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diff --git a/old/56186-0.txt b/old/56186-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5993880..0000000 --- a/old/56186-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,16132 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Argentina and Uruguay, by Gordon Ross - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Argentina and Uruguay - -Author: Gordon Ross - -Release Date: December 16, 2017 [EBook #56186] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY *** - - - - -Produced by MFR, Adrian Mastronardi and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: ARGENTINA & URUGUAY] - - - - -ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY - - - - -[Illustration: A PART OF THE IGUAZÚ FALLS] - - - - - ARGENTINA AND - URUGUAY - - BY - GORDON ROSS - - FORMERLY FINANCIAL EDITOR OF “THE STANDARD,” BUENOS AIRES - AND OFFICIAL TRANSLATOR TO THE CONGRESS OF AMERICAN - REPUBLICS, BUENOS AIRES, 1910 - - WITH TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS, FOUR DIAGRAMS - AND A MAP - - METHUEN & CO. LTD. - 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. - LONDON - - _First Published in 1917_ - - - - - TO - SIR ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY, K.C.M.G. - THIS BOOK - IS DEDICATED IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE - OF THE MANY KINDNESSES SHOWN - AND VALUABLE AID GIVEN - BY HIM - TO THE AUTHOR - IN HIS - LITERARY WORK AT MONTEVIDEO - IN 1911 - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - CHAPTER I - - INTRODUCTORY - - An allegory of the Pampa—Patriarchs and Oligarchies—National - and local politics and administration—Patrician government—The - landed aristocracy—Patriotism and foreign railways—The - problem of agricultural labour—Propaganda, in theory and in - practice—Needed and unneeded immigration—The peon of to-day - and the _gaucho_—Urgent need of rural population—Industries in - waiting—The INCALCULABLE future of the River Plate countries—Lack - of Uruguayan statistics 1 - - CHAPTER II - - THE WAR - - The shock falls on existing local depression—Vigorous and - prompt action of the River Plate governments and banks—No - “Mañana”—Mr. C. A. Tornquist’s views—Again the need of rural - population—Socialism from above and below—Buoyancy of national - securities 18 - - CHAPTER III - - HISTORY AND POLITICS - - The Declaration of Independence—Subsequent chaos—Rozas and - Artígas—Sarmiento—Mitre—Juarez Celman—The Argentine financial - crash of 1891—Uruguay; “Whites” and “Reds”—Uruguayan patriotism - and honesty—“State socialism gone mad”—The commencements of - modern River Plate history—Dr. Saenz Peña—Sound financial - policy—Future peace and prosperity—The ballot in Argentina and - former electoral corruption—The people a new factor in Argentine - politics 29 - - CHAPTER IV - - RACIAL ELEMENTS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS - - The Argentine of the future (?) and of the past—Spanish - and Italian immigration—Young patriots—Argentine and - Uruguayan sources of immigration—River Plate Spanish and - philology—Argentines and Uruguayans contrasted—Manners and - characteristics—The true signification of “Mañana”—Some advice - to immigrants—Land and the foreigner—Much learning and little - application—Lower-class illiteracy—Argentine women, households, - and children—_Jeunesse dorée_—Further contrast of Argentines and - Uruguayans 40 - - CHAPTER V - - NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL, AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT - - The constitutions of Argentina and Uruguay, advantages and - defects of each—Dr. Figueroa Alcorta—“Revolución de arriba”—A - “Coup d’État”—Former Argentine electoral practices—Doctrinaire - government in Uruguay—An autocratic democrat—General strike - and general festivities—Certified milk-cans—Provincial - authorities—Freedom from corruption of National governments—The - “making” of internal politics—Finance—“A fat thief better than a - lean one”—Childish things, soon to be put away 62 - - CHAPTER VI - - MONTEVIDEO AND BUENOS AIRES - - History and modernity; music and verdure—Theatres - and Bathing—The ambition of Montevideo—Carnival—The - origins of two great fortunes—More historic buildings - and the “Palace of Gold”—The Buenos Aires “tube”; its - tramways—Comparative expense of living—Opera houses and - theatres—Night and day—Ever-changing Buenos Aires—The - Jockey Club—Palermo and the Avenida de Alvear—Fashion moves - northwards—Corso and race-course—Gambling—The agricultural - show—Hurlingham—The Tigre—The Recoleta—“The Bond Street of the - South”—Hotels—Buenos Aires _not_ a hot-bed of vice—Marriage and - mourning—“Conventillos”—Fashion in Buenos Aires and Montevideo 79 - - CHAPTER VII - - FINANCE AND COMMERCE - - Susceptibility of South America to conditions of the European - money markets; early fear of Balkan complications—Relatively bad - times—Transient “crises”—August, 1914—Protective measures—“It’s - an ill wind that blows no one any good”—Still further insistence - on the need of agricultural population—Currencies—The Argentine - “Conversion” Law—Former gold speculation and banks of - issue—Golden opportunity for British trade—A South American view - of the Monroe doctrine—The “Hustler”—British manufacturers and - the South American trade—How to lose it—How to keep it—Uruguay’s - creditable reputation—General commercial conditions in Argentina - and Uruguay—The Buenos Aires Stock Exchange—Gambling—Sound - securities: the Argentine Hypothecary Bank, and National, - Provincial, and Municipal Debenture Bonds—The new and the old - Buenos Aires corn exchanges—More about the “Bolza”—Fictitious - booms—A great bear—The death of public speculation—Cedulas _and_ - Cedulas—Credito Argentino 93 - - CHAPTER VIII - - RAILWAYS, PORTS AND IMMIGRATION - - An _Imperium in Imperio_—Foreign capital in River Plate - railways—Gauges—The “Mitre” Law—Luxurious travelling—An U.S. - Syndicate—Argentine national railways—The Transandine and Entre - Rios lines—The projected southern transandine line—Maritime - accessibility of the River Plate Republics—Chief ports—Spanish - immigration 122 - - CHAPTER IX - - GENERAL STATISTICS - - Increase of trade during past two decades—United Kingdom imports - of grain and meat—U.K. exports, showing importance of Argentina - and Uruguay—British capital invested in Argentina during first - half of 1914—Trade of the U.S. with S. America—U.S. exports, - showing importance of Argentina—Argentine imports from Europe in - 1913—The rich productiveness of Uruguay—Increase of Argentine and - Uruguayan exports—Public works and small budget surpluses—Buenos - Aires commercial and industrial census, 1914; bread and - smoke(!)—Italian and Spanish retail traders—Russians and Jews 127 - - CHAPTER X - - A GLANCE AT THE PROVINCES AND NATIONAL TERRITORIES OF ARGENTINA, - AND THE INTERIOR OF URUGUAY - - BUENOS AIRES, the “Queen” Province: Its stillborn capital—Famous - museum and university—Bahia Blanca—Mar-del-Plata, a veritable - round of gaiety; the new Port—Potatoes—Other chief towns of the - province—Cereals and live stock—Great agricultural and industrial - activity—Generally uninteresting scenery: model farms and fine - country houses 139 - - SANTA FÉ: Forests, live stock and agriculture—An old-world - capital—Busy Rosario—Other ports—Mixed agriculture and stock - farming—Milling and other industries 144 - - CÓRDOBA: The gaucho wars—The learned city—The Cathedral - and university—Monks and nuns—Mediæval atmosphere—Some - personal recollections: religion and roulette—Alta gracia—Mar - chiquita—Chief towns—The Dique San Roque—A projected canal 145 - - ENTRE RIOS: No longer the “Poor Sister”—The railway ferry - service—City of Paraná; Urquíza and Sarmiento—Concórdia—Large - land holdings—Extract of meat 150 - - CORRIENTES: Where the _Diligence_ still runs—Descendants - of the _Conquistadores_—San Juan de la Vera de las siete - Corrientes—Other chief towns—Good possibilities but commercial - apathy—Lake Iberá—A zoological invasion—General San Martin 153 - - SAN LUIS: Alfalfa—Irrigation—Grapes and wine—Minerals—Native - indolence 156 - - SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO: Irrigation and cereal - cultivation—_Alfalfares_—_Quebracho_ and charcoal—Amenities - of the Santiagueño—Quack doctors and wise women; a cure for - toothache—Dangers of quackery 158 - - TUCUMÁN: Smallest Argentine province, but important—Sugar—Former - difficulties and present progress—The city of Tucumán—The - Declaration of Independence—Palatial villas—The Plaza - Independencia, theatre and casino—Irrigation—Snow-capped - mountains and fertile valleys 160 - - CATAMARCA: Sparse population—Irrigation and transport; a new - government line—Minerals—_The Campo del Pucara_ and the city - of Catamarca; a sleepy hollow—Native lethargy; a Spanish - aristocracy—Unexploited mineral wealth 163 - - LA RIOJA: Water, labour and transport needed—Maize and tropical - fruits—Wine—Irrigation—A new national railway—Mineral wealth; _La - Famatina_—The city of La Rioja; arrested development—Remains of - Inca civilization—Mountain and plain 165 - - JUJUY: The brothers Leach—A picturesque province—The Humahuaca - dialect—General Lavalle—The blue and white flag and the “Sun of - May”—A primitive population 167 - - SALTA: “The Cradle of the Republic”—Jabez Balfour—The - gaucho—Coya Indians—Need of intelligent and energetic - population—Ponchos—Rubber—Hot springs—No soldiery, only armed - police 169 - - MENDOZA: Wine—“Entre San Juan y Mendoza”—Alfalfa—San - Rafael—Irrigation—Earthquakes—Public gardens and the West - Park—Wine manufacture—Table grapes—Peaches—Coal and petroleum—The - _Puente del Inca_—Hot springs 174 - - SAN JUAN: Former financial recalcitrance—Depreciated - paper—Irrigation and enforced prosperity—A new railway—The defeat - of the Buenos Aires grape ring—Old colonial charm 178 - - THE PAMPA CENTRAL: The fifteenth province?—Wheat, linseed - and maize—Rapid development—Shifting sand-hills—Three great - railways—Wool and hides—The latent landlord in excelsis—Need of a - real colonization policy; _settlers_ wanted 182 - - NEUQUEN: Chilean colonies and trade—Wheat, alfalfa and - vegetables—“Tronador”; Scandinavian scenery—Lake Nahuel Huapí - and Victoria Island—Hot and medicinal springs—Future wealth—Vast - irrigation—Rich, virgin soil—Deep-water ports 185 - - RIO NEGRO: Fertile soil, but no rainfall—Irrigation and the - _Lago Pellegrini_—Regulation of the flow of the river—Former - disastrous floods—A climatic transformation—New railway lines—San - Blas—Copper, salt, and petroleum—Furious winds—A scheme which - failed 188 - - CHUBUT: Petroleum—The Welsh colony—“Foreigners” not admitted—Lazy - descendants of active forefathers—Sparse population—Wool and - alfalfa—A new railway 193 - - SANTA CRUZ: English climate, orchards and gardens; far from the - madding crowd—Sheep—Wind!—Cold storage—Wheat, oats and alfalfa; - apples and pears 196 - - TIERRA DEL FUEGO: No volcanoes in “Fire Land”—A cure for - anarchy—Hardy sheep—Seal and whale fishing—Potatoes and table - vegetables—The Silesian mission—Mr. Bridges’ refuge—The new - gaol—Gold prospecting—“De Gustibus!” 197 - - MISIONES: The “Imperio Jesuitico”—Practical - religion—Fairyland—The Iguazú Falls—Timber—Mate—Maize, sugar - and fruit—Granite—Neglected industries—Need of suitable - labour—Indians then and now—A projected railway to the junction - of three republics 200 - - FORMOSA: _Not_ the most beautiful—No man’s land—A - projected railway—Quebracho—Alfalfa and maize—Again the - _Latifundío_ question—A fiscal land scandal—Landlords and - squatters—Smuggling—Tobacco and sugar—Timber—Pleasant memories of - the River Plate 205 - - URUGUAY: General physical and climatic characteristics—Flora—The - Uruguayan Rio Negro the dividing line of general physical - features—Fruit and vegetables—Flour—Soil—Minerals and the Mining - Laws 212 - - THE CHACO and LOS ANDES: Timber and Minerals 214 - - CHAPTER XI - - AGRICULTURE - - Comparative values of agricultural exports—Railways not the only - causes of agricultural extension—Railway policy—Ambassadorial - managers—Intensive and extensive farming—“Secondary” - industries—Bread versus meat—Minerals, petroleum and - pigs—Uruguayan agriculture—River Plate cereal exports—Wheat and - alfalfa; Agricultural _dolce far niente_—Again “population!”—An - economic deadlock—“Colonists”—Mr. Herbert Gibson’s views—Dr. - Francisco Latzina—Cultivable land in Argentina—_The Defensa - Agricola_—Señor Ricardo Pillado—Tabular statistics—Latest - Argentine harvest and cereal export estimates—Deficiency of - official Uruguayan statistics—General soil characteristics 215 - - CHAPTER XII - - LIVE STOCK - - The “History of Belgrano”—The first horses on the River Plate—The - _Goes’_ cattle—The first goats and sheep—Early export trade—The - first freezing establishment—Amazing pastoral and agricultural - changes—The “discovery” of alfalfa—Sheep—Fine stock—Horses—Pigs - and poultry—Tired land—Tabular statistics—Favourite - breeds—Comparative absence of disease—British prohibition - of import of animals on the hoof—Drought—Water supplies - of Uruguay and Argentina—A windmill which was not - erected—Fencing—Anglo-Saxon enterprise—The Argentine Rural - Society; its herd and flock books—The agricultural and live - stock show—Trees—The coming colonist and mixed farming—Tabular - statistics—The meat trade: its history from the seventeenth to - the present century—Market classification—Predominance of U.S. - interests in cold storage industry—Influence of cold storage - companies on fine breeding—Tabular statistics 249 - - CHAPTER XIII - - FORESTRY - - River Plate timber and fancy woods—Señor Mauduit’s lists - and descriptions—Argentina and Uruguay considered as one - arboricultural area—Importance of this subject—Railway coach - building—Shelter for cattle 277 - - CHAPTER XIV - - LITERATURE AND ART - - Historians and poets—Other writers—Art awaits - development—Painting, architecture, literature and music—The - native Drama—Oratory—Heroes and history—An Argentine - sculptress—Wanted: an author 299 - - INDEX 303 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - MAP _Front Endpaper_ - - A PART OF THE IGUAZÚ FALLS _Frontispiece_ - - TO FACE PAGE - - THE PLAZA LIBERTAD, MONTEVIDEO 80 - - THE AVENIDA DE MAYO, BUENOS AIRES 84 - - THE CATHEDRAL AND PLAZA VICTORIA, BUENOS AIRES 86 - - TRANSPORTER BRIDGE, PORT OF BUENOS AIRES 122 - - GRAIN ELEVATORS, MADERO DOCK, BUENOS AIRES 126 - - RUINS OF JESUIT BUILDINGS, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA 174 - - A BIT OF THE TRANSANDINE RAILWAY, ARGENTINA 176 - - ENTRANCE TO THE SUMMIT TUNNEL THROUGH THE ANDES (CHILEAN SIDE) 176 - - PUENTE DEL INCA; MENDOZA, ARGENTINA 178 - - VIEWS ON LAKE NAHUEL HUAPÍ, ARGENTINE NATIONAL TERRITORY - OF NEUQUEN 186 - - HEAD PORTION OF THE RIO NEGRO, ARGENTINA, GREAT IRRIGATION - AND CONTROL WORKS. (BIRD’S-EYE VIEW) 188 - - A TYPICAL SMALL “CAMP” TOWN (RIVERA, URUGUAY) 212 - - - - -LIST OF DIAGRAMS - - - I. INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE, AND URUGUAY 133 - - II. DEVELOPMENT OF ARGENTINE AGRICULTURE 243 - - III. ARGENTINE MEAT TRADE 273 - - IV. ARGENTINE FROZEN AND CHILLED MEAT EXPORTS 275 - - - - -ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND THANKS - - -For the majority of the Statistics and Statistical Diagrams contained -in this book the Author is indebted to the Division of Commerce and -Industry of the Argentine Ministry of Agriculture and particularly to the -kindness and courtesy of Señor Ricardo Pillado, the Director-General of -that Division, for permission for their reproduction; for others to Señor -Emilio Lahitte, the Director-General of the Division of Rural Economy and -Statistics in the same Ministry. And in Uruguay to Dr. Julio M. Llamas, -Professor of Political Economy in the University of Montevideo, and Dr. -Daniel García Acevedo, of the Uruguayan Bar, eminent as an authority on -Commercial Law. - -The Author’s sincere thanks are also tendered to the Buenos Aires -Great Southern, the Buenos Aires Pacific, and the Central Uruguay of -Montevideo Railway Companies, the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, -Mitchell’s Library, Buenos Aires, and several private persons for -permission to reproduce photographs with which this book is illustrated; -to the Proprietors of _The Times_ for their consent to the embodiment -under the heading “Currency” of the material portions of an article by -the Author which appeared in the Special South American Number of that -Newspaper under date December 28th, 1909; to the Argentine Committee -for the National Agricultural and Pastoral Census taken in 1908 for -much information; to Mr. Herbert Gibson for his very kind permission to -quote portions of his pamphlet, “The Land We Live On.” And to very many -official and other friends of different Nationalities for help freely -given to the literary work of the Author in the past, much of which help -has borne fruit in this book. - - - - -ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY - -BEFORE THE WAR AND AFTER - - - - -CHAPTER I - -INTRODUCTORY - - -A tale of the Pampa[1] tells how a River Plate farmer of bygone days, -seeing his wife and child dead of pestilence and his pastures blackened -by fire, fell into a magic slumber born of the lethargy of despair. - -He was awakened, many years afterwards, by the scream of a railway -engine at his boundary; to find his land fenced in, his flocks and herds -improved beyond recognition, and maize and wheat waving where only coarse -grass had been before. - -This allegory is true. - -It tells the whole story of the real development of the River Plate -Territories, a development in which the descendant of the original -settlers has but comparatively recently begun to take an active part. - -He, the Patriarch of the soil, lived on his land while English capital -and Italian labour opened up its treasures to the world. In the -beginnings of Argentina as a nation, his property consisted of vast herds -of long-horned, bony cattle, valuable only for their hides, which roamed -the Pampa in savage freedom; untended, save for periodic slaughter and -skinning and the yearly rounding up for the marking of the calves. - -Later, came the acknowledgment between neighbours, living at vast -distances from one another, of boundaries which indicated the huge areas -over which each had grazing rights. Later still came the time when the -more far-sighted of such men bought wire and, with _quebracho_ posts, -ringed in those areas as their own. The foreigner and his railway did the -rest to build up the huge fortunes of the children and grandchildren of -those far-sighted Patriarchs. For Patriarchs they were, Pastoral Kings -surrounded by half-caste _gauchos_ who lived in the familiar vassalage -of the great mud-walled, grass-thatched house, and spoke in the familiar -second person singular still in use among Argentines towards their -servants; otherwise only employed between members of the same family or -close friends. Until a very few years ago, these great Argentine families -constituted Oligarchies which ruled almost absolutely each over one of -the more distant Provinces, the people of which were the descendants of -the vassals of their forefathers. The full power of these Provincial -Oligarchies was only broken by the centralizing policy of President -Dr. Figueroa Alcorta (1906 to 1910). The curtailing of their power was -very necessary for the credit of National Finance and Justice, for that -power was often exercised with a mediæval high-handedness unsuited to -twentieth-century ideas. - -The disintegration of the power of local Oligarchies, each of which -completely dominated the Congress of its province, was one of the -final but quite necessary steps towards putting the house of Argentina -into perfect political and financial order; especially as Provincial -Governors, hitherto always members of the Oligarchic families, were -also almost invariably members of the National Senate. Add to these -considerations the further one that the Provincial Courts had somehow or -other gained a reputation for not meting out justice to political friend -and foe alike, and that much complaint was heard about the difficulties -encountered by some persons in even working the way of their cases up -to the admirably impartial hearing of the Federal High Court of Appeal; -since, for instance, it is difficult to appeal from a decision which has -not been given, and which you seem to possess no means to obtain, even as -against you. - -All these inconveniences and scandals had long called imperatively for -reform, but it was reserved for Dr. Figueroa Alcorta to discover the way -to successfully bell these powerful provincial cats. - -The way he found (which is referred to more fully in a later chapter) was -essentially South American; but, as many things in South America which at -first sight appear strange to European eyes do, it worked very well. - -It is desirable here, however, to make quite clear the fact that any -political South Americanisms which may still survive in Argentina are -strictly confined to her internal and local politics and administration. -Within that sphere it might almost be said that only the Judges of the -Federal High Court of Appeal keep themselves completely clear of any -shadow of suspicion. If you get to the Federal High Court you have the -Law of the Land administered with unflinching impartiality. The only -leaning of which that Tribunal has ever been accused (and that only -jokingly) is that of an inclination to decide against the Government. -Because, its judges, once appointed, cannot be removed unless on the -ground of gross misconduct; whereas all other functionaries in the -country are more or less liable to feel the effects of political -influence. The National foreign or commercial policy is also as -transparently pure and fair as it is possible to be. Argentina knows her -best interests much too well to seem even to offend against European -ethical standards in anything which touches external policy or Foreign -interests, however remote. - -As for her internal politics, these have been, until very recently, at -all events, left by common consent of foreigner and native alike to -the sweet will of the caste of professional politicians. These people -intrigue for place and profit and have vicissitudes, triumphs and -defeats, without the real wealth-producers of the country knowing or -caring one way or another. The doings of the Ministries of Finance, -Agriculture (embracing Commerce and Industry) and Public Works and the -legislation affecting matters appertaining thereto are all that matter to -the Bankers, Traders and Agriculturists or the great Railway Companies; -and these leading Official and Commercial and Industrial Classes are -the only people of real consequence in the land; unless one adds the -Municipal Authorities of the Cities of Buenos Aires and Bahia Blanca. - -The actual Government, however, is jealously kept in native patrician -hands. If one finds a foreign name in the list of high officials it may -safely be assumed that the bearer of it is connected by marriage with one -of what may be called the great ruling Argentine families, with names -recurrent in the country’s History. - -These families constitute the real aristocracy of the Republic, and are -mostly possessed of very great wealth. Kind and sympathetically courteous -to the stranger as are all Argentines, one cannot but smile when one -finds writers implying that entrance into Argentine Society is easily -effected by anyone who, as I once saw it stated, could play a good hand -at bridge. - -As a fact, no stranger ever becomes a member of the best Argentine -Society; he may find himself in it at brief, fleeting moments, but he is -never of it. As in the aristocracies of the old world, all its members -are connected more or less remotely by blood or marriage, usually both, -with one another. One may know intimately many men prominent in Argentine -Society, may be received by them at their houses now and again and mingle -there with other men, their kindred; but the charming conversation one -enjoys when there is not that which was going on when one entered, and -will continue after one has left again. Argentine ladies only receive -on set, formal occasions; unless in such public places as the Palermo -Race-course or the Rambla at Mar-del-Plata. Small and select dinners -take place rather at the Jockey Club than in private houses. Under a -somewhat effusive external manner, the Argentine has all the reserved -exclusiveness of his Spanish ancestors. Gold has its weight in Argentina -as elsewhere; but it has more efficacy as a key to society in many -European capitals than in Buenos Aires; notwithstanding the almost -childish fondness of Argentines for the display of their own wealth, a -characteristic which makes them (and other Americans) beloved in Hotels -and Restaurants throughout the world. The one characteristic for which -the Argentine does not get full credit from the superficial observer is -the very strong vein of common sense which underlies his more immediately -noticeable affectation of manner and behaviour. A great deception is -always in store for those who do not appreciate the fact that the most -boisterously extravagant Argentine never really loses sight of the fact -that 2 and 2 make 4 and no more and no less. Yet this should be apparent -in a nation which has known so well during the fifty or sixty years of -its real development how to let the foreigner work out that development -at a good profit for himself, of course, but at a much greater one for -them. The Argentine, while availing himself of every advantage derivable -from the influx into his country of foreign Capital and Labour, has never -really loosed his hold on his own independent Government nor the land. -His land is and has always been the source of his fortune, and to his -land he clings with unrelaxing tenacity. If there is a good bargain to be -made in real property, it is an Argentine who immediately takes advantage -of it to increase his probably already large holding. - -He it is who most readily lends money on mortgage, at a high rate of -interest, on real property. He knows only of one way in which to invest -the surplus of his income—in land or the things intimately connected -with land and its immediate productivity. Agricultural enterprise he -understands and daily appreciates more and more its scientific working. -Intensive farming is already practised by him in those parts of the -country where land is most valuable. He breeds as fine cattle and sheep -as any foreign breeder or colonizing company. - -But for commerce other than purely agricultural he has no bent. So he -wisely leaves it in the hands of the stranger, who thereby develops -his towns, and builds railways and tramways; all of which go to the -enhancement of the values of Argentine real property. - -Now and again there is a pseudo-patriotic clamour in certain sections of -the Native Press over what is denounced as the exploitation of Argentina -by the foreigner. But all this is mere froth born of journalistic need -of “copy”: mere great-gooseberry matter for a dull season. That it is no -more was proved a few years ago by the great English Railway Companies. - -They became weary of being denounced as the worst kind of exploiters -of an innocent bucolic people; and, in reply, published broadcast an -announcement that they would transfer a certain large quantity of their -shares at par (the market price being considerably higher) to Argentines -who might thereby qualify themselves not only for a share in the -Companies’ profits, but for seats on the Boards of Directors; where they -could have a voice in the management of what was being denounced as a -vast system of exploitation. To this very liberal, almost quixotic, offer -there was no response. For the simple reason that, whilst the railway -dividends did not exceed 7%, land mortgages carried 10% or 12%, and the -yield from immediate agricultural enterprise proportionately more. - -Every branch line opened by the railways, often at huge expense of -expropriation, spells fortune to Argentines. If the railway gains in a -less degree who should complain? No one really does, everyone really -concerned being much too well aware on which side his own particular -bread is buttered. As I have said, the Argentine is possessed of a quite -preponderating amount of common sense. - -His attitude towards the foreigner is, “I give you all liberty and -protection for any enterprise you may wish to carry out in my country, by -which you may become very rich; but the country itself and nearly all the -land in it is mine and will remain so.” - -The last thing the Argentine will part with as an individual or as a -nation is land. - -Grants of fiscal lands were made in the past with scandalous liberality -for political services, but to Argentines. Mighty little of such lands, -none of any, then, apparent value, went to foreigners; whatever they -might have done for the country’s development and good. Now, few grants -of such lands are made to anyone; the National and Provincial Governments -appreciating too fully the advantages of their retention as aids to power -and wealth. - -In all this the Argentine is right from his natural point of view; but -his obstinate maintenance of it is gradually bringing certain economic -problems of vital importance to a stage when some way will have to be -found out of the dilemmas which they already present. - -The chief of these problems is that of agricultural labour. What -inducement does Argentina offer to the class of colonist she needs most, -the man with a wife and family to aid him in his work and with, perhaps, -a small amount of Capital? - -He will find plenty of work and people to employ his labour at a liberal -wage as soon as he lands. He will be taken, if he so wish, free of all -cost to himself, to one or other of the more or less distant parts of the -Republic, where he may be set to work on virgin soil at a wage, or, may -be, on a half share of profits for a period of three years. On the scene -of his industry he will find an Italian or Galician storekeeper who will -supply his every reasonable want on credit, taking as security the share -to come to him of the profits from the land to be worked. The storekeeper -will also charge a high rate of interest on prices of his own fixing, -unembarrassed by any competitors within a radius of very many miles; or, -if there be such, he and they will know well enough how to preserve a -rate of profit which would astonish an European shopkeeper. - -At the end of three years the landlord will have his land in good working -order,[2] and the storekeeper will have most, if not all, of the new -colonist’s share of profits. The latter can then, if he likes, have some -more virgin land on similar terms. He is a mere labourer, a worker for -others, with no betterment on his own horizon. - -There is as yet no real practically working official machinery by -which he can obtain a direct grant of land in freehold to himself; -such as exists, with other added facilities, in each of our own great -agricultural dependencies such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. - -For this reason alone, the rural population of Argentina has almost -ceased to show much more than a vegetative increase. The population of -the whole Republic is that of greater London spread over an area only a -very little less than that of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, -France, Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland put -together. - -This lack of increase in the rural population is not due to Argentina -being a country unknown to the appropriate class of people. There are -thousands of Italian peasants who go there regularly every year as -harvesters, and who return to their own country as soon as the crops -are gathered in. They know Argentina and the natural richness of her -resources as well as do born Argentines, but they also know that they -cannot get land. Only wages; the purchasing power of which is so much -greater in Italy that there they can live on them in semi-idleness for -the remainder of the year, whereas they would attain no greater pecuniary -advantage by remaining and working permanently in Argentina, where the -cost of living is relatively very great. So they remain “swallows” as -they are called, coming and going with the beginning and close of the -harvest season. - -If Argentina wants settlers, and she does need them badly, she must make -up her mind to give them land. - -And she must also make a thorough overhaul of the titles to all lands as -yet not under cultivation. Because many of such lands are merely traps -for the unwary who may be induced to occupy and develop them only to -find himself, after he has ploughed and planted, called upon to pay rent -to some resident in Buenos Aires or some other town whose property they -turn out to be, under some long-forgotten Government grant, and who has -not only never visited them, but has also practically lain in wait for -some innocent settler to develop them under the impression that they -were his own. Cases of this kind have happened over and over again; and -the deluded settler, who may have even purchased the land in question at -a public auction or have obtained it from some self-styled colonizing -Company, finds himself with nothing but a vista of wearisome and costly -litigation before he can hope to grasp a usually very elusive remedy for -his wrong. Generally, he gives the whole thing up in despair and becomes -a tenant of the land on which he has already spent all his small capital. -These things are also known to the Italian harvester, and the knowledge -of them acts as a further deterrent to his becoming a settler. - -As Argentina is blessed with almost the best possible laws about -everything sublunary, she has, naturally, first-rate colonization -regulations. Only these are confined to her statute books and sundry -pamphlets which lie in dust-covered heaps in the Ministry of Agriculture. -But there is as yet no real working machinery for the carrying out in -practice of all these excellent embodiments of the results of experience -of farming colonization all the world over. There are no officials -whose exclusive duty it is to attend to the multiple exigencies of true -colonization, and none capable of such work if they were suddenly called -upon to do it, for lack of the necessary experience. - -An intending colonist may therefore land in Buenos Aires with a small but -sufficient amount of capital for a reasonable start in, say, Australia -or Canada, and may wander about that city till, if he be foolish enough, -his money is all spent without ever having found any Government office or -official willing or in a position to put him into possession of the land -he wants. - -He usually, after a few weeks of fruitless search, goes back to Australia -or New Zealand or wherever else he may have come from, disgusted with -Argentina and her ways; of which he, on getting back, gives an account -which effectually damps off any existing enthusiasm in his neighbourhood -for emigration to the River Plate for a long while to come. - -The Argentine Government spends plenty of money in advertisement, and -true advertisement, of the fertility and marvellous climates of a -Republic which extends over 35 degrees of latitude, but neglects to make -provision for those who may desire to respond actively to its propaganda. -This neglect is due, really, to an inherent incapacity for detail, part -of the Argentine nature which, therefore, is terribly prone to get tired -half-way through a job. In South America, generally, a wonderful amount -of enthusiasm is always available for the planning of new schemes. The -declamatory exposition of their sovereign virtues and glory amid the -acclamations of sympathetic Board or Committee meetings is a grateful -task; as is that of the dissemination of these discourses in pamphlet -form, in which also the full list of the names of the originators and -supporters of the scheme appears. It is, however, when practice shows -unworkable flaws in splendid theories, when the drudgery of adapting -high-flown principles to plain everyday drab facts must take the place of -inaugural banquets and florid speeches, that Argentine enthusiasm has a -regrettable way of petering out. Soon, something newer and of a different -kind is started by someone else. The meetings and banquets are held in -its honour by other groups and the former scheme passes to a shadowy -land, the way to which is always kept paved with a plenitude of good -intentions. - -Capital will always be forthcoming for profitable enterprise; as will -Labour if that enterprise be made profitable to the worker—a good and -useful class of whom can only be induced to emigrate by the prospect of -permanent betterment of the conditions of life. The natural ambition -of every man is to work for himself, to be the master of the results -of his own efforts and to possess those results as a provision for his -old age and his children. This a new country or colony must offer if it -would obtain the high level of intelligent labour which it needs for its -fullest and best development. - -On the other hand no one need starve or go hungry for long in any of -the countries of the River Plate; unless he elects to be and to remain -a persistent loafer in one of the large towns. Even then he has only to -ask and he will receive food, at almost any restaurant or private house. -If he refuse to beg or to leave town, he may suffer hunger and thirst, -otherwise he cannot. To begin with he can always get a job at one thing -or another from any of the numerous private agencies which have standing -orders for labour, and even schoolmasters, for the “Camp,” and which are -as avid of candidates for such jobs as any crimp of the old days was for -men of any kind to sling aboard a ship. - -Once in the camp any man who has had the grit to go there is sure of -finding someone wanting some kind of work which he can do in some sort -of fashion. There he will recover such of his normal health and strength -as he may have lost as a city unemployed, and will soon shake into a -capacity for, and get, something better to do than his first job.[3] - -The native agricultural labourer or “peon” is a very free and easy -and light-hearted kind of person, and must be treated accordingly if -his services are to be retained. He is never rude unless in answer to -obviously intentional offence offered to himself, and will work very much -harder for an employer he likes than for one he finds unsympathetic. -Indeed he will only remain with the latter on his own tacit understanding -that he takes things easily. - -When he has accumulated a few dollars of wages he will take himself -off to the nearest store or township and indulge in such dissipation -as the place affords. From thence he departs with perhaps a few cheap -handkerchiefs or other small finery, in the breast of his blouse, which -he bestows as gifts at various friendly cottages; at each of which he may -while away a day, partaking of pot luck, a shake down on the floor, and -innumerable mates and cigarettes, making himself merrily agreeable to his -hosts. When he gets tired of this, or has exhausted the immediate circle -of his friends, he will return to work on the property on which he left -off; or somewhere else should he find himself not as well received on his -return as he had hoped. - -It is pretty much all one to him. An experienced native peon need never -go far begging for a job. - -These men are strong and wiry, capable of spurts of very hard work -indeed; so that, even with frequent intervals for chat with everyone -available, their average day’s work is usually by no means a bad one. -Severity in an employer they will take with perfect good humour; but -any affected superiority, or “side,” on his part will meet with a very -contemptuous resentment. They are true sons of a Republic, though holding -school-learning in the deep respect observable in peasantry almost all -the world over. - -The Argentine peon inherits much of the ready wit and extraordinary -gift of repartee of his immediate ancestor the GAUCHO; of whom he is -the modern representative. With whom, however, a concertina has most -unfortunately taken the place of the guitar. But as a bachelor he is the -same flirtatious, lady-killing scamp; loving often and riding away from, -most frequently instead of with, the lady of his ephemeral choice. - -His wit, and hers, most frequently take the form of double entente. -An interchange of chaff has always one perfectly innocent superficial -meaning and another the realization of which would redden the ears of -a British bargee. Both parties to this skilled contest of phrases keep -perfectly immobile countenances and neither gives a sign, except by -his or her, always latent, reply, of any perception of the underlying -significance of the conversation. - -This exchange of wit is a form of art derived from the gaucho _Payadores_ -or minstrels, who improvised their songs in verses which, on the -face of them, were hymns to Nature in its purer forms, and contrived -simultaneously to either hugely amuse ribald company or else to convey -insult to a present rival payador who answered in like manner in his -turn; hidden insult being thus intentionally heaped on insult till a -fight with knives succeeded singing. A fight in which all present took -sides and joined. - -Thus were Sundays enjoyed in the PULPERIAS (canteens) of the older times, -over a quarter of a century ago. - -A now almost lost art of those days was the knife play in which the -gaucho was then an extraordinary adept. Even now gauchos may be found, -in the distant northern Provinces, who in a duel, according as it be a -serious or a playful one, can kill or just draw a pin-prick’s show of -blood at will from their adversary. In these duels the knife is kept in -constant rapid, dazzling movement, while the _poncho_ or gaucho shawl, -with a slit through which the head is passed when wearing, is wrapped -round the left arm which is used as a guard. - -The gaucho was a picturesque figure in his _chiripá_[4] or festal, -wide-bottomed, lace-frilled trousers, a broad leathern girdle studded -with silver coins and his silver-mounted, high-pommelled saddle. The -_chiripá_ and girdle remain; and one may still see a camp dandy glorious -on feast-days in a saddle adorned with silver mountings. - -But the cow-boy utility of the gaucho waned with the advent of scientific -farming. He had no taste nor aptitude for such new-fangled ideas; and now -his sons are mostly to be found in the army, the police, or that very -useful body of firemen and soldiers too, the corps of “Bomberos,” men -who can be relied on at any moment to quell a fire or a riot in their -own very effective way. They fear neither flames nor turbulent strikers, -and are only too ready, in the case of the latter, to shoot first and -listen to orders afterwards. Another body of men drawn almost exclusively -from gaucho sources is the “Squadron of Security”; a mounted corps of -steel-cuirassed and helmeted semi-military police, also used to clear the -streets of political or other disturbances. Three trumpet blasts sounded -in quick succession are the signal for a charge in lines extending, for -instance, over the whole breadth of the Avenida de Mayo. Such is the law -and everyone, as in England, is presumed to know it. If he do not, and -therefore fail to take prompt refuge down a side street or in a shop, so -much the worse for him. The Avenida will be cleared even if he be taken -to the Asistencia Publica as a consequence of the process, without any -valid claim for damages. He heard the “Clarion” and is assumed to have -contumaciously disregarded its warning. - -It might be thought that the vegetative increase of such a hardy nucleus -of native population would suffice for the Labour needs of the country. -There are, however, many reasons for the fact that it does not. The chief -of these is the general refractoriness of the Indian to the process of -education on the lines of the white races. You cannot by any means make -a white man out of an Indian any more than you can of a Negro. And the -gaucho has usually more Indian (and Negro, from the slave days) blood in -him than he has white. - -Unrivalled in the days when vast hordes of semi-savage cattle needed -rounding up and cutting out with his lazo and _boleadora_, the gaucho has -not always the patience nor the regard for detail needed for the care -of prize Durhams, Polled Angus or Herefords; nor is he at his best with -modern agricultural machinery. Neither does his character lend itself to -the dull discipline expected and necessary on a farm to-day. He can no -longer with impunity stay the extra day or two at the canteen to which -his savings entitle him; and on the farm he finds himself confined to -the more subservient work. Against all this his native pride rebels, and -he gradually drifts into the army or the police, where he is gradually -being exterminated by the disintegrating effects of idleness and lack of -the hard physical exercise which kept his ancestors in health. A greedy -meat-eater, he succumbs as often to stomach as to lung trouble. - -Population! In every other way nature is most bountiful on the River -Plate. If only Argentina were more thickly peopled her wealth would be -phenomenal in the world. For it must not be thought that grain and cattle -sum up the whole extent of her possible productivity. Far from it: her -output has hitherto been confined to these commodities because they were -so obviously those which most readily yield immediate profits, without -in the first place demanding any great outlay of capital or scientific -acquirements. Cattle there have always been on the Pampa since the time -of the Goes’ cows;[5] and as for grain, the virgin soil barely needed -scratching for its growth. Thus cereal cultivation and cattle raising -naturally became the national industries, and the population has never -been sufficient to attend even to all the possibilities of these, let -alone others. Nevertheless, there are many more which Nature has in store -for these marvellous countries with their great variety of climates. - -Sugar (pretty badly exploited till recently), coffee, cotton, tobacco -(already grown in the North and even, to a comparatively small extent, in -the Province of Buenos Aires) and timber of many and valuable kinds are -among the future produce of the Southern Republics; while the wool output -of Argentina could be greatly increased. - -No lack of capital would be felt were there the necessary skilled -management and labour available for the production of, leaving sugar and -timber apart for the moment, let us say cotton and tobacco. - -In the cultivation of both of these, much depends on selection of kinds -according to soil and climate and on the right moment for gathering. It -is owing to ignorance in these regards as well as to labour difficulties -that several attempts to cultivate these crops on a large scale have -hitherto only resulted in failure. - -Given the necessary science and labour, soil and climate may well be -trusted to do the rest for assured success. - -Nothing is lacking to the countries of the River Plate but population. -Given adequate human agency to exploit their evident and latent -treasures, they have before them a future prosperity which can only be -called _incalculable_ in its marvellous immensity. - - NOTE.