almost straight shore line. The city, with its yellow and white houses with red-tiled roofs, lies to the right of the entrance. On the left and jutting out a little into the Gulf is the picturesque light-house and fortifications of the Moro. On the right, at the city's extreme point, is the fort of La Punta. The harbor within the entrance is a roughly shaped quadrangle over 2 miles wide. On the harbor front is I^a Fuerza, the old stronghold of the city. The architecture of Havana is heavy and massive. Even to one accustomed to the Spanish-American type the houses of Havana seem remarkably solid and heavy. The building material is a pecul- iar loose-textured seashell conglomerate of a glaring white color called cantera. It is similar to the coquina of St. Augustine, in Florida, but heavier and more compact. It is hewn out with axes and sawed into great blocks. After exposure to the air it becomes harder. The Avails in Havana are nearly always plastered or stuc- cckmI. variously colored. The colors are yellow, white, light gray, U14 76021— Bull. 4—09 616 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. grayish blue, and deep red. The surfaces are frequently very ornate with frescoing, moldings, and imitated jointings. In the older parts of the city are the j^rojecting ]\Ioorish gratings covering the windows. The President's palace, formerly the home of the governor-gen- eral, is one of the finest buildings in the city. It was built in 1834 and occupies an entire block on the Plaza de Armas and near the har- bor front. The joalace contains the maj^or's office and the hall of the cit}^ council and other offices of the city government, as well as the residence apartments of the President. The cathedral, a block aAvay from the palace, is one of the show buildings of Havana. It was built in 1701 and occuj^ies the site of an older church. Other of the more important churches are San Au- THE NEW I'UODUCE EXCHANGE BUILDING IX THE (TTY OF HAVAXA- :i;600,000 GOLD AND WAS OPENED IN MARCH, 1909. IT COST gustin, built in IGOS, and now the oldest church in the city. Santa Catalina, built in 1G08, and Santo Domingo, formerly a monastery of the dominican fathers. La ISIerced, the largest, Avealthiest, and most aristocratic church, was built in 1716 and rebuilt in 1792. Its interior is richly decorated. El Templete, the memorial chapel, built on the spot, under a ceiba tree, Avhere the first mass Avas said by the priests accompanying Diego de Valas(]uez in 1519, was dedicated in 1828. The most interesting points in Havana nie tlie ])aiks and i>aseos. The three principal parks are: Columbus Park, now an attractive pleasure place, with fountains playing among tropical plants and flowers; La India I*ark, containing the famous statue of the Indian op o Pro o ?3 3 °V CP O pop <^^>P (s ; l?S. « -! O P ir P - < H re -1 <: T ^~- O 2=^ P §• p s O E3 re H o 2" 618 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, woman after which the park is named, and Central Park, surrounded by dubs and hotels, the place of concerts and the center of Havana's social life. The first comprehensive municipal law in Cuba was the royal decree of July 27, 1859. ]\lunicipalities under the operation of this law were governed by a board of aldermen, presided over by a president who, in Havana, was generally the civil governor of the province. Theoretically the board was autocratic in character, but the real power rested with the president. The board, elected by popular suffrage of all quali- ( Miller photo.) RED OR THRONE ROOM OF THE PALACE. HAVANA. This is one of the three rooms which comprise the State reception rooms, and Senora Gomez, the President'.swife, utilizes it in receiving lier guests. Among the crimson upholstered chairs in the room is one which is surmounted by a gilt crown. It was formerly the throne chair, and stood on a dais in this room. Back of the throne room is the Palace chapel. ficd voters, was, in effect, a council of advisers to the president, regis- tering as ordinances such laws as he, acting under the Governor- (Jeneral of Cuba, thought proper to enact. Differing with the tlieory in vogue in the United States, that legislative and executive fiuulions oiiglit to be exercised by different in.strumentalities, in Cuba these functions were joined in the same body. 'Vhe board, and that Avas to say its president, was both legislature and executive of the city. Subsequent modifications of the law. until recently, did not change this essential feature thereof. (Miller Photo.) INTERIOR OF THE COLUMBUS CATHEDRAL, HAVANA. The Cathedral has long been popularly known as the Columbus Cathedral, but the name is "Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Immaeulate Conception," and it was erected on the site of another church by the Jesuits in 1704. The interior walls are finished in dark marbles, the columns of highly jiolished mahogany, with gilt-bronze capitals, the choir stalls of mahogany, beautifully carved. The high altar is of Carrara marble. The walls and ceiling contain many beautiful paintings, and the Cathedral is said to coittain a small painting by Murillo, representing the Pope and the Cardinals celebrating mass prepara- tory to the sailing of Columbus. 620 INTERN ATTOXAL BUREAU OF THE AMEPJCAN REPUBLTCS. By the royal decree of November :25. 18G3. the superior civil gov- ernment of Havana was created. In effect the decree was an amj^lifi- cation of the law of 1859. The decree of January 30, 18GG, changed certain functions of the board and regulated the position of the civil governor in his double capacity of governor of the province and president of the board. The Constitution of Spain, dated July 2, 1876, was not fully pro- claimed in Cuba until April 7, 1881, but the organic municipal law of Spain was extended to the island by royal decree of October 2, 1877. Some modifications in the Spanish law were made as applicable especially to Cuba. These modifications referred to the number of (Miller pliotd. ) LETTER CARRIERS IN HAVANA. The mail service in Cuba is conrlnrted by the Department of Commniiicntions, ■which alfo has under its supervision the tfk'Kraph system of the Government. There isfrte delivery of mail in the hirger cities. The Department also conducts a parcels-post system for the carrying of small packages through the mails. aldermen of each board and to the powers of the Governor-General in appointing mayors. Under it each mayor was ai)i)ointed by the (iovernor-General from three nominees presented by the board; although the Governor-General might, if he saw fit, disregard the li.st furnished by the board. Assistant mayors were appointed in the same manner, except tliat the ap})()int('r must l)e a meml)er of the board. The refoiiu law of ]March 15, 1805. proclaimed on the 23d of that month, was a moie or less sul:)stantial gain for the democratic idea, although the essential slructuiv of S})anish municipal organization and government was not changed thereby. I>y virtue of this law 622 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. each board of aldermen elected one of its members as maj^or. The Governor-General might, after a