616 



PARAGUAY. 



PATENTS. 



was undoubtedly incorrect ; the correct figure 

 would probably be nearer 800,000 inhabitants, as 

 estimated in 1860. It was supposed that the 

 population was reduced by three fourths in the 

 war against the triple alliance, thus reducing the 

 number to 200,000 in 1870. The population in 

 1880 was estimated at 255,860. Since then, ow- 

 ing to the progress made, the annual increase is 

 stated to be 3 per cent., thus placing the popula- 

 tion in 1890 at about 400,000. These figures do 

 not include the Indians of the Gran Chaco, who 

 are estimated at 150,000. 



The foreign population numbered 13,145 in 

 1890, of whom 8,350 were Argentines, 1,028 

 Italians, 904 Brazilians. 875 Germans, 547 Span- 

 iards, 389 French, 337 Orientals, 197 Portuguese, 

 195 Swiss, 94 Austrians, 68 English, 49 Greeks, 

 34 Chilians, 27 Bolivians, 25 Belgians, 22 Amer- 

 icans, and 7 Russians. The capital of the repub- 

 lic and the center of commerce is the city of 

 Asuncion, so called because it was founded on 

 the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Vir- 

 gin, on Aug. 15, 1536, by Commander Ayola. It 

 has a population of 24,038. . The other principal 

 cities are : Villa Rica, with a population of 10,- 

 773 in 1886 ; Villa Concepcion, with 10,902 in- 

 habitants; Caazapa, with 12,144; and Cara- 

 pegna, with 10,883. 



Finances. The receipts of the treasury in 

 1891 amounted to 1,647,717 pesos (1 peso about 

 66 cents). Of this amount, 1,196,315 pesos were 

 derived from customs, 190.328 pesos from leases 

 and sales of land, and 261,074 pesos from other 

 sources. The expenses amounted to 2,485,203 

 pesos, of which 515,232 pesos were expended for 

 the interior, 23,847 pesos for foreign affairs, 

 187,415 pesos for financial administration, 310,- 

 955 pesos for justice, public worship, and in- 

 struction, 842,810 pesos for war and the navy, 

 and 604.944 pesos for extraordinary purposes. 

 The public debt on Jan. 1, 1892, amounted to 

 26,448,795 pesos, of which 24,981.006 pesos repre- 

 sented the foreign debt and 1,367,689 pesos the 

 internal debt. An additional paper issue of 

 1,000,000 pesos was authorized by the Congress 

 in May, 1892. In the same month gold reached 

 a premium of 700. 



Commerce and Agriculture. The imports 

 in 1891 were valued at 1,802,000 pesos, and the 

 exports at 3,166,000 pesos. The principal arti- 

 cles for exportation were yerba or mate to the 

 amount of 1,352,000 pesos; tobacco, 626,000 pe- 

 sos ; hides and skins, 379,000 pesos ; bark, 295,- 

 000 pesos ; woods, 270,000 pesos ; and oranges, 

 75,000 pesos. All foreign merchandise pays an 

 ad valorem duty of 25 per cent., but firearms, 

 powder, shot, fine wines and liquors, perfumery, 

 tobacco, cigars, and matches pay a duty of 50 

 per cent. ; clothing, hosiery, saddlery, harness, 

 and carriages, a duty of 40 per cent. ; articles 

 made of silk, ordinary table wines, and beer, a 

 duty of 30 per cent. ; and jewelry and precious 

 stones a duty of 10 per cent, ad valorem. Horses, 

 cattle, fresh fish, cement, effects of immigrants, 

 gold and silver, empty bottles, printed books' 

 globes, maps, scientific instruments, printing 

 presses and type, coal, iron, resin, soda, oil, animal 

 black, and all agricultural implements are exempt 

 from duty. The soil of Paraguay is fertile and 

 well watered, and there are extensive forests, but 

 owing to the financial crisis recent immigration 



has been small. The Government holds out 

 great inducements to immigrants, and forms so- 

 called colonies. Each family that establishes it- 

 self receives a farm, implements of agriculture, 

 a pair of oxen, a cow, and $ 50 in money. There 

 are at present 7 flourishing colonies, besides 2 

 that have been formed later and are in good run- 

 ning order. The country produces cotton, rice, 

 beans, lucern, tobacco, maize, peanuts, wheat, 

 coffee, sugar cane, mandioca, potatoes, and vege- 

 tables, besides large quantities of yerba or Para- 

 guayan tea. The cultivation of fruits has been 

 wholly neglected, although the soil is well 

 adapted for that purpose. Oranges are grown 

 in abundance, but owing to the want of a market 

 or facilities of transport, many millions fall to 

 the ground and rot. Cattle thrive well. In 1890 

 there were 861,954 cattle, 99,693 horses, 2,433 

 mules, 77,576 sheep and goats, 2,188 asses, and 

 10.778 hogs. 



Industries. There were, in the beginning of 

 1892, 30 factories in the country, making bricks, 

 matches, tiles, furniture, leather, liquor, flour, 

 soap, macaroni, beer, artificial ice, and lumber. 

 The natives make intricate puzzle rings of gold, 

 silver, and copper, and the women produce large 

 quantities o handkerchiefs and embroidery of 

 the famous Nanduty lace. Clay articles, towels, 

 hammocks, rope, and other articles of native 

 material find a ready sale. A factory for the 

 production of essence from oranges has been 

 established, and has proved successful. 



PATENTS. The statement of receipts and 

 expenditures in the Patent Office, as reported by 

 Commissioner Simonds, are as follow : Receipts, 

 $1,286,331.83; expenditures, $1,110,739.24; re- 

 ceipts over expenditures, $175,592.59. Accord- 

 ing to the Treasury statement, the amount to the 

 credit of the fund, Jan. 1, 1892, was $4,004,317.67 ; 

 amount of receipts during the year 1892, $1,286,- 

 331.83; total, $5,290,649.50; deduct expendi- 

 tures for the year 1892, $1,110,739.24; balance 

 Jan. 1, 1893, $4,179,910.26. The business of the 

 year included the following: Applications for 

 patents for inventions, 39,514 ; applications for 

 patents for designs, 1,130 ; applications for reis- 

 sues of patents, 109 ; total number of applica- 

 tions, 40,753. Caveats filed, 2,290 ; applications 

 for registration of trade-marks, 2,179 ; applica- 

 tions for registration of labels. 458 ; disclaimers 

 filed, 7 : appeals on the merits, 1,025 ; total, 

 5,959. Total number of applications, requiring 

 investigation and action, 46,712. Patents is- 

 sued, including designs, 23,478 : patents reis- 

 sued, 81; trade-marks registered, 1,737; labels 

 registered, 6 ; total, 25,302. 



The total number of patents and designs is- 

 sued to citizens of the United States during the 

 year was 21,427. The last patent, issued Dec. 

 31, was numbered 498.932. In the distribution 

 of patents by States and according to population, 

 Connecticut heads the list, as she has for many 

 years, with one patent for each 955 of her inhabit- 

 ants a considerable increase over the average of 

 last year. Other States, notably those of New 

 England and the District of Columbia, are not 

 far behind, averaging something more than 1,000 

 inhabitants for each patent. Mississippi shows 

 the lowest inventive average of any State, having 

 taken out. only 55 patents in all, or one to each 

 23,447 inhabitants. North and South Carolina, 