—A fact that cannot escape observation by the reader - of this book is that of the comparative absence of exact - statistical information disclosed in it in regard to Uruguay - in comparison with that which appears relating to Argentina. - The reason of this is that while the latter country has now had - many decades in which to put its house in order, the former - is still so busily occupied in that necessary task that its - officials have as yet had little time to devote to compiling - authoritative statistics of a progress of which it must not, - therefore, be inferred that they and their country are not very - justly proud. - - Thus figures which are easily available through the patriotic - ability and industry of Dr. Francisco Latzina, the chief of - the National Argentine Statistical Department, and so clearly - and strikingly digested by Señor Ricardo Pillado, the Director - of the Division of Commerce and Industry in the Argentine - Ministry of Agriculture, a Ministry the scope of whose work is - extremely wide and all-important in the Republic, have really - yet no counterparts in Uruguay, where one is rather left to - guess at the general effect of such isolated agricultural trade - statistics as alone are immediately available. Figures are to - be had by the private courtesy of individuals connected with - various administrations, and these, if not exact, are no doubt - approximately so; but they do not bear the stamp nor the proof - of comparison which should be found in authoritative figures. - - The author knows from the test of his own previous experience - that such few figures as he has given concerning Uruguay are - substantially correct, and must therefore, though reluctantly, - ask the reader to take his word for it that they are so. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE WAR - -ITS PRESENT AND PROBABLE FUTURE EFFECTS ON ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY - - -As has been indicated elsewhere in these pages, the shock of the -commencement of the Great War found the River Plate Republics already -in a condition of considerable local depression. This was owing to -relatively poor harvests, due to a long continuance of exceptional and -ill-timed rains; a consequent collapse of land speculation and the -usually sinister effects of slump after a long period of boom; and the -condition of money markets, for some time past disturbed by the fear of -the results of political complications in the Balkans. - -The Governments of Argentina and Uruguay must be most warmly -congratulated on the vigour and promptitude with which they faced the -fact that, with the declaration of war in Europe, they were suddenly left -to their own resources to an extent they had never experienced during the -few decades which really form the whole period of their true economic -history. - -Lucky it was for Argentina that such a veteran statesman as Dr. Victorino -de la Plaza occupied the Presidential chair, and that he had the aid of -a man of such high intelligence and reputation as Dr. Carbó as Minister -of Finance; fortunate also for Uruguay in having Dr. Viera (since elected -President) at the head of her Ministry of Finance. - -Honour is also due to the Officials of the State Banks of both nations -and to the private Banks and financiers who lent such an untiring and -efficacious aid to both Governments in the hour of pardonable alarm; -alarm which was prevented from developing into panic by the prompt and -statesmanlike measures adopted. - -Really, as Mr. C. A. Tornquist justly observes in an article cited in -these pages, it cannot be said that a “crisis” exists in a country while -its vital forces are in full development. - -Still, in Argentina and Uruguay these forces had not for some time been -in full operation, from causes stated above; and, therefore, panic would -not have been a surprising result from alarm falling on depression, -before cool reason had time to assert its reassuring influence. - -It soon did so, however, thanks to the virile and sound handling of the -situation by the heads of Government and Finance. - -Congresses assembled and their usually heterogeneous political elements -unanimously and swiftly agreed to pass the several measures of economic -defence placed before them. - -During seven days’ Bank Holiday the finance of both Republics was set in -good order; not only to avoid ill consequences from the initial and any -likely future shocks, but to enable the countries to profit—as there can -now be little doubt they are doing and will do—from the political and -economic disturbance of Europe. - -As Señor Carlos F. Soares, writing in _La Nacion_ (Buenos Aires) under -date January 1st, 1915, said:— - - The laws and financial and economic measures necessitated - by the European conflagration have proved opportune and - efficacious. - - Thanks to them, danger to the Credit Houses and Institutions - was avoided; Internal and Foreign commercial pressure was - lessened, the gold stock in the “Caja de Conversión,” which - guarantees the value of the paper currency, was preserved; - the escape of gold from the country was avoided; the lack of - foreign bills of exchange was compensated for by deposits of - gold at the various Argentine Legations; shortage of coal and - dearness of wheat and flour were foreseen; and, finally, means - of obtaining its value were assured to the natural wealth of - the country. - -Only one Buenos Aires Bank (of comparatively small importance) failed to -reopen its doors after the seven days’ holiday; a failure which there is -some reason to believe was by no means entirely due to the War. - -Not one Bank and very few Commercial Houses availed themselves of the -Moratorium; a fact which is highly creditable to the Local Banking and -Commercial community. - -The arrangements for the deposits of gold at the Legations constitute a -feature novel to the system of International Exchange. - -After all this accomplished in so short a space of time, who will -continue to throw the reproach of “Mañana” at either Argentines or -Uruguayans? A reproach long since unjustified by the attitude of the -inhabitants of either of the River Plate Republics towards any matter the -advantages of which they grasp. - -No European Statesmen and Bankers could have more promptly realized and -carried out the necessary measures for the economic protection of their -country. - -The present of Argentina and Uruguay was thus assured. What of their -future? - -Prophecy, which is generally counted as hazardous, is especially so -when it is about to be printed, and may still be read by the light -of the experience of several years hence. Still, some Commercial and -Financial angels have not feared to tread the ground of prophecy as to -the immediate and _post-bellum_ future of Argentina and Uruguay; and -not only has competent authority not feared to forecast results in this -regard, but there is a remarkable unanimity of influential opinion as to -the probably favourable effects of European affairs on the economy of the -River Plate Republic. Always supposing, as there seems every reason to -suppose, that these Republics continue to have the commercial and common -sense to manage their internal affairs in such manner as to be able to -derive the greatest possible pecuniary benefits from the troubles of -European nations. - -One, perhaps the chief, in his courage of declaration of these prophetic -authorities is Mr. C. A. Tornquist; a man having very large financial and -commercial interests on the River Plate and enjoying a very high local -reputation for business acumen and honour. His whole life has been spent -in the higher financial circles of Argentina. - -Therefore the author has thought well to cite here some portions of an -article published by him in the Argentine Press, a translation of which -appeared in _The Review of the River Plate_, under date December 25th, -1914. - -In this article Mr. Tornquist says:— - - From this chaos (that of the European War) there will arise - perhaps an Asiatic country, and, quite certainly, some American - countries, and in the first place the Argentine Republic, - which, on account of the class and special conditions of its - products, is called upon to benefit from the situation more - than any other country in the world, as even the United States - cannot export in any quantity the noble products produced by - Argentina as they require them for home consumption. This - war not only does not create difficulties for our economic - development, as will happen to nearly all the other countries - in the world, but, on the contrary, it will stimulate it, and - for this reason, the longer the war lasts the more our national - economy will gain at the expense, sad as it is to say it, of - the countries now at war. Whilst the war lasts the prices of - the majority of our products will not decline, for many of - the countries which produce the same goods as we do are at - war, and on this account the demand is bound to increase. The - first effects of this advantageous situation will bring about - the disappearance of what we call here “crisis,” but which is - nothing more than a “commercial indigestion,” brought about - by excessive speculation, and which has principally affected - speculators, and has done absolutely no harm to pastoral or - agricultural industries, which are our principal sources of - wealth. … It cannot be said that a country is in “crisis” when - its vital forces are in full development. This does not mean, - nevertheless, what many erroneously think, that if the next - crop is good they will be able in 1915 to sell their lands - in the vicinity of cities and summer resorts and speculative - regions at the prices ruling when they purchased them. Nothing - of this will occur, and only the value of revenue-producing - property will normalize itself, and will be placed at a value - corresponding to a return of 8 to 9 per cent per annum. On the - other hand, I believe that several, perhaps many, years will - pass before it will be possible to liquidate properties which - do not give revenue at the prices which their owners desire. … - A favourable factor which might become important, perhaps in - the not distant future, is the immigration of the “capitalist” - farmer from Belgium and other European countries, who prefer - to liquidate their affairs there and come to Argentina with - what remains to them, and so get away from the taxes which - of necessity the Government of the conquering or conquered - countries must impose so as to re-establish their finances. It - is a very interesting fact for ourselves that after all large - wars or revolutions in Europe in modern times there has been - an enormous increase of good immigration in new countries, - and especially to America, from which the United States has - been the first to benefit, because in that epoch the future - of South America was based solely on the gold mines of Peru - and the coffee and diamonds of Brazil, whilst the Argentine - Republic was only known by its “sterile Pampa and Patagonia,” - and its internal revolutions. To-day these things have changed, - and if any country is to interest the capitalist immigrant - it will without doubt in the first place be the Argentine - Republic, because it is in the best condition to receive them, - especially if they are convinced that the value of property is - not inflated. It is the duty of our Government to make all this - known to future immigrants by means of serious propaganda. … - Then we shall have to struggle against the lack of tonnage for - exporting our crop, but we should not forget that whereas to - export with regularity is for us an economic question, for the - belligerent countries, purchasers of our produce, the matter is - of vital importance, as it is a material question not to die of - hunger, and of indispensable necessity to be able to carry on - the war, so that those countries are even more interested than - ourselves that we should be able to dispose of the necessary - means of transport. We take as our basis of the probable - assets of our balance of payments an exportation to the value - of $580,000,000 gold. At first sight this figure appears high, - but let us analyse it. Our record of exports was in 1912-13 - $513,500,000 gold, of which $306,000,000 corresponded to - cereals and the remainder to produce not affected by locusts, - droughts, rain or frost, that is to say, the crop of that year - represented $306,000,000 gold for produce exported, and we will - suppose $104,000,000 remained in the country, making a total - of $410,000,000. If the crop of this year should be 25 per - cent less than our “record” crop we should have “at the prices - of that time” $307,000,000 as the value of the harvest, and - there would remain, deducting what the country requires for - consumption and seed, over $200,000,000 for export. But the - actual prices and those in perspective are 25 per cent higher - than the others, so that would give $250,000,000 for exports - of cereals, besides which there are the other products (meat, - wool, hides, tallow, etc.), which then represented a value - of $207,000,000 gold, and which to-day are worth 20 per cent - more, that is to say, $250,000,000 gold, making a total of - $500,000,000 gold. To this we must add the value of 2,500,000 - tons of maize, the balance of last year’s crop which remained - to be exported on October 1st, 1914; the possible value of the - export of horses; the value of the sugar exported, which is - more than 60,000 tons, and which will probably be duplicated; - the export of woven goods (ponchos, cloths, etc.) and articles - of saddlery and tanned goods for the European governments; - alcohol and other products of lesser importance, which come - under the heading of extraordinary exports. It would not - therefore be at all extraordinary if we reached $600,000,000 or - even passed that figure, which will be the case if our harvest - exceeds our estimate. … If the crop turned out to be a “bad” - one[6] (that is to say, that it failed in certain parts, as - due to the great extension of area, it is not possible to-day - for a whole crop to be lost) and it only results in 50 per - cent of that of 1912-13, we should still obtain a total value - of $205,000,000, and there would remain after deducting the - necessities for home requirements $100,000,000 gold for export, - calculated on prices of two years ago, but in this case the - prices would rise much more than 25 per cent, and for this - reason the consumption of cereals in the country, as well as - imports in general, would show such a marked decrease, that - the favourable superavit in the balance of payments would never - completely disappear. - - I take as my starting-point the sum of $460,000,000 gold, made - up as follows:—[7] - - (_a_) Imports $270,000,000 gold. (_b_) Service of the Public - Debt payable abroad $50,000,000 gold. (_c_) Interest on - Cedulas and on capital placed by foreign companies on mortgage - $31,000,000 gold. (_d_) Interest and dividends on foreign - capital in railways $42,000,000 gold. (_e_) Interest and - dividends on other foreign capital $27,000,000 gold. (_f_) - Savings of immigrants and emigrants $24,000,000 gold. (_g_) - Expenses of Argentines abroad $6,000,000 gold. - - The sum total of all these items is $460,000,000 gold, so that - we have - - $ Gold. - Assets 580,000,000 - Liabilities 460,000,000 - ----------- - Total balance 120,000,000 - - in favour of the Argentine Republic, a sum which can be - increased if the harvest is very good and imports are less than - I estimated, and decreased if the harvest is bad and imports - greater than $246,000,000 gold. From this it will be seen that - if my calculations are confirmed Argentina will receive from - abroad the sum of $120,000,000 gold for balance of accounts for - the commercial year of 1914-15. To demonstrate the importance - of this fact I will mention that for the year 1913-14 the - balance was $185,000,000 against Argentina; in 1912-13 it was - $200,000,000 in contra, and in 1911-12 $202,000,000 in contra, - so that compared with the three previous years Argentina will - have a difference in its favour in the balance of payments of - $300,000,000 gold! - - What do these figures signify? - - $120,000,000 gold is equivalent to the service of the National - Debt for two and a half years, and is more than half the amount - actually deposited in bullion in the Caja de Conversión. - It also represents the half of all that the country owes - abroad for mortgages. On the other hand, $300,000,000 are - three-fourths of all our national external debt, are two annual - national budgets, as well as the total value of a good harvest. - Practically speaking, it results that the Argentine Republic - will receive with these $120,000,000 gold a sum which exceeds - the average of the new foreign capital which has come to the - country in the last few years, which will compensate for the - absence of capital which formerly came to the country seeking - investment, and will contribute to develop the economic forces - of the country. Outside of this $120,000,000 gold it is logical - to imagine that some capital will come, as some railways and - other foreign companies have recently made issues abroad and - others will place their profits here. There are also the - various financial operations of the National and Provincial - Governments and the Municipality of the capital for the payment - of debt services or to consolidate the floating debt, for - although money does not come to the country this will diminish - by these operations the emigration of capital in respect of - items _b_, _d_ and _e_ of the balance of payments, that is to - say, the dividends and interest on foreign capital placed in - commercial enterprises and railways, and thus also the service - of the external debt, which otherwise would have to be remitted - and all of which I have not taken into account. Besides, where - will Europeans place their savings? In European bonds which - continue to depreciate on account of the issue which will have - to be made for the war debt and to consolidate the monetary - situation? Assuredly more money will come here than many - believe in search of investment. The United States with its new - monetary law does not require as much as before. To Brazil and - Chile it will not go for some time, neither to Mexico or the - Balkans. - - An interesting point is the manner in which these $120,000,000 - will come into the country. - - It should come in the form of Argentine bonds (“Cedulas” - principally), and in coined gold all that is not employed - to cover debts payable to our commerce and industry to - European banks and manufacturers, which sums cannot be - very considerable, although it is difficult to fix them. … - The reaction will bring about the investment of savings in - Argentine revenue-producing bonds instead of in purchases of - land on monthly payments; it will bring about a reduction - in interest and as a consequence of this an abundance of - money which will stubbornly withstand speculation in land. - The movement of the Stock Exchange will reawaken—it has - been dead since 1906—and there will be money for mortgages - and business, replacing that which came from abroad and - which has to be repaid. All of this will bring in time an - immigration of Cedulas of our external debt bonds and of - railway and industrial shares. What will probably not take - place for several years, perhaps for many, is what I mentioned - at the commencement, namely, that land and other objects - of speculation which do not produce anything will rise to - prices which their owners dream about and pretend to obtain, - as neither banks nor capitalists will invest their money in - such objects, neither will they stimulate speculation, all of - which are circumstances which will contribute to develop the - economic forces of the country and to foment its industries and - its commerce until there arrives for the Argentine Republic - the psychological moment of being able to produce all that - it consumes, that is to say, become self-supporting, without - having to fall back on European industry, a situation at which - the United States of North America have arrived after great - efforts. - -Remains only to be added that Mr. Tornquist appears to have omitted -consideration of the possibility of money being _withdrawn_ from South -America by European investors, not on account of any lack of confidence, -but simply because such investors may under existing conditions have -actual need of all the pecuniary resources they are able to realize. - -For the getting in of the 1914-15 harvests there has been sufficient -labour available; because of the stoppage of much municipal and building -work, on account of retrenchment rendered necessary by the situation. But -for the future, if, indeed, they are to occupy the prominent place in the -world’s economy for which Nature appears to have destined them, the River -Plate Republics will have to increase their agricultural populations -greatly and speedily. - -The need of this is now fully realized in both countries, but, strange -to say, it is in Uruguay where there are no fiscal lands that proposals -for probably useful legislation to this end have attained the greater -maturity. It is there proposed, in effect, that the Government should -purchase, at least portions of, the present holdings of the large -landowners and colonize the land so purchased on systems similar to that -obtaining in, for instance, Canada. - -Argentina still has large tracts of fiscal land, but no doubt her -large landowners will also aid towards the colonization by granting to -colonists greater fixity of tenure and greater facilities for mixed -farming than the latter have been hitherto able to obtain. - -With regard to Belgian emigration to the River Plate, the fact which -cannot be lost sight of is that the Belgian, especially the Fleming, is -a person deeply attached to his own land and his own ways of living. -It seems certain that if Belgians of the agricultural class are to be -colonized in South America, such colonization will have to be effected -by means of settlements like those of the Welsh colony in Chubut and the -Swiss colony in Colonia. - -A Flemish family would view with vehement disgust the ramshackle home -of an Argentine or Uruguayan CHACRERO (small farmer); a disgust which, -communicated to their friends in Europe, would effectually stop further -Belgian immigration. - -The Belgian is a good worker, but he is much more “insular” than the -British in his scorn of ways of living which differ from his own. He is -not adaptable enough, in any way, to be put to live or work among the -composite Spanish-Italian-American rural classes of the River Plate. - -Probably both Argentine and Uruguayan will continue to work out his own -salvation in this vital matter of attracting agricultural colonists to -his land. Already the spirit of democratic unrest menaces privilege in -Argentina, privilege which has already been destroyed in Uruguay. And the -greatest political danger which now seems to threaten Argentina and has -for some time past been the bane of Uruguay is doctrinairism; a tendency -to pursue to most unpractically illogical consequences theories which -seem to their initiators and supporters to be destined to cure all the -social and economic ills to which man is prone. - -State socialism from high places in Uruguay and socialism of all kinds -and varieties from lower social spheres in Argentina are each set on the -adoption of its own empiric policy. - -Like all young things, these Republics must pick themselves up again when -they fall (and, in truth, they display great capability for doing so), -but it would be well if, just at the present moment, they were to adopt -and fully carry out some provedly sound colonizing policy. Afterwards -they might experiment with single-tax, rural Banks, state ownership of -land and all upon and within it, as much as they might find themselves -able to afford to do. - -Meanwhile they must work patiently, in unadventurous fashion, towards the -most soundly rapid possible development of their rich natural resources. - -During 1915, all extension of activity was at a standstill in both -Republics. Little or no land changed hands, unless under practically -forced sale; city improvements and private building projects were stayed, -and no new railway extensions were put under construction.[8] - -A few good harvests[9] will put these things as they were; but the lesson -of the War will have been lost for Argentina and Uruguay if they do not -see to the matter of the extension of their agricultural industries. - -It seems, however, that they now are solidly determined to do so; and -that, far from the lesson of recent events being lost for them, the -finding of themselves cast on their own resources has led to a most -beneficial and self-sacrificing examination of what those resources are -in contrast with what they so easily might be. - -The real vitality of these countries can be measured by the fact that the -prices of their National Securities, which fell with the world-wide shock -of July-August, 1914, were by the following September already on the high -road to the practically complete recovery they have now attained. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -HISTORY AND POLITICS - - -The political history of the River Plate Republics begins with the wars -which made possible the great Declaration of Independence from the -dominion of Spain on the 25th of May, 1810. Their most romantic history -is that of those wars and that of the old Colonial days immediately -preceding them. As, however, the only slight pretension of the present -book is to be informative on matters of fact, romance must wait on, -perchance, the author’s more leisured moments and some outline be -presented now of the events which had most influence in making Argentina -and Uruguay what they are to-day. - -Having overthrown the rule of Spain the former River Plate colonies -became involved in a long internecine struggle for supremacy of power. -For fifty years the United States of the River Plate were most disunited -by local jealousies and the rural districts were only usually unanimous -in their refusal to submit to the Government at Buenos Aires, composed -of men who, as the rural populations said with a great amount of truth, -were endeavouring to rule even more despotically than did the Viceroys -and by purely Viceregal methods. Were that submitted to, the revolution -would have been in vain as far as concerned the substitution of -democratic principles for those of tyranny. This was no doubt true, for -the politicians of Buenos Aires neither knew, nor had had any opportunity -of knowing, methods of Government other than those under which they -themselves had been brought up. Had they known it, though it is only -just to them to say that they did not in the least realize the fact, rule -under them in the way they proposed to rule, would have been merely an -exchange of King Stork for King Log. The country was, however, quick to -grasp the menace, and it is only very regrettable that rivalry between -its several contemporary would-be saviours produced so long a continuance -of political chaos, during which newly acquired Liberty and Independence -had no chance to develop the vast natural resources which had lain idle -in consequence of the Spanish policy of squeezing the life out of the -goose which would otherwise have laid so many golden eggs for Spain. In -consequence of civil war it was, as has been indicated, not much before -1860 that it began to lay any appreciable number of such eggs for itself -or anyone else. It only began to do so under two tyrants: Rozas in the -South and Artígas in the North. Both were strong men and patriots; and -both held power, in spite of opposition both open and treacherous, for, -as later history has shown, the good of the respective territories -they had brought under their sway. Harsh as were their methods, these -were suited to lawless times. Of each of them it has been said that he -permitted no thief but himself to live. - -As a fact neither were thieves nor sought nor attained overmuch wealth -for themselves. Both, however, forestalled otherwise inevitable -assassination by giving their enemies no shrift at all; once these had -been ascertained. And both succeeded in establishing police systems -throughout their territories which would rival the European secret -services of to-day. - -Nothing went on unknown to them; from short-lived conspiracies to petty -thefts. And the punishment for each offence inflicted by them was swift -and closely fitted to the crime. - -No one has yet attempted a complete whitewashing of Rozas; though, in -every political crisis in which the Government has shown any apparent -weakness, old men have sighed for his reincarnation. Artígas, on the -other hand, whose memory not so long ago rivalled those of the most -traditionally cruel old-world potentates, is now become the Saviour and -National hero of Uruguay. The apostle of the democratic principle. - -Truth about his personality probably lies somewhere between these two -views, but there is no doubt but that he and Rozas were men needed for -and suited to their times. Fearless and far-sighted, they made order -out of chaos, and individually cruel as may have been many of their -acts, it was their iron rule which laid the foundations of the admirable -constitutions of what are now the separate Republics of Argentina and -Uruguay. Rozas really founded the Argentine Republic as much as Artígas -did the “Banda Oriental,” part of which is now Uruguay. But the period -of strife which succeeded the Declaration of the Independence of the -whole of the River Plate Territories had lasted just over half a century -when General Mitre was chosen as the first President of a United Federal -Argentina. - -He was succeeded by Sarmiento, who did much to develop agriculture and -was the great pioneer of education. Sarmiento had been a political -exile in Europe, where he learned much; and, being a man of exceptional -intellect, stored up his acquired knowledge and enlightenment for his -country’s subsequent great good. - -Since the first Presidency of General Mitre there has only been one -political revolution which affected the whole of Argentina, the one which -in 1890 ousted President Juarez Celman and was immediately succeeded by -the financial crisis with which the name of Baring is chiefly associated -in the European mind. - -Both that revolution and the crisis were the natural outcome of a disease -which would have completely ruined any country less rich in natural -resources than Argentina. That disease was complete political and -financial corruption; which then came to a head and necessitated drastic -operation. Since then the Argentine nation has advanced in political and -financial health with extraordinary and unparalleled rapidity. - -The history of Uruguay has run on different lines since she emerged from -the older Banda Oriental. She has been the almost constant victim, until -very recent years, of the fervent patriotism of her rural population; in -rebellion, often with much apparent justice, against what it has from -time to time considered to be the prejudicial doctrinarianism of the -town-bred men who have directed her Government in Montevideo. In any case -the rural population has always been in a more or less declared state of -rebellion against the Government. For many years the “White” party was -in power and the “Red” in revolution. Now for a long period the “Reds” -have kept place and nominal power, from which until comparatively very -recently the “Whites” have never ceased to endeavour to oust them. - -Let it not, however, be thought that either the retention of power by -one party or its attempted overthrow by the other has in Uruguay been -due to personal ambition or corrupt greed on either side; as has been, -unfortunately but very frequently, the case in other South American -Republics. To think this would be to do a cruel injustice to the national -character, the leading characteristics of which are uprightness and -honesty in thought or deed. No Uruguayan would ever have rebelled had -he not thought that the policy of the existing Government was gravely -prejudicial to the vital interests of his country, nor would an Uruguayan -statesman have ever clung to power unless he had been conscientiously -convinced that the policy of his party was the only true way to that -country’s best development and prosperity. - -This may seem to many readers as yet but little acquainted with Uruguayan -political and commercial History as the mere expression of an enthusiasm -for the Uruguayan character on the part of the present writer. But a -closer examination of that History than is within the scope of the -present work will show the views just above expressed to be nothing more -than a statement of cold fact. In part proof of which stands the total -absence from Uruguayan Financial History of any repudiation or avoidance -of the National indebtedness. Long periods of Agricultural paralysis, -often almost total (in a land which depends exclusively on agricultural -products), due to civil strife and all the heavy outlay consequent on -such wars, have never led Uruguay to depart from the strictly gold basis -of her monetary system. Her paper dollar has always retained its full -face value as a token and remains the best dollar on the exchange markets -of the world. And the world-wide credit of private Uruguayan firms stands -high above that of similar firms in other, even the most prosperous South -American Republics. This is due, and due only, to the very high standard -of political and commercial morality obtaining, and which has always -obtained, in Uruguay. - -Now, there is good ground for the hope that the country is persuaded -that the best way to attain the greatest possible general prosperity is -to beat the sword, once and for ever, into a ploughshare. At the same -time it cannot be hidden that “State Socialism gone mad” (to quote an -Uruguayan description of the policy introduced and pursued by Señor -Batlle y Ordoñez[10]) strained the patience of the rural population and -that of a goodly proportion of Montevideans as well, to a degree which -was perilously near to breaking point. He wished, not only to improve -all conditions of his country, but to make Uruguay an object-lesson in -State Socialism to the world. His political enemies, or rather opponents, -say that, while he has read the works of Henry George, in some confused -translation or other, neither his education nor his acquaintance with -such subjects fits him to judge of even the works of a now somewhat -discredited political economist; also that he, the ex-President, is a -potentially dangerous lunatic. But note that no one, even those who -feared most from his persistent political and financial adventures, have -ever even so much as hinted that his policy was dictated by other than -quite honestly intentioned conviction. Uruguayans are seldom corrupt and -seldom suspect venality in their fellow-countrymen. - -Modern Argentina history commences with the renaissance of the country -immediately after the upheaval of 1891, and that of Uruguay a much less -number of years ago. Till these periods, political unrest was a constant -factor in both countries. Now, a National revolution has become a thing -unthinkable in Argentina; while it grows every day less likely for -responsible or influential men in Uruguay to instigate or encourage aught -that might impede her triumphal march to rivalry with the prosperity of -the great sister Republic on the Southern bank of the River Plate. - -The recent death of Dr. Saenz Peña, an Argentine President whose high -personal character and statesmanlike rule fully entitled him to the -respect he received from all parties and classes throughout the Republic, -is a serious loss to his country. Fortunately, however, the Presidential -office is now held by Dr. Victorino de la Plaza, formerly Vice-President, -a man of acknowledged soundness of judgment and tact and of very many -years’ experience in Ministerial, Diplomatic and Parliamentary life. - -As for Uruguay, her chief reliance must be on the deep patriotism of -her leading men and on their good sense to keep a peace which is the -only true road to the general prosperity of a country the rich natural -endowments of which cannot develop if men and horses are taken from the -plough, as they constantly were in the past by one party or the other, to -partake in the mutual destruction of civil war. - -As is insisted on very often in these pages, the chief need of these new -countries is population; an end most surely defeated by conditions which -not only repelled all immigration but killed off a large proportion of -the men already there. There is good reason to believe that all this and -more is now fully appreciated by every responsible man in Uruguay; and, -once convinced of the right course to be followed for the country’s good, -there is not a Uruguayan who will not follow it with all the patriotic -doggedness which formerly caused the lamentable continuance of civil war. - -Both Argentine and Uruguayan financial policies and methods are now -sound. Argentina is prosperous with great future increase of prosperity -before her, and Uruguay is now well on the high road to similar -prosperity and as brilliant a future. Both are at peace with one another -and their neighbouring Republics; all of whom are much too busy with -their own interests and too democratic in spirit to dream of aggressive -war. Added to which only Uruguay and Paraguay are small enough to need -ever to covet further territory. - -Brazil does not: Argentina has more than once already in the past refused -to take Uruguay into her Federation: Paraguay, except as a constant -nuisance to herself and everyone near her, is, and will be for many years -to come, a negligible quantity in South American politics. The Andine -frontier now fixed between Chile and Argentine is never again likely to -be disturbed by either. Uruguay may possibly cast longing eyes one day at -the rich grazing lands of Southern Brazil; but she is more than unlikely -ever to attempt to acquire these by force. Their annexation by her could -only occur on the initiative of the inhabitants of those regions; who, -unless Brazil is able in the future to keep her financial and fiscal -house in better order than at present, might very conceivably prefer to -be under the Government of Montevideo rather than that of Rio de Janeiro. -Even then, the question of different languages would present a difficulty -to the assimilation of the State of Rio Grande del Sul by its Southern -neighbour. - -One great step in the democratic progress of the Argentine Republic was -made three years ago on the initiative of Dr. Roque Saenz Peña. This was -the passing of a law which introduced the ballot and made the exercise -of the franchise obligatory on a universal male suffrage of native-born -Argentines and foreigners of two years’ residence. - -It was a great reform made necessary by many considerations. The chief -of which were the public indifference to all matters political which did -not immediately concern Industry or Commerce and the profound discredit -into which elections, parliamentary and municipal, had fallen as a -consequence of that indifference; the whole effect of which was to leave -the internal government of the country entirely in the hands of a mostly -mercenary caste of professional politicians. This caste was habitually -guilty of electoral corruption and malpractices which, in the absence of -any interested public opinion, continued to work in a vicious circle by -causing complete abstention from any exercise of the vote on the part of -all citizens of the Republic except those forming the small gangs which -were under the orders of the “Caudillo” or political manager of each -district. These gangs went to the poll, at so much per head in cash and -many illicit privileges, in order that there should be any voting at all -to declare the due re-election of the men who wielded the political power -in the National or Provincial Legislatures or in the Councils of the -various Municipalities. - -The substitution, under the new Law, of genuine for fictitious elections -has also operated as another, and, probably, final blow struck at the -Provincial Oligarchies, reference to which has been made in another -chapter. - -No one outside South America would really credit the depths of corrupt -absurdity in which elections in Argentina were permitted to remain so -late in these days of her general enlightenment and prosperity. That -reform in this highly important respect was so long a-coming was due -to individual preoccupation with their own affairs of the people of a -country the material development of which was being accomplished with -bewildering rapidity. - -Men had no time to occupy themselves with such a tough, and rather -dangerous, job as the dethronement of the professional politician; who, -in the higher spheres of Provincial Government, usually belonged to one -of the widely influential groups of the historically dominant native -families. Public morality had sunk to a strangely low level in comparison -with the ever-increasing commercial rectitude of the country, when the -most startling tale of electoral fraud or administrative corruption would -be received with only a shrug of the shoulders and an indulgent smile, -as of wonder why the narrator was making so much ado about such a very -ordinary occurrence. - -The management of elections in the Federal Capital and in the Provinces -differed only in method; the results were uniform triumphs for the -party in power. In the Capital the authorities went to the trouble of -collecting the certificates of citizenship (the deposit of which at the -polling booths was the form of voting under the old system) of dead and -absent men and sometimes of hiring others, and with filling in blank -forms of these with fictitious names, in sufficient quantities to swamp -any attempted voting by an opposition. In the Provinces, the elections -were always stage-managed by the district commissary of Police. He led -up the necessary gang of peon voters, to whom he served out a dinner of -_carne con cuero_, wine and a $5 bill each, to celebrate the occasion -and to indemnify them for any trouble they might have been put to by -their attendance. Furthermore, the faithful electors knew that in the -case of their getting into any scrape in the future which might otherwise -cause trouble between themselves and the police, they would stand every -possible chance of dismissal with a friendly caution; while were the -case one of assaulting an enemy that enemy would stand a better chance -of imprisonment than they. These are not traveller’s tales, but facts -well known to every resident in Argentina and, I suspect, similar facts -are within the experience of everyone living in one or other of most -of the Latin American Republics. So that the quantity of ink spilt in -the European papers over the accusations brought against ex-President -Huerta, to the effect that he had improperly influenced the late Mexican -Presidential Election, reads comically to most South Americans. - -Now, in Argentina, all qualified persons must vote, or be mulcted in a -penalty for not so doing. And it must be your own fault if anyone else -knows which way you have voted. Even the innate native conviction that -elections are rites instituted for the exclusive benefit of the already -elect must have suffered severe shock from Dr. Saenz Peña’s Law. It will -now be difficult to obtain a price for a mere promise the fulfilment or -otherwise of which cannot be ascertained by the purchaser. - -The passing of the new Law really seems a miracle when its interference -with long-established custom is considered. It has perhaps crowned the -patrician caste with the glory of heroically complete self-sacrifice. -Certainly it heralds the twilight of the gods who have guided the -country’s destinies since their ancestors led its rough armies to victory -under the autumnal sun of May, 1810 (the sun which is blazoned in gold -on the blue and white of the National banner), who fought for or opposed -Rozas and Artígas and upheld the National prestige in the wearisome -conflict with Paraguay. - -In the old days of musket or rifle and bandolier, the Argentine -patricians freely gave their lives and fortunes for the PATRIA. Now in -frock-coats and silk hats, they have given up for her the right to all -power not derived from individual merit or capacity. In doing so they -have made an offering to democratic Liberty greater by far than any -attained during the sixty years of Rebellion and Civil War which began -with the dawn of the nineteenth century. - -The immediate results of this unchaining of the power of a proletariat -which has not yet attained a very high educational or intellectual level -will nevertheless be watched with interest not unmingled with anxiety by -all concerned with political economy in the abstract and the progress and -peaceful welfare of Argentina in particular. - -In this connection it is perhaps remarkable that whereas the choice of -each New President has for many years been a foregone conclusion during -at least the last year or so of his predecessor’s term of office, no such -lengthy period of predestination was anywhere observable in the case of -the successor to Dr. Victorino de la Plaza, who vacates the Presidential -chair this year. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -RACIAL ELEMENTS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS - - -What will be the result some generations hence of the enormous influx -of immigration from all parts of Europe to Argentina and in, as yet, a -much less degree to Uruguay? What manner of man will the Argentine of the -future be when he has completed his development as a national type? This -is a question often asked, but as to which only the most shadowy answer -can yet be given. The elements which are going to his formation are so -many and the qualities of those elements so difficult to reckon in regard -to their respectively possible likelihood of survival in the settled -type. The most that can be done here is to enumerate the chief of such -elements in their approximate quantitative values. - -The true Argentine of the past is the descendant of the Spanish -conquerors with usually some admixture of native Indian blood derived -from a remote ancestress, while another less remote has perhaps given -him a tinge of black blood in remembrance of the days when African slave -labour tended his great-grandfather’s sugar canes and maize. - -But Spanish blood is predominant and Spanish qualities distinguish most -of the Argentine, and all of the Uruguayan, leading families of to-day. -Ceremoniously courteous to a fault—the fault of deeming it rude ever -to refuse a favour asked; regarding it as a strange lack of _savoir -vivre_ on the part of the suppliant should the latter not understand the -granting as a mere polite formality, in no way to be taken as a serious -engagement. - -An Argentine will ask a favour of another as a mere hint that he would -be very glad if the latter granted it; a stranger ignorant of Argentine -manners and ways might ask it really expecting to receive a substantial -response to his request. Both would be met with a charming if vague -assertion that nothing would give the person asked greater pleasure than -to do anything the asker desired. Each might attain his object or not, as -other considerations dictated; but whereas the demand would be credited -to the former as finesse, contempt for boorishness would be the lot of -the latter did he present himself expectant of the immediate fulfilment -of the promise. Almost as well might he turn up unexpectedly to lunch -at the home of an Argentine who on first receiving him had said with a -graciously comprehensive wave of his hand, “This house is yours.” - -As a matter of fact an Argentine’s home is a very difficult castle for a -stranger to enter. - -This probably for two chief reasons. For the first of these we must trace -racial elements back to the Moorish civilization of Spain and the jealous -seclusion of women from all male eyes but those of close relations. The -second is a general lack of orderliness (also an Oriental characteristic) -usually prevailing in even the richest Argentine households; which makes -it inconvenient to receive except on special and specially prepared -occasions. - -We must follow up the Arab-Semitic blood brought in the veins of the -Spaniard to the new world through mingling with Native Indian and Negro -blood before we come to the heroes who fought for and won independence -from Spanish rule now over a century ago. Since then what intermarryings, -mostly with natives of Italy but also with British, French, German, -Scandinavian and Belgian men and women. - -Guthries, Dumas, Murphys, Schneidewinds, Christophersens, De Bruyns, -Bunges, not to mention bearers of the historic patronymics of Brown and -O’Higgins, are now among the landed aristocracy of Argentina; though, -still, the _crème de la crème_ consists of the descendants of the -Spanish families of Colonial days. Among the middle and lower classes, -especially in the towns, the Italianate element is now overwhelming; -though recently again Spanish immigration has begun to exceed Italian. -All this goes to make a strange racial mixture; of which the first -generation born on Argentine soil knows little about and cares nothing -for the language of its parents, but grows up with a pride, comical to -the detached observer, in the glorious Wars of Independence (fought at -a period when its own ancestry were, as likely as not, peasants in one -or another corner of Europe, and wholly ignorant of the fact of the -existence of the River Plate) and patriotically devoted to the blue and -white Banner and National Anthem (an Italian composition, by the by) of -the land of their parents’ adoption. - -Everyone born on Argentine or Uruguayan soil is Argentine or Uruguayan -of his own very decided will as well as legally; furiously so with the -exclusive fervour of the convert. He cannot or will not speak English, -French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or Flemish as the case may be; -nothing but Spanish, River Plate Spanish, that is to say, is worthy of -his tongue, and he has a truly Galician contempt for the lisping Spanish -of Castile. - -Contrarily to a generally accepted but quite superficial view, an -Uruguayan differs from an Argentine almost if not quite as much as -a Portuguese does from a Spaniard; the reason being that the early -immigration to the two countries was drawn from different parts of Spain. -The first settlement of what is now Uruguay was chiefly drawn from -the Canary Islands and the Basque Provinces; the latter origin being -easily perceptible from a glance at any list of the names of prominent -Uruguayans, past or present. To this fact of early settlement and -because Uruguay has, until quite recently, offered much less attraction -to the stream of European Emigration which flowed past Montevideo to -Buenos Aires, is due the possession of the high degree of many sterling -qualities which distinguishes Uruguayans from their cousins of the other -shore of the River Plate. These qualities have sustained the National -and individual financial credit of Uruguay throughout all troubles and -political vicissitudes. She as a Nation and her individual traders have -always paid 100 cents gold to each dollar and her commercial community -has successfully negatived any attempt on the part of her Governments -to depart from the strictly gold basis of her monetary system. The -Uruguayan dollar is worth slightly more than that of the United States. -This significant fact is due to the uncontaminated preservation of racial -qualities derived through the old Colonists from the Northern parts of -Spain; especially from the Basques, than whom no honester, nor perhaps -more obstinate, people exist. - - -LANGUAGE - -Everyone knows that Spanish is the language of the River Plate Republics; -but, while the written Spanish of South America is one with literary -Spanish all the world over, the spoken language of Argentina and Uruguay -differs from Castilian in many respects. - -The first of these, and probably the most interesting, is the survival -in South America of words in common use in the days of the early -_conquistadores_ and colonists but which have long ago fallen into disuse -in Spain. - -These words gave a deal of trouble a few years ago to certain Argentine -amateur philologists who made more or less ingenious endeavours to derive -them from the aboriginal Quichúa or Guaraní. - -It was reserved for Mr. Paul Groussac, a Frenchman and the custodian of -the Argentine National Library, to inform these derivation hunters, in a -coldly sarcastic little pamphlet, that they would find all the words that -were puzzling them intact in the works of Cervantes and other old Spanish -authors. - -So it is with many Britons not learned in philology. There are many words -and expressions commonly regarded as Americanisms which in truth went to -New England in the _Mayflower_. - -There are also several striking differences between the pronunciation of -Spanish on the River Plate and in Spain. Thus the “ll” which is liquid -in pure Castilian is given in South America a sound very much like the -French “j” in _je_. This, I believe to have come to the New World with -the Galician immigration.[11] - -In the beginning of historical times the various Galician dialects -prevailed over the whole Peninsula; Galician subsequently developing -into modern Portuguese and the Castilian dialect, with much more widely -divergent steps of development, becoming the accepted language of Spain. - -Also the Argentine and Uruguayan disdain the lisping “θ” sound given by -Spaniards to the letter “z” and in a lighter degree to “c.” In South -American Spanish “z,” soft “c” and “s” are indistinguishable to the -ear; all three being given the same sound as an English “s.” There is -also, as might be expected, a distinct difference of intonation between -Spanish as she is spoken in South America and in Spain. Everyone who has -learned to speak Spanish in a South American country ever afterwards -carries with him oral evidence of the place of origin of that linguistic -acquirement; just as does a foreigner who has learned English in the -United States. So it is with South African Dutch; and (may it be said?) -Australian English. And all Colonists of either English, Dutch or Spanish -origin are consciously proud of their own particular fashion of speaking -and, either secretly or openly, regard the intonation of the older -country as rather effeminately affected. _De gustibus_, etc. - -Really, I suppose, there is no good or bad “accent,” as these differences -of intonation are commonly called. It is like flavour, chiefly, if not -entirely, a matter of custom and taste. PRONUNCIATION, however, seems -more frequently a matter of fashion, recurrent as are other fashions in -easily dated periods. - -Probably the South American pronunciation of Spanish mostly dates back to -the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; with, perhaps, an added blunt -plainness born of generations of free rough life on the vast expanses of -the Pampa. - -Modern innovations in the written or spoken language of Argentina -and Uruguay can usually be traced to the great stream of immigration -constantly flowing to these countries, chiefly from Italy and Spain. - - -ARGENTINES AND URUGUAYANS - -The inhabitants of the two Republics of Argentina and Uruguay are only -similar in appearance and natural characteristics to the superficial or -hasty observer. There are several points in which they really differ -fundamentally, the difference being due, as has just been observed, to -the fact that the original settlements of the two parts of the River -Plate Territories were drawn from different parts of Spain and that -the later cosmopolitan stream of immigration passed by Montevideo, on -account of the constantly politically disturbed condition of Uruguay, and -disembarked only at Buenos Aires. Therefore the Uruguayan has retained -the characteristics of his Spanish ancestors in far greater purity than -has the Argentine. - -It is therefore impossible to club the two peoples together in -any attempt at a description or even indication of their leading -characteristics. - -By way of rough comparison it may be said that while the Argentine has -gained in polish and versatility by interbreeding with immigrants from -many European countries, chiefly from all parts of Italy, the Uruguayan -has retained a very large share of the dogged honesty, obstinacy and -capacity for sustained effort in hard work of his Basque and Galician -ancestors. - -In passing from comparison to particular analysis one is at once -confronted with the difficult question, “What is an Argentine?” - -According to Argentine Law, all children born on Argentine soil are -_ipso facto_ Argentines, but to attempt classification of the offspring -of mixed marriages in several degrees of remoteness of parentage would -immediately become a complex impossibility. Certain influences, however, -imposed by the life and surroundings in Argentina, affect all individuals -brought up there, no matter what may be or have been the nationality of -their immediate or remoter ancestry. - -But, with this exception, any description or setting forth of the leading -characteristics of “Argentines” can only safely be submitted in regard to -the direct descendants of the Spanish Conquistadores and early settlers -and of the mixed unions between these and the aboriginal Indian women. -The further but much rarer admixture of African blood introduced by slave -labour, is almost a negligible quantity in the upper classes, though of -considerable and noticeable influence in the lower, especially in the -Northern Provinces, in which the mixture of Indian and Negro blood is -very considerable. - -Nevertheless, these elements of Spanish, Indian and Negro became fused -into a national type the picturesqueness of which is now (alas!) being -rapidly absorbed and transformed in the melting-pot in which it meets -strange elements from every part of civilized Europe. - -Still, the chivalrous and courteous Argentine to be found to-day not -only in the National Senate (and in the Presidential chair), but also in -the maize fields and sugar plantations of the far Western and Northern -Provinces cannot be overlooked either as very important prime material -for the coming race or as possessing many qualities the dilution of -which can only be viewed with a sincere, if partly sentimental, regret. - -Are you a travelling stranger? The _gaucho_ will offer you of the very -best his humble ranch affords with the same native charm and dignity -of manner which will strike you on your arrival and welcome on the -_estancia_ of his ancestral overlord. - -There are still corners of Argentina where the patriarchal system has not -yet died out, where every _peon_ and _vaquero_ considers himself a child -of the great house whose señora sees to the creature comforts and small -luxuries of his wife and children on feast-days and in the time of need. - -No stately old-world courtesy could ever have surpassed that of an -Argentine host of the old school. Truly, on his estancia, all is yours, -and he will frequently make you a daily offering of fruit, chosen by -him, picked with his own hand, especially and exclusively for you, his -guest. The aristocratic Argentine of the old school is a very dignified -gentleman indeed, notwithstanding a century of democratic profession. -I say “profession,” for though I believe the leading families of the -Republic are quite sincere in a conviction that they rank among the -world’s most advanced democrats, the government of the country has -remained almost exclusively in their truly patrician hands since the days -of the Declaration of Independence. What may happen in the present newly -commenced era of compulsory exercise of a universal franchise no one can -well say, but most of the landed influence still belongs to the great -historic Argentine families; who, moreover, form a caste which keeps even -the plutocracy of more recently foreign origin at a quite respectful -distance. It will be a long time, at any rate, before the prestige of -these families ceases to make its influence felt in the capital as well -as in the districts over which they have ruled for, practically, at least -a century. The apparent familiarity which exists between them and their -dependants or humbler provincial neighbours is the outcome of the loyal -affection which at one time existed in England between squire and farmer -or villager. A feeling born of and sustained by the patriarchal system -and very widely different to the “I am as good as you are” pretensions of -new democracy. - -The true Argentine, be he patrician, estanciero or gaucho peon is never -boorish even when he seeks to pick a quarrel with studied insult; and -if his humour and language would, at times, severely shock European -ears polite, he is studiously careful to keep that sort of talk for the -intimacy of his own household and associates. If you are admitted to -that intimacy, well, so much the worse for you, if you are of a prudish -disposition, but you can console yourself that your privilege is a very -special and rare one; bestowed on you by virtue of some exceptionally -sympathetic quality with which your host’s kindly imagination has endowed -you. He is a kindly, charitable man, the real Argentine: an odd mixture -of infantile vanity and strong common sense, hospitable to anyone -arriving at his house through force of circumstance or if he can find -a reasonable excuse to himself for breaking through the rule of almost -hareem-like privacy of his home and intimate family affairs. Courteous -himself, he expects courtesy, and will not brook clumsiness of speech or -manner. Leisurely in his ways, he will not be hustled over any business. -Try to hurry him, and he not only resents your lack of good manners but -also suspects that you are endeavouring to lead him into some kind of -sharp-dealing trap. Anyway, he not only will not budge an inch from his -own deliberate attitude but most probably will oppose the inertia of a -closed front door to all your further endeavours to approach him. This -Argentine characteristic is a rock on which many a Yankee hustler has -seen his best thought-out propositions founder. - -In any business or other intercourse with a true Argentine you must -not expect him to keep verbally made appointments nor to apologize -subsequently for not having done so. Usually you need not trouble to -keep them yourself. Whatever you have in hand with him will prosper -better and progress just as, or even more, quickly if you are content -to take the matter up where you left it at your last interview, the -next time you happen to meet him by chance at any at all convenient -place or time. Do not talk him to death about it, he is very quick at -understanding your wishes and proposed plans from the merest hint. If -not, he will ask you very plain questions. - -But _he_ must conduct the negotiations, _he_ must clothe your ideas until -they bear a respectable appearance of being of his own originating. That -is his vanity; but only then may you venture to strip them of certain new -features which on close examination will be seen to be more favourable to -his interests than your own. - -During the changes which your propositions will inevitably undergo in the -course of negotiations, he may, if you are not careful, get the better -of you in the deal. That also is his vanity; a vanity to guard against -without ever committing the solecism of a too bluntly apparent discovery -of his aim. If he finds you always politely firm as a gentleman should -be, you will have gained his friendship and respect—often valuable assets -even if your original business should not go through. - -In a word, in Argentina, as elsewhere, one must respect the native -customs and conventionalities unless one wishes to encounter opposition. -And the _vis inertia_ of the opposition which an Argentine can and does -offer to persons and ideas with which he is out of sympathy is invincible. - -Such persons or schemes will be remitted by him to a “Mañana” which never -comes. - -That is the true inward meaning in Argentina of mañana; a polite excuse -for temporarily or definitely postponing matters which have not made a -favourable impression. It is not, as is so often thought, a mere lazy -pretext for not doing to-day anything that possibly can be put off till -to-morrow. - -The Argentine is not in the least lazy. On the contrary, he has reserve -stores of latent energy the sudden calling into action of which, when -he considers such action called for, is apt to astonish those who have -formed superficial and hasty judgments on his nature. - -It would seem trite to say that the first step to success in a country is -intelligent study of the inhabitants were it not so constantly evident -that new arrivals, who really ought to know better, seem to bring with -them the idea that along with their business, whatever it may be, -they have brought a mission to mould Argentine methods on the latest -European or North American forms, forms which are the outcome of entirely -different racial and climatic conditions. Thus, they, at the outset, -impose upon themselves the Sisyphus task of rolling their pet stones -up the hill of customs which really are the outcome of the racial and -physical necessities of the people and country. - -You cannot grow wheat in a swamp nor make much of a retriever out of a -pointer, but the swamp may yield good rice and a pointer may be a very -good dog in his way. - -The sooner an immigrant, be he financier or farmer, realizes such facts -the better for his success on the River Plate or elsewhere. By not doing -so he fails in his enterprise and blames the failure on to the people -or country to which he took projects predoomed only by his own lack of -intelligent adaptability. - -Another word of didactic advice to the intending emigrant to Argentina. -Always be sure, no matter what his appearance and manners may seem to -indicate to your first glance at him, that every action of an Argentine -is firmly founded on a perfectly common-sense view of circumstances and -their influence on his own best interests, although that foundation -may lie under, and, for those who do not really know him, be hidden by -various strata of personal vanity and easily aroused but ephemeral -enthusiasm. He is no fool and most emphatically not a lazy man, but only -one who is rather cynically apt to let other people work for him as much -and as often as they will. When he cannot get things done for him he can -and will do them, very effectively, for himself. - -And lest, to some people, the foregoing observations and counsel might -seem so much word-embroidery on a canvas composed mostly of the author’s -imagination, the reader is humbly asked to compare it with the known -facts of Argentine economic history. - -In 1810, the beginning of the country’s real development, the great River -Plate landowner was a rural patriarch, much after the fashion of the -shepherd kings of Palestine. - -He ousted the Master-Stranger from his land and only afterwards permitted -him and encouraged him to return to it as the servant of himself, the -true overlord of the soil. On that soil its patriarchs extended their -proprietary rights ever more and more while foreign railways and all -kinds of other enterprise constantly enhanced the value of the land held, -always almost exclusively, by Argentines. His railway and dock-building -servants from overseas got very good wages indeed for their work, as they -still do in common with others who have made tramways and constructed -water, gas and electrical power works. But he who up to now has had the -most durable and the chief profit from all this is the Argentine or -Uruguayan; the man who holds and will hold the Government of the two -Republics and retains all the appreciated value of the much greater part -of the soil of their vast territories. Concessions of land to foreigners -made in the past by way of part wages are nowadays secretly regarded as -having been errors committed in ignorance of the real value of what was -then parted with and with such self-accusation of error goes the resolve -not to repeat it. Still it should be stated that at the time of making -such grants some such inducement was necessary in a part of the world -which had only very recently emerged from half a century of civil war. - -It is, of course, self-evident that no new railway enterprise will -get a huge grant of land; as did the Central Argentine Company as an -inducement to construct. The attitude of the Argentine to-day to all -foreigners is that they may come to his country and there enjoy similar -rights and liberties with himself coupled with rather less than his own -responsibilities. They may keep the profits they make, and very good -profits are obtainable by well-conducted, necessary enterprise, after -deduction of certain percentage by way of rent for their concessions or -licences; but the real property, the value of which is constantly being -increased by the activity of foreign industry and commerce, remains in, -and even as to formerly alienated parts of it gradually tends to drift -more and more into, native hands. - -The Argentine is, as I have said, not a fool, even still less is the -Uruguayan; on the contrary, he is especially wise in his appreciation -of his own natural limitations. He is by long heredity and his own -upbringing a farmer, not a commercial man nor a speculator in aught else -but land. And to land, therefore as well as for the other good reasons -already pointed out, he devotes his best attention. - -He cannot, perhaps, build nor manage railways, nor has he generally a -genius for banking, but he can and does breed as fine cattle and sheep -and grow as good quality maize and wheat as any imported European farm -manager. In farming, the special subject which he does thoroughly -understand, he gives practical evidence of his judgment in assimilation -of the best farming science and of adapting it, or such part of it as is -most capable of adaptation, to the conditions and requirements of his own -particular lands. - -The finest and the most up-to-date model estancias in Argentina and -Uruguay belong to and have been brought to their present state of -perfection by Argentines and Uruguayans. - -Probably these facts dispose of the accusation of dilatory laziness so -often brought against him. - -In this chapter I have attempted to inform intending emigrants and -not to formulate a defence of the Argentine or Uruguayan against the -ignorance of his calumniators. He needs none. With a charmingly cynical -indifference, which is all his own but which it does not at all times -suit his interests to manifest, he goes on piling up colossal fortunes -amid surroundings much more congenial to his nature than even the -European Grand Hotels or Cafés in which he likes from time to time to -disport himself and display his wealth. His estancia always remains his -home, in which he spends the best and greatest portion of his life, -surrounded by the peons whose great-grandfathers were vassals of his own. - -It is rather the fashion among new arrivals in Buenos Aires and -Montevideo to laugh at the Argentines and Uruguayans and their ways of -managing their affairs, but it appears to me that this is a case of “He -laughs best who laughs last.” The native of the River Plate has contrived -to get his country developed for him while retaining the entire mastery -of it. Men of long residence in these countries have practically adopted -their manners and customs simply because experience has taught them that -such are best adapted to these countries’ natural conditions. As has been -observed earlier in this chapter, the Argentine, especially, is conscious -of his own limitations, one of the chief of which is a pretty general -incapacity for patient attention to detail in his work. His scientific -acquirements are often brilliant as far as study is concerned. He -assimilates knowledge rapidly and accurately, but in its application he -is often too apt to fail of obtaining satisfactory results just and only -because of his lack of patience and appreciation of the value of detail -in practice. That is why he prudently abandoned his own past attempts -to control certain of his railways which, financial failures under his -management, quickly became prosperous concerns in British hands. His -hospitals still show many defects due solely to the lack of attention to -necessary details on the part of the medical staff. Brilliant exceptions, -which unfortunately do not vitiate this rule, are to be found in Mr. -Lertora, the Argentine manager of the Western Railway, and Dr. Penna, -the President of the National Council of Hygiene and the creator of the -magnificently managed Asistencia Publica of Buenos Aires and of all the -great sanitary works of that city. - -To sum up the average Argentine of the upper classes, in middle age and -onward he is a grave and reverend señor; a rather wild and boisterous -young gentleman until he has sown a profusion of wild oats. - -Throughout his life he shows a childlike pride in his wealth and all -it can give to him and his, is lavish in largesse with occasional and -seemingly capricious moments of close-fistedness. Courteous to a fault in -manner, he has nevertheless ever a keen eye for the main chance in all -matter of sufficient magnitude to really interest him. - -In fact he has many characteristics which are reminiscent of the less -objectionable qualities of mediæval nobility, in common with whom he is -quick to resent anything he deems intentional insult to or disparagement -of himself. He will forgive anyone for having got the better of him -in a deal (though it is fair to him to say that it is not often he -finds himself the victim of such an offence), but he will not for any -consideration brook clumsily bad manners. He is by no means a puritanical -moralist nor severe on the moral peccadillos of his neighbours, and he -leaves religion pretty much to his women-folk. - -In the lower classes he is still always courteous, expects courtesy from -others, and resents, quickly and often fiercely, any defect in that -respect in his neighbour’s behaviour. - -Neither will he brook pretentious arrogance in any man, his social -superior or his equal. Such arrogance meets immediately not only with his -quick resentment but his profound and evident disdain. Treat him as he -will treat you, and you will find him uniformly pleasant, light-hearted -and humorous. Obligatory education is slowly freeing him from the -illiteracy which until recently was very general, especially outside the -limits of the Capital or one or other of the largest towns. Even now the -lower-class Argentine is usually an exceedingly poor scholar. Therefore, -and because of his rapidly growing admixture of Italian peasant blood, he -is superstitious and still often has a deeper faith in fortune-telling -quacks than in qualified medical science. Wise men and women are still -much consulted for love-potions and cures and curses of all sorts for man -and beast in the country districts, but while mere fortune-tellers are -not interfered with by the law, penal restrictions are being more and -more stringently enforced against quack doctors; most of whose remedies -have come direct from mediæval Spain or Italy. - -Argentine women? This is a subject on which one is not only tempted but -almost forced to confine oneself to the usual platitudes concerning -beauty of the Spanish type: large-eyed and opulent and at its apogee -during the decade between 15 and 25 years of age. - -It is seldom that an Argentine woman of any class troubles her head with -business matters; still less with theories concerning the rights of her -sex. She is usually content to do her most apparent duty in the sphere to -which it has pleased God to call her. - -She manages her household in a quasi-Oriental haphazard way; if of the -wealthier classes does little but order that household in such ways as -may correspond to her momentary caprice, if of the poorer, naturally, she -does the work herself, but in the same capricious fashion. - -Saturday is the great day for domestic cleaning up throughout all -classes, Sunday a feast day whereon little work is done. - -Apart from these general fixtures, household duties may be said never to -be begun and never finished. In all houses one may see the servants or -the housewife, as the case may be, besom in one hand and _mate_ in the -other at any time of day. What is not done to-day is finished to-morrow, -that is all; and what can one do more? - -To newly arrived Europeans these methods give an idea of continual -discomfort, but the sooner such Europeans become accustomed to the ways -of the country in this as in other matters the better for their own peace -of mind. Of one thing they may be assured from the commencement of their -stay on the River Plate, viz. that it is not they who will change those -ways by an iota, and that therefore they may as well abandon all notions -of what they would consider as reform of good grace to begin with instead -of at the end of a more or less lengthy nerve-racking struggle. - -The servant difficulty is particularly difficult in these sunny lands -where no one need, and very few do, know what it is to suffer the real -pinch of want or of hardship other than such as custom sanctions. The -European lady who worries her servants with, to them, new ideas of how -her household should be conducted will simply cause them to quit her -employ with wonderful unanimity and celerity. - -They won’t stop, that is all. She may give them sleeping or other -accommodation which they may never before have enjoyed nor probably -even dreamed of. These attentions strike no sympathetic chord if they -be accompanied by what the native Argentine considers silly pettiness -of interference with the way in which he or she is accustomed to do his -or her work. Any Argentine servant would sooner sleep, as many do, on -a mattress thrown down at night in any passage way in the house of a -native Argentine family and suffer the alternate friendly familiarity and -impassioned scolding of a mistress whose ways they understand and who -leaves them to theirs, than occupy the nicest possible servant’s bedroom -in a more strictly ordered establishment. The true and main lesson of -all which is that the Argentine, to whatever social class he or she may -belong, is a child of nature to whom disciplinary fetters of any kind -are unbearable and to the freer nature of whom the monotony of much of -the punctual regularity which Europeans are apt to consider a necessary -factor of real comfort is impossibly burdensome. - -On the River Plate one must live as the Rio Platenseans do if one’s stay -is not to be one continued struggle for unattainable domestic ideals. In -the best hotels, in the millionaire’s palace or the peon’s hut the same -happy-go-lucky spirit prevails and dominates domestic, as it also does -public, life, in especially, perhaps, Argentina. Everything is muddled -through somehow. But it _is_ muddled through to desired results, which, -after all, is the chief practical desideratum. - -There is much of the Spanish seclusion in the better-class home life of -both Argentina and Uruguay, which adds to the obstacles in the way of -criticism or appreciation by a foreigner. - -That the children are almost universally what we should call spoiled -is, however, evident from the most superficial experience of that life. -The Argentine theories, if they can be termed such, of bringing up are -largely controlled by a fear of crushing the individuality of the child -especially if he be a boy. The most usual reply of an Argentine child -to any order given to it is “No quiero” (I don’t want to), and there -the matter ends. The parents smile indulgently, the child does not do -what it did not want to do, and woe betide the governess or tutor who is -possessed of too strict disciplinary ideas. Thus, from the cradle to the -grave the male Argentine is used to his own sweet way, while his sisters -are made to feel few trammels of a purely household kind. These apart, -however, Argentine women seldom, if ever, show any symptoms of rebellion -against the domestic seclusion which is their accepted lot, especially -after marriage. - -The Argentine woman is seldom disturbed by intellectual aspirations, -likes creature comforts and facilities for the standard of dress -pertaining to her station, and she is contented and happy in her home -with the theatre as a distraction. At the theatre she only favours -performances which demand intellectual effort for their appreciation if -and when fashion impels her attendance thereat; so that she may see and -be seen in the foyer and hold pleasant receptions in her box, receptions -not always confined to the _extr’actes_. - -In a word, she is not intellectual and therefore feels no need for -troubling her usually handsome head with intellectuality. - -She is a wife and a mother and a lady bountiful to all the feudal -dependants of her husband’s house. Childishly fond of dress and -admiration but with as little desire for liberty of action as she has for -deep thought. - -As will have been gathered from the foregoing, much of the Moorish -civilization in Spain remains reincarnate in the woman of modern -Argentina. - -A word may very well be said here for the much-criticized Argentine -_jeunesse dorée_. In the author’s humble opinion the real wonder about -him is that his sometimes objectionably intrusive boisterousness in -public places does not outstep its actually not very wide limitations. - -In any other country, if you had a warm-blooded young scion of a sunny -land who had grown up under the almost constantly approving smiles of an -indulgent father and mother, possessed of great wealth and traditions of -spending freely on amusement and outward display and, lastly, a native -police which would almost as soon dare to rebel openly against the -Government as to lock up for anything short of serious and unconcealable -crime any son of a great ruling family, it appears to me more than -possible that you would have much more trouble with such a gilded youth, -who, moreover, would probably succumb to early physical and financial -ruin instead of developing, as has been said, into a grave and reverend -señor, capable in either Chamber of Congress or in a ministerial or -diplomatic capacity, as the Argentine _fils de famille_ eventually -does. That he does so develop and does not succumb, I attribute to his -underlying quality of common sense, coupled with his mainly open-air -upbringing in the _Camp_. - -Also, the young Argentine may be and often is, exceedingly fond of sowing -a vast quantity of wild oats, but he is very seldom ill-natured or -fundamentally bad. His very vices are strongly tempered with redeemingly -generous qualities. - -As good a comparison as any I can hit on between the upper-class -Argentine and his Uruguayan cousin is that of the smart Londoner and -the resident in a provincial Cathedral town. The latter is less given -to display of such wealth as he may have and much less likely to make -any pretence of greater. The Uruguayan is usually unpretentious in -his way of living and at the same time gives an impression of greater -solidity if more modest dimensions of fortune. Among both there is the -same aristocratic assuredness of social position; but whereas each -better-class Argentine seeks to outvie his immediate associates in -luxurious outward appearance, the Uruguayan is content with a more solid -if less showy all-round level of comfort. If one may use so discredited a -term, the Uruguayan is the much more “eminently respectable” of the two, -a man who derives his greatest pride from the fact that his word always -has been and is every bit as good as his bond. - -He has some contempt for Argentine showiness; while on the other side of -the River Plate estuary he himself is considered as too slow-going to -be very interesting. The Argentine is certainly jealous of the sounder -general credit enjoyed by Uruguay, a jealousy not soothed by a certain -quiet assumption of superiority of a nation which has always turned a -deaf ear to any suggestions of convenient financial juggling, however -critical or difficult the times. - -There can be no doubt but that while the Uruguayan is possessed of common -sense in much the same degree as is the Argentine, this quality is in the -former tempered by a large quantum of Quixotic obstinacy. - -Roughly speaking—very roughly, for generalization is almost as hazardous -as prophecy—it may be said that while the Argentine is often apt to be -guided rather by opportunism than fixed principle, the Uruguayan will -only begin to listen to the voice of opportunity when he feels sure that -no one of his inflexible principles is likely to be affected by so doing. - -As we have seen, both the _White_ and _Red_ political parties in Uruguay -have over and over again racked the whole country with civil war for the -defence or assertion of pure principles, in regard to which no compromise -seemed possible to one side or the other. - -Argentina also had her period of Civil War brought about in a very great -measure, no doubt, by similar causes; but her politicians have during -the last fifty years learned the pecuniary value of, at least apparent, -adaptability. - -The Uruguayan of to-day is just as inflexible in his convictions as he -was a century ago, and if he now chooses peace rather than civil war it -is because he has become sincerely persuaded that peace is the only real -way to his country’s best good and prosperity. Peace with honour, that is -to say. He would rather commit public or individual suicide than accept -any other. - -For this reason (and for others) there is no likelihood of the Banda -Oriental ever becoming a part of Argentina. Uruguayans could never be -peacefully governed by Argentine policy, and Argentina would never wish -to be burdened by such a troublesome community as would be the Uruguayans -if they should come under her nominal rule. As historical fact, Argentina -has already refused Uruguayan territory as a gift, and acted wisely in -such refusal. - -The lower classes and rural populations of Argentina and Uruguay differ, -_pari passu_, as much and in similar fashion, from one another as do -their respective social superiors, though Camp life is in many ways Camp -life in both Republics alike. But ruggedly uncompromising staunchness to -those principles which he has adopted for his own—which, however, may -differ from European standards—is as evident in the Uruguayan peon as in -his master. - -Once you really know the Argentine or the Uruguayan, it is seldom -difficult to forecast what either will do in any given circumstances. -Needless, perhaps, to add that your study of them must be sympathetic; -as must all such study in order to obtain positive or any at all -satisfactory results. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL, AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT - - -The Constitutions of Argentina and Uruguay differ chiefly in that while -the former gives a large measure of autonomy to the Provinces (therein, -as in other respects, being closely modelled on that of the United -States), the latter does not, the whole legislative power being vested in -the National Congress.