hearing, remove the mayor and make a new appointment, but the new mayor could be chosen only from among the members of the board. In addition to their functions as executive officers of the boards the mayors were representatives and delegates of the Governor-General. The Governor-General had always possessed the power to sta}' any ordinance of the board, in effect to veto it. B}^ the terms of the reform law this power was limited. If there were charges of cor- ruption in the passage of the ordinance, the Governor-General laid the matter before the criminal court. If, however, the contention was that the board had exceeded its powers or had infringed the organic law, the matter was for the consideration of the provincial governor and assembly. In the latter case, provincial governors might themselves take the initiative for the stay of an ordinance claimed to be ultra vires. In matters of revenue and taxation an appeal lay from the action of the municipal board to the provincial assembly, and a final appeal for the assembly to the council of administration presided over by the Governor-General. This council consisted of 30 members, one half of whom were elected. Throughout the whole period of Cuba's colonial histor}^ the real government of the municipalities of the island, not only on the ad- ministrative side but also on the deliberative or legislative side, was in the hands of the Governor-General of Cuba, acting through agencies directly responsible to him and dependent on him. The present constitution of the Republic of Cuba of February 21, 1901, fundamentally changes the underlying theory of municipal government in the island and approaches somewhat the practice in the United States. In particular, legislative and executive functions are separated. The former are exercised by municipal councils elected by direct vote of all qualified voters, and the latter by mayors, or as they are called in Spanish-speaking countries alcaldes, elected in the same manner as the councils. B}^ the provisions of the con- stitution (articles 103 to 113) the municii:)al council has legislative control of all matters relating exclusivelv to the municipal district. It prepares budgets of expenses and provides the revenues to meet the same. It contracts loans and votes the necessary revenues. It appoints and removes municipal employees. The alcalde has the I'ight of veto as to the resolutions of the council, but the resolution, after deliberation thereon, may be passed over the alcalde's veto and become effective by a two-thirds vote of the council. Resolutions of nmnicipal councils may be suspended by the alcalde, the provincial governor, or the I'resident of the Republic whenever, 624 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. ill their jiulo-ment, these are contrary to the constitution, treaties, or the general hiw. The right to take cognizance and pass upon claims arising out of such suspensions is reserved to the courts. Alcaldes have general administrative powers and appoint and remove the emploj'ees of their own office. The present organic municipal law, enacted in pursuance of the constitution was decreed on May 19, 1908, to go into effect upon the talving of office by the alcaldes and councilmen elected under the electoral huv of April 1, 1908. The law is the work of a special commission appointed to draft the same, composed of Messrs. E. H. Croavder, Rafael Montoro, Felipe G. Sarrain, Juan Gualberto Gomez, Blanton Winship, Miguel F. Viondi, F. Carrera Justiz, M. M. CoRONADo, Mario G. Kohly, Otto Schoenrich, Erasmo Regueiferos, and Alfredo Zayas. This commission was appointed on December 24, 1906, and its report embodying the first draft of the law Avas published on Janu- ary 27, 1908, and distributed to all officials, political parties, news- papers, and private persons requesting the same, inviting them with- in thirty days to submit any criticisms and objections to the draft that they might deem proper. These criticisms and objections were considered by the commission and a final draft of the law was sub- mitted on May 8, 1908. This draft was in the form as finally de- creed eleven days later and first published in the Gaceta Oficial for May 29. The new law is most comprehensive. It recognizes full}'^ the con- stitutional division of legislative and executive powers, and also the dual capacity of municipal government, acting locally, and as auxiliary to the central power of the state; but it does not confuse these last two functions as was the case under the old colonial laws. Municipalities are divided into three classes: First, those having a popuhition of over 100.000 inhabitants; second, those having from 20,000 to 100,000; third, those having 20,000 or less. Havana, of course, is a city of the first class. Its municipal council consists of 27 members elected for four years, one-half alternately each two years. Councilmen serve without pay and can not be re- moved except after final judgment of a court of competent jurisdic- tion convicting them of some offense which by the law is a disquali- fication to holding public oflice. The officers of the council, a presi- dent, vice-president, and two secretaries, are chosen every two j'ears following the municii)al elections. Peiinanent and special com- mittees are chosen from among the couiu-iliiieii, and to any of these coiiiniittecs, except the finance coiiiiiiittee and the tax coiniiiittee. are added by vote of the council an e(jual number of j)rivate citizens, one-half of Avliom may be foreigners, as associate members having 3^^ .3^ a: =£; CO i = -s "=M > 628 INTERNATIONAL BUEEAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, the same right to vote on committee matters as have the council members. Mayors or alcaldes are elected for four years and are paid a salary. In the absence or disability of the mayor the president of the council acts in his stead. The mayor is the head of the civil administration of the city and is assisted in minor affairs by ward or barrio mayors elected by the municipal council. These l)arri() mayors are exceed- ingly important officials and perform functions elsewhere exercised by numerous bureaus and officials. In Havana they are the direct medium of communication between the inhabitants of their respec- tive barrios and the higher authorities. They keep a register of licenses, enforce orders and regulations, and report violations of the same. They are charged with the care of streets and highways and of the poor. They issue j^ermits for burial of jDaupers and tickets for medical attendance to the needy. They overlook all public serv- ices, reporting interruptions and accidents and also the enforcement of the truant laws for children of school age. On occasions they may even act as collectors of taxes. An important provision of the new law^ is that limiting the pro- portion of expenditures for municipal government which may be allotted as salaries to the personnel of the administration. This lim- itation runs from 50 per cent in small towns, having a budget not exceeding $10,000, down to 10 per cent where the budget is from $500,000 to $1,000,000, and 9 per