[12] - -Argentina has 14 Provinces and 11 National Territories, including the -district of the Federal Capital, the city of Buenos Aires. Each of the -Provinces has a Governor and a Parliament of its own, chosen by the local -electorate, and possesses, as has been said, a very large measure of -autonomy in the management of its own fiscal and other internal affairs. -Other large areas which are not yet judged by Congress to have attained -sufficient development to be able to support the financial burdens and -status of autonomous Provinces have remained _National Territories_ under -the direct control of the National Government. The Municipal Council -of the Federal Capital has wide administrative powers, always subject, -however, to the sanction of the National Executive, and the “Lord Mayor” -(Intendente Municipal) of Buenos Aires is appointed by the National -Government. - -The National Territory likely to be the first promoted to the rank of a -Province is that of the PAMPA CENTRAL; now one of the chief cereal areas -of the Republic. - -The Argentine Provinces and National Territories are the following: - -PROVINCES - - 1. Buenos Aires. - 2. Santa Fé. - 3. Entre Rios. - 4. Corrientes. - 5. Córdoba. - 6. San Luis. - 7. Santiago del Estero. - 8. Mendoza. - 9. San Juan. - 10. La Rioja. - 11. Catamarca. - 12. Tucumán. - 13. Salta. - 14. Jujuy. - -TERRITORIES - - 1. Federal Capital. - 2. Misiones. - 3. Formosa. - 4. Chaco. - 5. Pampa Central. - 6. Neuquen. - 7. Rio Negro. - 8. Chubut. - 9. Santa Cruz. - 10. Tierra del Fuego. - 11. Los Andes. - -It should be added that all Public Acts and Judicial Decisions of one -Province have legal effect in all the others. Sometimes, however, -conflicts of jurisdiction afford matter for the decision of the Federal -High Court. - -Uruguay is divided into 19 DEPARTMENTS, each of which has a Governor -appointed by the National Executive and an administrative Council chosen -by local popular vote. The Departments of Uruguay are: - - Tucuarembo. - Cerro Largo. - Durazno. - Paysandú. - Salto. - Minas. - Florida. - Artígas. - Rocha. - Rivera. - Treinta y tres. - Soriano. - Rio Negro. - San José. - Colonia. - Flores. - Maldonado. - Canelones. - Montevideo. - -It is perhaps not convenient here to discuss the comparative advantages -of the two systems; but it must be said that evidence of the defects -inherent to the qualities of both is not lacking. In Argentina the -Provinces and in Uruguay the National Governments have frequently shown -and still show a disposition to make ells out of the inches given them by -their respective constitutions. - -In Argentina this disposition was considerably scotched though not -killed by the Centralizing policy of Dr. Figueroa Alcorta, the immediate -predecessor in the Presidential chair of the recently deceased Dr. Roque -Saenz Peña. Dr. Alcorta’s policy was fundamentally good and was carried -out by him with, doubtless, the best of motives, if the manner of its -execution was rather Gilbertian. - -The evils he attacked arose from the fact that each of the more distant -Provinces was practically under the almost autocratic domination of a -great land-owning family; the descendants, usually, of the lords of the -soil in the patriarchal days of the River Plate countries. - -In those Provinces these families and their nearer ramifications formed -powerful oligarchies; ruling over people who in their turn were the -descendants of those who in bygone days had been little else than the -vassals of the Great House. The head of the leading family was the -Governor of his Province by an almost acknowledged right of inheritance; -while his sons, nephews, and sons-in-law occupied the chief posts in the -Provincial Government. - -It is not too much to say that these people had, in measure as the -National Government became more and more perfected in its conduct and -outlook, become an insufferable obstacle to uniformity of ordered conduct -of public affairs. Especially was this so in financial matters. - -The outlying and, mostly, poorer Provinces were always needing, or -at any rate wanting, money; and at the same time not over-nice about -their lack of unpledged security when they found a European financier, -as untrammelled by scruple as they themselves, willing to engineer a -further Provincial loan under the independent borrowing powers given by -the Constitution to each Province. Some of them also wished to continue -and even increase the issue of notes the value of which was shockingly -depreciated, and which were only legal tender within the boundaries of -the particular Province. Almost in vain, the National Government issued -diplomatic and consular circulars to the effect that Provincial loans -were not Argentine National loans, and that it, the National Government, -would only hold itself responsible for the latter. The financiers who -floated new Provincial loans were well aware that the majority of those -persons whom they could induce to take up such bonds knew little or -nothing of the distinction between National and Provincial. The loan was -an Argentine one; puffed with perfectly true statistics of the progress -and prosperity of the Argentine Republic—without too much insistence on -that of the particular Province concerned. Besides, these financiers and, -possibly, some of their clients calculated on the extreme probability -of the National Government, if an awkward situation really did arise, -not allowing its Provinces to be declared defaulters in Europe, because -of the consequent slur which must inevitably, though unjustly, fall on -the name of “Argentina”; a name the credit of which the untiring and -scrupulous efforts of the National Government have built up since the -crisis of 1891. - -The Provincial Oligarchies had also other ways of jockeying National -Government. They would ask for all sorts of things, and if refused would -proceed to rant shamelessly in the Senate. This was blackmail, nothing -more nor less; but frequently effective, since Provincial Governors are -practically always members of the National Senate; in which the President -must, obviously, have a majority if he is to carry on the Government. - -Such situations Dr. Figueroa Alcorta determined to take in hand; and the -only way of doing this was to break up the offending Oligarchies. - -Much of the humour of his doing so lay in the fact that he owed his high -post to an original miscalculation of his character as that of a pleasant -enough figure-head certain to be docile in the hands of the wire-pullers. -Therefore he was appointed Vice-President to be a negligible quantity -under the Presidency of Dr. Manuel Quintana. On whose death he, _ipso -facto_, under the Constitution, became acting President for the remainder -of Dr. Quintana’s term of office. The developments of Dr. Figueroa -Alcorta were as much a surprise to Argentine politicians as were those of -Bret Harte’s “Heathen Chinee” to his associates in “the game he did not -understand.” And realization came as late in the day in the one case as -in the other. - -A veritable epidemic of local Revolutions sprang up in one after the -other of the oligarchically ruled Provinces. On each occasion an -“Interventor” was, as is provided by the Constitution for such cases, -sent down by the National Government to enquire into the causes of the -disturbance, and particularly to ascertain if the Province concerned -were being ruled “in accordance with the Constitution and democratic -principles.” If the answer to this last question were found to be in the -affirmative, National troops could be sent down to support the existing -Provincial Government; if in the negative, the ruling party, including, -of course, the Governor, could be deposed and a successor appointed by -the National Government in his stead. - -As a result it gradually (but not till it was very nearly all over) -dawned on the general intelligence of the country that the Governors who -had been found to have ruled their Provinces “in accordance with the -constitution, etc.,” were faithful supporters of the Presidential policy; -whilst those who had been deposed for misrule happened, strangely enough, -to be those who had kicked over, or shown an overt disposition to kick -over, the Presidential traces. - -This appealed to the public sense of humour and “Revolución de arriba” -(Revolution from above, _i.e._ instigated in high quarters[13]) became a -catch phrase. Thus were the Oligarchies brought to naught and the central -power greatly strengthened thereby. - -Dr. Figueroa Alcorta’s crowning _coup d’état_ was, however, his shutting -Congress out of its own Palace in consequence of its conspired refusal to -pass one of his budgets. One fine day, the National Senators and Deputies -on reaching the Congress building found it in possession of troops who -refused them admission. Remonstrance was unavailing, and they perforce -returned home. Meanwhile, the President passed the Budget himself, as the -Constitution gives him power to do “when Congress is not sitting.” - -In the result Dr. Figueroa Alcorta’s Budget (which was a perfectly -wise and necessary one) remained operative and the officer who had -commanded the troops was heavily fined for disrespect shown to the sacred -offices of Senator and Deputy. The gallant officer’s plea in defence -that the President whose orders he had obeyed on that occasion was, as -constitutional Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, his Military Superior, -availed him nothing. Nobody else was one penny the worse. Possibly, the -payment of Colonel Calazza’s fine came “de arriba” like the Revolutions. - -Soon afterwards Dr. Figueroa Alcorta was the courteous and diplomatic -host of Personages (including the Infanta Isabella) at the 1910 Centenary -Festivities; and, shortly after that again, vacated the Presidential -chair in favour of Dr. Saenz Peña, his successor “by consent.” The usual -and graceful, though officially unacknowledged, custom in Argentina being -that the Presidential Election shall follow a prearranged course.[14] - -With the matter of elections Dr. Saenz Peña’s name is, as has been said, -intimately and honourably associated, and it may be repeated that by his -death the Republic lost one of its most broad-minded and straightforward -statesmen. - -Up to the passing of his Electoral Reform Law, no self-respecting private -citizen ever dreamed of voting: simply because if he favoured the -Government policy his doing so would be a mere work of supererogation, -while if he held opposition views it would be sheer waste of time and -trouble on his part; and if he were a provincial voter he would certainly -find himself the object of unpleasant attention by the police, whose -really chief duty was to “conduct” elections to the satisfaction of the -ruling party. Anyhow, his voting could not influence the preordained -result of the election one way or the other. Voting was done by the -mere deposit of a “Libreta” or certificate of citizenship, and libretas -deposited in favour of the ruling party were subject to little scrutiny -as to whether the persons named in them were alive or dead. They were -thrown in at the polling stations in bundles. Some were bought; though -at a low figure, because there were thousands of blank libretas at -Government House ready to be filled in by quick-writing clerks in -the very remote event of any booth being reported to have received a -disconcerting number of votes adverse to the Government. - -In the Provinces the proceedings were rougher and readier; the -comparative smallness of the communities enabling the Police Commissary -to know the political views of all persons in his district. Did a -would-be opponent of the ruling powers heave in sight, he was hustled -as if to make room for others who had arrived before him, and if he -were still foolish enough to persist in trying to vote he was arrested -for making a disturbance, and locked up till the election was over. The -Provincial Police Authorities could hardly be blamed for their share in -this scandal, because the successful conduct of elections was really a -_sine qua non_ condition of their tenure of office. Failure meant for -them being almost immediately superseded. - -In Uruguay, no matter whether Reds or Whites (the two great political -parties) were in power, the rural population, the true backbone of the -agricultural country, were perennially in opposition: because they found -that the atmosphere of the capital somehow or another always infected -their rulers with ideas of government which, however splendid they might -be in theory, were more often than not quite out of harmony with, and -often contradictory to, practical agricultural needs and conditions. - -Thus, to cite an instance often referred to in this regard, it is not -long since a German agricultural expert, specially imported with the -best of intentions by the Government, showed them that wheat allowed to -mature for a while in stacks had a greater commercial value in Europe -than that thrashed simultaneously with reaping and shipped immediately. -This is, in itself, undeniable fact; from which, however, the Uruguayan -Government drew the conclusion that it would be well to pass a law making -it obligatory, under penalty for not doing so, on every farmer in the -country to stack all his wheat for a certain period before sending it for -export. This proposal naturally raised an outcry throughout the country. -Because a practice which presents little practical inconvenience and much -advantage in an European country, where small wheat fields and a more -or less damp climate are the rule, would be monstrously ridiculous in a -land where grain is grown by the square league, and where, accidents of -weather apart, the standing crops are well dried by the sun. Just imagine -the enormous expense involved in stacking wheat over such vast areas as -are covered by cereals in the River Plate countries. In which countries, -moreover, the greatest of all difficulties in the way of production is -the scarcity of labour! The stacking method would cost vastly more than -the difference in the value between stacked and unstacked grain. - -Needless to say, this brilliantly conceived law was never passed; but -the idea of it stands as an example of the doctrinaire tendencies of -Montevidean statesmen of which the rural industries complain. - -That there is a mysterious something in the air of Montevideo which -influences men in the direction of abstract idealism, and at the same -time blinds them to facts which their cherished theories will not fit, -seems undeniable. But it is unlikely that Uruguay will ever again be -plunged into the ruinous throes of Revolution. - -Once the leaders of Uruguayan opinion grasped the fact that Revolution is -the greatest possible impediment to the best interests of the country, -the peaceful future of the Republic was assured; and they now seem to -have grasped it clearly and firmly. - -State insurance, State railways, State tramways, water and gas works, -electrical power stations and, in fact, State everything was Señor -Batlle’s[15] plan for holding Uruguay up to the world as a splendid -object-lesson in State Socialism. Here again one sees the fire of -patriotism gleaming through a mass of practical difficulties (the -obtaining of necessary capital for the purpose, and on the necessary -conditions of the execution of such splendid plans, for instance) in the -way of the accomplishment of the President’s dream. - -Equally patriotic were those who endeavoured to keep the brakes well -pressed on to the wheels of the “progressive” Presidential car; hoping -for the conclusion of Señor Batlle y Ordoñez’s term of office before too -much harm were done. But, mark this, not a sign of overt rebellion in a -situation over which only a few years ago the whole country would have -been engaged in a fratricidal struggle. - -Señor Batlle y Ordoñez was an autocratic democrat; desiring and firmly, -even obstinately, determined, to rule as absolutely as any Tsar in what -he conceived to be the true interests of all classes of the population. - -The present writer well remembers hearing him, on the first day of the -great general strike of 1911, addressing the strikers from the balcony of -Government House at Montevideo. - -He told them that were it not for his high office he would be among them -and with them; counselled them to stand firmly for their rights; and -wound up with a warning that any acts of intimidation or violence on -their part would not only injure their just cause, but expose the guilty -parties to extremely severe punishment. - -By way of underlining this last wholesome admonition, Martial Law was -immediately declared, and the next day saw the town filled with Horse, -Foot and Artillery. This move (which caused some doubt in the mind of -the extreme Labour Party as to which way the Presidential wind was -really blowing), and the fact that the flags, illuminations and firework -installations were already nailed up for the celebration of the Centenary -of Artígas, the National Hero, whose memory has of late years been -completely whitewashed by the National Historians, caused the strike to -fizzle out and all hands to join, a day or two later, in festivities the -brilliance of which confirmed the reputation of the Montevideans as past -masters of artistic illumination. - -The only net result of the strike appeared to be the fining, in the -strict terms of its concession, of the Montevideo Tramways Company for -neglecting to run cars according to schedule during a period when it was -physically impossible for it to have done so. When no bread was baked -and even doctors were forced by the strike leaders to abandon the use -of their carriages; when, in fact, the whole city kept a sabbath during -which no man might do any manner of work. A state of things enforced by -patrols of strikers armed with revolvers—until the troops of their friend -the President suddenly appeared upon the scene. - -Of both Argentina and Uruguay it may be said that their Constitutions, -Laws (National and Provincial) and Municipal by-laws and regulations -are as nearly perfect models of what such things should be as can well -be imagined. If they were not sometimes honoured in the breach of them -and if isolated provisions were not sometimes hauled out to meet cases -pretty obviously not exactly contemplated by their framers, all would -be even better in lands where, on the whole, Laws and Regulations, as -occasionally varied by tacit custom, generally work very well indeed. -Such custom, it should be noted here, is not, however, altogether -reliable and would be useless as a defence in the frequently recurring -event of some Authority or other, perhaps piqued by an ambition to -distinguish itself or to be revenged on a torpid liver, suddenly -insisting on the observance of the strict letter of the law. In that -case, several unsuspecting people get fined; journalists are inspired for -paragraphs and even articles; a, say, three days’ wonder is created; and -custom resumes her sway until the next temporary upheaval. - -The writer once lived in a district of Argentina where, as elsewhere -in that country, all dairy farmers must, under penalty, use milk cans -duly certified and marked by the Authority appointed for that purpose, -as being according to standard measure. A fee is payable on each can -so certified. One day, being in a curious mood, one not uncommon in -journalists, he asked Authority to show him the standard measures. The -latter, a good fellow, was pleased to consider the writer as another; so -he laughed and said he had never seen nor asked to have such a thing. He -knew that all these milk-cans were turned out accurately enough by the -manufacturers. So what was the use of bothering further? He just marked -them and took the fee. - -Some day, he or his successor or a colleague of some other district, will -be caught by some Higher Authority in a fit of zeal and made an example -of. Someone will get a profitable contract to furnish Standard milk-cans -throughout the Republic, these will duly get lost or be appropriated -by Authority’s wife for household purposes, and dairymen’s cans will be -certified on sight as before. - -It is only just to say that this story is rather illustrative of -Argentine life than Uruguayan: the Uruguayan generally takes more strict -a view of his duties and obligations than his over-river cousin. - -But to return to our subject. Generally speaking, and especially in -Argentina with its Provincial Autonomy, the further one journeys from -the National Capital the slacker and more irregular one finds the -administration of Laws and By-Laws, the greater the resemblance of the -manners and methods of Authority to that of the Kadi under a palm tree. -And the more one realizes the truth of the proverb that while one man -may steal a horse another may not look over a gate. In country districts -personal influence is wellnigh everything. If one be on good terms with -the Municipal Intendente (Mayor) or the Comisario of Police (it is -generally a case of being friendly, if at all, with both and the other -members of the official clique; all usually to be found together in the -same bar or restaurant), the law looks very indulgently on one, and at a -pinch will turn a blind eye to one’s, really only humorous, peccadillos. -If not, one must walk carefully like Agag until one has gathered -common sense enough to approach Authority in a properly friendly (and -acceptable) spirit. - -Does the Comisario’s horse go lame, he will ask you to lend him one. You -do so, saying at the same time that you have no further need of it. And -the next time you have trouble with your peons, or anyone else with less -influence than yourself, send for the Comisario, he will soon straighten -the matter out for you. Even if your trouble be with an equal or superior -in influence, smiling Authority will discover a _modus vivendi_ and -drinks all round will seal the friendly compact. It is seldom one meets -anyone who is not on good terms with his Authorities. Not to be so would -remind one of the story of Carnot, who refused to stand in with Napoleon -I. The Emperor told him frankly that he who was not with him was against -him, and that he, Carnot, was much too powerful a person with the people -to be permitted to be at large in France under the latter condition. He -must be exiled, and had better see Fouché on the matter. - -Carnot went; and, addressing Fouché, asked sternly, “Where must I go? -Traitor!” “Wherever you like. Imbecile!” was Fouché’s cynical retort. - -So, in Argentine rural ethics, if you are not friendly with Authority -you have only your own folly to thank for the usually inconvenient -consequences. - -It is wonderful how much money Authority has to spend on amusement when -it gets a day or two’s holiday in Buenos Aires; and it is great fun as -well as good policy to go round with him, if you also are in funds. -Argentine Authority seldom gives or expects anything for nothing; but -usually is a pleasant enough fellow withal, if taken the right way. - -The Uruguayan, in such regards as in all others, is a less sophisticated -and, in country districts, a more primitively minded person; though -always hospitable, usually courteous in his manner, and particularly so -to strangers. - -The most exalted Governmental spheres, those of the National Governments -in the Cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, respectively, are nowadays -almost entirely free from any suggestion of the mildest form of even -technical corruption. It certainly is easier to obtain a personal -interview with the President or a Minister if one personally knows one -of his intimate friends or subordinate officials; but that is all that -influence really amounts to as regards any question affecting overseas -Commerce, Concessions or Foreign Affairs. In regard to home politics, -doubtless a good deal of intrigue is constantly at work at Government -House in Buenos Aires, but those are matters which the foreign settler -leaves exclusively to the Argentines themselves. So long as they do -nothing which may affect trade or credit, even the representatives of -the largest foreign interests are careful to avoid any act or word which -might savour of interference in the sole management by the Argentine of -purely Argentine affairs. As has been indicated elsewhere in these pages, -such interference is the one thing regarding which the Argentine is very -jealously suspicious. He may have framed most of his Constitution on that -of the United States, but he never would have permitted the States or -anyone else to do it for him. - -Apart from the transparent incorruptibility, from without, at all events, -of all members of the National Governments of both Republics, there -is a pleasant free-and-easiness about the manner of Presidential and -Ministerial receptions. - -The _salons_ in which all-comers are received are large, airy and well -lighted; and are furnished with leather-covered sofas, seated on which -visitors wait their turn for the President or Minister to grant them a -few words of conversation; during which his Excellency sits down on the -sofa beside them, cigarette in hand like everyone else in the room. - -At a longer, special, conference, coffee also is served, hot in winter -and iced in summer, even in the offices of subordinate officials; and -rumour has it that it is over this inexhaustible supply of Nationally -provided coffee and cigarettes that internal politics are “made.” -In Argentina politics of this kind are kaleidoscopic; groups and -individuals forming fresh combinations and antagonisms too rapidly and -from too deeply underlying motives for anyone not profoundly versed and -continually engaged in the game to be able to follow it with anything -approaching comprehension. - -Much of this has doubtless disappeared under the influence of Dr. Saenz -Peña; whose fearlessly honourable nature judged, and judged rightly, that -the National Government of Argentina is now in a position to face without -apprehension any public opinion of its acts and policy. - -Naturally the spirit of intrigue, the love of which, almost for itself, -has roots deep down in Argentine human nature, cannot yet be reckoned -as dead; but it is certainly in the course of being driven further and -further away from the centres of higher civilization by a superior -ethical conception of the duties of Government; even as the long-horned -native cattle have been ousted to frontier districts by the appreciation -by Estancieros of the incomparable advantages, to themselves, of -Shorthorns and Herefords. - -In Uruguay there always has been much less tendency to intrigue. There, -a man was a Red or a White, a conscientious supporter of the Rural or -Urban party. While as for Finance the Commercial Community has always -and unswervingly seen to it that its realm be kept clean and untarnished -by even the breath of scandal. It may here be objected that now and -again, foreign concessionaires have made bargains with the National -Government strangely profitable to themselves. The true answer to such -an observation would be that in such cases the Government has invariably -been the quite innocent victim of greater experience and far-sightedness -in such matters than its own advisers had ever had opportunity to attain. - -Uruguayans would maintain the National credit by emptying their own -private pockets if need be and, in fact, have expressed their intention -of doing so on more than one occasion when, as is mentioned in another -chapter, the Government allowed itself to be frightened into proposals -for issues of paper currency not founded on a strictly gold basis. -A proceeding which would have spelt repudiation of a portion of the -National liabilities; in the manner of the Argentine “Conversion Law.” - -The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And it is no sign of bias to -give Uruguay credit for plain facts which incontrovertibly prove her -sense of the sanctity of moral as well as legal obligation. - -True, she was never in quite such a financial tangle as that in which -Argentina found herself in 1891; but she has often been poverty-stricken, -and yet has always paid to the utmost centesimo. - -Generally, it may be said that a similar honesty prevails in all branches -of Government and fiscal affairs throughout Uruguay. - -For a glance at some small ways that are dark and tricks that are vain, -before these are entirely swept away, as they now are being, before -the healthy wind of moral improvement (healthy even though, as some -cynics assert, it has been raised only by perception of the fact that -in the long run, honesty is the best policy) one must go to distant -parts of Argentina and there grope amid the intricacies of Provincial -and Municipal Administration. There, undoubtedly, we may come across -semi-obscure corners from which a highly respectable chartered accountant -would fly horror-stricken. But we should also recognize that the whole -small fabric of intrigue and petty robbery is a Punchinello’s secret; -well known to and sympathetically approved by the whole surrounding -populace, whose attitude to the robber is that of “Good luck to him! I -should do the same if I had his chance.” Of no use to endeavour to stir -up public opinion to demand the prosecution or dismissal of Authorities -or Officials who are perfectly well known to have been defrauding the -public for years. - -Not a bit of it. You would only get for an answer, “What? get rid of -him now that he’s fat and get a lean one in his place who would be far -worse!” Meaning that a needy man would steal more than a rich one. Local -opinion would hold that that way lay madness only; and the would-be -reformer would be merely regarded with pitying scorn. - -No. The change is coming and coming rapidly with the spirit of the age, -and cannot be hastened in its inevitable course; and this change will -be thorough, for it will only encounter the ineffectual opposition of a -quite infantile dishonesty which has never seriously tried to keep secret -the practices which its vanity considered as so much evidence of its own -admirable cleverness. - -Do you think the milk-can inspector did not delight in telling that he -had never seen a standard measure? Of course he did; and a Municipal -Intendente of a small country town gets just as much pleasure from the -knowledge that, while ten men appear on his Municipality’s monthly -wage-sheets as road-menders, there are in fact only two and the remaining -eight receipts are signed, for a consideration, per signature, by -independent persons. A proceeding which, of course, is perfectly well -known to and indeed accepted as immemorial custom by the general public. -In these cases no one ever gets caught; because those chiefly concerned -have always a pull in Provincial politics—otherwise they would never have -found themselves occupying the positions they are in. - -But, as the reader can see, all these are childish things; already -vanishing and soon to be completely put away by the general and swift -advance, moral as well as material, of the Republic. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -MONTEVIDEO AND BUENOS AIRES - - -Montevideo, the first discovered point of the River Plate countries, is -also the first stopping-place for passenger boats from Europe; and if the -traveller from thence be in no immediate hurry to reach Buenos Aires he -might do much worse than spend, say a week, in the clean, cool, pleasant -capital of LA REPUBLICA DE LA BANDA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY. - -Leaving his baggage to be sent for later, he will walk, or take a -convenient tram, from the harbour up the fairly steep incline of a narrow -street and find himself at a corner of the ancient Plaza of the City; the -Plaza with History represented on two of its sides, to his right and left -respectively, by the Cathedral and the old Congress buildings. Facing -him, he will see modernity embodied in the palatial CLUB URUGUAYO, while -immediately on his left hand, at his back, is a little front door and -staircase leading to the comfortable and hospitable English club. - -The middle of the square is occupied by fine subtropical and other plants -surrounding a band-stand from which very sweet music indeed proceeds at -night in the summer-time; which, including Spring and Autumn, lasts for -nine months of the year. - -Afterwards, he will find his way to the Plaza Independencia on one side -of which is Government House, and almost behind which is Montevideo’s -Opera House, the Soler Theatre. Later he can visit Pocitos, Ramirez and -other delightful, white-sanded bathing beaches, with which Montevideo -abounds; for this city on a hill occupies a small peninsula which juts -out just where the estuary of the River merges into the Atlantic Ocean. - -All the streets leading from three sides of the old Plaza go downhill -to the sea; and up one parallel set or another of them comes a fresh -breeze at all times of the day and night and at all seasons of the year. -One seldom or never suffers in Montevideo from the stifling oppression -sometimes so painful in the dog-days of Buenos Aires. - -With so many natural advantages, it can be readily understood that -Montevideo has an ambition and that that ambition should be to become -_the_ seaside resort of South America. - -Towards the realization of this desire the Government and the -Municipality spare no expense at all commensurate with their means. -Fine broad motor drives and promenades run, or are being constructed to -run, all round the three water-bound sides which, by the test of school -geographies, indicate a true peninsula. - -Gaily striped bathing tents can be hired by the hour, day, week or season -on what have just been said to be delightful soft, warm, sandy beaches. -To come out of the water and roll oneself dry in this fine clean sand is -an experience not to be missed and certainly to be remembered, apart from -its proclaimed virtues as a sovereign cure for rheumatism. - -That malady must, however, surely be an imported article; one does not -naturally associate it with the bright dry climate of Montevideo. - -Municipal bands, good operatic and dramatic companies are added lures for -holiday-makers of the wealthier class from neighbouring Republics; while -Montevideo sustains the ancient custom of keeping carnival, masked and -with illuminations, flower-throwing and costumed _corsos_, in a fashion -which entirely throws into the shade the now moribund carnival of Buenos -Aires. - -[Illustration: THE PLAZA LIBERTAD, MONTEVIDEO] - -At Montevideo, all is done to please and nothing to annoy, so that the -throwing of water which was a leading feature of the old-time carnival is -now strictly prohibited by authority enforced by the police; as is also -the case in Buenos Aires. - -Thousands of people cross each year from Buenos Aires for the Montevideo -carnival, the whole available fleet of the company which runs luxurious -boats between the two cities are pressed into the service of this -occasion and become floating hotels; the normal hotel accommodation of -Montevideo being insufficient to meet such an influx of visitors during -these few days. - -By the way, the origin of this fine steamboat service is an interesting -example of the progress made by the two countries and the fortunes which -have been amassed in them during existing lifetimes. - -Before the building of the present dock system of Buenos Aires, one -of the boatmen who used to land and embark passengers from or on the -ocean-going ships was a man named Nicolas Mihanovich; evidently a very -level-headed and at that time at least, a very frugal and saving person -indeed. - -With his row-boat he gained sufficient to enable him to purchase a -sailing vessel which he used for regular traffic to and fro across the -broad mouth of the River Plate. So, his enterprise grew; and only a very -few years ago he turned his own private company into a public one with -larger aims, in which latter company he nevertheless retains a very large -interest. The one-time boatman is now a multi-millionaire. The present -service leaves Buenos Aires, or Montevideo as the case may be, at about -ten o’clock each evening and lands its passengers, after a good sleep in -comfortable beds, on the other side at about seven o’clock the following -morning. - -Many are the true tales of fortunes amassed, sometimes one may almost say -won, in Argentina, especially, within living memory. - -Señor Santamarina, now deceased, left on his huge estate at Tandíl, one -of his many properties, the original two-wheeled high cart which was his -only fortune when he commenced life as what in other countries would be -called a transport rider. This cart is, or till recently was, preserved -in a glass house erected specially by him to house and exhibit it to all -visitors to the estancia. - -Another history is that of a millionaire family whose immediate ancestor -certainly won fortune by an astuteness which may or may not be considered -commendable. - -He rented a large—large even for the Argentina of those roomy days—tract -of land from a man who foresaw wealth in tree-planting. The latter was -right; but his personal calculations did not, as will be seen, turn out -as he had planned. He made it a condition that not less than a certain -number of trees should be planted on the land within the period of the -lease, and that for every tree above that number planted he should, on -the termination of the lease, pay the sum of $1 to the outgoing tenant. - -The wily lessee immediately set to work to plant trees as fast as ever -he could, and at the expiration of his lease had millions of them, over -and above the stipulated number, to show for his pains. The unfortunate -lessor could not pay so many million dollars, and to end the affair was -glad to let his former lessee have full freehold possession of the land -and so call quits. - -That land, still in the possession of the original lessee’s family, is -worth a huge fortune to-day, and its produce represents a very large -income indeed—forestry apart. - -And now, as these stories have taken us to Argentina, the reader may -as well prepare to follow them by embarking on one of the “Mihanovich” -boats; as they still are and probably always will be called, in spite of -the longer name of the new company, and find himself in Buenos Aires next -morning. - -By leaving his baggage for further consideration, as he did at -Montevideo, he can go on foot in about five minutes from the -landing-place across the gardens of the PASEO DE JULIO, which name is a -first reminiscence of the birth of the Republic, round one or the other -side of the “Casa Rosada” or pink-coloured Government House, and find -himself immediately in the Plaza Victoria with on his right the Stock -Exchange lying between the Calles 25 de Mayo and San Martin—further -reminiscences of the wars of Liberty. Keeping his back towards the Casa -Rosada, he will look straight up the broad Avenida de Mayo with the -historic old CABILDO or Town Hall on the left corner of the commencement -of the avenue and the fine new Municipality opposite. - -At the far end of the avenue rises the splendid edifice of the new -Congress Building, the “Palace of Gold” as it is called in quasi-humorous -reference to its costliness. This is, however, not a new joke. Formerly -it was applied to the Casa Rosada, now become a comparatively humble -edifice. Besides, if an Argentine calls one’s attention to the scandalous -cost of a public monument or building, it does not necessarily mean that -he is really so very angry about it. On the contrary, it may well be -that he is proud of belonging to a Nation which can bravely bear such -expenditure. - -Under the Avenida de Mayo is the “tube” which runs from the ONCE station -(which is situate on the western side of the town and is the terminus of -the Buenos Aires Western Railway) to the Docks. The Once marks the point -of departure of the first six miles of Railway built on the River Plate. - -The new-comer will at once notice that the City of Buenos Aires is laid -out on the chessboard pattern with its streets running North and South -and East and West, a variation of the pattern being now introduced by the -new diagonal avenues converging towards the Plaza Victoria, in course of -construction. - -Along almost every street, except Calle Florida, the Avenida de Mayo, and -the diagonal avenues, runs a tramline on which the cars all go in one -direction in one street and in the contrary direction in the next and so -on. Ten cents is the fare for a single journey anywhere within the length -or breadth of the Federal Capital, but one cannot take tickets entitling -one to any change of car; and for that one must buy another ten cents -ticket. - -This matter of change of car may have been overlooked by the Municipality -when the concession was granted to the Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company, -of which concession the universal 10 cent fare was a _sine qua non_ -condition; perhaps, on the other hand, the Company stuck out on that -point. Anyhow, if one wishes to get full value for his 10 cents on a -Buenos Aires tramline he must stick to the car in which he has begun his -ride. By doing so, he can often take a long round trip and come back to -his point of departure. This observation also applies to the Tramways in -Montevideo, but there, with due knowledge and careful selection, one can -practically get all over the place, without changing; owing to the more -erratic routes taken by the lines. - -For a variety of reasons, the Buenos Aires Tramway system is considered -by authorities on such matters to be the best in the world. It is mostly -in the hands of the Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company. - -Another company is the Lacroze, a private company largely interested also -in the Buenos Aires Central Railway. Its trams run through the Capital -and to the Western suburban districts. - -A third company runs trams out of the Capital to the Southern Suburban -districts. - -It may here be said that a good supply of taxi-cabs is to be found both -in Montevideo and Buenos Aires. - -One advantage, suggested by the mention of taxi-cabs, of visiting -Montevideo before Buenos Aires, is that that way one feels richer after -the journey between the two than one would if the itinerary had been -reversed. - -[Illustration: THE AVENIDA DE MAYO, BUENOS AIRES] - -Living is not cheap in Buenos Aires, but its cost is a relief after -a sojourn in the Uruguayan Capital; though expense there is again as -nothing if one has experienced that of Rio de Janeiro, the dearest place, -probably, in the whole world, and the one in which, scenery apart, one -gets as little satisfaction for one’s money as anywhere. - -In Montevideo one has, it is true, plenty of satisfaction of a quiet, -pleasant kind, but those (actually, although founded on a firm gold -basis) paper dollars—only four of them and 70 cents worth of mixed change -for a British Sovereign—melt quickly into inappreciable small silver -and nickel; none of which seems to be worth much, though a 50-cent bit -is really worth more than a British florin. For exchange purposes that -is; in its native land its purchasing power is strikingly small. After -Montevideo, there is some satisfaction about the feel of the bundle of -Argentine paper dollars one gets for one’s Uruguayan money. And in Buenos -Aires several quite useful things can be got for $1, National (paper) -money. Although the purchasing power of this last (its exchange value is -1s. 8¾d.) is not that of one shilling in England. - -In neither country does one often see an actual gold coin, in Argentina -practically never in ordinary everyday life; most of the gold against -which the current paper is issued going, as will be seen in the Chapter -on Finance and Commerce, into the “Conversion” strong rooms and staying -there. - -The passion for amusement must indeed be overpowering in anyone who -is not satisfied with what Buenos Aires provides of all kinds in that -regard. Two Opera Houses, the older one, stately and comfortable in its -interior arrangements, and the new Municipal Opera House, the COLON -Theatre, gorgeous in velvet and marble; and powdered, gold-mace bearing -lackeys to bow one in at its wide portals. - -Great is the rivalry between these two houses to secure the best stars -and companies; and between them they certainly get the best that Europe -can provide. In some cases they have anticipated Europe, notably in -the instances of Caruso and Maria Gay, both of whom appeared in Buenos -Aires before Europe had even heard _of_ them. One feature is common to -the policy of both Opera Houses, viz., a scale of charges for admission -so high that it is impossible for anyone who wishes to be considered -somebody not to have his or her box at one or both of them for the season. - -After the Opera House comes, in degree of prestige, perhaps, the Odeon -Theatre; most frequently devoted to the representation of classic or -serious drama. After it come many theatres; the finest among them being -the Coliseo in which good companies, chiefly Italian, give first-rate -performances of every kind from Grand Guignol to Light Opera. After -these, again, come the purely Argentine Theatres; in which drama and -comedy faithfully reflecting the true native life are performed. - -Such performances should not be missed (as they too often are because -they are not fashionable in a country where fashion’s favour is almost -exclusively bestowed on imported wares) by anyone having sufficient -Argentine Spanish to appreciate the purport and point of their dialogue; -which, in true Argentine fashion, includes a liberal use of words and -phrases capable of double meanings. - -Brilliantly lighted, sumptuously panelled and upholstered cafés with -tables spreading over the pavement outside them, tend to keep life in -Buenos Aires awake till the wee sma’ hours begin to grow large. - -“See Naples and die” runs the Neapolitan saying. “See Buenos Aires and -stop there as long as you can” is likely to prove acceptable advice to -anyone with a taste for easy gaiety and with a disposition for not doing -to-day anything of an irksome or disagreeable nature which can possibly -be put off till the morrow. Much native encouragement will be afforded -him to postpone it till the Greek Kalends; and then to change his mind -about doing it at all. - -[Illustration: THE CATHEDRAL AND PLAZA VICTORIA, BUENOS AIRES] - -Till the morrow’s sun shines, that is. Then he will see the City, which -overnight he may have thought wholly absorbed by pleasure-seeking, -transformed into a quick-moving, alert commercial centre. Surely the -Argentine when in Buenos Aires burns his candle at both ends. The -well-to-do have, however, their Estancias on which to vary town life -with mentally restful, if often physically laborious, days spent in -superintending their agricultural interests. - -Fine-looking new buildings are ever springing up in Buenos Aires with -such surprising suddenness and rapidity as to render any description of -the chief edifices of that city out of date almost before it can get into -print. Even the palatial home of the Jockey Club, renowned as the most -splendidly luxurious Club House in the world, is soon to be abandoned by -its members for another more gorgeously wonderful still. - -One leaves the City for a few weeks in the _Camp_ wondering what the -former will look like on one’s return. - -That is one did, until very recently. Just now, the War has called a -temporary halt in the commencement of many projected building operations. - -One cannot, however, leave Buenos Aires without mention of the beautiful, -park-like suburb of Palermo; with the broad Avenida de Alvear leading -from the northern part of the City to it. It may here be observed that -fashion has not travelled westward in Buenos Aires; the Northern parts of -the City being the most fashionable and adorned with the most palatial -new dwellings. - -A wide palm-bordered avenue leads to others winding round grassy spaces -in which backwaters of the Tigre River glint under overhanging trees; -amid all of which is a great restaurant, after the fashion of those in -the Parisian Bois de Boulogne. - -That restaurant is, to the author’s mind, the one great tawdry blot on -the picture; but it is only fair to add that every afternoon and evening, -during a long season, it is crowded with gaily dressed people who all -seem happy and vociferously contented with the refreshments and music it -provides. - -The Palermo Avenue is the fashionable drive, the Corso of the Élite of -Buenos Aires Society; and also of others desirous of attracting attention -to their equipages and themselves. Everyone the aspirant to social -distinction ought—and ought not—to know is to be seen at Palermo on a -fine late afternoon or evening in Spring. In Summer most of them are, -naturally, at Mar-del-Plata. - -Adjoining the Park is the Palermo race-course, over which the Jockey Club -rules absolute. It should be added that the Buenos Aires Jockey Club -is not only an association of racing men, but is in reality the hub of -social intercourse in Buenos Aires. - -Its large and small dining-rooms are available to members, and even to -very distinguished strangers, for private dinners; which are exquisitely -cooked and served by the numerous and highly expert staff of the Club. - -In fact the Jockey Club is a very influential body indeed; quite apart -from racing matters. - -There can be no manner of doubt that the gambling element in racing is -far too popular in Buenos Aires. There is a race meeting on every day -in the week, Sundays, of course, included, during a season which lasts -nearly all the year round. And these meetings are thronged by youths and -other people who most certainly should be, and would much better be, at -work. - -Whatever may be thought of the system of weekly National Lotteries (these -are at least carried on with unimpeachable fairness and 10% of the -amounts subscribed to them, in payment for tickets, goes, after paying -working expenses, printing, etc., to charity) the totalizer appeals far -too sympathetically to the Latin-American natural love of gambling; and -that love, as always in a new country where so many fortunes seem to have -had their origin in luck, has developed dangerously on the right bank of -the River Plate. - -Close also to Palermo Park is the scene of the annual Agricultural and -Live Stock Show; now a world-renowned Exhibition of as fine cattle and -sheep as can be seen anywhere. Horses and Poultry also are splendidly -represented at this show; which is perhaps the greatest event in the -Argentine Calendar. - -Further out from the city, past and beyond Palermo, is Hurlingham; an -ever-enlarging group of English red-brick villas inhabited for the most -part by English people. These villas surround the ample grounds of the -Hurlingham Club, where polo and riding and driving competitions, etc., -follow the lines of its English prototype. The Club house is comfortable, -the food good, and a huge swimming bath is among its many undoubted -attractions. It also has a drag hunt. - -Further out again are beautiful reaches of the Tigre River, famous for -boating; and on which an annual regatta, the Henley of South America, is -held. - -The Avenida de Alvear, above referred to, runs through the most -fashionable residential quarter of Buenos Aires, a quarter filled with -veritable huge palaces which with their gardens surround the Recoleta, -the fashionable cemetery. A strange city of the dead in which the coffins -are seen on shelves contained in small plate-glass fronted temples, so -that all may view the last outward casings of generations. - -On “The Day of the Dead” (All Saints’ Day) the Recoleta is a blaze of -beautiful wreaths and floral tributes; afterwards too often replaced, -alas, by ugly contrivances in porcelain or, worse still, enamelled iron. - -Returning to Buenos Aires proper one must not, cannot, forget CALLE -FLORIDA, “The Bond Street of the South.” So called because in it are -situate most of the finest shops in South America for the sale of what -are sometimes officially described as articles of luxury; wearing apparel -of the best and costliest, for both sexes, jewellery, stationery, etc. -It is, in fact, to Buenos Aires all Bond Street once was, and old Bond -Street to some extent still is, to London. - -Needless, almost, to say, Florida deals exclusively in imported goods -and a very great majority of its shopkeepers are foreigners; among whom -the purveyors of “Modes,” “Robes” and “Lingerie” are, naturally, mostly -French. - -No vehicular traffic whatever is now allowed in Calle Florida between -certain hours of the afternoon; in order not to incommode the throngs -of fashionable shoppers with whom it is usually crowded. It is the only -street in which Argentine ladies of high degree are to be seen on foot. -In bygone and less crowded times it was the scene of the afternoon Corso; -when play was made with fans and gallants ogled from the edges of the -pavement. - -There is at present still a lack of Hotel accommodation suitable for -Europeans of moderate means. There are great numbers of Hotels in Buenos -Aires, but the good ones are very expensive while the cheaper ones are -not very good. That is to say, one must have got accustomed to the South -American haphazard fashion of service and general arrangements before -being able to regard the latter as in any way comfortable. Montevideo is -still worse off; having few Hotels which can be regarded as good (though -there are one or two), while prices, as in everything else, run higher -than in Buenos Aires. - -A word must be said in defence of the latter City against a prevailing -impression, created, goodness knows how, of its intense immorality. This -charge simply is not true. Buenos Aires is no more immoral than and -certainly not as vicious as are most European Capitals. - -True, it is not in South American human nature to be puritanical but -the lower classes in Argentina and Uruguay are but non-moral, to use a -somewhat fashionable term, with the non-morality of grown-up children, -which they are. They have not the faintest idea of the vice which abounds -in the great cities of the Northern Hemisphere. Montevideo is more staid -than cosmopolitan Buenos Aires; even at Carnival time the former City -seems to take its merrymaking seriously. Any real vice which can be -found in either Capital is an imported article. - -If among the lower classes of both countries the whole advantages of -the marriage ceremony seem not to be duly appreciated, this is due, in -the vast majority of cases, to motives of economy. A religious marriage -service is a costly item in the equipment of a young couple, and a purely -civil ceremony is even less favourably looked on by neighbours than a -postponement of any ceremony at all. Later, such couples usually do marry -with due pomp and circumstance, including the invitation of all and -sundry to the humble wedding feast. After that, all is in order in the -case of the death of the husband and father; for marriage legitimatizes -previously born children. Indeed, the writer was once present at a -_fiesta_ in a rural district, not forty minutes’ run by train from the -City of Buenos Aires, organized to honour the occasion of the visit -of a Priest who in a very short space of time married the parents and -christened a whole batch of their children. - -An old custom still chiefly prevailing among the humbler classes, both -urban and rural, is one which may be called the “waking” of the dead. -The news of a bereavement spreads quickly among neighbours; who do not -wait to be invited but arrive, in groups organized extemporaneously by -themselves, at the house of mourning. There, one of such groups succeeds -another, and so on throughout the night after a death; sitting silently -and only moving to partake of the necessary refreshment provided in view -of their sure coming. - -As in most other countries where modernity has not yet suppressed all -local colour with its neutral tints, the lower classes in both Argentina -and Uruguay are much the most interesting. The free-and-easy Bohemian -sort of life in a _conventillo_[16] is curious. In each of its many -rooms lives a family, while the court is common to all for cooking (a -charcoal brazier usually stands at the side of each door), washing of -clothes and, last but not least, the discussion of _mate_ and gossip. -All sorts of people dwell in a single conventillo, artisans, hawkers, -washerwomen, milliners, factory hands, poor employees, etc. etc., and all -group themselves in the common courtyard of an evening when work is done, -frequently to the music of a guitar. - -The upper classes, on the other hand, strive chiefly to reflect the -latest moods of European fashion in general and of that of Paris in -particular—even, since the War, to the extent of making retrenchment -in living expenses the fashion. A fashion which, if it last, will not -be the least of the good which has come to Argentina from the European -upheaval which has forced the River Plate countries to learn to rely -on their own resources and individual efforts. Gone, already, are the -battalions of motor-cars of very latest pattern with which every wealthy -Argentine family has hitherto thought it necessary to its dignity to be -provided—one each for father, mother and each son and daughter—economy -is now “De Moda” and ostentation therefore become old-fashioned and bad -taste. An immense change to have taken place, as it did, in the course of -only a few months. - -Montevideo had no need of such a _volte face_ of habit. Uruguayans never -developed the love of display so characteristic of Argentine aristocracy. - -With its some 1½ million inhabitants, Buenos Aires has the largest -population of any Capital City in America. Montevideo, with some 400,000 -inhabitants, surpasses Washington in this respect. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -FINANCE AND COMMERCE - - -Owing to their dependence on the Northern Hemisphere for the Capital -necessary for the continuance of their development, the River Plate -countries, and South American countries generally, are as a barometer, -and an extremely sensitive one, in regard to the conditions of the Money -markets of the Older World. - -Thus already in 1913, the fear of Balkan complications in both Argentina -and Uruguay was represented by a general fall in what previously may have -been somewhat inflated, or at least too anticipatory, land values. - -This fall, coupled with and increased by relatively bad harvests, marked -the commencement of rather bad times in both Republics. In this regard -it may be well to say that comparatively bad times come easily and -swiftly on a country like Argentina, the prosperity of which depends -very largely indeed on its cereal production and in which landowners and -agriculturists from the largest _Estanciero_ to the smallest _Chacrero_ -have long been encouraged by Nature to regard each coming year as -inevitably more prosperous than its predecessor. The result of this -optimism, usually justified by the event, is that when any set-back, -caused, say, by late frosts or early rains, such as farmers in less -favoured lands would take as an ordinary risk of their occupation, -does occur, the streets of Buenos Aires are immediately filled with -men with long faces running to the Banks and anxiously discussing the -ruin which, apparently, seems to them to be staring them in the face, -notwithstanding that most of them must often have been through similar -“crises” before. - -One need only go “on ’Change” to be almost convinced that the whole -vaunted prosperity of the Republic is tumbling about its ears. Even -newspapers, which, by this time at least, ought to know better, join in -the panic cry. - -At such times people possessed of Capital and common sense make good -investments; the Banks tide everyone else over quite comfortably enough -not to interfere with the socially obligatory summer gathering at -Mar-del-Plata; the following harvest is a bumper; and all is well again -in the best and sunniest of all possible Republics. - -That is the usual course of happenings after inferior harvests but, as -is easy to imagine, the present situation is as unique in South America -as it is in all other parts of the world. On the River Plate, indeed, it -was, if one may be permitted the expression, aggravated by anticipation -consequent on the (almost miraculous for these countries) following of -yet another rainy harvest-time. - -On the top of all came August with its declarations of European War, -the first result of which in the River Plate Republics was intimate -realization of the extent to which they had been dependent on Europe -since the commencement of their real commercial development. - -They were thrown entirely on their own resources and ability with no -chance of any immediate help from outside. - -It is to the credit of both Republics that they rose to the situation. -Seven days of Bank Holiday were at once proclaimed in Argentina; during -which time the Ministry of Finance and other Government departments were -loyally assisted by both native and foreign bankers and financiers to -devise necessary measures. - -In the result Laws were summarily passed by Congress to prevent all -exportation of gold; outgoing ships might only take with them sufficient -coal to last them till they reached _the next port in South America_ -(Argentina and Uruguay as yet produce no practically valuable coal, so -that they are dependent on import for their stocks of this fuel), and -provision was made that cereal exports should be limited to the surplus -of such produce after the retention of a liberal allowance for home -consumption until the next harvests. - -Uruguay adopted similar protective measures. - -So far so good, but the Argentine Banks, generally, were faced with the -necessity for immediate decision under conditions which, unfortunately, -are all too frequently recurrent in rapidly progressing countries. Many -of the securities held by them were obviously not worth the value that -they had been taken for, in consequence of the previous shrinkage of -values above alluded to. - -This was a momentous matter for consideration during the seven days’ Bank -holiday. - -In the result, all Banks adopted the policy of cutting losses even at the -risk, amounting to extreme likelihood, of letting their weaker customers -drown,[17] while mercy was only extended to those evidently strong enough -to keep afloat throughout the crisis and its after effects. - -This decision taken, and enforced on the reopening of the Banks, scarcely -any credit establishment took any advantage of the Moratorium declared by -the Government. - -In Uruguay the situation proved easier on account of a comparative -absence of the complication of securities based on inflated values. Here -again the Uruguayan showed his superiority in the matter of cautiously -prudent finance over his more enthusiastically volatile over-river cousin. - -This observation notwithstanding, it is now clear that although a -severe financial pinch is still felt in both countries, the Argentine -and Uruguayan ships of State are both fully trimmed to enable them to -ride over bad financial weather, the first shock of which was the most -perilous to meet and needed the most prompt and intelligent handling. - -In the result neither country will eventually be any worse for the moral -effects of having suddenly been left to its own resources. - -Meanwhile land, especially, perhaps, in Argentina, offers an opportunity -to Capital such as, as has been said elsewhere in these pages, everyone -for humanitarian reasons must hope will never occur again. - -Given knowledge of just where and what to buy, large fortunes await those -with courage and capital to purchase either town lots or agricultural and -pastoral land in either Republic; in Argentina preferably for earlier -realization. - -Once peace is declared, and even before, it needs little imagination to -perceive the wealth to be secured by the agricultural and live-stock -produce on markets suddenly deprived of much of the usual output of -sources of cereal supply as Russia and Canada, through withdrawal of -labour for military purposes, and faced with an enormously increased -demand for meat and grain caused by the necessary shortage of production -over all War-infected areas. - -In fact Argentina and Uruguay are likely soon to experience the truth of -the proverb, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” and they are -among the very few countries of the world about the commercial conditions -of which, after the war, it is pretty safe to prophesy in the direction -of a prompt return, in an enhanced degree, to their normal course of -ever-growing prosperity. - -Always with the factor of population and consequent sufficiency of -agricultural labour being reserved for consideration after the event. A -large and very serious reservation which cannot safely be lost sight of -by anyone desirous of land speculation in either of the two countries -under discussion. - -Let the reader pardon this recurrent insistence on this question of -population, made in the hope that it may help to open the eyes of the -Authorities concerned, especially Argentine, to the crying necessity -in their country’s interests for practically workable inducements to -true colonization, as distinguished from mere partial exploitation of -necessitous wage-earners. And the eyes not only of the Authorities, but -of everyone having a pecuniary interest of any sort in either Republic, -so that their Congresses and landowners may be forced to consider the -question in the liberal and enlightened spirit which alone can remove the -greatest menace to their country’s economic progress. - -If the two Governments and great landowners would only devote one-tenth -part of the admirable ingenuity and energy with which they, and the -Argentine especially, have very successfully combated locust invasions -to the attraction of small-holding proprietary agriculturalists, the -River Plate Territories would soon break into an irruption of statues of -the originators of such measures which would outrival the vast quantity -of those erected to the memories of Generals San Martin, Artígas and -Urquíza. (One could travel far in Argentina without discovering a town -which does not possess a statue of the first-named deliverer of his -country. Uruguay has also many San Martin statues, but runs preferably, -as is natural, to Urquíza and, lately, in consequence of the whitewashing -efforts of modern historians, Artígas.) - -In view of the actual situation, financial and commercial statistics -relating to the ante-war era necessarily seem to savour mustily of the -back-number. This savour is, however, more due to imagination than to -actual fact, since such statistics are just as interesting as ever they -were and really show the normal trend of things economic to be resumed -and likely to be followed in even a more favourable course, as far at -least as Export is concerned. As for the Import of manufactured goods an -attempt to deal with some of the probabilities or possibilities of this -question in its future aspects is made later in this chapter. - - -CURRENCY - -The “Caja de Conversión” (A term for which “Conversion Chest” is the -usual clumsy translation, though “Conversion Box” stands as a triumph of -the translator’s art. Perhaps “Conversion Office” sounds best, though -it does not convey a true idea of vaults filled with sacks of golden -coin and therefore “Conversion Bank” is here preferred) is an Argentine -Government Institution under the control of the National Ministry of -Finance created for the purpose of dealing with the issue, exchange, and -conversion of the currency of the country. It issues the paper currency -and must hold in reserve sufficient gold to meet the circulating paper -money; it also mints the nickel and copper coinage of the country. - -Under the Conversion Law a fixed ratio was assigned as between gold and -paper. A paper dollar, instead of being theoretically equivalent in -value to a gold dollar, was declared to be worth only 44 cents gold; -thus with 44 cents gold as the fixed equivalent of one dollar paper -and, conversely, 2·27 paper dollars that of one dollar gold, and the -smallest gold coin minted the equivalent of 2½ dollars gold, the use of -paper in all the odd amounts of everyday transactions is inevitable and -consequently the major portion of the gold which reaches the country is -forced by the public need of the more convenient currency into the “Caja -de Conversión.” - -The accumulation of gold in the “Caja” on December 31st, 1915, was well -over 61 millions sterling, and it must be noted that these accumulations -cannot leave the “Caja” under any consideration (unless by special -sanction of Congress), except in exchange for paper currency, until -the time when the currency shall be placed on a logically complete -metallic basis. The provisions of the Conversion Law in this regard -are exceptionally stringent; under them every official of the “Caja,” -from the highest to the lowest, is personally responsible for their -observance, and they cannot be overruled by any power in the land. So, -until Congress approves what is commonly referred to as the conversion, -the store of gold in the “Caja” will continue practically intact and will -increase. - -The misuse of this term “Conversion” has given rise to much confusion -of ideas, even in Argentina. The actual conversion took place with the -above-mentioned assignment of the fixed ratio of value between gold and -paper. - -It is obvious that the present is not the moment for the change in -the form of the currency, but it should be added that apart from the -immediate effects of the war the time for that change has not yet -arrived. Irresponsible projects for the change have been put forward -from time to time during recent years, but official declarations in -that regard have never yet gone further than complacent platitudes to -the effect that the time for it was fast approaching; without, however, -the faintest indications of any schemes for carrying the change out -in practice. Besides, under the Law it cannot be accomplished until a -fund or deposit in the Bank of the Nation, and to which the National -Government makes contributions out of revenue, has reached the amount -necessary to form a reserve against the paper currency in circulation -prior to the passing of the Conversion Law. For a long while past, the -amount of that fund stood at six millions sterling, but this amount (then -still insufficient for such reserve) became reduced in August last to two -millions sterling in consequence of special financial measures adopted by -the Argentine Government at the outbreak of the war and referred to more -fully in the chapter on “The War.” - -On the 31st of December, 1914, the Argentine Government held gold -accumulations to the value in round figures of 63 millions sterling, of -which, as has been seen, 2 millions pertain to the Conversion Fund at the -Bank of the Nation. This fund must not be confused with the amounts in -the “Caja,” the uses of the former (apart from its constituting, as has -been said, a reserve against the paper currency in circulation previously -to the passing of the Conversion Law) being limited to the purposes of -foreign exchange, the benefit of the Fund itself and to aid the control -of the market; while the accumulations in the “Caja” can only, in normal -circumstances, leave it in exchange for paper currency. - -Besides the actual gold in the “Caja” this Institution held at the end -of 1915 gold and bonds to the value of over 14 millions sterling which -had been deposited at the various Argentine Legations. These deposits -have naturally increased largely since. Besides all this the Bank of the -Nation, the Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires and the private banks -held large amounts of gold. - -Uruguay has not introduced, and has always resisted the temptation to -introduce, any such complications of her currency; which is on a thorough -gold basis. - -The Argentine Conversion Law was passed in 1899 and abrogated in -1901-2 by Congress (in consequence of the anticipation of possible -war with Chile, over the frontier question, the payment by the Nation -of Provincial debts and the closing of Argentine ports because of an -outbreak of bubonic plague). - -Therefore the present solid financial status of the Argentine Republic -dates from only twelve, or, on the most liberal reckoning, fifteen years -ago. - -Uruguay’s first surplus (of $453,110) accrued in 1905-6; though an -increased surplus has figured in each Uruguayan National Budget since -that date. - - Equivalent Values. - Argentine $1, gold = 3s. 11½d. - ” $1, paper = 1s. 8¾d. - Uruguayan $1 = 4s. 3⅟₁₆d. ($1·3½ _cents_ U.S.A.). - £1 = $5·05 gold, Argentine. - £1 = $11·45 paper, Argentine. - £1 = $4·70, Uruguayan. - - -THE ARGENTINE MONETARY SYSTEM - -Is controlled by the Conversion law, above referred to, which fixed a -ratio between the value of the paper and gold currencies and made these -interchangeable at that ratio until the time should be judged to have -arrived for the substitution of metallic coinage for paper. - -The law was passed as the only available though drastic remedy for the -state of financial chaos, nothing less, in which Argentina found herself -for some years after the crisis of 1891. For the coming of this chaos -Argentines blame the European Bankers who, at least, looked on whilst -the country floundered into it. For this view they have considerable -reason. The Bankers were men of great experience in Finance; of which -the Argentines of that day had little or none. Argentina relied on -the men who had taken her Finances in hand for the development of -her vast natural resources. She awoke to find herself in a financial -condition which would have spelt a century of ruin to any less -nature-favoured land. And it was an Argentine, Señor Ricardo Pillado, now -Director-General of the Division of Commerce and Industry in the Ministry -of Agriculture, who devised the Law which, though it in effect involved -a partial repudiation of the country’s liabilities, at any rate made -possible the financial renaissance on which her present great prosperity -was founded. - -As has been seen, the Conversion Law said that a paper dollar should be -equivalent to 44 cents gold and that conversely a gold dollar should be -worth 2·27 paper dollars. This ratio was supposed to have been fixed by -taking the average ratio of value between paper and gold over a certain -period immediately prior to the passing of the Law. - -This basis is now believed to have been fictitious, it being found that, -had such an average of values been struck, a paper dollar would have -become the equivalent to something much more like 60 cents gold. So that -in fact a repudiation of 40 cents liability on every paper dollar in -circulation was made to become one of 56 cents. - -That, however, is past history; and the existing Law appears likely to -remain in operation for an indefinite time to come. - -It has its inconveniences. Institutions and traders are obliged by Law to -keep their books in both currencies. There is no gold coin available as -an equivalent to 1 paper dollar. One needs to have a clear 50 dollars’ -worth of notes before one can get gold out of the Conversion Bank; so -that all transactions involving odd amounts must be carried through with -the aid of paper. In point of fact gold is only seen in the course of -important transactions. Still, the gold is there, in the country, in -the Conversion Bank; and cannot be withdrawn from the coffers of that -Institution except as against paper dollars, nor can paper dollars be -issued except as against gold actually in the Conversion Bank. For the -absolutely strict observance of these rules everyone concerned, from the -President of the Republic down to the humblest employee of the Caja is -personally responsible under the law. By the operation of the law the -Republic holds a usually ever-increasing stock of gold; the accumulation -of which is aided by the inconvenience for practical exchange of the -figures ·44 and 2·27. - -There is no doubt but that the object which the framers of the Conversion -Law originally had in view, the rehabilitation of the country’s Finance -and credit, has been fulfilled long ago; and it is for other reasons -that Foreign Capitalists and Banks, to whom Argentina must still look -for the means of her fuller development, prefer to let the dual monetary -system, with its several practical inconveniences, continue instead of -encouraging Congress to declare the purpose of the Law fulfilled, by -which declaration it would, by its terms, lapse _ipso facto_. On that -happening there would be a period, momentary only, in all probability, -but still a period, during which the coffers of the Conversion Bank would -be open through the automatic lapse of the Law of its creation. And -Capitalists and Bankers, grown very prudent indeed in their generation, -prefer that those coffers should remain closed and safeguarded as they -are; even at the cost of some few extra clerks to cope with a system -which otherwise works very satisfactorily. - -Shin-plasters, as the paper dollars are called by Anglo-Argentines, -fulfil all the purposes of daily life as well as would silver or other -metallic tokens. Paper dollars, guaranteed by gold, have also other -advantages over a metal coinage which might not be so fully guaranteed. - -Therefore the Conversion Law remains a live letter on the Argentine -Statute Book. - -It is, however, a vulgar error to refer to the time when other tokens -might be substituted for paper as the time for “Conversion.” Conversion -really took place with the coming into operation of the law which -converted a fluctuating ratio into a fixed one. - -The speculation in gold, referred to elsewhere, which had attained -disastrous dimensions just prior to the passing of the Law, was another -evil to which that Law put an end. Then as now all everyday transactions -were carried out in paper; but, then, no man could tell from hour to hour -what the paper he held was worth. Everyone was by force of circumstances -practically a gambler whether he wished to be one or not. The paper -tokens for which he had sold his wares one day might be worth much more -or less the next. Everyone had to make his own forecast of probabilities -before he could make or give a price for anything; and therefore became -a constant speculator, a gambler in futures, in fact. The bad moral -effects of such a state of things is obvious. Many other financial evils -were rife at this time, which now have only historic interest, among -them may be mentioned the Banks of Issue for which authority appears -practically to have been given by the State to anyone able to procure -and furnish offices. Stacks of the notes of these precious Institutions -still occupy space as curious lumber somewhere in the cellars and garrets -of Government House. Valueless and best forgotten by a prosperous and -enlightened nation which no longer needs any such awful examples to deter -it from lapse into irregular finance. - -Uruguay has a gold, silver and nickel coinage, but, as in Argentina, -notes are the most common tokens, especially for amounts of $1 and -upwards. As will have been understood, Uruguay has no Caja de Conversión, -her currency being and always having been on a direct gold basis. - - -COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS - -One of the immediately world-wide effects of the great War has been the -practically total elimination of German trade competition, an elimination -which may not unreasonably be calculated to last for some time to come. - -This therefore is the golden opportunity for other competitors to capture -the large bulk of export trade which had gradually been absorbed and was -in course of constantly increasing absorption in the countries under -discussion by German firms. - -Many Consular Reports and publications of the “Bureau of American -Republics” have respectively dealt with the consequent loss of trade to -Great Britain and the comparatively slow advance in that respect made by -the United States and these documents have insistently pointed out the -whys and wherefores of German commercial success over their chief rivals. - -The writer cannot therefore lay claim to originality in the present -observations, but does claim that his persistence in the reiteration -of what he, and many greater than he, have continually urged on every -possible occasion during the past decade has been and is in what appears -to him to be the best interests of those most concerned. - -Of the two nations the British still has the better opportunity to extend -its commerce in both Argentina and Uruguay. The reasons (apart from -the actual kaleidoscopic financial and industrial situation) for this -opinion are that the English (as all people hailing from the British -Isles are commonly called in South America) have already acquired in both -countries a firm reputation for straightforward dealing, founded on many -years’ experience and untainted by any suspicion of underlying political -motives, whereas the South American Republics generally harbour a latent -but constant resentment of what they rightly or wrongly consider to be -the tendency of the United States to assume a dominating influence over -both Americas. In fact to construe the Monroe doctrine as meaning, to -cite the catch-phrase which to the innermost South American mind embodies -something very closely resembling an unpleasant truth, “America for the -_North_ Americans.” - -Therefore, pushing United States’ commerce is immediately met by a -seemingly dull indifference to the merits of the wares it offers, praise -it those wares never so loudly. And this observation suggests another -of almost equal truth and importance, viz. that the loud and strenuous -vaunting of an article and the _hustling_ methods so much admired in -the great Republic of the North are worse than useless in Spanish South -America. “Why so much talk and so much hurry to strike a bargain if the -thing is really good?” is the mental attitude of the average Spanish -American towards the vociferous North American traveller who usually -makes the further mistake of appearing to wish to teach his listener the -latter’s own business. This, as has been said elsewhere in these pages, -is a thing no Argentine or Uruguayan will stand. No one is a more severe -critic of himself, his methods and Institutions, no one is most enamoured -of progress and improvement than he. But _he_ must be the discoverer and -chooser of the remedies for his own defects, _he_ and he alone must be -the arbiter of his own destinies and set his own house in order. In such -matters he will brook no interference. And least of all from the United -States. - -It is surprising that the commercial ability of the latter country -should not long ago have discovered and acted in harmony with this -feature of South American psychology. It seems, however, to have escaped -appreciation by “Yankee” cuteness. - -Accordingly, we find, in the present writer’s opinion, two existing -obstacles (apart, as has been indicated above, from the present -financial situation) to the extension of the trade of the United States -in Argentina and Uruguay. One of these, the inappropriate method of -approach usually pursued by travellers and the other a strong and jealous -suspicion of the ulterior motives of the United States in endeavouring to -strengthen her commercial foothold in the Southern Hemisphere. The first -of these obstacles should be easily removable, unless, indeed, it be too -firmly rooted in the North American mentality. The second is a matter for -extremely delicate state diplomacy, and equally delicate behaviour of the -United States’ delegates at each future “Congress of American Republics.” - -Having thus glanced at seemingly obvious defects in United States methods -we may turn to those of British manufacturers. - -In their regard one can scarcely restrain the question, “Do they really -want the South American trade at all?” Because, if they do, they set -about getting it in the strangest possible ways. Their apparent attitude -can be summed up by saying that they point-blank refuse to give a -customer what he thinks he wants unless his ideas on that subject -entirely coincide with what they think is best for themselves and, -incidentally, it would seem, for him. - -South American governments insist on the metrical system of weights and -measures for Customs purposes: the British manufacturer persists in a -firm refusal to contemplate anything but British Tons and Feet. This -may seem a trifling matter to anyone not engaged in the Import trade of -a metrical-system country, but in practice the rendering of British -weights and measures into their metrical equivalents involves not only a -large amount of clerical labour, but is also a frequent source of error -in the results. - -A most actively patriotic Briton who is the head of a large Importing -firm in Montevideo told the present writer not long ago that in spite -of his patriotism he had been driven to deal with German firms because, -for one reason, of the constant inflictions on him of $80 fines by the -Customs Authorities, that sum being the statutory fine in Uruguay for any -misstatement of weight or bulk on a declaration. - -He, in common with the generality of Importers in Argentina or Uruguay, -had found himself confronted by several very weighty reasons for -necessarily transferring the bulk of his orders from British to German -firms, the chief of which was that above summed up; namely, that British -manufacturers would not adapt themselves to his customers’ requirements. - -“We are making this, that, or the other pattern” of whatever the article -in question may be, and “if you don’t like that you must go elsewhere” -is the gist of the average British manufacturer’s last word in the -discussion. And, as the Importer is not running a Commercial Museum -of articles of the highest quality or best British taste, but has to -sell what he imports to customers who have lamentably independent -ideas of what they want, he does go elsewhere, that is to say he did, -and, most frequently, to Germany. To Germany, where most things were -at all events cheaper, and where, if qualities were not so good as in -the United Kingdom, manufacturers were adaptable, and their travelling -representatives spoke Spanish and understood the ways and wishes and even -the foibles of South American customers. - -As a rule, commercial travellers from either Great Britain or the United -States do not speak anything like fluent Spanish. Therefore, they are -obliged to engage interpreters to accompany them on their business calls, -while they were quite unable to take advantage of the opportunities -sought for by their Spanish-speaking German competitors of mingling in -the semi-social life of their customers. In the bar or restaurant the -German traveller was a jolly good fellow always ready to pay his share of -the wine bill and with his pockets filled with more than passable cigars -and he could enjoy and respond to the local humour and generally take -part in all the fun of a jovial evening-out; for which the Argentine, -especially, is always ready and willing to find an excuse. - -Now, doing persuasive business through an interpreter is by no means -an invariably satisfactory proceeding, because the interpreter’s own -mentality inevitably intervenes and unconsciously colours both sides -of the argument with tinges of his own individuality. He says what -_he_ thinks you wish to say, and often enough replies with the best -rendering he can make, not always an entirely accurate one, of what he -conceives to be the meaning of the other party to the discussion. As -for the evening-out! One has only to imagine the effects of a laborious -translation of always very allusive wit; the point of which in Argentina -most frequently hinges on double-meaning. - -The German studied the language, and, as far as he could, the tastes and -ways of the people of the country he intended visiting before he set out -on his commercial travels. - -Travellers of other nationalities should do likewise if they wish -to secure a substantial share of the trade now left open to their -bidding.[18] - -And British manufacturers, if so be that (I repeat the question) they -do want the South American markets for their goods, must make up their -minds to suit the requirements of those markets whatever may be their -own private opinion of South American tastes and ways. They must still -remember that although German competition has ceased and may continue -non-existent for even a very long time to come, and while Belgium is, for -the time being, hopelessly crippled, there _are_ other nations who desire -to rise, and may succeed in rising, to an occasion which, for the awful -cause of it, one can only hope will never occur again. - -It is a truly great opportunity for both British and United States -Commerce, in which, as has been pointed out, the former has a very -considerable start in the political and commercial sympathies and -prejudices of South Americans. Nothing which British manufacturers cannot -remedy appears to exist to prevent them from taking extremely profitable -advantage of that start, not only for the recovery of lost ground, but -for grasping a very large share of new openings. Will they? Do they -really care enough about extending their businesses to do so? - -That is the only question, and it is one which they alone can, and soon, -we hope, must answer; one way or the other. If they do not want new -business or wish that old business should come back to them, there is -no more to be said. And no more grumbling to be indulged in about the -proportionate falling back of British trade in South America. - -It may be objected that the United States, the full manufacturing -activities of which remain unimpaired by the withdrawal of labour for -military purposes and the output of which is not absorbed to so great an -extent as it is with us for war material, have for that reason already a -great start of Great Britain in all foreign markets. To this objection -I would reply that the time for the struggle for the Argentine and -Uruguayan markets is hardly yet; because climatic accident still recently -produced results which, coupled with the falling on them of the shadow of -the Great Terror, suspended their purchasing power. Two very lean years -of cereal production due to weather, the occurrence of two consecutive -seasons of which is without parallel in these countries’ history, -were followed by another perilously rainy harvest time complicated by -shortage of harvest labour due to war risks, and imagined risks, of -the transport of the usual army of Italian harvesters who (like the -_Golondrinas_—swallows—after which they are nicknamed in South America) -annually go to Argentina and Uruguay[19] and return to Italy after the -harvest has been got in. These causes temporarily paralysed Argentine -and Uruguayan commercial activity by, as has been said, suspending the -purchasing powers of both. - -But with the productive recovery[20] of these countries with their -enormous natural endowments and producing as they do all the foodstuffs -that the populations of poor war-trampled Europe need most, what a call -for all kinds of agricultural machinery will come from them in return -for their meat and cereals and in order that more and more land may be -laid under contribution for the production of these primarily necessary -supplies! Failing other labour sources, an augmented stream of Italian -“swallow” and permanent emigration will set out for the River Plate, -wealth will develop on both shores of that river, and with wealth the -demand for all the manufactured things to the desire for which wealth -gives rise. Hardware, cutlery, cotton and woollen cloths, electrical -appliances and material; the host of things which Britain makes and -Germany once sold will come into increasing demand in South America with -the spring of the new era on which the whole civilized world will enter -when the blackness of devastation shall have passed and the evil which -created it be rendered powerless for further ruinous crime. - -Would that the millions of able-bodied men murdered by this war could -have been utilized instead as an agricultural expeditionary force on the -shores of the River Plate! They and their children and the world would -have been the richer for their labour carried out under conditions as -happy as their present, and for many (alas!) past, task is terrible. They -would have supplied that in which Argentina and Uruguay are lacking, -namely, the human element, for the development of their natural -resources. Countries in which vast areas of land yet await the plough for -cereal cultivation and the improvement of their natural rough pasturage -and other vast areas of rich alluvial soil need only irrigation to turn -them into a terrestrial paradise. - -Capital never is and never will be wanting for good investment, but the -fund of human labour cannot be drawn upon by a mere signature. And the -daily waste of thousands of lives for the full activity of which there -is ample room and urgent need on behalf of the millions remaining is, -sentiment apart and from a commercial point of view alone, the saddest -thing in War. - -Europe needs bread and meat not only to fulfil her normal needs but also -to replace her own interrupted production of these prime necessities of -life. The River Plate countries can produce both in practically unlimited -quantities; provided only that they can obtain the necessary labour a -ghastly wastage of which is going on daily in Europe, some parts of which -are consequently threatened with famine. - -Surely if civilization be anything but a mere theoretic expression there -will never be another great war! - -With this pious hope we may pass to a more concrete subject, namely, -commercial credit on both sides of the River Plate. - -As has been indicated in another chapter, Uruguay enjoys a more literally -creditable reputation than her bigger sister. The causes of this have -also been already dealt with. - -In practice one can but advise anyone approached by firms in either -country to do what it may be taken that any ordinarily prudent man of -business would do, viz. to make due enquiry as to his proposed new -customer. His means of doing this are really even better than if the -latter were established in London or New York, since the commercial -community in either Argentina or Uruguay is comparatively small and -consequently, to use a current phrase, almost everyone there knows -everyone else and a good deal about him and his business. - -Several of the chief banks in Buenos Aires and Montevideo have their head -offices in London and all have branches or accredited correspondents -in the principal European and North American capitals and commercial -centres.