cent where it is over $1,000,000, In no case can expenditures exceed revenues. Loans can not be contracted except for public works or public services upon special resolution of the municipal council and ap- I^roved by a popular vote of tAvo-thirds of the voters. ;m INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBUCS JOHN BARRXTT. DIRE:.CT0R FRANQSCO J. YANES. SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA MEXICO CITY (Reprint of an artide from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, February, 1 909) WASHINGTON. D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 •f INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARRELTT, D I R E. C T O R FRANCISCO J. YANES, SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA MEXICO CITY (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, February, 1 909) WASHINGTON. D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 ^1 I. J I i%i ,^r%,.M,. * THE CITY OF MEXICO. THE IDEA of a Federal District not included -within the area or jurisdiction of any of the States forming the Union, which district is set apart as the seat of the National Gov- ernment, is fundamental in each of the five Republics of North and South America whose form of government is that of a federal union of independent States. ^^:!^-^..^^ 1110.110-1 THE NATIONAL PALACE, CITY OF MEXICO. feet loiif,'. faces the east .«ifle of tlie iiiiiiil pliiza. The This tnrretcd mill liastiiiiieil ciIHh .. . ... ,- . , fiir eornerciuitain- I he executive dtliees. Besides housing other depiirlinenlal olliees. the buildiiiK pmviiles eli.iinlM is lor Ihe Xatioiuil Congress and the Ci'iitral Meteorolcvsieal Observatory. The palaee occupies tlie site of Cortez's residence during the early days of the conquest, and was commenced in 1092. These five Republics, to give them their full designations, arc the United States of America, the TTnited Mexican States, the Argentine Nation, the United States of Brazil, antl the United States of Vene- zuehi. The capital cities of Washington, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Caracas arc each k)cated in a Federal District 208 MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 209 under direct Federal control. They are all small in area, although the District of Columbia is by far the smallest of the five. The Mexican Federal District has a population of 576,000, and lies to the southeast of the Valley of :Mexico and is irregular in shape. At its greatest length it measures about 30 miles and at its greatest breadth about 25 miles. Its area is about 578 square miles (1,4C3.75 square kilometers). This is more than eight times the size of the District of Columbia, less than half the size of Rhode Island, and one and three-fourths the size of greater New York. A HOLIDAY PROCESSION IN MEXICO CITY. The two great national holidays of Mexico are May 5 and September 16, the former commem- orating the victory over the French at Puebhi in 1862, and the latter the patriot uprising under Hidalgo in 1810, which resulted in the establishment of a Republic. For purposes of administration the ]Mexican Federal District is divided into 13 municipalities— Mexico, Guadalupe Hidalgo, Atz- capotzalco, Tacuba. Tacubaya, :Mixcoac, Cuajimalpa, San Angel, Cogoacan, Tlalpam, Xochimilco, Milpa Alta, and Ixtapalapa. The first includes the City of Mexico and its immediate suburbs, and the remaining 12 the surrounding town, villages, and agricul- tural centers. About one-half of the population in the district out- side of the City of Mexico is of Indian origin, and is engaged in agriculture. MUNICIPAL ORGAXIZATION IX LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 211 Prior to 1003 the form of government in the Federal District Avas somewhat simihir to the territorial government in force in the Dis- trict of Columbia about thirty-odd years ago. The organic act for the government of the Federal District was approved March 26, 1903, and went into effect July 1 of the same year. Under its provisions the immediate government of the District is in the hands of three officials who, together, compose the Superior Council of District Government. These officials are the Governor of the Federal District, the President of the Superior Health Board, and the Director-General of Public "Works. This form of government bears a marked resemblance to that at present in force in the District of Columbia. This resemblance is, however, more superficial tlian real. (Photo by Waite, Mexico City.) NEW POST-OFFICE, CITY OF MEXICO. The cornerstone of this building was laid by President Diaz on September 14, ]90'2, and it was opened to the public in 1907. The cost was SI. 500, 000 and it was erected in accordance with the plans of the Italian architect, Adamo Boari. The post-office occupies a central location, and covers an area of about 40,000 square feet. In the District of Columbia the residents have no vote upon any question nor any voice whatever in the government, while in the Mexican Federal District they elect many of the minor officials and have considerable weight in the management of local affairs. In the District of Columbia the final determination of affairs of consequence is in the Senate and House Committees on the District, while in Mexico it is with the President of the Eepublic. The organic act, article 19, says : The political government and municipal administrative of the District shall be in charge of the Kxacutive of the fnion, through three officials, who shall be dependent upon the Department of the Interior, etc. MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS, 213 m^ In the District of Colunibia all adiuinistration is by the three Commissioners acting jointly or by majority of the three. As a matter of convenience, the Commissioners do apportion the several departments among- themselves, and one of these is especially ap- pointed as an engineer in charge of streets, buildings, etc., yet in theory it is the board and not the individual m e m b e r which acts. In Mexico each of the three officials is for the most part independent and alone re- sponsible in his own depart- ment. This responsibility is limited by the right of the Superior Council — that is, of the three officials acting to- gether — '* to revise, confirm- ing, reforming, or revoking the judgments of each one of the members of the Council, w^ienever these judgments are called in question." The other duties of the Superior Council are advisory merely. It may propose changes in the District law or adminis- tration, rules for the govern- ment and organization of officers and public services. It may suggest improvements in works of public utility, such as water supply, drain- age, sanitation, opening or widening streets, or the crea- tion of special commissions to study and report upon such matters. The Council has a general supervision of the making of contracts for public works, but all such contracts must be submitted for final approval to the higher authority. (Photo by Waite, Mexico City. ) LETTER CARRIER, MEXICO CITY. In the fiscal year of 1908 over 195,000,000 pieces of mail were handled by the Mexican post-office department. 