[21] - -The wholesale importing houses in Argentina and Uruguay usually give -ninety days’ acceptances for imported goods and in their turn give six -months’ credit to their retail customers. This arrangement has now the -sanction of long usage based on its practically being a division of the -burden of credit given to the storekeeper by the Importer between the -latter and the Exporter. - -The system of banking in both Argentina and Uruguay differs little from -that obtaining in England except for a certain amount of good single-name -paper being taken on account of the usually intimate acquaintance -with the business and standing of all leading firms possessed by the -commercial community generally. - -Rents and working expenses, including special traders’ taxes, in the -Capitals of both Republics are high, but the scale of profits when -calculated on anything like a reasonable turnover will in most cases be -found to leave a balance in favour of both wholesale and retail traders -which would be regarded as highly satisfactory by their European and -North American brethren. In fact, it may fairly be said that if a man in -either country does any appreciable bulk of business in any branch of -commerce or trade he is doing what elsewhere would be considered as very -good business indeed. When rumour assigns shakiness to any established -firm it may be taken as certain that such rumour is founded on tales of -speculation outside the lines on which that firm’s true business has been -built up. There seems a temptation inherent in new countries for men -who have earned money in businesses they understand to risk it in other -speculations of which they have next door to no experience. This is, of -course, a phase of the “get rich quick” fever which frequently attacks -the young inheritors of stable businesses which seem to them too slow and -sure to be interesting or indeed to require much looking after. - -At one time the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange was responsible for a large -number of victims among all classes of the public, but of late years -the public has fought very shy of it indeed; so shy in fact as now to -be practically unrepresented in the share ring of that Institution. -As a consequence of this abstention the few brokers and professional -speculators who daily do what courtesy perhaps demands that one should -call business there suggests the tale of the island the inhabitants of -which lived simply by taking in each other’s washing. - -Joking apart, however, the share ring in the Buenos Aires Temple of -Mammon were best avoided by the uninitiate. In this ring there is -always one, sometimes two (its strength does not run to more), media -of pure speculation in course of manipulation by one speculative group -or another. The names or nature of these media do not really seem to -matter. They vary. Sometimes they may be the shares of the Dock Company -of an inchoate Port, sometimes those of an Industrial Company with -vague expectations. Indeed, vagueness which may be tinged by rumour and -imagination with a hue dimly resembling that of impending rich surprise -is almost essential to the initiation of this kind of gamble. - -The shares are bulled out of all proportion to their even possible -value for a little while and then no more is heard of them; and other -very similar ones reign in their stead in the sensational place on the -blackboard, on which all bargains during each day are chalked up as they -are called out by the parties making them. - -The end of these really stillborn booms is mystery. Who are the -unfortunate last in? Strangers, doubtless, when there are any. But if -there be none, as is the case more frequently than not? One hears vague -talk of Paris and other European capitals and then silence for ever more. - -Anyhow, the stranger, for whom this book is chiefly written, would, if -he took a hand in any one of these games, soon find out that though he -might see the price of the shares he had purchased mounting gaily up on -the blackboard like mercury in the tropics he could never realize to any -appreciable extent. Did he start to sell, then all the weak little bulls -of whom his co-speculators would be composed, people to whom ten dollars -a day one way or the other makes all the difference in their domestic -budget, would rush to sell also out of sheer fright, and down would go -the market on him like a guillotine. At the finish he would be left with -a very large proportion of his probably not over-valuable holding; of -which he would have little further news than notices regarding proposed -reconstruction schemes, etc. - -It must not, however, be imagined that the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange -is by any means exclusively devoted to such work as that just indicated. -On the contrary, many Bank and Industrial shares are also quoted and the -other, the Securities, ring is just as genuinely serious as the gambling -part of the share ring is meretricious. The chief securities dealt in in -the former are the Bonds of the National _Cedulas_, as “gilt edged” a -security as could well be wished for. - -These Cedulas are Bonds issued by the National Hypothecary Bank, an -Institution of the National Government, as against mortgages of freehold -property in the Republic; the method of their issue being, shortly, as -follows. - -An intending Mortgagor lodges a proposal with the Bank; on which his -title is examined and the property offered valued by Government experts -appointed for each purpose. - -The result of the examination of title being satisfactory, the Bank -states the amount for which on its valuation, fixed after leaving ample -margin for possible depreciation, it will accept the mortgage. - -But the Bank has no cash funds, and therefore issues Bonds, carrying -interest at 6%, and subject to annual amortization, for the amount -agreed to be granted to the Mortgagor. The latter, if he require cash, -as is usually the case (most of such borrowings being actually effected -with the objects for which the Bank was founded, viz. improvements of -the property mortgaged, extension of holding, or purchase of stock and -implements), must take his bonds to the Stock Exchange for sale. For them -there is always a free and open market, the price obtainable usually -varying only according to ordinary accidents of supply and demand. - -Many brokers hold standing orders for these Bonds, at a price, for -Europe (before the War Antwerp was always a buyer at a certain level). -The only really appreciable downward fluctuations of this security are -of very short duration, an hour or two at most, and are due to what can -only be condemned as the inconsiderate action of the Directors of the -Hypothecary Bank. That is to say, the Bank’s acceptances of Mortgages are -sometimes allowed to accumulate and then, all of a sudden, the Directors -seem to get to work and sign and issue huge batches of Bonds. Not only -do most of these find their way to the Stock Exchange, in consequence -of anticipatory orders lodged with brokers by absent or upcountry -mortgagors, but many such people leave selling orders with the Bank -itself. - -The result of all this frequently is that one fine morning or afternoon -cartloads of these Bonds arrive on the Stock Exchange and flood the -market, in spite of all the market can do with the best intention of -sustaining prices. - -Soon, however, the mass is absorbed by the home and foreign demand, and -the little crisis which could never have occurred except through the bad -management above described, is over and normal prices rule again. - -All this relates to the current issues of these Bonds, the “Cedula -Argentina” as they are now called. - -Formerly they were issued in series, each of which was distinguished by -an alphabetical letter. The last of these lettered series was “L.” This -system of series had inconveniences, inasmuch as the regulations under -which they were issued prescribed redemption in Bonds of the same series, -which interfered with entirely free dealing; some of the earlier series -being now only obtainable at a high premium on account of the buyer’s -need of them to make up a parcel. - -The Securities ring also deals in debenture and other Bonds—National, -Provincial and Municipal. The only speculation in which it usually -indulges being of the very safest kind; in regard to which, indeed, the -term investment would better apply. - -The side of the large Hall of the Exchange opposite to that occupied by -the Stock and Share rings is now tenanted by the “Bolsa de Cereales,” -an institution the recent creation of which was due to the necessity, -arising chiefly from the rapid developments of the milling industry, for -dealing in “futures” in cereal production. - -On the old _Once_ Corn Exchange such dealings were and still are tabu, as -savouring dangerously of the Chicago “Pit,” and much heated discussion -took place before the new Exchange was at length authorized to register -transactions in futures. The discussion was useful inasmuch as it brought -about the framing of stringent regulations against the more ruinous forms -of gambling in grain. In the result, the new Institution works very -well and fulfils its ostensible purpose of assuring the miller against -produce being held against him at times when he is under obligation to -deliver flour. Thus, it has prevented instead of encouraging at least one -vicious class of operations. Formerly, when all dealing in grain futures -was illegal, the miller was continually at the mercy of operators in the -cereal markets. - -The Institution of the new Market was imperatively needed on account of -the huge development and value of the milling industry. - -For ordinary dealings the ONCE cereal market still holds its own. - - -THE BUENOS AIRES STOCK EXCHANGE - -One needs some courage to write candidly about this institution, the more -especially if one hopes to enter it again. - -The building itself is the property of a company from which the members -rent it. Part of it is now, as has been indicated, sublet to the members -of the new Cereal Exchange. - -One side of the rotunda—the great inner Hall of the “Bolza”—is therefore -now tenanted by the dealers in stocks and shares, and the other, facing -it, by those occupied with grain. Each exchange has two large blackboards -on which prices are chalked up by attendants as deals are called by -the parties making them. These prices then become official; and their -genuineness is vouched by the fact of their having been called by members -of the Exchange, who are held responsible by the Committee for the _bona -fides_ of these announcements. - -The rules are now very strict on the question of calling of _bona fide_ -dealings only. At one time the announcement and consequent chalking up -of fictitious deals (called “gatos,” or, as we might say, “wild cats”) -became so scandalously frequent and unblushing that a stop had to be put -to a malpractice which deceived the public, since all prices chalked up -are published in the daily papers. - -The first, usually, in regard to both the magnitude and importance of -the dealings recorded on it, of these blackboards or “slates,” as they -are called, is that reserved for transactions in Government and other -important stocks; the second being that devoted to shares. - -Thus the first board is mostly filled with records of the numbers -and prices of National Cedulas dealt in, and the second with those -of whatever one or two kinds of shares may for the time being be in -fashion for what one may bluntly call gambling. For gambling, simply, -is the end of almost everything in the shape of speculation in the -ephemerally chosen media. It is in regard to this gambling that the -note of warning to the stranger already sounded may be repeated here. -The really Argentine public has long ago had its fingers sufficiently -often and severely burnt to have decided to give all Bolza speculation -a wide berth. And here one is brought face to face with a mystery which -the present writer has as yet been wholly unable to explain in any fully -satisfactory way. - -This mystery is that, given the fact that the contributions of the public -to Bolza gambling have since long ago become a negligible quantity, it -seems clear that such speculation must be confined to a limited group of -Bolza operators. - -How, therefore, is it worth the while of any of these operators to -survive for long as such? They are mostly, if not all, men of small -capital, very small in many cases, yet there they are, day after day, -busily occupied in attributing usually fictitious values to the shares -of one, or at most two (for the time being) companies. Up go the prices -of such shares, rising each day to giddier heights, till at last like -balloons they disappear from sight and another set of shares takes their -place as material for a boom. Who is the last man or men left with shares -at top price? And what on earth does he do with them? These be questions -the answers to which are hidden by a secrecy the completeness and -continuity of which do credit to the initiate few whose common interest -it is to maintain it. - -The only protection of these people is a mutual defence against the -common enemy, similar to that adopted by professional buyers at an -ordinary auction against any innocent amateur who may stray into their -midst. On the other hand, the mere presence of a known “bear” among -these folk, completely paralyses all action on their part until his -back is turned again. The writer now has in his mind’s eye a well-known -figure, that of a powerful bear who was the terror of the speculative -markets in the golden days when the public still played the game and -all went merrily except for his malevolent influence. He alone could -frown all prices down; and he once held them down against the whole of -the furious remainder of the Exchange. It was a never-to-be-forgotten -conflict, from which he emerged victorious and with a name at which -even the puny bulls of to-day still tremble. Though be it said, he -now does little but lend money to those whom circumstances, or still, -occasionally, he himself, have forced to carry over. Few Bolza members -will fail to identify him from even this slight reference to his fame. -The heyday of the Buenos Stock Exchange was that immediately preceding -the passing of the “Conversion” law which fixed a ratio between gold and -paper and thus ended the speculation in gold which had grown all too -vigorous on wide fluctuations. After that, wild cats, resorted to as the -next best stimulant, quickly undermined the constitution of the Bolza -and frightened the public; permanently, it would still seem, from its -precincts as far as gambling speculation is concerned. Such speculation, -in any magnitude, has been dead since 1906; in consequence of the -collapse at that time of a gold fever boom of which a shoal of doomed -alluvial dredging Companies were part cause and part effect. - -Nowadays, the real business, of which there is a large and constant -volume, done on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange is in National -“Cedulas.” This business has gradually gravitated into the hands of -a few large brokers. The only drawback to these Bonds is their name, -which might lead the ignorant in matters South American to confuse them -with the _Provincial_ (Province of Buenos Aires) Cedulas, the corrupt -mismanagement of which caused a great scandal some years ago. Still -“Cedula” means a “Bond,” and it would, after all, be idle to wish to -abolish the latter word only because some English Bonds may have proved -unworthy of the prestige usually attaching to that designation. - -The question has often been raised as to whether, on the wording of -the guarantee endorsed on National Cedulas, the National Government -is responsible for repayment of the principal as well as the interest -on them. This, however, amounts almost to a quibble; of little, if -any, more than abstract interest. The amortization of these Bonds is -certainly guaranteed in like manner as is the interest on them, and -only some tremendous crisis, now unimaginable, could so wreck the whole -territory of the Republic that land values throughout that territory -would simultaneously fall to an extent which could render impossible the -redemption of mortgages granted in the first place with a very liberal -margin between the actual market value of the land and the amounts of the -Bonds issued on its security. For, it should be noted in this connection, -a Cedula is not issued by the Bank on the Security of such or such -designated property, it is issued on the security, guaranteed by the Bank -after due investigation, of _all_ the mortgages held by it. So that, -in effect, even if the whole of a Province were to be engulfed by an -earthquake, the security of none of the Bank’s Cedulas would be affected -by the loss since, at the margin reserved by the Bank, all the remainder -of the lands on which it holds mortgages would still be ample security -for all its bonds. - -The reader who is already well acquainted with these matters must -forgive me for thus setting them out in so obvious a way. I ask him to -believe that there are still very many holders of Argentine National -Cedulas possessed of only the vaguest ideas of how their Bonds came into -existence, and practically none as to the real nature of the security for -them, except a general sort of notion that they are Argentine Government -Bonds. - -As will be seen, the facts justify my dictum of a few pages back that -these Bonds really offer as gilt-edged a security as anyone could wish -for. - -Other securities most commonly dealt in in the Securities side of the -Market are “Credito Argentino,” National Internal debt, the “Premier -Security” of the Country, as it has been called; and some Provincial and -Municipal Bonds. On the share side, the shares of the various Banks are -usually the subject of the most really important quotations on the slate. - -Many first-class Argentine securities and shares seldom come on the -market. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -RAILWAYS, PORTS AND IMMIGRATION - - -RAILWAYS - -It is often said that the foreign, mostly British, railway community on -the River Plate constitutes an _Imperium in Imperio_. - -There is no denying the great influence of that community, but that -influence has been rendered inevitable and is wholly justified by the -very large amount of capital which the railway companies have at stake -in these countries; amounting in Argentina to some £200,000,000 and in -Uruguay some £12,000,000, making a total of some 212 millions sterling. -Of this total a very large proportion in Argentina and the whole in -Uruguay is British. - -The total length of railway lines in Argentina is close on 21,000 miles, -and in Uruguay close on 1050 miles. - -The predominant gauge in Argentina is that in use by the four “great” -railway companies of that country, viz. the Buenos Aires Western, the -Central Argentine, the Buenos Aires Great Southern and the Buenos Aires -Pacific, that is to say, the broad, 5 feet 6 inches, while in Uruguay the -great railway company of that country, the Central Uruguay of Montevideo, -and its subsidiary companies use the Standard Gauge, 4 feet 8½ inches. - -[Illustration: TRANSPORTER BRIDGE, PORT OF BUENOS AIRES] - -Until 1909 each of the Argentine railway companies was (as the Uruguayan -still are) controlled by the terms of its particular concession or -concessions. In that year, however, a Law was passed, usually called -the “Mitre Law,” after its initiator, the late Señor Emilio Mitre (an -eminent Argentine statesman and son of the famous General Mitre, perhaps -Argentina’s greatest President and Historian), by which all then existing -companies agreeing to be bound by its provisions should be exempt from -all National, Provincial and Municipal taxation and Import Duties on -material until the year 1947; they, on their part, to pay to the National -Government a single tax of 3% on their net earnings, the amount of such -earnings to be ascertained by deducting 10% (for working expenses) from -their gross receipts. - -Only one Company was then enjoying even more favourable terms under -its original concession than those given by the Mitre Law; but as that -concession was approaching the time of its expiration it would have been -ill-judged on the part of the Company to have shown itself recalcitrant -to the evident wishes of the Argentine Government. - -Therefore it exercised its option in favour of the Mitre Law, as did all -the other Companies. - -Though the Argentine and Uruguayan Railway Companies rely for their -usually very handsome profits much more on haulage of Cereals and Live -Stock than on their passenger traffic, it must not be supposed that -the latter is in any way neglected by them. Quite the contrary is the -case. Possibly nowhere else in the world (except, perhaps, in Russia) -is railway travelling as comfortable as on the River Plate, either as -regards day or night accommodation or catering, the latter at moderate -prices. All is roomy, well arranged and extremely comfortable; but the -_trains de luxe_ of the River Plate are those which the Buenos Aires -Great Southern Company runs to and from Mar-del-Plata in the season, -with Pullman Drawing-room and Dining Cars. The permanent way is good -and the running smooth over almost the whole of the two Republics. -Trains going to the hotter regions are provided with baths. - -Besides British, considerable French and Belgian capital is invested in -Argentine railways. The “Province of Santa Fé” and the “Province of -Buenos Aires” railways are controlled by French Companies. - -Incidentally it may be mentioned that in recent years most of the shares -of the “Anglo-Argentine” Tramways Company (which owns the principal -tramway system of the Capital) had found their way to Belgium. - -A short while ago a United States Syndicate, deemed powerful and feared -as menacing a monopoly, obtained control of some of the River Plate -lines, notably those of the Central Córdoba, Santa Fé and Entre Rios -Companies, under certain arrangements. This Syndicate has since, however, -been unable to command the capital necessary to fulfil its part of those -arrangements, and, practically, the control of the lines has now reverted -to the original Companies, the first and last named of which are British. - -The Argentine National Government has during the past few years built and -has under construction several lines intended to develop districts which -as yet do not offer sufficient temptation to private Companies. - -No fresh construction has been begun in either country since the outbreak -of the War, the Government and various Companies confining themselves -only to such construction work as is absolutely necessary for the -completion of extensions already commenced. - -Railway construction in these countries does not usually offer any great -difficulties. The triumphs of River Plate railway engineering were the -line of the Buenos Aires Pacific Railway up and through the Andes and -some parts of the lines of the Entre Rios Railway Company in parts of -that Province in which for long it seemed impossible to discover a route -amid the marshy or spongy soil. Another such triumph will probably occur -when the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway penetrates the Andes, as -it no doubt will do one day, much further south than the Buenos Aires -Pacific line. - - -PORTS - -The River Plate Republics are very accessible to foreign Commerce; -possessing Atlantic Coasts, the River Plate and its two great navigable -tributaries, the Uruguay and the Paraná. - -The Port of Buenos Aires ranks seventh among the ports of the world in -respect of the value of merchandise which enters and leaves it, and -second in America, that is to say, coming immediately after New York. -The next most important Argentine ports are those of Rosario, Bahia -Blanca and La Plata; after which come Santa Fé, San Nicholás, Campana and -Zárate, and many others on the Paraná and Rio Gallegos, Puerto Madryn, -San Antonio and others on the South Atlantic. A new Port is in course of -construction at Mar-del-Plata. - -Montevideo only ranks in point of cargo values just before Bahia Blanca; -that is to say, with some £15,000,000 as against the £115,500,000 trade -of the Port of Buenos Aires.[22] Uruguay is, however, preparing in this -regard for her further development by large new port works which have -been under construction for some years past. On the Uruguay she has Fray -Bentos, Paysandú (both largely concerned with meat extract and preserved -meats export), Salto and Santa Rosa; and on the River Plate, besides -Montevideo, Colonia and Maldonado; besides several relatively unimportant -ports having as yet but scanty or no effective accommodation for vessels. -This could also have been said of many of Argentina’s minor ports not so -very long ago. Port accommodation in Uruguay will follow the increase and -demands of her export produce and the requirements of her consequently -enhanced prosperity. - - -IMMIGRATION - -As has been noticed under the heading “Racial Elements,” most of the -immigration to the River Plate has hitherto passed Montevideo and landed -at Buenos Aires. Over 300,000 immigrants landed in Argentina in 1913; -composed chiefly, and in point of numerical importance, in the following -order, of Spaniards, Italians, “Turcos” (Syrians or Levantines), Russians -(mostly Jewish), French, Germans, Austrians, Portuguese and British. -British arrivals on the River Plate consist chiefly of the salaried -classes; who, not being classed as immigrants, do not appear on the -Government returns from which the above figures are taken. The only other -noteworthy point about Argentine immigration is that now the Spanish -element largely predominates instead of, as formerly, the Italian. - -[Illustration: GRAIN ELEVATORS: MADERO DOCK, BUENOS AIRES] - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -GENERAL STATISTICS - - -During the past twenty years the foreign trade of Argentina and Uruguay -(especially that of the former country) has developed very largely and -rapidly; its increase during the decade 1904-1913 being, in the case -of Argentina, 108½% and in that of Uruguay 104%. The increase in both -cases is considerably greater than that of the trade of any other South -American country; as will be seen from the following figures:— - - $ - _Argentina._ 1913 996,215,998 - 1904 477,985,737 - ----------- - gold 518,230,261 108·5% increase. - =========== - - _Uruguay._ 1913 119,500,000 - 1904 58,481,343 - ----------- - Uruguayan 61,018,657 104% ” - =========== - - _Chile._ 1913 725,828,254 - 1904 370,149,864 - ----------- - Chilian 355,678,390 94·5% ” - =========== - - _Brazil._ 1913 1,976,733,388 - 1904 1,288,955,306 - ------------- - milreis 687,778,082 54% ” - ============= - -The figure $996,215,998 gold if divided by 7,731,257, representing the -population of Argentina, gives $129 gold, or £25 11s. 10d., value of -trade per inhabitant of that country; a very high figure indeed. The -value of the trade of Uruguay per head of her population is £21 3s. 6d. - -In 1913 Argentina alone provided the markets of the United Kingdom with -cereals and meat to the value of £34,500,000 of a total of £92,300,000, -or nearly 37½% of its total supplies. During the same year Uruguay sent -meat to the United Kingdom to the value of some £202,000 sterling. - - -UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS IN 1913 - - _Wheat_ £ £ - 1. From United States 13,953,072 - 2. ” Canada 8,803,949 - 3. ” British East Indies 7,998,552 - 4. ” ARGENTINE REPUBLIC 6,149,195 - 5. ” Australia 4,426,629 - 6. ” Russia 1,984,964 - ” Other countries 544,539 43,860,900 - ---------- - - _Maize_ - 1. From ARGENTINE REPUBLIC 10,851,874 - 2. ” United States 1,923,321 - 3. ” Russia 489,993 - 4. ” Roumania 286,600 - 5. ” Canada 64,773 - ” Other countries 153,781 13,770,342 - ---------- - - _Linseed_ - 1. From ARGENTINE REPUBLIC 2,398,629 - 2. ” British East Indies 1,564,428 - 3. ” Russia 228,167 - 4. ” United States 98,366 - ” Other countries 2,905,803 7,195,393 - ---------- - - _Chilled and Frozen Meat_ - 1. From ARGENTINE REPUBLIC 12,815,002 - 2. ” Australia 2,133,951 - 3. ” URUGUAY 706,816 - 4. ” New Zealand 393,429 - 5. ” United States 3,119 - ” Other countries 11,914 16,064,231 - ---------- - - _Frozen Mutton_ - 1. From New Zealand 4,965,310 - 2. ” Australia 3,128,439 - 3. ” ARGENTINE REPUBLIC 1,908,255 - 4. ” URUGUAY 303,528 - ” Other countries 293,133 10,598,665 - ---------- - - _Sundry Meats Frozen_ - 1. From ARGENTINE REPUBLIC 455,561 - 2. ” United States 155,966 - ” Other countries 216,526 828,053 - ---------- ---------- - Total 92,317,584 - ========== - -The value of the U.K. Imports from Argentine and Uruguay was considerably -increased during 1915. - -In 1913 values of the exports of the United Kingdom to the four most -commercially important countries of South America were:— - - £ sterling. - To the Argentine Republic 23,430,246 - ” Brazil 13,015,769 - ” Chile 6,366,944 - ” Uruguay 3,027,568 - -Of the total value of the sales of the United Kingdom in the whole of -South America, Argentina received 45%, amounting to £52,033,764 sterling. - - -POSITIONS HELD BY ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY RESPECTIVELY IN THE EXPORT TRADE -OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ACCORDING TO BRITISH OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS, 1913. - - Value of exports from Great - Britain to: £ - 1 East Indies 71,738,755 - 2 Germany 60,573,457 - 3 United States 59,536,352 - 4 France 40,876,731 - 5 Australasia 37,852,929 - 6 Russia 27,705,660 - 7 Canada 27,235,355 - 8 South Africa 24,373,018 - 9 ARGENTINA 23,430,246 - 10 Belgium 20,667,519 - 11 Holland 20,605,137 - 12 Italy 15,620,393 - 13 China 15,016,023 - 14 Japan 14,837,948 - 15 Brazil 13,015,769 - 16 New Zealand 11,776,261 - 17 Egypt 9,966,948 - 18 Sweden 9,241,874 - 19 Spain 8,655,196 - 20 Turkey 7,992,712 - 21 West Africa 7,166,222 - 22 Norway 6,669,089 - 23 Chile 6,366,946 - 24 Denmark 6,340,773 - 25 Austria-Hungary 5,786,077 - 26 Switzerland 5,106,764 - 27 Portugal 3,935,802 - 28 URUGUAY 3,027,568 - 29 West Indies 2,716,545 - 30 Greece 2,597,227 - 31 Mexico 2,549,265 - 32 East Africa 1,443,859 - 33 Costa Rica 247,093 - ----------- - Total including other - countries £635,117,134 - ============ - - Per - capita - Population. £ - 1 New Zealand 1,028,160 11·45 - 2 Australasia 4,802,174 7·88 - 3 South Africa 5,973,394 4·08 - 4 Canada 7,758,000 3·51 - 5 Holland 6,114,302 3·37 - 6 ARGENTINA 7,731,257 3·03 - 7 Belgium 7,571,387 2·73 - 8 Norway 2,437,646 2·73 - 9 URUGUAY 1,112,000 2·72 - 10 Denmark 2,775,076 2·29 - 11 Chile 3,505,317 1·90 - 12 Sweden 5,638,583 1·62 - 13 West Indies 1,709,732 1·59 - 14 Switzerland 3,781,430 1·30 - 15 France 39,601,509 1·03 - 16 Greece 2,666,000 0·97 - 17 Germany 64,925,993 0·93 - 18 Egypt 11,287,359 0·88 - 19 Portugal 5,960,056 0·66 - 20 United States 91,972,266 0·65 - 21 Costa Rica 388,266 0·63 - 22 Brazil 23,070,969 0·55 - 23 East Africa 2,651,892 0·54 - 24 Italy 34,671,377 0·45 - 25 Spain 19,639,000 0·44 - 26 Turkey 21,273,900 0·38 - 27 West Africa 20,176,635 0·35 - 28 Japan 52,985,423 0·28 - 29 East Indies 315,156,396 0·23 - 30 Russia 171,059,900 0·16 - 31 Mexico 15,063,207 0·16 - 32 Austria-Hungary 49,458,421 0·12 - 33 China 320,650,000 0·05 - -During the five years 1908-1912 48½% of the whole maize imported by the -United Kingdom came from Argentina; or only a little less than the total -quantity of that imported from the United States, Roumania, Russia, -India, Natal, Canada, Bulgaria and the Cape of Good Hope. - -In respect of the total issue of Capital in the United Kingdom during the -first six months of 1914, Argentina ranked _first_ (with £12,809,200 as -against £12,244,100 which went to Russia) among the foreign countries for -which such issues were destined; and _third_ if British Possessions are -included in the comparison. - - -1913 - -THE TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH THE REPUBLICS OF SOUTH -AMERICA IS SHOWN IN THE FOLLOWING TABLES COMPILED FROM AMERICAN OFFICIAL -STATISTICS - - --------------------+------------+------------+------------------------ - | | | BALANCE OF TRADE - | IMPORTS | EXPORTS +-----------+------------ - | — | — | In favour | Against - | American | American | of U.S.A. | U.S.A. - | Dollars | Dollars | American | American - | | | Dollars | Dollars - --------------------+------------+------------+-----------+------------ - ARGENTINE REPUBLIC | 26,863,732 | 52,894,834 |26,031,102 | — - URUGUAY | 2,450,697 | 7,522,145 | 5,071,448 | — - Guiana (British) | 105,933 | 1,813,745 | 1,707,812 | — - Bolivia | 350 | 940,744 | 940,394 | — - Guiana (French) | 86,386 | 337,714 | 251,328 | — - Paraguay | 58,285 | 187,867 | 129,582 | — - Falkland Islands | — | 725 | 725 | — - Brazil |120,155,855 | 42,638,467 | — | 77,517,388 - Chile | 27,655,420 | 16,076,763 | — | 11,578,657 - Columbia | 15,992,321 | 7,397,696 | — | 8,594,625 - Venezuela | 10,852,331 | 5,737,118 | — | 5,115,213 - Peru | 9,666,579 | 7,341,903 | — | 2,324,676 - Ecuador | 3,037,689 | 2,553,785 | — | 483,904 - Guiana (Dutch) | 821,460 | 704,487 | — | 116,973 - +------------+------------+-----------+------------ - |217,747,038 |146,147,993 |34,132,391 |105,731,436 - =================================================== - - -VALUE OF MERCHANDISE EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE REPUBLICS OF -SOUTH AMERICA IN THE YEAR 1913, SHOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARGENTINE -MARKET - - To the ARGENTINE REPUBLIC — $52,894,834 - ” Brazil $42,638,467 - ” URUGUAY 7,522,145 - ” Ecuador 2,553,785 - ” Paraguay 187,867 52,902,264 - ------------ - ” Chile 16,076,763 - ” Columbia 7,397,696 - ” Peru 7,341,903 - ” Venezuela 5,737,118 - ” Guiana (British) 1,813,745 - ” Bolivia 940,744 - ” Guiana (Dutch) 704,487 - ” Guiana (French) 337,714 - ” Falkland Islands 725 40,350,895 - ------------ ----------- - Total value of sales to South America. Dollars 146,147,993 - =========== - - The Argentine Republic received 36·2% of total. - -Argentina and Brazil divide practically between them the South American -export trade of the United States, Argentina taking by far the larger -share, and well over one-third of the whole received by all the South -American countries put together. The value of the Argentine imports from -the United States in 1913 amounted to $52,894,834 (U.S.A.), while Uruguay -took U.S.A. goods to the value of $6,531,626 (U.S.A.). - - -ARGENTINE IMPORTS FROM EUROPE, 1913 - -During the year 1913 the Argentine Republic purchased in Europe the -following amounts:— - - $ gold. - In the United Kingdom 130,886,587 - ” Germany 71,311,628 - ” France 38,075,811 - ” Italy 34,789,741 - ” Belgium 21,953,910 - ” Spain 12,389,607 - ” Austria-Hungary 5,933,444 - ” Holland 4,074,104 - ” Sweden 3,123,889 - ” Switzerland 2,749,682 - ” Portugal 585,975 - ” Russia 447,845 - ” Denmark 204,106 - ” Turkey 127,026 - ” Roumania, Bulgaria and Greece 119,989 - --------- - £64,835,981 = gold $326,773,344 - Purchased in other parts - of the world £18,765,714 = ” $94,579,199 - - Total £83,601,695 = ” $421,352,543 - -Where will these purchases be made in the future? - - -GOLD (Argentina) - - Years. Imports. Exports. Balance. - 1904 24,917,951 1,604,292 23,313,659 - 1905 32,559,540 819,375 31,740,165 - 1906 18,212,323 1,545,622 16,666,701 - 1907 23,552,726 3,133,886 20,418,840 - 1908 28,651,215 44,817 28,606,398 - 1909 67,453,816 1,247,831 66,205,985 - 1910 37,027,936 1,669,892 35,358,044 - 1911 12,764,236 3,008,597 9,755,639 - 1912 36,077,807 585,621 35,492,186 - 1913 47,941,425 43,417,484 4,523,941 - ----------- ---------- ----------- - $ gold 329,158,975 57,077,417 272,081,558 - ----------- ---------- ----------- - = £65,309,320 11,324,884 53,984,436 - =========== ========== =========== - -It is regrettable, from several points of view, that the National -Statistics of Uruguay are not kept and published with the same -promptitude and regularity as those of Argentina, to say nothing of -the admirable clearness of the forms in which the latter are issued. -The Uruguayan authorities should really know that the absence of any -complete scheme of statistical information regarding their country is -more than apt to preserve a very common though erroneous impression -that Uruguay can be of but little account since so little is known or -heard of it. Little indeed is known with any accuracy of its production, -outside the circle of persons directly interested in its trade; but this -obscurity is due only to indifference to and negligence of the art of -self-assertion. - -[Illustration: INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE, AND -URUGUAY] - -In point of fact Uruguay might well be proud of the statistics of her -productivity; for, in reality, she has more cattle than and nearly -as many sheep as the Argentine Province of Buenos Aires while her -superficial area is only some two-thirds of that of that Province. -Uruguay exports wool to the average value of some £4,000,000, hides -£1,500,000, frozen and chilled meat £1,110,000, and animals on the hoof -£230,000 annually. The value of its wheat exports for the five years -ending 1910 has been stated at £730,000; flour £234,000, maize £82,000 -and linseed £460,000 during the same period. As we have seen, the value -of Uruguayan trade for the year 1913 was £23,900,000, and this figure, as -well as those representing Cereal production and exports, are likely to -be rapidly increased under normal conditions. - - -INCREASE OF ARGENTINE CEREAL EXPORTS IN TEN YEARS - - 1904. $ gold. 1913. $ gold. - Wheat 66,947,891 102,631,143 - Maize 44,391,196 112,292,394 - Linseed 28,359,923 49,910,201 - Oats 541,973 20,447,278 - ----------- ----------- - 140,240,983 285,281,016 - =========== =========== - - -INCREASE OF ARGENTINE MEAT EXPORTS IN TWENTY-NINE YEARS - - 1885. $ gold. 1913. $ gold. - - Live stock: cattle 2,345,313 6,848,830 - ” ” sheep 58,552 311,991 - Chilled and frozen beef 1,680 36,622,889 - Frozen mutton 75,323 3,674,206 - Sundry meats frozen — 910,311 - ” ” preserved — 1,257,391 - Extract of meat — 1,598,136 - Powdered meat — 1,097,566 - Preserved tongues — 131,952 - Condensed soup — 375,392 - Jerked beef 4,204,077 658,097 - --------- ---------- - $ gold 6,684,945 53,486,761 - --------- ---------- - =£ 1,326,378 10,612,452 - ========= ========== - - -INCREASE OF TOTAL ARGENTINE EXPORTS IN TEN YEARS - - $ gold. - 1904: Total exports 264,157,525 - 1913: ” ” 483,504,547 - ----------- - Increase 219,347,022 - =========== - - -INCREASE OF TOTAL URUGUAYAN EXPORTS IN EIGHT YEARS - - During 1905 $ (Uruguayan) 30,774,247 - ” 1912 ” 51,000,000 - ---------- - Increase, say, $20,226,000 = £4,303,000 - ======================== - -Wool constitutes about nine-tenths of the exports of Uruguay. - -Up to and including 1907 the Imports of Uruguay were in excess of her -Exports. In 1908, however, the balance went the other way and is likely -to remain there. - -The excess of Exports over Imports in 1908 was valued at $2,840,206 -(Uruguayan) and in 1909 at $7,966,658. In 1912 the Imports appear to -have risen to $49,380,000 as against exports $51,000,000. Probably these -last figures are roughly accurate; but the last year for which any full -official Statistics appear to have been published was 1911. - -As has already been seen, the chief countries of destination of Argentine -Exports prior to the War were (generally in the following order): The -United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Brazil, the United States, -Holland and Italy. Those of Uruguay went chiefly to France, Belgium, -Germany, Argentina and the United Kingdom. While Argentina Imported -principally from the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, France, -Italy, Belgium and Spain; and Uruguay from the United Kingdom, Germany, -the United States, France, Italy, Belgium and Argentina. - -The Surplus of Revenue over Expenditure in both Republics may appear -to remain always so small as only just to have avoided conversion into -deficits. It should, however, be recollected that these countries are -constantly engaged in carrying out Public Works which are necessary to -the fuller development of their natural resources; such, for instance, as -the very important new Port Works of Buenos Aires and Montevideo and the -great Argentine systems of irrigation. Were the excess of Revenue greater -it would still be spent, and wisely spent, on National Public Works and -Improvements; which are the best assurance of its future which either -country could make. - -An instance of the rapid Commercial progress of the River Plate Countries -is the fact that whereas in 1872 there were but four Banks in Argentina, -in 1913 there were 143. - -The latest (1914) Commercial and Industrial Census of the City of Buenos -Aires shows that the number of Commercial (chiefly wholesale and retail -trading) establishments in that City has increased from 17,985, as shown -by the previous Census of 1904, to 29,600—an increase of 65%—while the -number of Factories and Manufacturing establishments which in 1904 was -8,877 was in 1914 11,132—an increase of 25%. The motive power employed in -these last-mentioned establishments has increased during the same period -from 19,458 h.p. to 194,411 h.p.—an increase of 900%—while the number of -persons employed has increased 112%. - -An amusing but characteristic note is struck by comparison of the figures -representing the annual sales of flour and tobacco respectively, the -former being nearly $48,000,000 (paper) and the latter nearly £44,000,000 -(paper). - -Not such a great difference between the money spent in Buenos Aires on -flour, much of which is exported, and on tobacco, which is all home -consumed! Another is that nearly 1% of the whole population of the City -consists of Medical Men; Brokers and Commission Agents (clubbed together -and classed as professional men by the Census) run them very close, with -Builders a good third, and the rest, in the sporting sense, nowhere. - -Most of the wholesale and retail traders are Italians, Spaniards and -Argentines, in this order; the Italians being in both cases nearly three -times and the Spaniards nearly twice as numerous as the Argentines. -After them come French, Russians (chiefly Jewish), Levantines and -Egyptians (locally known as “Turcos”), Uruguayans, German, British and -other nationalities in commerce; and French, Russians, Levantines and -Egyptians, Belgians, Danes and Portuguese and other nationalities as -Manufacturers. - -A good many establishments of both classes are, however, shown to belong -to Argentines and foreigners in partnership. - -It is due to the compilers of the Census to remark that they have treated -“Jews” as pertaining to a separate nationality, though therefore there is -possibly some confusion under the heading “Russians.” - - - - -CHAPTER X - -A GLANCE AT THE PROVINCES AND NATIONAL TERRITORIES OF ARGENTINA, AND THE -INTERIOR OF URUGUAY - - -BUENOS AIRES - -This is the largest and most densely populated and the most uniformly -prosperous Province of the Republic.