214 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. The Governor of the District, the Director-General of Public "Works, and the president of the Superior Health Board is each the head of his own department and responsible for its work, but the subordinate officers and employees are appointed by the Chief Execu- tive of the IJepublic. The three heads must each be a Mexican citi- zen, more than 25 years old, and not an ecclesiastic. The Governor of the District is the chief political authority in the District. He makes public and enforces all laws, decrees, and rules emanating from higher authority. He has special charge of the police and fire department, imposition of penalties for violation of ordinances, penal establishment, civic festivities, public diver- sions, plaj^s, sale of intoxicating liquors, hotels and restaurants, street cars and cabs, the civil register, and of the inspection of weights and measures. The Director-General of Public AYorks has special charge of the water supply, streets and roads, parks, monuments, municipal light- ing, drainage and street cleaning, public buildings not under direct Federal control, cemeteries, construction, repair and maintenance of slaughterhouses and markets, inspection of building operations, and of woods, lands, commons, and other communal property. The president of the Superior Board of Health has charge of all sanitary works as provided by the sanitar}^ code, and, in addition, of general sanitary inspection, especially of the hygienic and sanitary condition of slaughterhouses, markets, and cemeteries, and the intro- duction of meats from other sections. The popular element in government is preserved in the Federal District through the preservation of the ayuntamientos or town councils. Each of the 13 municipalities into which the District is divided has its own ayuntamiento, composed of councilors elected by popular vote for four years. To be a councilor one must be a Mexi- can citizen, resident within the municipality, in full enjoyment of civil and political rights, more than 25 years of age, and not an ecclesiastic. The ayuntamiento of the municipality of the city of Mexico is composed of 21 members, of Tacubaya 11, and of each of the other nnuiicipalities 7. Each ayuntamiento elects from among its members a president and a vice-president wlio hold office for two years. The law requires that the ayuntamiento shall be consulted by tho Ministry of the Interior, the Governor of the District, the director- general of public works, and the president of the heahh board, as the case may be, upon matters of general imi)()rtance in the nninicipality, such as water sui)ply and distribution. h)cal sanitary work, establish- ment of new settlements, exploitation or sale of woods, lands, and commons. They must also be consulted as to contracts for the execu- tion of any of these works and as to all other contracts of a municipal 216 TNTERXATIOXAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. character having a (hiration of five years or more, or which call for a total exi^enditure of 100.000 pesos ($50,000) or more, or an annual expenditure of 25,000 j^csos ($12,500). Tn all these matters the ayuntamientos have by a two-thirds vote the right of veto. The effect of this veto is to suspend for four months the project or contract in question. At the end of the four months if the ayuntamiento still opposes the proposition by a vote of three- fourths of its members, the matter is submitted to the President of the Republic for final solution. (Photo by Waite, Mexico City.) YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, MEXICO CITY. The building of this world-wide association is located on Pnente de Alvarado street, near the Central Railway Station, and is tlie propertv of the Mexican branch of the society. Throughout the Repub- lic there are 6 organizations, witli -i paid secretaries and about 1,.500 members. The association has railroad branches and educational departments for boys and men. ^Mexico City has 353 public schools maintained at government expense and nearly 200 private institutions of learning. Of the former, 13 are professional and technical institutes. The climate of Mexico is delightful. In summer the maximum temperature reached is not higher than 80° F. This occurs in April and May and from 2 to 4 o'clock in the aiternoon. The mornings and evenings are cool, the thermometer sometimes falling to 50°. The coldest months are generally November and December, where for a few hours the thermometer may fall within five or six degrees of freezing. The mean temperature of the summer months is about 05°, and for the winter months 54°. The annual variations for the several seasons is comparatively small, but the daily variation is often con- siderable, the temperature rising or falling twenty or more degrees in a few hours. ■gjtKsrs 4y-*' I ! ■■■it»' < 68800— Bull. 2— 09- 218 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. The Mexican cai^ital is becoming one of the most beautiful cities of the world, but it is a city in process of being made over. Unlike Buenos Aires or Chicago, which are new, Mexico City is very old. The work of improvement is the work of tearing down and rebuild- ing. This work goes on constantly and always to fit in with a general large plan, Avhich looks to the whole and not to the particular. An English writer, Mr. Percy Martin, says of it : The aspect of the city to-day is suggestive of one-half being pulled down while the other half is being built up. I>ut there can be no question as to what it will be when the destruction stage has ceased and the construction is complete. Mexico will be a beautiful city in every respect — worthy of the superb climate with which the country is blessed, worthy of the enterprising Government which is directing affairs, and with plenty to show for the millions which are being expended upon its adornment. Already sufficient has been effected to evince that ^lexico City will be more beautiful than Paris, more admirably planned than Vienna, and a distinct improvement upon Berlin. Situated in a valley, with mountains on all sides, the location is ideal. To the stranger the most beautiful construction in the City of Mexico is the Paseo de la Reforma, or the Paseo, as it is usually called. This is undoubtedly one of the handsomest driveways in the world, and in a few years Avill be incomparably finer than the Prater, Tenter den Linden, the Champs Elysees, or the Xevsky Pros- pect, the better-known show wa^'s of Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and St. Petersburg. It extends, over two and a half miles in length, from the center of the residential part of the city to the foot of Chapultepec. The carriage way is broad, shaded b}' tAvo rows of trees on each side, between which is a wide promenade. At intervals the Paseo expands into a glor'ieta^ a small circular park 400 feet in diameter, around which are handsomely carved stone benches. In the center of the glonetas are well-kept and beautiful flower beds. In the first glorieta within the city stands the colossal equestrian statue of Charles IV of Spain, said to be the largest bronze in the world. There are also colossal statues of Columbus and of Cuauhtemoc and Juarez. In fact, each glorieta will have several such statues of Mexican celebrities, which Avill be presented by the several Mexican States. The statue of Charles IV was first placed in 1804 on its pedestal in the Plaza ]Mayor, where it remained until 18*24, when it was removed to the i)aiio of the university, Avhence it was moved to its present site. It is a solid bronze, 15 feet 1) inches high, weighing over 30 tons. The King is dressed in royal robes, wearing on his head a wreath of laurel and holding in his right hand the scepter. The horse is in the act of walking, the left fore foot and right hind foot being raised. 14ie .sculptor was ]Maxiel Tolsa. The statue of Coliinibiis was one of the first monuments erected on the continent he discovered, and one of the handsomest. lie stands 220 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. drawing aside the veil which concealed the Xew AVorhL The base is ornamented by basso-relievos picturing incidents in the life of the Great Admiral, and at the four corners stand life-size figures in bronze of Padre Marchena of La Rabida, Padre Fray, Diego Dehesa, Fray Pedro de Gante. and Fray Bartoleme de las Casas. The statue of Cuauhtemoc represents the plumed and feathered warrior standing upright in the act of drawing an arrow from his quiver. STATUE OF CUAUHTEMOC, CITY OF MEXICO. The beautiful statue of Cuauhtemoc, the last emperor of the Aztecs, was designed by Fnnicisco Jimenez, a Mexican artist, and erected in the Paseo de la Refornia at a cost of $40,000. On each anniversarv of its dedication, August 21, celebrations are held at tlie base of the monu- ment, addres.ses "being made in the Aztec language. The bronze tigure represents the well- poi.".ed body of the emperor in the act of throwing a spear, symbolic of his refusjil of the terms cf TJeace offered by Cortez. The hill of Chapultepec overlooking the city is said to have been the site of the summer palace of the Montezumas. After the con- quest the Spanish viceroys built on the cre^t of Ghapultepec the great castle which stands to this day and is the summer residence of Presi- dent Diaz. Surrounding the castle are magnificent cypress Avoods, the finest grove on the continent. The view from the terrace of the castle is one of the world's famous sights. Another of the famous sights of Mexico is the Alameda, a park of about 40 acres extent. This was in old times an Indian market and also a place of execution. It was at one time inclosed by a high 222 IXTEENATIOXAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAX REPUBLICS. BAS-RELIEF ON OXE SIDE OF THE STATUE OF CUAUHTEMOC. The scene depicts the torturing of the Aztec emperor, Cuauhtemoc, and the cacique of Tacuba, by roasting- their feet over a slow fire, in order to force them to reveal to the Spanish con- querors the hiding place of their treasures. The cacique could not conceal his sutTering, at ■which the emperor rebuked him with the words: " Do you think, then, that I am taking my pleasure in my bath? " PALACE OF THE PRESIDENT, CHAPULTEPEC. MKXico. This historic structure is situated on the eastern summit of Chnpnltepec (hill of the grasshop- pers) overlooking the valley with the city in the foreground ana the snow-capj>ed volcanoes of Pf)pocatepetl and I.xtacciliuatl in tlic rear. A fine roadway ascends the hill to the castle, wliich is also reached by an elevator. At the foot of the hill is a large spring that forms part of tlie water sui>i>ly of the capital. In the surrounding jiark is a line grove of ancient moss- covered cypress trees, one of which is 45 feet in circumfercuce and 200 feet high. 224 IXTEENATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. -wooden fence, and later by a stone wall with a moat around the wall. About twenty years ago the fences and walls were removed and the moat filled up. Since then the whole park has been made over, until it is now a most beautiful place of promenades. Here are held the ■fiestas on national holidays. One of the most important, if not the most important, municipal work undertaken in the city of Mexico has been the drainage of the valley. This is a very old project and antedates the conquest in the colonial period. AYork was at times pushed and then abandoned, and LuV VIGA CANAL, FEDERAL DISTRICT, MEXICO. This is an artificial and navigable waterway, through which the waters of Xochirailco and Chaleo lakes discharge into the lower level of Lake Texeoco. It is the ronte over which a large trathc in vegetable and other products is carried on between the capital and the outly- ing conntrv On Sunday afternoons and holidavs the canal is alive with pleasure seekers and ing I tourists SO it was during the earlier years of the Republic. Decisive action dates from the formation of the Drainage Board in 1886, since which the work has been continuously and intelligently carried on to a final completion a few years ago. It comprehends an outlet from the low- lying valley to carry off the surplus water fall and drainage for which nature has not provided. The Valley of Mexico is a great undrained bowl set round with a rim of high hills and mountains. This rim has been tunneled and into the tunnel are carried the waters of the Vega Canal which is the final receptacle of the surplus water and city MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 225 drainage. The drainage itself is by means of an underground system similar to that of most other modern cities. It dili'ers in this that the natural fall being insufficient to carry olf the matter or to flush the pipes by gravity, an artificial method of accomplishing these ends was necessary. This is done through a supplemental water supply derived from the springs surrounding the valley, which is gathered and pumped under pressure through the drain pipes, through the hirger collecting channels into the canal, and through the tunnel out of the valley. The work begun by the Board in 1886 was continued by a Commission appointed in 1895 and by the Board of Directors appointed in 180G. A SCENE ON THE VIGA CANAL, FEDERAL DISTRICT, MEXICO. The Viga Canal is 16 miles long and 30 feet wide, with an average depth of 6 feet. It has continued in use ff>r more tluin two centuries. Many historic and picturesque places border its banks and make it one of the most interesting spots in tlie valley i>i Mexico. The great cathedral of Mexico, the most jDretentious church on the continent, stands first in architectural interest among the many fine buildings which have given to the capital the name of " City of Palaces." The corner stone was laid in 1573 upon the site occupied by the great Aztec temple which was destroyed by Cortez in 1521. A small church was two yeai's later erected upon the site, which in turn gave place fifty years later to the foundations of the present cathedral. The walls were completed in 1615, the roof in 1623, when the first mass 226 IXTERNATIOXAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. ■was said. In IGGT the church was dedicated, and in ITOI the towers were finished, and the buikling was finally completed about twenty 3'ears later. The cathedral occupies an extent of 374 feet by 187 feet. The architecture is composite. The facade on the side from which the (Photo by Wiiito, Mexico City.) MOUNTED POLICE, MEXICO CITY. The mounted police force, which patrols the outlying districts and .«iiliurbs of the capital, oonsi.st.s of liighly disciplined and well-trained liorsemen. towers rise is divided by massive buttresses into three divisions rep- resenting the three (irreek orders. The lower is Doric, next above, a somewhat exaggerated Ionic, and the upper part Corinthian. The material is a gray stone relieved by statues, friezes, bases, and capi- tals of white marble, which gives an agreeable color eflfect. The MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 227 towers are 201 feet in height. Two massive buttresses joined to- gether but hidden by a wall form the first body of each tower, which rises to the height of the side entrances. From thence the second body springs, ornamented with columns and semicircular openings. The third body, lighter in effect and angular, is encircled by a bal- lustrade. The two lower bodies are Doric and the upper Tonic. Each tower is capped by a bell-shaped dome. In the west tower hangs the great bell, Saint Mary of Guadelupe, which is IS feet high. Above the whole rises the great and imposing dome surmounted by a slender and o-raceful lantern. MOORISH PAVILION, CITY OP MEXICO. The "Pabcllon Morisco," orMcmrish Buildins, which stands on the southern side of the Alameda, faeini; Avenida Juarez, is constructed of iron and glass, and was formerly the Mexican Building at the Centennial Expcisition in Philadelt>hia. For twenty-five years it was the office of the National Lottery, but is now tised as a cafe. The interior forms a Latin cross. Five naves, converging to the center, represent various styles of vaulting; cloistered and groined in the fourteen chapels, seven on each side ; spherical and supported by curvilinear triangles in the processional naves; and semicircular with lanterns in the central and cross naves. The three last naves are supported by twenty handsome Doric half columns. The whole interior is a marvel of carving and gilding. The National Palace, occupying an entire square, fronting nearly TOO feet on the Plaza ^layor, is the Capitol of the Eepublic. It contains the President's offices and those of several executive depart- ments, and is the meeting place of the Senate. The House of Deputies occupies what was formerly the Yturbide Theater, Init which has been 228 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. HMiiodeled for legislative purposes. The Palace occupies the side of the House of Cortez, which was destroyed in lGO-2. The present building was begun soon after, and has been added to from time to time. The last additions are quite recent. The outside is un- interesting, presenting long white walls which suggest no idea of the interior magnificence of the halls and salons. The Palace has three entrances from the Plaza Maj'or. The most noted room is the Hall of the Ambassadors, an apartment of regal dimensions and adornment. The Hall of the Constitution is also a magnificent room. Over the main gateway of the Palace hangs the Liberty Bell of Mexico, rung by Hidalgo to call the people to arms in 1810. The Kational Library was formerly the old Church of St. xVugustin, and is one of the fine buildings of the city. It has gardens on each side and contains 200,000 volumes, of which many are very old and valuable. The National Museum is one of the world's great museums. Its collection of ancient Mexican art and other relics is known to all scholars. The School of Fine Arts is a fine gallery of painting and sculpture. Among the most noted churches are San Pablo, Santa Vera Cruz, Santa Maria Martir, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz Acaltan, San ^Miguel, San Jose, Santo Domingo, San Augustin, San Diego, and Xuestra Seiiora de la Concepcion. Other fine buildings are the Mining Palace, the Post-Office building, Palace of Justice, and the ]Mint. INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARRE^TT. DIREiCTOR FRANCaSCO J. YANES. SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA LIMA, PERU (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, May, 1909) WASHINGTON. D. C GOVERNMENT >RINTING OFFICE 1909 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS JOHN BARREITT. DIRECTOR FRANCISCO J. YANES, SECRETARY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA LIMA, PERU (Reprint of an article from the Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, May, 1 909) WASHINGTON, D. C. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 IJ&. 1 m. J 'i KIN •I'll 1 1 i"l. T LIMA. HE Constitution of Peru, in article 118. provides that : There shall bo mnnielpalitics in such places as may be designated by law, and the law shall determine their functions, responsibility, the (jualiflcations of the councilors, and the method of electing the same. To a greater extent than many other Spanish-American capitals Lima is under the direct control of the national government of the Republic. There is a mayor and a municipal council of 50 members, but their functions arc not very well defined and there has been a constant tendency in recent j^ars to abridge the same. The first municipal organization of Lima was established on Jan- uary 30. 1535, by Pizarro, and tlie first alcaldes were Nicholas de Rivera, the elder, and Juax Tello. The city Avas called the '' City of the Sovereigns." and bore on its coat of arms the initials of Queex Juaxa. and Kixo Carlos. With but little clumge in form the government of the city established by Pizarro continued during all the colonial jieriod, and after inde- pendence in 1821. down to 1857. In this last year was reorganized the old C(ihtld(\ or corporation of Lima, into the nnmicipality of Lima. Ill theory the nuniicipality is the adinini>tr,itor (;f all counnunal aH'air^-. and has in charge all work of j)ublic health and hygiene. The water sui)i)ly, opening and closing streets, and maintainnig the same, 856 858 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. together \Yitli the hiving of sidewalks and pavements, are also under its jurisdiction. Street raihva^^s and street lighting, parks, markets, public carriages, and livery stables are subject to municipal control. The mayor and cit}' council of Lima are charged with the ordinary duties and given the ordinary jurisdiction of city governments else- where, but in practice the government of the city is to a large ext^Mit dictated b}" the President of the Republic and the national legislature. The public school system has quite recently been entireh" divorced from municipal control in any form. HEALTH INSTITUTE, LIMA, I'EKU. The public-health service is thoroughly organized in Peru. Vaccination is compulsory and gratis. The Government also distributes gratuitously the jirineipal preventive and curative scrums and makes large appropriations in support of this project. A foreigner resident in Lima, or in any other Peruvian city, may vote in municipal elections and may l)e chosen a member of the municipal council, on condition that he be twenty-one years of age and exercise some trade or profession or be possessed of landed prop- erty. This right under the law exists without having acquired natu- ralization. Naturalized foreigners, who may become such after two years' residence, vote and hold municipal oflice without condition. Lima has a poiMilation of 150,000 inhabitants and is aliout S miles inland from Callao, the port with which it is connected by two lines of railway. 860 TXTERXATIOXAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. The city is in sliape a triangle, and for the most part lies on the left bank of the River Rimac — in summer a considerable stream, swift and turbulent, but in Avinter dAvindling to a comparatively insig- nificant rivulet. A smaller part of the city lies on the other side of POST-OFFICE AND TELEGRAPH BUILDING, LIMA, PERU. NotwitlistiUKliiiK tlip KH'sit iihvsical obstacles e iicuntiten'ri, Peru's postal and teU'snipli services have reached a hi^h i^tnlo(it' clhciencv. The former has been more than sclf-sustaiiiiiifj for several years, ami there are ,''.r,ii iidstotliccs in the Kepublic. Tlie telegraph system has a luileuge of 3,200, all but 20 per cent of which is operated by the Government. the Rimac, Above the city rises the hill San Cristobal, most ad- vanced of the bulwarks of the Andes. Lima lies in the dry zone of Peru, but due to its ^lightly elevated situation and the Pacific winds visitors do not find its temperature OLD TORRE-TAGLE HOUSE, LIMA. This house was built in tlie days of the Viceroys. 862 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. oppressive. From colonial times it has been supplied with water from several large sjDrings about 3 or 4 miles away from the center of the city and on the left bank of the river. Soon after the found- ing of the city the Spaniards built a large reservoir called the Atarjea, into which the water from these springs flows, from whence, b}^ means of conduits of lime and rubble, it was conveyed to the public drinking fountains and private houses of the city. The distributing conduits were defended by very thick walls, and the larger canals proceeding from the Atarjea were veritable subterranean aqueducts. In 1855, the old system, Avhich had become inadequate for the pur- poses of the city, was enlarged. The city is divided into 5 quarters comprising 10 districts, again divided into -IG barrios. Four of the districts are merely outlying parishes, so in reality the city proper is composed of the following districts: San Sebas- tian, San Marcelo, El Sagrario, Los Huerfanos, Santa Ana, and San Lazaro. Until 1870, it was surrounded by an adobe wall, built in 1685 as a defense against the Indians. The streets in general cross at right angles and are not very broad, from 30 to 35 feet being the usual width. Formerly there was a surface sewerage system, but this is being done away with. In the new paving of the city streets the sewer conduits are all under- ground. The center of Lima is the Plaza Mayor, one of the most beautiful squares in all the South American capitals. Fronting the square on the east is the Cathedral, the ground for wdiich was laid out by PizARRO on the very day on which the site of the cit}^ was chosen. The construction of the Cathedral occupied ninety years. The work was delayed by changes in plans made by successive viceroys and by earthquakes, but it was finally finished and consecrated on October 1, 1025. In 1740 the Cathedral and practically the whole city was destroyed l)y the great eartluiuake of that year. Twelve years after- wards the new cathedral, occupying the same spot, was completed. The building is one of the most imi)osiug of all the American cathedrals. It has five aisles, Avith nine arches, and its two sides are formed of ten chapels, in one of which are deposited the remains of the con(iueror. Francisco Piz.mujo. The high altar, separated from the remainder of the edifice, occupies the center of the chancel, and is surrounded l)y a l)eautiful set of stalls made of cedar and ma- hogany. In (lie church and in the vestry tliere are paintings of con- siderable merit, among these a Mikillo. Fronting the Avest side of the Plaza Mayor is the municipal build- ing, and on the north side is Government House, once the viceroy's palace. This edifice preserves to-day much of its pi-imitive appear- . and » MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 863 ance. It was partially destroyed by fire about twenty-five years ago, but the restoration of the burned portions has not materially changed its old aspect. It is the President's residence, and as such the center of political and social affairs in the city. Lima is a city of churches and convents. By bull of Pope Paul III, dated May 14, 1541, it was made an episcopal see, and its first bishop was Fray Geronimo de Loayza. Four years later the see was made an archbishopric. The old parishes of the city correspond with the present municipal districts. The church and convent of San Francisco cost more than $2,000,000 in construction. The principal cloister preserves almost intact its ancient magnificence, when the viceroy's domain extended from Panama to Patagonia and Lima was his capital. The Avails are deco- rated with beautiful, glazed tiles, and the carvings of the ceilings are most exquisite. The churches of the convents of Santo Domingo, La Merced, and San Augustin are also handsome edifices, as is also the new Jesuit church of Santo Toribio. Another Jesuit church, thai, of San Pedro, is one of the most ornate in the city. Besides these, other notable churches are those of San Jose, La Caridad, San Carlos, Cocharcas, Copacabana, Santo Tomas, Guadelupe, Belen, La Recoleta, El Sagrado Corazon, Santa Teresa, and the churches of the convents, of Buena Muerte and Los Descalzos. Nearly all of these edifices were built during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In archi- tecture they are of the Spanish Renaissance school, mixed with Moor- ish and Andalusian details. The space formerly occupied by the old city wall, torn down in 1870, has been utilized in building several handsome boulevards; those of Bolognesi, Grau and other />(76'6'o.s form an almost uninter- rupted driveway from the river and back again around the city. Another beautiful driveway is the avenue leading to the town of Magdalena, about 3^ miles away. This avenue is 125 feet wide, shaded with four rows of palms. The avenue of the Barefooted Friars (Los Descalzos), on the bank of the river, is a wide central public walk, adorned with 12 large statues representing the signs of the zodiac, the intermediary spaces containing urns, marble benches, trees, and plants. The avenue is about two-thirds of a mile long and begins at the foot of San Cristobal Hill. The Arco avenue is also a favorite passageway of the city. It extends along the river from the old stone bridge to the modern Balta bridge. The recently constructed Columbus avenue is about a third of a mile long and about 125 feet wide. It begins at the Exposition Square and ends at Bolognesi Square. The avenue is built on the arc of a circle and traverses the modern quarter of Lima. Four wide sidewalks run along its whole length, two at the outside and two at the center, 864 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. divided by a strip of land adorncMl with statues, plants, and orna- mental benches. There are 35 public squares in Lima. Some of these are small, set with a few trees or plants and Ijenches; but many are large and artistically planned. Four of these large squares are noticeable. The Plaza Mayor, upon which fronts government house and the cathe- dral, has also fronting on its south and west sides two fine arcades, the lower parts of which are occupied by handsome shops SQUAD OF I'OLICE, LIMA, PERU. The police force of Lima is nn cfiicient and well-drilled body of men recruited and organized by the army authorities and under the direction of a chief having command of the entire force. and the upper parts b}'' the social clubs, for which Lima is quite famous. The I*laza Maj'or contains a handsome bronze fountain, erected in 1G50, which occupies the center of the square, surrounded by palm trees. Inquisition Square, three blocks away, has very pretty flower lAais and three handsome fountains. Fronting on this square is the building of the Chamber of Deputies and also that of the Senate. Santa Ana Square, somewhat larger than Inquisition Square, fronts the palace of the Prefecture and the churches of Santa Ana THE CATHEDRAL, LIMA, PERU. '- This beautiful edifice overlooks the principal plaza of the Capital. It contains five aisles, with nine arches or vaults, and along the sides are ten chapels, in one of which repose the remains of Pizarro, the Conqueror. DEPOSITS AND CONSIGNMENTS BANK, LIMA, PERU. Till- Bunk of Deposits and CoiisJKiiiiu'utx owes its existeiice to n law i)rovitiiiis tliat nil jtuliciiil mid fiscal deposits should he couct'iitriited in a single institution, and the hank's capital of tlOOOOO was subscrihed hy the othef Lima hanks. It performs the functions of a clearing house. SENATE CHAMBER, LIMA, PERU. T1».1Vp.rHou»„<«»n.r,,v,.n,;™.,™....n*;.^ MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS. 865 and Las Descalzas. Exposition Square, in the southern part of the city, is the largest of all the squares, and covers an area of about 12 acres. There are five monuments in Lima justly celebrated all through South America. Of first rank is the CoLu:\rBus monument in marble. The statue crowning- this monument represents the great discoverer raising a native woman from the ground. The Bolivar monument of bronze has a marble pedestal, on which appears two bas-reliefs, one the l)nttle of Junin and the other the battle of Ayacucho. The Sec- ond of jMay monument, in commemoration of the defense made by the Peruvian forts against the S^^anish squadron in 18GG, comprises a ver}' beautiful and ornate column of Carrara marble about TO feet in height, croAvned by a winged statue of Victory in gilded bronze. At the base of the column are bronze reliefs representing the prin- cipal incidents of the combat. The Bolognesi monument is dedicated to the memory of Col. Francisco Bolognesi, who lost his life on June T, 1880, in the heroic defense of the Arica Morro against the Chilean forces. The monument is one of the most beautiful works of the Spanish sculptor Querol. The crowning statue represents Bolognesi falling mortally wounded and clutching his country's flag. The monument to San ISIartin is a very handsome work in marble, with granite base surmounted by a statue of the great Argen- tine general represented at the moment of proclaiming the inde- pendence of Peru. In addition to these five, there is also a fine monument to Eear- Admiral Miguel Grau, who lost his life on board the Huascar, Octo- ber 8, 1879, in the naval battle of Angamos against the Chilean squadron. In most Latin- American countries exist, as survivals from Spanish colonial times, benevolent societies whose field of charitable work is as a rule broader than that of similar associations in other countries. Quite often they perform work elsewhere for the most part under- taken by state or municipal government. In these countries they are often given a legal standing, and receive a government mu- nicipal support both in law and in revenue. The Lima Benevolent Society is a most important element in the municipal government of the capital. Its revenues amount to nearly a million dollars a year, out of which it supports the Second of May Hospital, a fine and modern hospital for men which accommodates 1,000 patients: the Santa Ana Hospital for women, founded in 1549 by the first Arch- bishop of Lima, to which is attached the Maternity Hospital and school for midwifery and the Military Hospital of San Bartolome. The insane asylum in charge of the society is in reality the national hospital for the insane. It supports two orphan asylums, one for foundlings, housed in a large and handsome building, and the other MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION IN LATIN-AMERICAN CAPITALS, 867 for orphan boys who are given a good education and taught some use- ful trade. The Institute Sevilhi, founded from a legacy by Seiior Jose Sevilla, educates 100 girls and teaches them occupations stated to their capacity. The apprenticeship in this institution is for five years. The society maintains a number of almshouses or asylums for the verj^ poor and the incuraldy sick. It also conducts a savings bank with a branch mortgage bank. TfiT- ^•^ m if .ff It ' ■: "fv-^ea SCHOUL OF MEDICINE, LIMA, PERU. The Medical School is a branch of the famed University of San Marcos and students who have completed a two-years' course in natural science and the prescribed course in mathematics and physics in the University are eligible for enrollment. The institution has a large and able faculty of instructors. The curriculum embraces a period of six years and confers the title of "physician and surgeon" on those who complete it. The cemeteries of Lima are administered by the Benevolent Society. The principal one is the Cemetery of Lima, noted for its fine mausoleums. By far the most interesting institution of Lima is the famous Uni- versity of San Marcos, the oldest in America and one of the most cele- brated centers of Latin culture. La Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, to give its Spanish title, was founded by royal decree of the Emperor Charles V on May 12, 15.51, granting to the priors of the Dominican order the right to establish an Estudio General, after the model of the University of Salamanca. Twenty years later Philip 80581— Bull. 5—09 9 868 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. II secularized the university, and its first rector, Dr. Gaspar Menses, was cliosen. The name of the San ISfarcos was not assumed until December 31, 1574, and it is said that this name was chosen by lot, the seculars being unable otherwise to agree as to which saint's name should be given to the institution. At present the university has six faculties — law, medicine, theology, mathematics, philosophy, letters and political economy.