[23] It is bounded on the North by -the Provinces of Santa Fé and Córdoba, on the West by the Territories of -the Pampa Central and Rio Negro and on the East and South by the Paraná -and Plate Rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital, La Plata, is of a -somewhat sadly monumental aspect. It is indeed as yet but a monument to -the still unrealized dreams of its modern founders and architects. It -was to have been a great city with a busy port; it is now a place where -Provincial parliamentarians, lawyers, university students and Law Court -and Police officials spend some hours each day, coming each morning and -returning each evening from and to the superior activity and attractions -of the Federal Capital. - -Nevertheless, La Plata has long, wide, eucalyptus-planted avenues; -its chief Plaza, in which are the Municipality and the Cathedral, is -not much smaller than Trafalgar Square; its Museum is world-renowned -for its palæontological collections; and its Law Courts, University, -Theatre, Police Offices and the above-mentioned Municipality are huge, -magnificently solid-looking buildings. But the lack of all perceptible -movement in La Plata leads one to imagine that if its broad avenues and -noble Plazas are not grass-grown the fact is due much more to the action -of street cleaners than to that of traffic. Truly, one may often gaze -down a very long vista of pavement between tall eucalyptus trees for many -minutes without seeing one single other human being. - -The Port works of Buenos Aires have drained its only source of commerce -from La Plata. Still, some day the trade of the Republic may need it also. - -At the same time it is only just to add that La Plata makes out a claim -to nearly 100,000 inhabitants. Where they all get to when one visits it -is mystery. Perhaps they in their turn spend their days in Buenos Aires; -returning home to sleep in the deep stillness of the Provincial Capital. - -The real chief port of the Province of Buenos Aires is Bahia Blanca. -First of all, in 1896, the National Government decided to build the -naval port and arsenal now in existence there: subsequently the Buenos -Aires Great Southern and the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway Companies -realized the conveniences and situation of Bahia Blanca as a place of -export for the produce of their great and ever-increasing southern and -south-western zones and each company constructed a port for the almost -exclusive purposes of its own traffic. - -The Great Southern Railway’s port is called INGENIERO WHITE and that of -the Pacific Railway PUERTO GALVAN. Besides these, separate and distinct -constructions, Bahia Blanca has a fourth port, CUATREROS, at the interior -end of the bay, which exports large and increasing quantities of frozen -and chilled meat. - -The great railway ports of Bahia Blanca are fitted with every modern -mechanical appliance, huge cranes, electric endless belts for loading -loose grain, and immense grain warehouses and elevators. The town of -Bahia Blanca is rapidly growing in importance and influence. Its -municipal administration is largely in the hands of British exporters and -merchants. - -On the Atlantic coast, between Bahia Blanca and Buenos Aires and some -400 kilometres from the latter city, is the famous seaside resort of -Mar-del-Plata, the Argentine Monte Carlo—Trouville-Biarritz-cum-Ostend -(before the War!). - -During the season there (at all other times of the year it is deserted) -vast Hotels and Restaurants charge famine prices for accommodation and -food and there is always more demand than available supply of either. -Wealthy Argentine families have, of course, their palatial “Chalets,” -and the RAMBLA, as the great promenade by the sea is called, is a very -brilliant scene at all times during the weeks in which it is fashionable. - -Music and dancing contribute to the nights’ amusement at the Casino, -large Hotels and private houses; and at the Club members can indulge in -those games in which chance plays a greater rôle than skill. - -As one young gentleman, who had failed to get a bed at any of the Hotels -he thought worthy of his patronage, once remarked, “No matter, one can -always play Baccarat till it is bathing time again.” - -The air of Mar-del-Plata, that of the wide Atlantic, would doubtless be -a powerful restorative to anyone who could resist the temptations of -amusement sufficiently to give it a chance. Some people possibly do, but -if so keep very silent about it. - -Mar-del-Plata is, however, destined to show a more serious side of its -possibilities in consequence of the building of a commercial port; the -construction of which has been entrusted to a French firm, also the -constructors of the new port works of Montevideo. Potatoes which are -deemed the best in the Republic come from near Mar-del-Plata. - -Other chief towns of the Province of Buenos Aires are AVELLANEDA (situate -on the Provincial side of the boundary line between the Province and the -Federal City of Buenos Aires, but to all intents and purposes a district -of the latter with which it is connected by unbroken lines of streets and -houses), CHIVILCOY, PERGAMINO, TRES ARROYOS, NUEVE DE JULIO, AZUL, the -residential suburbs (of Buenos Aires), TEMPERLEY and LOMAS DE ZAMORRA and -many smaller “camp” towns. - -All these minor camp towns of the Province of Buenos Aires look much -alike and none of them are very interesting in appearance. Their stores, -however, do good business in supplying the needs of large surrounding -rural districts, and some of these towns have periodical cattle shows and -sales which are well worth visiting. - -Temperley and Lomas de Zamorra consist chiefly of Villa residences, of -all sizes and styles of architecture, and some shops. - -The Province of Buenos Aires, half as large again as the whole Republic -of Uruguay, possesses some of the best land in Argentina, and in it -farming has reached the highest developments as yet attained in either -Republic. In it intensive farming has already made its first appearance -in South America—as needs must when high land-values drive. The surface -of this Province is one almost unbroken level plain. - -It at present produces one-third of the whole output of wheat, nearly a -similar proportion of maize, one-fifth that of linseed, 87% of that of -oats, and also contains about 37% of the live stock of the whole Republic. - -Good water is obtainable nearly everywhere in practically close proximity -to the surface. This fact, combined with the comparatively few running -streams and the tendency of these to dry up in hot weather, causes -some parts of this Province to have the appearance of a forest of tall -skeleton iron windmills. These are set up over artificially sunk wells, -to draw water for animals and domestic purposes. - -A detailed description of the Province of Buenos Aires would extend to -a very great length indeed; as this Province is, as far as its climatic -conditions permit, a compendium of the industrial activity, at its -best, of the whole Republic. That it is so is due to its situation on, -or always in relatively close proximity to, the estuary of the River -Plate; the cradle of the civilization and progress of the countries under -discussion. - -Farming and most other industries find their highest expression within -easy reach of and in the Federal Capital. - -As far as its physical aspect is concerned, the Province of Buenos -Aires has been accused with considerable justice of being generally -uninteresting. Certainly its surface is one huge flat plain, until -one gets south to the ranges of the Sierra de la Ventana and the -Tandíl hills. Past them, nothing but monotonous plain again till its -southernmost boundary, the Rio Colorado, is reached. - -Its only romantic scenery, though that is delightful indeed, is on its -north-eastern frontier, along the small River Tigre and the majestic -Paraná; the banks and innumerable islands of which are clad with useful -osiers, flowering reeds, peach trees and a large riot of other beautiful -and luxuriant vegetation. Many a spring day can be passed in idyllic -enjoyment among the islands of the Tigre. - -At Tandíl, on the south-eastern side of the Province, there are quarries -of fine marble and building stone, and until a year or so ago there was -a famous rocking-stone perched on another rock, the surface of which is -inclined at an angle of something like 45 degrees. To all appearances a -mere gust of wind would have toppled the upper stone down into a hollow -beneath; but the tale goes that Señor Benito Villanueva, a wealthy and -sportsmanlike Argentine, once tied a rope round the rocking-stone and -attached the other end to a double span of oxen on the plain below. The -oxen pulled; but without any other effect on the rocking-stone than -temporarily to cant it just as many centimetres as it could be moved by a -good push from a man’s hand. Now, alas for Tandíl, someone has succeeded -in dislodging the rocking-stone from its uncanny-looking eminence, so -that it has, literally, fallen from its high celebrity. - -Buenos Aires is, naturally, the Province of palatial estancia houses -surrounded by model farms. The Queen Province. The most densely populated -and cultivated and the one with the largest revenues. - - -SANTA FÉ - -This Province ranks next to that of Buenos Aires in respect of area -and population, while its output of both maize and linseed is slightly -greater than that of the Queen Province; in regard to wheat it stands -third among the Argentine Provinces, Córdoba coming immediately after -Buenos Aires, and in respect of oats it again comes second. In point -of live stock it comes only fifth, after Buenos Aires, Entre Rios, -Corrientes and Córdoba. - -It is bounded on the North by the Territory of the Chaco, on the West by -the Provinces of Santiago del Estero and Córdoba, on the South by the -Province of Buenos Aires and on the East by the River Paraná. - -The northern part of Santa Fé is covered with vast forests, continuations -of those of the Provinces of Santiago del Estero and the Territory of the -Chaco. These forests are rich in Quebracho wood, and from them also come -large supplies of firewood and charcoal. - -The other parts of Santa Fé are devoted to stock and agriculture. - -The streams of this Province, although more numerous than those of Buenos -Aires, have (with the exception of the great River Paraná) the same -tendency to dry up as have those of the Queen Province, and, therefore, -water-drawing windmills are in proportionate evidence. - -Its Capital, the city from which it takes its name, is one of the oldest -in the River Plate countries. Its movement is, however, little else than -that of a merely political capital; the town of Rosario, with its port, -being the centre of most of the commercial activity of this part of the -Republic. Until the rise of Bahia Blanca, Rosario held the undisputed -rank of the second commercial centre of Argentina. - -The City of Santa Fé nevertheless possesses an old-world beauty and -charm, with its palm avenues and spacious Plazas, its many churches and -its large one-storied residences. Rosario, on the other hand, is as -unsightly and uninteresting a place to the eye as could well—or, rather -badly—be conceived. It has, however, a large share of the cereal export -trade. This Province has also other important ports on the Paraná, viz. -the port of Santa Fé itself, Villa Constitution, Colastiné and several -minor ones, all of which are available for ocean-going ships. - -After Buenos Aires, Santa Fé is the Province with by far the greatest and -most conveniently situated railway mileage. - -Mixed agriculture and stock farming is practised in many districts; -though Santa Fé has not yet felt the economic need of other than -extensive farming. Still, land values have, until recent events -prejudicially, if only temporarily, affected all such values, followed -those in Buenos Aires on an upward course. Santa Fé sends large -quantities of potatoes to the Buenos Aires and local markets. - -The milling industry of this Province ranks not only next in importance -to that of Buenos Aires, but its output of flour is very much greater -than that of Entre Rios, the next most important Province in this regard. -The Department of Reconquista, in the North of the Province, has sugar -mills, and other industries are the production of ground-nut oil, dairy -produce, tanneries, preserved meats and maize alcohol. - - -CÓRDOBA - -This Province is bounded on the North by the Province of Santiago del -Estero, on the North-West by the Province of Catamarca, on the West by -the Province of La Rioja and San Luis, on the South by the Territory of -the Pampa Central and the Province of Buenos Aires, and on the East by -the Province of Santa Fé. - -Córdoba is the second Province of the Republic in point of wheat and -linseed production, being not far behind Buenos Aires in this regard. Its -maize production, however, does not amount to one-third of that of either -Buenos Aires or Santa Fé, while in oats it about ties with the latter. In -live stock it ranks fourth among the Argentine Provinces, though it has -less than half the number possessed by Entre Rios and only about half of -that of Corrientes. In the matter of population it ranks fourth among the -Provinces of the Republic, with about one-third that of Buenos Aires. - -As one travels towards the ancient capital of this Province one begins -to realize that the cosmopolitan delights of the city of Buenos Aires -do not reflect the soul of the Republic: the soul that fought for its -liberty under the blue sky and warm sun of 25th of May, now over a -hundred years ago. One begins involuntarily to dream of the Gaucho -Wars and to feel the atmosphere of wilder bygone times amid the steep -water-cut and cacti-crowned banks of the five great rivers which traverse -the land from west to east. And when one gets to “The Learned City” -the illusion is not dispelled. Only one extremely modern-looking Hotel -in a corner of the Plaza jars; the rest of old Córdoba exhales the -magnolia-scented atmosphere of Old Colonial days. The Cathedral, the -University (founded in 1613) and the innumerable churches, the bells of -which all clang incessantly on Feast-days, all help to preserve in the -old part of the City of Córdoba an atmosphere of the Middle Ages, when -monasteries and learning were indissolubly connected. And of monks and -nuns, brown-robed, black-robed, white-robed and blue-robed, many there be -in Córdoba. Wherever one looks, across the Plaza, up one street or down -another, one sees them walking in twos or small groups with a uniformly -measured step which, as one instinctively feels, nothing could hurry -nor retard. And the black-coated citizens of Córdoba walk silently with -eyes downcast. But there is fierceness behind those cast-down eyes and -quick hot blood in the veins of those men in black; as anyone would soon -find out to his cost were he suspected of too close enquiry into local -political ways and means. - -The writer speaks feelingly on this subject since when, a few years -ago, he was visiting Córdoba with a quite natural but equally innocent -curiosity for the old-world corners of the City, he unfortunately -disclosed in conversation with an eminently respectable-looking, -immaculately dressed gentleman that he, the present author, was a -journalist. - -Soon afterwards his adventures began. He was molested in indirect ways, -and finally invited to pay a visit to the Central Police Station. There -he was given cigarettes and coffee by the Comisario, who floridly -apologized and expressed his deep regret and shame for the treatment -an honourable stranger had received. It was, however, but a series of -regrettable accidents arising from unfortunate error of certain bad -characters who were now in durance vile in consequence. - -Here he rang a bell and ordered the answering policeman to bring in the -culprits. They were duly brought in and recognized. - -“Now,” said the Comisario, “you will have no more trouble. Besides,” -he added, “one of our plain-clothes men will accompany you in future -wherever you go—for your better protection.” - -The plain-clothes man certainly obeyed orders; so persistently that the -whole why and wherefore at last dawned on my confused brain. - -The intention was to worry me so much in a polite quasi-legitimate -fashion that I could have no ostensible cause of complaint; but, at -the same time, so that I should incontinently quit the ancient City of -Córdoba in disgust. The reason for all this was the fact that, having -nothing better to do on the evening of my arrival, I had wandered into -the basement of my Hotel and there found a person who looked like, and -indeed was, a leading local politician running a roulette to catch the -nickels of a crowd of working men. At that time the roulette was the -scarcely concealed vice of the town, rife in the back room of every bar. - -It is an illegal game in Argentina, as elsewhere except Monte Carlo, and -shortly after my visit it was the cause of a great outcry and scandal in -which several Provincial High Officials were involved. - -I was a journalist and, therefore, dangerous. So a course of delicate -hints to me to get out had been planned and executed. - -Following the gambling scandal, a leading Opposition politician was shot -dead in his carriage on the high road a short way outside the city. When -I read this news I was glad that I had not persisted in seeming to pry -into cupboards containing Córdoba’s official skeletons, and for similar -reasons I am still somewhat shy of Córdobese gentlemen with downcast eyes -and soft, measured tread. - -All that, however, belongs to OLD Córdoba. The parts of the city called -New Córdoba and Alta Córdoba are replete with palatial residences as fine -and as new as residential palaces need be. - -The City of Córdoba is not only the traditional seat of learning _par -excellence_ of the Republic, it is also, as a consequence of old-time -associations no doubt, its chief centre of clerical influence. - -Córdoba is intensely and, if one may be permitted to say it, intolerantly -Catholic. Were it not subject to the democratic laws of a modern and very -go-ahead Republic one would hardly be surprised to find disciplinary -institutions of an Inquisitorial type still in full swing in this -old-world city of South America. As it is, there is no doubt of the -predominance of priestly influence in Provincial politics. Much of the -best freehold property in the city is owned by Monastic Orders or by the -Society of Jesus. - -Most of the Province consists of a large plain; which, naturally, is -the chief productive area. But Córdoba has hills famous for the purity -of their air and great resorts for consumptive patients. ALTA GRACIA, -with its fine hotel, golf links, etc., has of late years acquired a -very favourable reputation as a place in which anyone may spend a very -pleasant and healthful week or so. - -In the North-West of the Province are great salt marshes, in and around -which only a very scanty and meagre vegetation flourishes, and in the -North-East is the MAR CHIQUITA, a large and, in parts, very deep lake, -the waters of which are salty like those of the sea. Hence its name. - -Córdoba also possesses large forests, as yet chiefly exploited for -building timber and firewood. - -RIO CUARTO, on the river of that name, is the next largest town in the -Province in point of population, but it is likely soon to be altogether -surpassed in importance by BELL VILLE, on the Central Argentine Railway, -a rapidly advancing centre of the cereal trade, and some day also, -probably, by MARCOS JUAREZ, comparatively close to it on the same line. - -Goats abound in the North of Córdoba. Land values have increased and are -increasing; especially in the most fertile regions in the South-Eastern -parts of the Province. - -Córdoba has given and continues to give much attention to irrigation -and possesses one of the largest semi-natural reservoirs in the world, -certainly in South America, in the DIQUE SAN ROQUE, which is formed by -means of a wall of masonry placed across the mouth of a mountain gorge. -Its capacity is 260,000,000 cubic metres, and its operation is completed -by a basin situated some fifteen miles from and below it, from which the -water flows through two great primary canals. The area so irrigated is -some 130,000 hectares. Other large irrigation works are in course of -construction, and more still are under consideration. - -Córdoba has also a large share of industrial enterprise, of which the -chief are lime and cement works, ornamental and other tile manufactories, -potteries, sawmills and butter factories. - -The hills of this Province have some practically unexploited mineral -deposits. The area between the city of Córdoba and the Provinces of Santa -Fé and Buenos Aires is covered with a close network of railway lines, in -great contrast (as may be seen by a glance at the railway map) in this -respect with the more Northern parts of the Province. - -There has for a long time been talk of a canal to run from near the city -of Córdoba to a point close to the port of Rosario, utilizing the surplus -waters of the Primero, Segundo and Tercero Rivers. - -There is something almost incongruously prosaic about the naming, 1st, -2nd, 3rd and 4th, of the rivers which traverse a Province in which so -much of the old romantic atmosphere lingers. - -The Alfalfa fields of Córdoba are in extent second only to those of -Buenos Aires, covering an area equal to more than half that devoted to -this forage in the latter Province. - - -ENTRE RIOS - -This Province is bounded on the North by the Province of Corrientes, on -the West and East by, respectively, the Rivers Paraná and Uruguay (hence -its name “Between Rivers”) and on the extreme South by the River Plate, -which is formed by the conjunction of the Paraná and Uruguay. - -As has been seen, Entre Rios comes second among the Argentine Provinces -for production of oats; but in respect of other cereal crops it is still -far behind Buenos Aires, Santa Fé and Córdoba. It is, however, rich in -live stock, having nearly three times the quantity possessed by Córdoba. -In point of population it ranks fourth among the Argentine Provinces. - -Until the accomplishment of the Entre Rios railway this Province -was known as the “Poor Sister” of Buenos Aires and Santa Fé. Now, -this disparagement cannot be thrown on her; for her prosperity is -advancing literally by leaps and bounds. This is very largely owing -to the communication and transport afforded by the Railway and its -train-carrying Ferry Boats which run between ZÁRATE on the Buenos -Aires side of the River Paraná and IBICUY on the Entre Rios side, thus -permitting of traffic without change of car between the Federal City and -the Entre Rios system—and, in fact, also, onward through the Province of -Corrientes and the Republic of Paraguay to Brazil, by several links in -the chain of railway lines one day to run the whole length from North and -South of the two Americas. - -The journey by rail from Buenos Aires to Paraná, the capital of Entre -Rios, is a delightful one, not the least pleasant part of it being the -voyage in the well-appointed Ferry Boats up and across beautiful winding -reaches of the Paraná River. - -From the Provincial capital one can again take a train through -interesting country across the Province to Concórdia, on the River -Uruguay, and so back to Buenos Aires by one of the fine and comfortable -River Boats. That is, if one does not first of all go further North to -the famous falls of Iguazú, further mention of which will be made when -writing of the National Territory of Misiones. - -The City of Paraná is a quiet, pleasant Capital, redolent of the memory -of General Urquíza, the one-time “Tyrant” of these parts of the River -Plate Territories. One sees the old large low building which was the -head-quarters of his government, and where, as history hath it, he -contrived to have many of his political enemies put to death. On the -other hand, there is much evidence of his enlightenment in the shape -of schools, first established by him and later fostered by “The School -Master President” Sarmiento. The fact is that Urquíza, like Rozas, whom -he supplanted, and Artígas, the national hero of Uruguay, were all strong -men of good purpose according to their lights and times; times which were -turbulent and in which it was necessary for him who would govern to kill -first if he would not himself die by an assassin’s hand. - -Opposition politicians had short shrift in those days. They were caught, -convicted and executed almost before the plots of which they were found -guilty had been fully formed. - -Each of these tyrants had a far-reaching and minutely penetrating police -system, from which nothing was hid of the movements and meetings of other -people in those sparsely populated days; days when no man’s business was -a secret to his neighbour. As a result, order sprang out of disorder and -was maintained by iron rule. - -Looking back from this distance of time one can perceive the great and -good work done by these men for their country. Their methods were of the -time; necessary. - -On the cliff-like bank of the river is the really charming Urquíza Park. -The chief Plaza, “Primero de Mayo,” is gay o’ nights with electric light -shining on the tables outside the Cafés, whilst a band plays in the -midst of the garden in its centre. Paraná has trams and a theatre, and -altogether is quite a busy commercial centre. Still it is, as has been -said, quiet with the distinctive quiet of really Provincial towns all the -world over. - -But the most charming place of all (to the writer’s mind, one of the -most charming in the Republic) is Concórdia. Its cobbled streets and -orange-scented gardens, its pure air, bright sun and cool breezes combine -to give one the feeling of having at last reached a true haven of rest -from the turmoil of the outer world; a haven in which one might dream -the remainder of one’s life away happy and passing rich on the Argentine -equivalent to forty pounds a year. - -Yet Concórdia is busy, busy in its old Colonial way with sending produce -down the broad River Uruguay to the great noisy port of Buenos Aires. - -The Entre Rios farmers do good business in cattle fattening; for which -their usually well-watered and rich pasturage is peculiarly fitted. -Yet, at times, Entre Rios has suffered from severe drought, and more -frequently from locust invasion, a plague which, however, is now already -fairly well held in check by the measures adopted and strictly carried -out by Government for the gradual elimination, as it is hoped, of these -insects from the Republic. - -Entre Rios, still only just, so to speak, opened up by the railway, is -still conservative in respect of the maintenance of large land holdings. -These are, however, slowly but surely being divided up owing to demand -and in accordance with the more utilitarian spirit of the times. - -Entre Rios is a chief centre of the jerked-beef industry, and the Liebig -factories are an economic feature which cannot go unmentioned. Grease -factories, for which large quantities of mares are slaughtered annually, -also constitute one of the chief industries of this Province. - -Entre Rios has a very considerable acreage under barley. - - -CORRIENTES - -Corrientes may be regarded, economically, as well as geographically, as -still being one of the outlying Provinces, inasmuch as its population and -cereal production are much less than those of the Provinces already dealt -with. - -It is, however, numerically richer in Live Stock than either Córdoba or -Santa Fé[24] and has large areas under maize cultivation. - -Corrientes is bounded on the North by the River Paraná, which forms the -boundary between it and the Republic of Paraguay. This river is also -its Western boundary, while on the East it is bounded by the National -Territory of Misiones and the River Uruguay, and on the South by Entre -Rios. - -It is served by the Argentine North-Eastern Railway system, which links -up and is in every way closely connected with the Entre Rios Railway: and -by a small narrow-gauge industrial railway which runs through a large -area of Quebracho forest and also serves some sugar mills. - -Other communication is by old-world diligences. Another railway is, -however, projected to run almost along the north boundary of the Province -from the City of Corrientes to Posadas in Misiones. - -The inhabitants of Corrientes, like their Paraguayan neighbours, from -whom, especially in the more Northern parts of this Province, they differ -but slightly in racial characteristics, are the true lineal descendants -of Spanish soldiery and their native Guaraní Indian wives. They are as a -rule a pleasant enough people, good-humoured and somewhat indolent. As to -the latter quality one must, however, remember that in Corrientes one is -already among subtropical vegetation (Palms begin to rear their tufted -heads in the North of Entre Rios). One of the most beautiful examples of -this vegetation is the _Lapacho_ with its great branches of pink flowers. - -One must not delay long, however, if one wish to still catch the -old-world flavour of Corrientes. Its capital, founded in 1588 with one of -the long names in which the Spanish conquerors appear to have delighted, -namely, San Juan de la Vera de las siete Corrientes (St. John of Vera -of the Seven Streams), is already provided with modern waterworks and -electric trams. Still, one yet finds many mysterious looking low houses -with vertically barred windows, and covered verandahs lining long narrow -streets. Modern buildings, however, are rapidly spoiling the attraction -of the place for those who appreciate the charm of more leisurely, -spacious times. That charm yet lingers in the city of Corrientes, but, as -has been said, is already being startled into flight by modernity. - -The latter and Corrientes are, nevertheless, still fairly far apart. It -would be curious to know how many inhabitants of the Federal Capital have -even the faintest notion of what City of the Seven Streams is like (?). -Very few indeed; except those who have or have had direct interests in -the latter place. The notions of the rest would be similar to those of -the average European regarding the Pampa. - -Corrientes is for the most part well watered, and has immense tracts of -excellent pasturage. - -Besides its Capital, Corrientes possesses as its, even more commercially -important, centres the towns of Goya, famous for its cheeses, Ituzaingó, -Bella Vista, and Empedrado, all ports or rather possible ports on the -Paraná, Mercedes, the centre of prosperous sheep-farming districts, and -Curuzú Cuatia and Monte Caseros, with good railroad facilities. - -With the necessary expenditure on wharves, etc., Corrientes could be -brought into a much greater economic activity than it shows signs of as -yet; by utilizing its great natural riparian means of communication, -although the River Uruguay is at this height difficult of navigation, -owing chiefly to the rapidity of its current and frequent floods. - -The Correntino has not yet, however, developed much commercial -enterprise. His cattle still show the native long horned and limbed -characteristics of wilder days and he himself seems to find it less -trouble to get tobacco, _mate_, sugar, coffee and many other things from -Brazil or Paraguay than to grow and manufacture them himself; as he could -do easily and profitably. Much of his nature is Indian; to be modified in -time by the overwhelming forces of civilization. - -One cannot leave Corrientes without mention of the lake IBERÁ in the -North of the Province, a vast natural hollow filled with water, the -surface of which is in many parts covered so solidly with interlaced -bamboos, grasses and aquatic plants as to enable one to walk on it as -if on a huge raft. There has been much talk of reclaiming the land -by draining Lake Iberá, a task which owing to the gradients of the -surrounding lands would not present great difficulties; if so be that the -lake is not connected by subterranean channels with the Rivers Paraná and -Upper Uruguay, as there are several reasons to suppose it may be. - -The islands of this lake form a perfect zoological garden of animals and -reptiles long since practically extinct in the surrounding country; among -which are Jaguars, Alligators and Boa Constrictors. - -The present writer remembers an interesting if somewhat terrifying -collection of such and other wild specimens being cast up a little more -than a decade ago on the river shores of the Province of Buenos Aires, -near to the Federal Capital, by the swollen waters of the Paraná during -extraordinary floods. These creatures were washed down clinging to trunks -of trees and islets of intertwined vegetation which had been torn away by -the force of the waters. It is safe to assume that they were much more -terrified than were even the peaceable inhabitants of the places where -they involuntarily landed. - -The illustrious General San Martin was a Correntino, born in what was -once called Yapeyú, now an important Live Stock centre and renamed after -him. - -A monument has also been erected there to his memory, a patriotic -embellishment which no Argentine township, however, is without. - - -SAN LUIS - -This Province is bounded on the North by the Province of La Rioja, on -the West by the Provinces of San Juan and Mendoza, on the East by the -Province of Córdoba and on the South by the Territory of the Pampa -Central. - -Until the coming of Alfalfa, San Luis was chiefly interesting for its -mineral possibilities. Even now, after Salta and Jujuy, it is the most -sparsely populated of the Argentine Provinces. Nevertheless, it now has -large areas under wheat; and sandy salty tracts which not long ago, in -common with similar tracts in the West of the Province of Buenos Aires -and in the Territory of the Pampa Central, were looked on as useless -deserts, are covered with an extraordinarily luxuriant growth of lucerne. -The salty nature of the soil is favourable to this valuable forage plant, -and its tap roots find their way easily through the sandy surface to the -closely adjacent damp subsoil and surface waters. - -Irrigation is destined to play an important rôle in other parts of San -Luis. - -At present this Province runs Santa Fé very close in point of number of -Live Stock; though the general average of quality is a good way behind -that found in the “home” Provinces or Córdoba. - -San Luis cultivates an appreciable quantity of good table grapes, and, as -is noticed in another chapter, also produces some wine. - -The Province is intersected in its North and Central parts by four lines -of the Buenos Aires Pacific Railway and in the South by two of the Buenos -Aires Western Railway. - -It is evident that the mineral deposits of San Luis were worked in the -prehistoric days prior to the Spanish Conquest, but little has been done -to exploit them in modern times except as regards the beautiful green -marble, commonly called Brazilian Onyx, large quantities of which are -exported. Gold mining has been attempted in modern times, but without as -yet any very appreciable results. San Luis, however, produces a certain -regular supply of Wolfram. - -The people of San Luis are frequently accused of indolence. Certainly -the Province is not a wealthy one, nor do its inhabitants appear over -alert to seize the opportunities which nature and modern methods combined -now offer them. - - -SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO - -This Province is bounded on the North by the Province of Salta and the -National Territory of Formosa, on the West by the Province of Tucumán and -Catamarca, on the East by the National Territory of the Chaco and the -Province of Santa Fé and on the South by the Province of Córdoba. - -Irrigation has led to a considerable development of wheat-growing in this -Province and to irrigation it must chiefly owe its future progress; for, -in its almost tropical climate, rain only falls in the summer months and -usually is absorbed almost as soon as it falls by a sandy and dusty soil. - -The average temperature of Santiago del Estero is highly favourable to -maize, but, here again, the question of water supply arises, only to be -met by artificial means. Already principal and subsidiary irrigation -canals have been constructed in the areas through which pass the two -rivers of the Province, the Dulce and the Saladillo, and further works of -the kind are in active contemplation. - -The salt sandy soil of much of this Province has been found as favourable -to Alfalfa as such soil is elsewhere when there is water not far down -or at least a damp subsoil. So that Santiago boasts of an already large -and an increasing number of _Alfalfares_, as lucerne-bearing lands -are called. The chief industries of the North of this Province are in -connection with its forestal products, the cutting and rough trimming -of Quebracho wood, firewood and charcoal burning. The people engaged in -these occupations are mostly totally uneducated and are unacquainted -with any of the higher developments of civilization. They are indeed in -some respects similar to the stock-riding Gaucho of the past in other -provinces, but without the intelligence he displayed within the limits -of his punctilious observance of custom. - -Dancing, card-playing and drinking are the only amenities of life known -to the wood-cutters of Santiago del Estero, unless fighting be added as -a pendant to, and consequence of, the last-named pastime of alcoholic -indulgence. Like all GAUCHOS, however, they are really only dangerous to -one another in this regard, a stranger being treated by them with all the -good-humoured courtesy at their command. - -The Santagueños of the forests have been singled out by one very -observant and reliable writer on South American countries, Monsieur -Paul Walle,[25] as having superstitious faith in “Curanderos” or quack -doctors, people of their own class. They do indeed show a perfectly -childlike faith in quack nostrums; but in this, leave must be taken -to say, they are by no means alone among the rural populations of the -River Plate. The present writer has known the queerest kinds of remedies -believed in implicitly and practised even in that hub of progress, the -Province of Buenos Aires. - -Active official efforts have for some time been devoted to the weeding -out of CURANDEROS and CURANDERAS; but, as in the mediæval days of -England, they are still sought out, more or less secretly, by neighbours -who have infinitely more faith in their “cures” than they would have in -the treatment of whole Colleges of Physicians. - -Possibly these quacks often do cure by suggestion. The writer has, for -instance, heard strong oral evidence of the efficacy for toothache of -expectorating into the mouth of a frog, caught at a certain hour of the -night. There could be no doubt about it. Many people have been entirely -relieved from pain by that simple expedient. The rather revolting rite -performed, the frog must be set at liberty and carries away the pain with -it! - -Much of this quackery is relatively harmless, but much of it is also -highly dangerous, not only to the actual patient, but to the community -in general; as preventing the former from seeking orthodox treatment -which, while really curing him, would at the same time prevent the spread -of infectious and contagious disease. - -To sum up, Santiago del Estero undoubtedly has a rich future before it, -dependent chiefly on irrigation. - - -TUCUMÁN - -This Province is bounded on the North by the Province of Salta, on the -West and South by the Province of Catamarca and on the East by the -Province of Santiago del Estero. - -It has the smallest superficial area of all the Argentine Provinces; -being less than one-eleventh the size of Buenos Aires and less than -one-fifth that of Santiago del Estero. - -It, however, is a very important Province, because it produces over 90% -of the whole sugar output of the Republic. It also grows an appreciable -quantity of maize, but when, in Argentina, one says Tucumán one is almost -invariably thought to be about to speak of sugar. - -It always has been _the_ sugar-producing area of the River Plate -Territories; from the time of the Jesuit Missionaries, say, about the -middle of the eighteenth century. The first modern sugar-manufacturing -machinery was set up in Tucumán in 1879. - -The whole matter of the Argentine Sugar industry was for long hedged -about with fiscal and other questions and a great sensitiveness on the -part of the growers and refiners in regard to their discussion. That a -certain number of companies divided the whole of the industry between -them was undoubted fact, as was the equally obvious one that they carried -on business in accordance rather with their ideas of their own commercial -interests than in any larger or more philanthropic spirit. Sugar is still -much dearer for the Argentine consumer than there seems any good reason -for. Special legislature has operated until recently as an exceptional -protection to this industry, thus maintaining, as was vehemently urged in -many quarters, a monopoly, to the extent of being relieved of any foreign -competition, in the hands of the Tucumán Companies who conducted their -affairs in a mutually friendly fashion. - -Their opponents throughout the country said that Tucumán (the sugar -interests there are still inseparably connected with Provincial politics -and politicians) not only waxed fat at the public expense, but did so by -means and methods opposed to the public interest. Certainly legislature -offered temptation to artificial limitation of output, and it was chiefly -in regard to this—burning of productive cane-fields and so forth—that the -sugar companies long stood accused. - -On whichever side the balance of the arguments for or against the -doings of the Tucumán sugar industry may have lain it may be safely -asserted that no political influence can nowadays continue to bolster -up commercial malpractices of any magnitude in Argentina. The National -Government has already seen and will see to it that no hole-in-the-corner -Provincial politics shall interfere with the National welfare and -credit. Influence, although still powerful in minor matters, can no -longer suffice to avoid any matter of public importance being exposed to -examination by the full light of day. - -Tucumán is well aware of this, and therefore can be relied on, and indeed -must be, to trim her sails to the healthy wind by which the course of the -Republic is now determined. - -It is only fair to add that the Tucumán Sugar Companies’ argument in -their own defence to the suggestion of an inequitable monopoly exercised -by them is, in effect, “Well, supposing that we have been making very -large profits of late years, we have borne the brunt of hard times for -many more, before the industry had developed to its present extent and -before we were able to obtain assistance or even practical encouragement -from the State. And besides, were we wrong in making hay whilst the sun -shone? Any day may bring us competition in the shape of the rise of new -cane-fields in other Northern districts of this fertile Republic.” - -This is at least sympathetic if not strictly legitimate reasoning. - -In the meantime the Province of Tucumán has grown prosperous, and the -employment of more enlightened methods of conducting all branches of -its sugar industry has recently resulted in enhanced prosperity coupled -with a largely increased output. The City of Tucumán, its Capital, one -of the pleasantest and most progressive towns in Argentina, has no less -than five different railway stations pertaining to lines connecting it -with Buenos Aires (of which the Central Argentine is the most direct) and -local systems. - -The vegetation of the Plazas and Boulevards of the City is subtropical -and social demands have provided Tucumán with an ornate Casino connected -with a vast modern Hotel and theatre. Electric light and tramways abound -in its orange-flower scented streets and public places, among which must -now be counted a huge Park designed to celebrate the 1910 centenary. A -special building enshrines the historic room in which the Declaration of -Independence was signed. - -Buildings of the Colonial period still exist in Tucumán and its -outskirts, but the dominant tendency is towards modernity in architecture -and all else. The City is picturesquely situated in a valley among hills -which appear to surround it and give it a curious appearance of having, -with its Casino, brilliantly lit avenues and gardens and its luxuriant -vegetation, sprung into existence as a scene on some vast stage. - -It has a winter season of ever-growing social importance; during which -the great Sugar Families occupy their palatial villas and display dark -beauty and grace to the music of the band in the Plaza Independencia and -at the Casino and Theatre. - -Irrigation is easily attained over the most part of this Province, from -the Dulce River and its many tributaries as well as from several other -streams. - -Tucumán grows some wheat, but not much, its principal crops (after, of -course, sugar) being maize and alfalfa. - -It has comparatively little live stock, owing largely to the general -humidity of its soil. It has, however, an exceptionally large aggregate -of population for its size in comparison with other Provinces. - -Parts of Tucumán are forest, part mountainous with peaks clad in -everlasting snow from which accumulate innumerable turbulent mountain -streams. For picturesque and varied scenery of almost every kind Tucumán -is perhaps preeminent in the Republic. Its valleys are with very few -exceptions fertile and well watered. - -This Province has several fairly important towns situated on the railways -which traverse its central and southern districts. - - -CATAMARCA - -This Province is bounded on the North by that of Salta and the National -Territory of Los Andes, on the West by Chile, on the South by the -Provinces of La Rioja and Córdoba and on the East by those of Santiago -del Estero and Tucumán. As can be imagined from its geographical -situation, it produces a certain quantity of maize and, given advantages, -to be mentioned later, undoubtedly could produce a great deal more. As -yet it is sparsely populated, and the influence of progress is only -just being forced upon it by a paternal National Government which not -only has irrigation schemes in hand, but has already constructed a -railway—the North Argentina—one of the new Government lines, to afford -transport for the future wealth of this hitherto dormant Province. -Irrigation, transport and fresh elements and methods of labour are -the three requisites for Catamarca’s advancement. She has plenty of -what is easily convertible into fertile soil; and, without doubt, rich -mineral deposits. Both of these resources would long ago have been -advantageously exploited had the population of the Argentine Republic -attained larger figures than as yet represent it. - -Catamarca is mountainous over a large portion of its area, but this area -is interspersed with very fertile valleys and possesses a vast tableland, -called the CAMPO DEL PUCARA. In a hollow of this tableland is the capital -city of Catamarca. - -There are plenty of mountain streams from which to irrigate the greater -portion of the soil of this Province, and also a water bed not far from -the surface from which irrigation could be obtained. At present—most -of the surface soil being extremely loose and porous—the water brought -down by the mountain streams is immediately absorbed, and the climate -generally is dry. The mean temperature naturally varies according to -altitude, but the lower valleys are very hot in summer-time. - -The City of Catamarca is still a veritable sleepy hollow, poor and -indolent, but picturesque with the gardens and orange and other orchards -of Colonial times. - -The population of this Province is mostly of mixed Spanish and Indian -origin; as indeed is that of practically all the northern outlying -Provinces and Territories of the Republic. - -The needs of these people are few, and they continue in a lethargic -condition of conservative content. One district, however, of -Catamarca—Andalgalá—boasts of an aristocracy of pure Spanish blood, -resident since the early days of the Conquest. - -At present all the best brains of Catamarca find their way to Buenos -Aires; in despair of the small scope, and even opposition to any -suggestion of innovation, offered by their native Province. Still, Nature -in Catamarca, as elsewhere throughout Argentina, only awaits the call of -man to respond with rich gifts. - -There is no doubt about the existence of valuable mineral deposits, -silver, copper and especially tin, in Catamarca. The chief obstacle to -the due exploitation of these up to the present has been the difficulty -and cost of transport. The railway should soon, however, render the -working of these mines profitable on a much larger scale than hitherto -has been commercially possible. - - -LA RIOJA - -This Province is bounded on the North and North-East by the Province -of Catamarca, on the West and South-West by Chile and the Province of -San Juan, on the South by the Province of San Luis, and on the East by -Catamarca, again, and the Province of Córdoba. - -La Rioja is another outlying Province of which can be said, as of so many -as yet comparatively unproductive parts of Argentina, that water, labour -and transport alone are needed to make them rich far beyond any dreams -of avarice which have yet occupied the minds of their few and easy-going -inhabitants. Maize flourishes in this hot, dry climate, as do all manner -of subtropical and even tropical fruits, including dates, wherever water -is available. Even wheat grows splendidly in some districts, given -irrigation. And, as in many other salty and saltpetre-impregnated soils, -there are large areas in La Rioja highly favourable to the growth of -Alfalfa. - -At present this Province is more sparsely populated than any other in -the Republic except Jujuy, but it boasts of a fair number of (mostly -native) cattle. As in all the Andine Provinces and Territories there is a -relatively considerable export trade of cattle on the hoof to Chile. - -La Rioja produces some wine, and at some future date will, no doubt, -produce more, in view of the advantages for vine culture of its soil in -many parts and its warm, dry climate. At present the wine of La Rioja is -mostly consumed in the province itself and the immediately neighbouring -Provinces. - -Large irrigating works are in progress, and more are under consideration -by the National Government for the development of the agricultural -industries of this Province. - -Contemporaneously with or possibly before such development will have -been able, on account of lack of population, to assume any very notable -progress, one may reasonably expect to see a largely increased activity -in the exploitation of La Rioja’s mineral wealth (apparently much greater -than that of Catamarca) by reason of the enormously increased facilities -for transport afforded by the National North Argentine Railway. La Rioja -has rich deposits of silver, copper, nickel, tin, cobalt, topaz and many -beautiful kinds of marble. - -The mining district best known at present is that of La Famatina; from -which a cable-way of 35 kilometres in length was constructed by the -National Government some years ago to connect the hillside mines with the -rail-head at Chilecito. - -La Rioja has, however, many other evidently rich mineral areas, including -some containing quartz and alluvial gold. The unsystematic exploitation -of these has as yet given but small satisfactory results. - -The city of La Rioja, the Capital, is still in a state of arrested -development, similarly with Catamarca, only even more so. It has not -yet experienced sufficient prosperity to enable it to recover from the -paralysing effects of the civil disturbances which raged in and around it -for very many years after the overthrow of the Spanish rule. The people, -the great majority of whom have a large admixture of native Indian -blood, are, however, of a rather more lively and energetic disposition -than their Catamarcan neighbours. This is no doubt due to a difference -in their racial origin; the Indian ancestors of the natives of La Rioja -having apparently belonged to tribes which in bygone times inhabited, -or were in close relations with those which inhabited, Peru and thus -possibly absorbed something of the Inca civilization. - -The surface of La Rioja has two general aspects; one part is broken and -mountainous and the other an immense plain, needing, as has been said, -only labour and irrigation to yield rich agricultural results. The one -important river of the Province is the Bermejo. The mineral wealth of -this Province lies almost if not entirely exclusively, in its mountainous -districts. - - -JUJUY - -Jujuy has its very special interest for the Anglo-Saxon race, since it -affords, in the history of the Leach family, a striking example of the -colonizing enterprise and patience of that race. - -Look at the position of Jujuy on the map and imagine what colonizing must -have been like in the middle of last century when the brothers Leach -first settled in what has since become a Province, but then was a wild -district inhabited by native Indians. - -One of the brothers, especially, Mr. Walter Leach, seems to have -exercised a peculiar and highly beneficial influence over these people, -and managed to introduce ideas of industry and gradual civilization to -tribes whose former lives had been mostly occupied with warfare one with -another. - -Now we may almost say that “Leach” is synonymous with “JUJUY” and vice -versa, and enterprises initiated by this family now embrace all branches -of industry of which the Province is yet capable, including large sugar -plantations and machinery. Now, the National Central Northern Argentine -Railway connects Jujuy with the outer world, but before its advent it -was indeed a far-off land to be reached only after many weeks’ arduous -journeying. Jujuy is the most distant and, after Tucumán, the smallest -Province of the Republic. - -It is bounded on the North and North-West by Bolivia, on the West by the -National Territory of Los Andes and on the South and East by the Province -of Salta. - -Jujuy produces not inconsiderable quantities of wheat, maize, barley and -alfalfa and, as has been said, sugar. - -In the North it has a number of salt lakes, which are exploited -commercially, as also are some deposits of borax. - -The climate of Jujuy is very varied, according to altitude, but in -general is much more temperate than the actual latitude of the Province -would lead one to suppose. There is always a considerable rainfall during -hot weather. Its chief river is the Rio Grande de Humahuaca, a tributary -of the Bermejo, which coming from the North curves in a semicircle -through the Central and South-Eastern parts of the Province. - -Jujuy, with its broken surface, claims rivalry with Tucumán as the most -picturesque of the Argentine Provinces. In some of its southern districts -the vegetation is tropical. In the North-West there is a high tableland -much of which is dry and practically desert, interspersed with fertile -valleys. - -In the South of the Province the population is of mixed racial origin -with a very large element of native Indian blood. In the North it is -practically pure Indian. The native Humahuaca dialect is preponderant -everywhere, even in Spanish as spoken there. In the North there is little -or no pretension to speak anything but Humahuaca. - -The Capital, however, the City of Jujuy, was, strangely enough, the -first Argentine town to have its streets paved. It was the scene of -the assassination of General Lavalle, one of the heroes of the Wars -of Independence, and possesses the original flag of General Belgrano, -the blue and white chosen by him for the nascent Republic, and ever -since retained by it. Later the National Colours and those of Uruguay -(a slightly different arrangement of the same blue and white) were -officially emblazoned with the golden “Sun of May”; the 25th of May, -1810, being the date of the Declaration of Independence from the rule of -Spain. - -As has been mentioned above, most of such prosperity as Jujuy as yet -possesses is due to the patient energy of the Leach family. Such -administrative and fiscal discredit as attaches to the Province is, on -the other hand, due to the native element among its politicians. These -evils inevitably must soon be swept away by the advance of civilized -ideas and necessity for better management by public authority. The -mass of the population will, no doubt, continue to live in its own -long-accustomed primitive fashion. - -It hardly contains the racial elements of rapid advance towards a much -higher civilization. - -Future immigration must be relied on to do much to develop Jujuy’s -natural resources. - -At present a certain amount of rather primitive, and some contraband, -export and import trade is done with Bolivia in the Northern parts of the -Province. - -Jujuy is poor in Live Stock even of the native kinds. - - -SALTA - -With Salta we complete the list of the less important outlying Argentine -Provinces. - -Like Jujuy, it is bounded on the North by Bolivia, on the West by Jujuy -and the National Territory of Los Andes, on the South by Tucumán and -Santiago del Estero, and on the East by the National Territory of Formosa. - -Salta is indeed historic ground; so full of reminiscence of the Wars of -Independence that it may almost be called the cradle of the Republic. It -was also in Salta that Jabez Balfour was at length taken into custody, -after a long struggle for an extradition treaty between Great Britain and -Argentina. - -The writer is well acquainted with a gentleman, since then become a -prominent figure in the railway world of the River Plate, who “specially” -drove the engine of the train which brought Balfour down to civilization -and captivity. The prisoner had money which he had spent freely among -his new neighbours, and attempts at rescue were expected. So the train -rushed on its downward course with a velocity to which the then permanent -way and rails were totally unaccustomed, but, as all the world was soon -made aware, arrived at its destination without accident. - -The prisoner had been the victim of his own luxurious habits, for he -had grown so fat that it was impossible to convey him through frontier -mountain passes into Bolivia, as his friends had intended and as would -have been possible, in point of time, to do before the expected warrant -for his arrest could have found its way into the not too willing hands of -the local authorities. - -Until his recent death, the present generation had scarcely heard of -Jabez Balfour. Yet he was widely celebrated in contemporaneous popular -song as “The man who broke the Bank at Monte Carlo.” - -In Salta is still to be found a much more really interesting personage -in the GAUCHO, the Cavaliere Rusticano of the River Plate and the hero -of all its earlier poetry and romance. He of the guitar-accompanied -improvised verse, of the quick flashing knife and equally quick -REBENQUE.[26] He was no small element in the victories won over the -Spanish soldiery nor in the long years of civil war which followed -Independence. He is still in Salta; one of the last parts of the -Republic in which he can be found. Comparatively uncontaminated by the -encroachments of the drab uniformity of civilization. - -He remains romantic and brutal, chivalrous and treacherous, hospitable -and quick to resent the mere implication of an insult. Still a cattle -herd adept with lazo or _boleadora_,[27] a nomad ever seeking fresh -fields and pastures new within the limits of his native territory. Give -him a uniform he is a very useful soldier, and a fair military policeman, -save for his rather erratic fits of truculence. For the rest no good at -all outside of the few spheres mapped out for him by the limitation of -his own strongly marked individuality. But he will always know again an -animal he has once seen, and will track out a lost sheep across a very -maze of confused spoor. - -Mr. Herbert Gibson[28] has written of the gaucho with true feeling and -appreciation in the following words:— - - Skilled in horsemanship, quick of hand and of eye; in his - beginnings the Arab and nomad of the plains; indifferent of his - neighbour’s life, for his own he carried in his hand to risk - at the first hazard, yet “loyal to his own law” even in his - most lawless exploits—the gaucho of the Pampa constitutes the - genuine emblem of the Argentine genius. He is the materialized - expression of the spirit of the vast and lonely plain. “Bearing - allegiance to neither King nor thing,” as Azara writes, he - followed the fate of the live stock of the colony; when the - cattle escaped control he too declared himself free, running - wild and beyond the pale of even nominal domestication. The - Pampa was his home, and in his ears the breeze moving over the - plains whispered to him of liberty. To colonial rule succeeded - the new order of Independence, and the gaucho, inured by his - style of living to the stress of weather and to the struggle - with savage animals, became the right hand of the petty chiefs - of party faction, ever joining the side in conflict with - the ruling power. The words law and order signified for him - oppression and servitude, and he became the declared enemy of - all authority. But with all his faults the gaucho, in his own - element, mounted on his beloved horse, with lazo secured to - the back of his saddle and his _boleadora_ hanging from his - waist, was the henchman beyond price for the work of the old - estancia, knowing how to dominate and domesticate the savage - herds and droves of wild mares. In all that he has seemingly - been modified by the progress of the times, he has remained - unmodified in his spirit which is the essential manifestation - of his climate and of his habit. The nomad gaucho of the - colonial period converted into the loyal gaucho of the - estancia, the man with no other belongings than his horses and - the silver clasp and buttons hanging at his belt to whom the - breeder entrusted all his herds, and the grazier the money - wherewith to buy the droves of bullocks, without for one - moment thinking, either the one or the other, that he would - neglect his charges or fail to render account to the uttermost - farthing committed to his care. Alike loyal and venturesome in - the fulfilment of his duties, and kindly and hospitable in his - lowly home life, he is the hero of the rural romance of the - Pampa. Not without regret and tender reminiscences must we take - farewell of a period of pastoral life, from whose remembrance - all the hardships and bitterness have disappeared, only leaving - to us the recollection of that patriarchal and wholesome life - which the late Hernandez has so skilfully depicted in the - picturesque language of the gaucho who tells his story by - the fitful light of the fire on the kitchen hearth while his - fingers caress the melancholy strings of the guitar. - - And now approaches the new era of railways, of fenced-in - paddocks, of ingenious drafting gates and all the mechanical - entourage of the modern pastoral industry. The gaucho, like - Othello, is without an occupation, but the spirit which in - divers forms and epochs has characterized him shall not die. - It is the native spirit of the Argentine genius which enters - the immigrant ere for long he has settled in the land and - which inspires the sons born to him in this country; it is the - instinct of independence and individuality engendered by the - free air of a rural life, and which is the antithesis of the - dependent spirit symbolized in city life by socialism. - -Salta is a large, sparsely populated Province, the inhabitants of -which outside the circle of its aristocratic families, are composed -of our friend the GAUCHO and his families and the COYA Indians. These -last, cowboys and shepherds, are much more unpleasant people; morose, -avaricious in their necessarily small way, and full of sullen duplicity. -Their only obvious virtue is their devoted attachment to the small -allotments of land they can call their own. This solitary virtue does -not, however, make them any the pleasanter to strangers; all of whom -indiscriminately they regard as possible enemies come to rob them of -their rights in some mysterious way or other. - -Naturally, with such a population and on account of its distance from the -great commercial centres of the Republic, Salta is not yet very far on -the road to any great or settled prosperity. - -It has some sugar plantations, cultivates some tobacco and makes some -wine, but with its many generally well-watered and easily irrigable -large areas of rich soil it could easily, and of course eventually will, -progress. - -It could grow a great deal more maize and alfalfa than it does, and could -carry much more and better live stock than it yet troubles to do. - -It produces some fruit and could produce all sorts of much choicer kinds -in great variety; also potatoes, cotton and, as experts affirm, excellent -coffee. - -Of course there are here the old difficulties of irrigation, in some -places, cost of transport and lack of intelligent labour. The first -two are rapidly being overcome by the National Government, the last -must be looked for overseas. The Gaucho and the Coya not only are not -sufficiently numerous for Salta’s future needs, but (alas for the romance -of the former!) they must be classed amongst the doomed unfit; to be -merged in or overwhelmed by the march of modernity. - -The aspect of Salta, like that of most of the northern Provinces and -Territories, is varied. Mountain and low valley, broad plain and forest, -deep river and rushing stream all alternate and give picturesqueness and -diversity of climate. Goats, mules and sufficient horses for existing -local needs are to be found here as in the neighbouring Provinces; all -of which are justly famous for products, the mention of which must on -no account be overlooked, the native cloths and PONCHOS, hand-woven of -vicuna and guanaco wool. Soft, warm and durable, these cloths are highly -and justly valued in the more civilized regions of the River Plate. - -The manufacture of them dates from times which are prehistoric in America. - -The forests of Salta contain a great quantity of Quebracho of excellent -quality, and there are several indigenous creepers of caoutchouc-bearing -kinds. This latter has as yet been little exploited, and then only in an -extremely primitive manner. - -Salta boasts a large hydropathic establishment in connection with the hot -mineral springs of Rosario de la Frontera. - -Salta, the Capital, is another of the old Colonial cities, amid the -low houses of which fine new public buildings occur incongruously; -iconoclastic. It has also a zoological garden which, wisely, contains -many interesting specimens of local fauna, fine, luxuriantly planted -public gardens and Plazas and an excellent Police Band. - -In the oligarchic days of only a very few years ago the police forces of -these outlying Provinces were extremely important political instruments. -Under the Constitution the Provinces cannot raise or maintain independent -soldiery; but who could say them nay if the exigencies of an uncultured -population necessitated a large police force armed with Mausers?—to -ensure due obedience to the orders of and agreement with the policy of -the Provincial powers that were. - -There are few commercial centres in Salta having populations sufficient -to give them importance as towns. Metan is the largest, and after it come -Cafayate, Campo Santo and Rosario de la Frontera, which, as has been -said, is noted for its hot springs. - - -MENDOZA - -[Illustration: RUINS OF JESUIT BUILDINGS: MENDOZA, ARGENTINA] - -This is one of the richer Provinces on account of its vines and the -large wine-making industry. Similarly with Tucumán and Sugar, one may -say that Mendoza and Wine are in Argentina practically synonymous; this -observation also applies to its neighbour, San Juan, the second great -wine-producing Province. Indeed it is quite common—very common indeed, -in fact—to say of a person who shows signs of being under alcoholic -influence that he is “Entre San Juan y Mendoza” (between San Juan and -Mendoza). - -Besides those of its vines, the greatest agricultural products of Mendoza -are alfalfa, grown over very considerable areas of salt-impregnated soil, -and a much smaller proportion of maize. - -The population of Mendoza is small and the number of its live stock very -little larger: although in point of superficial area Mendoza ranks third -(after Buenos Aires and Córdoba) among the Argentine Provinces. It is -only fair, however, to add that much of the Western Area of Mendoza is -very mountainous, since it includes a long stretch of the Eastern side of -the Andes. - -This Province is bounded on the North by that of San Juan, on the West by -Chile, on the South by the National Territories of Neuquen and the Pampa -Central, and on the East by the Province of San Luis. - -Its department of San Rafael is a very large one, larger indeed than -the whole of the rest of the Province put together; in it is found the -greatest agricultural activity, including the great alfalfa fields. The -Mendoza cattle are of all kinds and varieties, little attention having -been yet, generally, given to the science of cross-breeding. It, however, -exports numbers of cattle to Chile, either by way of mountain passes or -the Transandine Railway; but a great many of these have been bred in -neighbouring Provinces and sent to Mendoza for a fattening period before -exportation. - -Irrigation is a great feature of Mendoza, which was the first Province to -receive any notable attention in this regard. Now, if we except, perhaps, -the great irrigation works and schemes already well advanced in the -National Territories of Neuquen and the Rio Negro, Mendoza has, with San -Juan, the largest and most comprehensive systems (both existing and in -advanced stages of consideration) in the whole Republic. - -The fall of the mountain rivers and the eastward drop of the whole -surface of the Province makes irrigation here a comparatively easy task, -while the natural fertility of the soil quickly and richly repays the -initial cost and upkeep of reservoirs and canals. One menace there is -which hangs ever over Mendoza, that of volcanic eruptions. The whole -of its Capital was completely destroyed as recently as 1861. The city -has, however, been rebuilt on its former site, a sort of shelf of land -situated on the spring of the great Andine range. Gradually the loosely -built low adobe houses have been and are still being replaced in the New -Town by several-storied buildings of solid masonry; courage growing as -the date of the last great earthquake grows more remote. Still slight -shocks are of frequent occurrence in the Capital and elsewhere in this -Province. - -The City of Mendoza is rich in public gardens and avenues filled -with luxuriantly umbrageous vegetation and has, of course (what -self-respecting Argentine town has them not?), electric light and trams; -but its just pride is the great West Park, situate on another level shelf -of land projecting from the foot of the Cordillera on a higher level than -that on which the City is built. - -This Park has a sheet of water of almost a mile in length by some -seventy-five yards broad, in which are ornamental islets and on which -regattas are held. For these festal occasions there is a huge stone -grand stand at one end of the water. The Park has many magnificent -electric-lighted avenues lined with trees of majestic proportions, and -all over it are gardens of subtropical shrubs and plants. Within its -great bronze gates are also a zoological and a, specifically, botanical -garden. - -[Illustration: A BIT OF THE TRANSANDINE RAILWAY, ARGENTINA] - -[Illustration: ENTRANCE TO THE SUMMIT TUNNEL THROUGH THE ANDES (CHILEAN -SIDE)] - -With all this, if Mendoza has drawn somewhat on the future to foot the -bill of its many embellishments, it has done no more than many other -cities of the still new South American countries, and with more immediate -prospect of justification for its expenditure than have several others. -What Mendoza has got to do now is to create an export trade for its -wines, on the condition precedent that it manufacture wines that will -keep and will improve with keeping. Otherwise with increased irrigation -it may run the risk of over-production, since the home consumption is -as yet a limited one. The increase of the population of the River Plate -countries is, as we have seen, still slow, and outside the towns very -little wine is drunk by the majority of the people except on special and -rare occasions; mate sufficing for their habits and needs. - -Mendoza sends large quantities of table-grapes and other fruit to Buenos -Aires, and hopes one day to send them overseas. This latter consideration -depends greatly on the adoption of improved methods of picking and -packing, matters to which the management of the Buenos Aires Pacific -Railway has given much practical attention. Care in such details is, -however, but little in the Argentine nature generally, and even in a -less degree in that of the strong mixture of Indian blood which marks -the working classes of Mendoza, as it does in all except the littoral -Provinces. Very good canned peaches come from the Mendoza factories and -are in large demand throughout the Republic. - -Coal and petroleum have both been found in the Province, but further -working tests are needed before their probable commercial value can be -ascertained. - -From the City of Mendoza the Buenos Aires Pacific Railway (familiarly -B.A.P.) strikes upward to where it passes through the Transandine tunnel; -on the Mendoza side of which is the famous Puente del Inca (the Inca’s -bridge), a vast block of stone which, lying across a ravine, makes a -natural bridge, recalling the giant-built palace of the old Norse Gods. -Here are also some hot mineral springs celebrated for treatment of -rheumatism; to which treatment the dry, rarefied mountain air perhaps -contributes its less recognized quota. - - -SAN JUAN - -This Province is bounded on the North and East by the Province of La -Rioja, on the West by Chile, and on the South and South-East by the -Provinces of Mendoza and San Luis respectively. - -Of all the Argentine Provinces San Juan has shown itself, until very -recent times indeed, probably the most recalcitrant towards financial -orderliness. A repeated _non possumus_ was the only answer its inertness -returned to the many periodical fulminations and menaces of the National -Government in respect of its treasury bonds or depreciated Provincial -paper money. So depreciated, in fact, that it was worth nothing at all -outside the Province itself, and was by no means welcome, although legal, -tender within its boundaries. - -San Juan pleaded that it could not call this paper in since it had -nothing with which to replace it—all the little National money it got for -its wines and other produce went immediately back to Buenos Aires again -for necessary purchases. - -The National Government insisted that San Juan _must_ remove the disgrace -from its financial escutcheon or all sorts of things would happen. San -Juan regretted deeply and asked for time. In the meanwhile it contrived -to raise another of those loans, without much more than a shadow of -adequate security or provision, which long have been the nightmare of the -National Government, and it still kept on using its depreciated notes. -So, and in many other ways for long, very long, did San Juan wrestle, -successfully according to its lights, with the spirit of progress until -irrigation, fostered by the National Government, came to the aid of the -latter in a way there was no denying. - -[Illustration: PUENTE DEL INCA; MENDOZA, ARGENTINA] - -San Juan _had_ to become more prosperous and to begin to pay its way -in respectable fashion. It evidently did not in the least want to do -so, but it could not any longer see any way by which it could avoid -recognition of its just liabilities. Thus are the good old times of this -Province vanishing; the good old times which made sufficient provision -for an aristocratic oligarchy and in which vassals had no opportunity of -acquiring luxurious tastes. - -First the railway, slow in this case, however, in its usually tonic -effects and then irrigation, which poured water on to a naturally very -fertile soil, brought it about that one day San Juan woke up to find -itself faced with financial responsibility. - -People from the littoral and even from overseas came and bought land -and paid good prices in hard cash for it and then planted vines of new, -productive kinds; trimmed them in new, productive ways; and made better -wine out of them than San Juan had ever deemed at all necessary. Other -people planted wheat and alfalfa, and even troubled to grow more maize -than there had been before. In fact, if ever a Province had greatness -thrust upon it in a bewilderingly short space of time it was San Juan. -People are even prospecting and actually exploiting its long-latent -mineral wealth, looking for and finding deposits of gold, silver, copper, -iron, zinc, lead, sulphur, alum, mica, rock salt, lignite and marble. - -The exploitation of many of these has not yet attained any very great -commercial importance,[29] but that of others has already done so, and -all the companies concerned have brought money into the Province and pay -wages to many native workers. All this troublesomeness tends to curtail -the daily siesta, but a consequent bundle of full-value national dollars -operates as a consolation to even the most conscientious observer of -traditional custom. The next generation of San Juan inhabitants will -doubtless be as wide awake as their neighbours, and strikes may take the -place of old-time rebellion to the orders of patriarchal overlords; while -the latter will be put to it to work their ancestral lands intelligently -in order to maintain the due measure of their proper dignity. - -Not only has the National Government fostered large systems of irrigation -in and given irrigation to this Province, but it has also run a railway -connecting the City of San Juan with the Federal Capital; thus providing -another outlet for its grapes, wines and other produce. - -An instance of the former commercial apathy of San Juan, and of its -neighbour Mendoza for that matter, was, not long ago, to be found in the -manner in which the growers of table-grapes allowed themselves to be -continually and methodically jockeyed by the fruit ring of Buenos Aires. - -The worthies composing this ring were low-class, ignorant men, who -could only grasp the possibilities of monopoly and market rigging on a -very small scale. Their simple method was to put only a certain limited -quantity of fruit each week on the retail markets of the Federal Capital -and to charge exorbitant prices therefor. To the poor, three-quarter -Indian, ignorant people of the islands of the Paraná they said that -Buenos Aires did not care much for peaches, and so they only went there -once a week or so to fetch a few, at miserable prices, for market. The -rest of huge crops were left to rot on the trees. San Juan (and Mendoza) -were evidently given to understand that a similar situation existed in -regard to grapes. - -How this could have been so is hard to understand, except on the ground -of extreme apathy on the part of the Provinces concerned, for lots of -vineyard owners live at least half the year in Buenos Aires, and could -have told of the scarcity and high price of fruit in that city. - -However this may have been, the fact remained that so many kilos of -table-grapes, and no more, went down to Buenos Aires in specially -constructed trucks placed on the B.A.P. trains three days per week. Until -the General Manager, Mr. J. A. Goudge, decided to act in the better -interests of the Provinces concerned and, incidentally, also in those of -his company, by running grape trains six days a week. - -He thought, perhaps, that the Buenos Aires fruit merchants would call at -his offices with illuminated testimonials. If he did so he was entirely -mistaken. They did call, but it was to curse not bless. He would ruin -them all, they said; they had comfortably arranged for such and such -supplies of grapes, but more would upset their plans and businesses -completely! They left Mr. Goudge unconvinced. So much so, indeed, that -considering the menace of the ring to boycott his new trains, he hit -on the simple but adequate expedient of running three grape trains per -week from San Juan, non-stopping at Mendoza, and three starting from -the latter place. San Juan needed its three trains, so did Mendoza, and -therefore no one could boycott either service. Result, the arrival at -Buenos Aires of six grape trains per week. The ring soon accommodated -itself to the extra supply and went on robbing the busy, light-hearted -Porteños (as people born in Buenos Aires are called) till the continued -efforts of a paternally wise Municipality at last, after a long and -bitter struggle, crushed the power of all the food rings in that formerly -ring-ridden city. - -This little piece of economic history is here intended to show the depths -of somnolence and blindness to their own interests in which the grape -growers of San Juan and Mendoza reposed till, so to speak, only the other -day. - -San Juan is capable of producing good quality cotton and tobacco. Its -general climate is warm, hot in summer, and in parts very dry; though the -humidity of the soil and atmosphere of the chief vine areas are greater -than in those of Mendoza. Hence the relative general superiority and -freedom from insect pests of the Mendoza vineyards. - -The city of San Juan is Colonial in almost all its aspects, and its -public and private gardens, filled with mingled tropical and temperate -zone trees, shrubs and flowers, exhale the lazy atmosphere of days the -memory of which is so constantly recurrent in all distant Argentine -towns. Sleepy hollow; maybe, but its charm! A charm which will not nor -can ever be “reconstructed,” try all those of us who are afflicted with -unhappy artistic temperaments, never so hard. But that charm is still in -San Juan, in Misiones (the one-time “Jesuit Empire”), Salta and Jujuy; in -spite of new Government and Municipal Buildings, electric light and trams. - -Later, we will go to the Falls of Iguazú, greater and more magnificent -than Niagara or the Victoria Falls. These wonderful Falls are in the -great up-to-date, go-ahead Argentine Republic. What proportion of our -“Man-in-the-street” has ever heard of them? And how many good intelligent -inhabitants of Buenos Aires have any clear idea of what they are really -like? - - -NATIONAL TERRITORIES - - -THE PAMPA CENTRAL - -The name of the Pampa is also redolent of romance; of memories of vast -herds of wild cattle and horses, picturesque gauchos and raiding Indians; -but the PAMPA CENTRAL of to-day is a great and ever-growing cereal area, -soon, no doubt, to become in its own right the fifteenth Province of the -Republic. A Province probably destined to outstrip rapidly many of its -older compeers in the race for wealth and very modern in its utilitarian -progressiveness. - -Its superficial area is approximately equal to that of Mendoza, and -though as yet it lacks population, that will come to it sooner than to -many other parts of the Republic, since it already grows much more -than double as much wheat as all the rest of the Republic put together, -after exception made of the Provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fé and -Córdoba, and more than double as much linseed after exception made of -the Provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fé, Córdoba and Entre Rios. It -also produces more maize than any Province or other Territory with the -exception of the last-mentioned four. - -Its development has been the most rapid of any part of quick-moving -Argentina. No just comparison of progress can be made with Uruguay; the -conditions under which the latter country has until so recently struggled -having been adverse to rapidity of material development, whereas the -Pampa Central was freed from its only, though great, disturbing element, -nomadic hordes of native Indians, as long ago as 1884. - -This Territory is bounded on the North by the Provinces of Mendoza, San -Luis and Córdoba, on the West by Mendoza and the National Territory of -Neuquen, on the South by the National Territory of Rio Negro, and on the -East by the Province of Buenos Aires. - -Some parts of the Pampa Central are hilly and wooded and, as in some -parts of the Province of Buenos Aires, ever-moving sand-hills vary the -monotony of other portions of its surface, but the greater part of it is -the continuation of a vast plain, begun in the Province of Buenos Aires, -the PAMPA of the Indians, from which it takes its name. It is, in fact, -the Central Pampa; the Eastern being in the Province of Buenos Aires and -the Southern extending into Patagonia. - -Though the Pampa Central boasts only two great rivers, the Rio Colorado -and the Rio Negro, the latter of which forms its southern boundary, it -has many both fresh-water and saline lakes, and water is seldom to seek -far from its surface. - -The chief products of the Pampa Central are wheat, linseed, maize and -oats, but with the growth of its alfalfa fields and the planting of good -grasses in lieu of the native hard pasturage, it has also become a great -centre of the Live Stock fattening industry, especially during the winter -months. - -The sandy, salty soil of much of this territory, with water near the -surface, provides, as has been said of similar tracts elsewhere, just the -conditions most favourable to lucerne; while in other parts the soil is -extremely rich in humus. - -Three of the great railway systems serve the Pampa Central; viz. the -Buenos Aires Western, the Buenos Aires Pacific, and the Buenos Aires -Great Southern, carrying its produce to the ports of both Buenos Aires -and Bahia Blanca. - -Santa Rosa de Toay is the Capital of this Territory; a purely commercial -town which by its rapidly grown importance supplanted the old Capital, -General Acha. - -The Pampa Central has also numerous other active centres of the cereal -trade and general commerce. - -On the question of its becoming a Province of the Republic there is -considerable local difference of opinion; a good many of its business men -holding that honour dear at the price of having to maintain a Provincial -Congress and various Ministries and the rest of the appanages of -autonomy. In this they are right. Direct National Government is certainly -the cheapest and it is also very far from being the worst. - -The Pampa Central now exports large quantities of high-class wool and -hides. It also has some copper mines, the present output of which, -however, is not of great importance. - -This territory would already, no doubt, have been much more populous -than it is had it not been the scene of one of the most glaring of the -labour-exploiting scandals referred to elsewhere in these pages. - -Here the cases were sufficiently numerous and contemporaneous to render -a menace of serious disturbance possible to and partially effective -by people who had been cajoled into developing virgin land only to be -threatened with expulsion (as soon as that work had been done and before -they had been able to derive any profit from it) by owners who only -revealed their existence at what seemed to them the propitious moment for -their appearance on the scene of other people’s labours. Compromises were -arrived at by which the farmers consented to pay rent for their holdings, -but the scandal undoubtedly kept many others away from the Territory, -and even now an evil result of it continues in the shape of almost every -tenant being obviously only anxious to get the most he can out of the -land while it is his to work. Few tenant farmers in the Pampa spend much -money in buildings or other improvements. - -The Pampa Central is a crying case for the adoption and insistence by -the National Government on the real practical working out of a true -colonization policy. A policy by which the small farmer could obtain the -indisputable freehold of land which he develops and on which he lives, be -he Argentine or foreigner. - -In all else the foreigner actually enjoys under the Constitution the same -privileges (except eligibility for high Government office, etc.) as a -born Argentine. But land! It must go hard with an Argentine ere he part -with his ultimate rights in that. Yet, I repeat, he must make up his mind -to do so on a large scale or he will find his whole progress arrested as -surely as if the Antarctic zone had suddenly extended its icy influence -over half of his Republic. If he will not give them land the class of -colonist he most needs—the real _settler_—will continue to give the -country a wide berth and its output must remain stationary at the point -at which it fully occupies all available labour. - - -NEUQUEN - -This is one of the least generally known parts of Argentina. Misiones -figures in the history of the Spanish Conquest and that of the Jesuit -Missionaries,[30] from which it takes its present name; the Territory -of the Rio Negro has of late years become prominent by reason of -great schemes of irrigation (these, however, also affect the Eastern -portions of Neuquen); Chubut came into notice in connection with the not -over-successful establishment of a Welsh colony; the Chaco is vaguely -associated in the general mind with Indian Reservations and occasional -real or reported disturbances caused by the aborigines confined therein; -but the Territories of Santa Cruz, Formosa, Los Andes and Neuquen are -still little more than geographical expressions to even the vast majority -of the inhabitants of the rest of the Republic. - -A principal cause of this is that most of the inhabitants of Neuquen are -to be found on the Western and most distant side of it (in which the most -fertile, and almost the only really fertile parts of it, until irrigation -is an accomplished fact, are situated) and because they not only do all -their trading with Chile, but, to all intents and purposes, are Chileans. - -It is quicker and easier to get backward and forward through well-known -Andine passes between Neuquen and Chile than to accomplish the journey -between the rail-head at Senillosa, a little to the West of the township -of Neuquen, and the productive and well-watered Andine valleys. The -Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway, which serves this Territory, now, -however, has under construction an extension of the Neuquen line to far -up the Andes; from whence it is intended to connect with the Chilean -Railway system. - -Therefore the richest parts of Neuquen are as yet practically Chilean -colonies; from which cattle and agricultural produce find their way, some -paying and much contriving to escape payment of duty to the neighbouring -Republic, which in return sends such manufactured articles as the -colonist’s somewhat humble needs demand. - -[Illustration: VIEWS ON LAKE NAHUEL HUAPÍ, ARGENTINE NATIONAL TERRITORY -OF NEUQUEN] - -This Territory is bounded on the North by the Province of Mendoza, on -the West by Chile, on the South by the Territory of the Rio Negro, and on -the East by the Territory of the Pampa Central. - -Neuquen, though Argentina at large knows little of it, grows more -wheat than any other National Territory, except the Pampa Central, and -more alfalfa than any except the last named and the Territory of the -Rio Negro. It also sends small quantities of potatoes and other table -vegetables to Chile. Its chief exports to that country consist of cattle -and sheep on the hoof. - -The whole of the Andine side of Neuquen is extremely picturesque, and -abounds in fertile valleys well watered by mountain streams. These -streams, after their arrival at the foot of the Andine range, form a -network of ultimate tributaries of the great rivers Colorado and Negro; -after having formed a whole system of lakes of which Nahuel Huapí is the -largest. The scenery of this lake, with the great snow-covered volcanic -mountain TRONADOR (the Thunderer) on its Southern end, is Scandinavian -in its tree-clad magnificence. The superficial area of this lake is some -1000 square miles and its depth in some parts is over 700 feet. - -On one of its islands, Victoria, the enormously wealthy Argentine family -of Anchorena have founded a colony to work its wealth of virgin timber, -on a 99 years’ lease from the National Government. - -A number of small steam and sailing boats ply on this lake, gathering the -wood, hides and other produce of the farms on its borders and bringing to -the farmers their necessary supplies. - -Neuquen is credited with alluvial goldfields and has some copper. Its -mineral wealth is as yet, however, really unascertained; the prospecting -and tentative exploitation of it having been up to the present only done -by syndicates or small companies whose resources have been too limited -for the tasks they have set themselves in, from the point of view of -transport, such inaccessible regions. - -The Western and South-Western parts of this Territory are rich in timber, -and its Eastern plains should, with irrigation, repeat the prosperous -history of the Pampa Central. - -It has many hot and other mineral springs, the medicinal and other -virtues of which are already known in Chile; from which country they -attract many sufferers from rheumatism and stomachic and other ailments. - -In dealing with all the yet little known outlying parts of the vast -Argentine Republic one is apt to become wearisomely tautological in -one’s endeavours to give some true idea of their enormous latent natural -wealth. Yet if one set out, ever so modestly, to bring some conception of -them home to the Northern Hemisphere, one must tell the truth even at the -risk of reiteration. And the truth is that for the future wealth of all -these regions there is only one word, INCALCULABLE. - -The Territories of Neuquen and the Rio Negro will soon have irrigation on -a vast scale and of most modern design. This work is being carried out -for the National Government by the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway -Company and is already far advanced. - -The virgin soil of the plains of these Territories is almost incredibly -rich in humus and alluvial deposit; and they have a wealthy Railway -Company ready to afford all necessary means of transport to deep-water -ports which nature has already provided on the Atlantic Ocean at, -comparatively, no great distance from any of, and in many instances close -to, what will be their chief centres of agricultural production (in the -widest sense of that term). - - -RIO NEGRO - -[Illustration: HEAD PORTION OF THE RIO NEGRO (ARGENTINA) GREAT IRRIGATION -AND CURRENT CONTROL WORKS] - -The most important of the general observations applicable to this -Territory have already been made immediately above; remains in their -connection only to be said that the Northern side of the valley of -the Rio Negro itself contains some of the naturally richest soil to be -found anywhere in the Republic. Anyone armed with a watering-pot can -grow any temperate-zone crop, fruit or plant and be astounded by the -brobdingnagian proportions of its yield, accomplished in a space of time -suggestive of Jack’s Beanstalk. - -And this anywhere in the midst of what now is an arid desert, on which -the only vegetation is sparse, stunted, scrubby, useless bush. - -The reasons for this are that these eastern regions of the South have -practically no rainfall at all and that all the water running from the -Andes to the Sea has already found its way, farther west, into one or -other of the great Rivers Colorado and Negro. - -The huge irrigation scheme now being carried out will utilize an enormous -natural hollow formerly known as the CUENCA VIDAL, now rechristened -Lago Pellegrini (after a once prominent Argentine statesman) as a -natural storage reservoir. The surplus water from the lake and river -system, which makes a network over the whole of the western part of the -territories of Neuquen and the Rio Negro, at the base of the Andes, will -be utilized for the irrigation of their eastern plains. This system is -also destined to serve another necessary purpose: namely, to regulate the -flow of the Rio Negro. - -This is very necessary indeed; for this river, swollen by the melting -of Andine snow and ice, which has in some years taken place in an -exceptional degree, comes down suddenly with overpowering violence, -headed by what is like a huge tidal wave, and sweeps everything within -miles of its normal, deep-cut, banks before it. - -Several times during the past fifty years have settlers been tempted by -the rich alluvial soil, brought down by centuries of just such floodings, -to establish themselves near enough to the actual river to irrigate by -some one or other rough lift system, and remained there year in year -out, in the false security enjoyed by peasants on the slopes of a -volcano, till one day a thunderous roar has been the only warning of the -immediate approach of a torrential flood. Lucky the man who could catch -and mount his horse in time to gallop away and thus save his life. All -the rest, cattle, house and crops, were swept away in a second by the -great head wave and following floods of the river suddenly swollen by the -simultaneous overflowing of its innumerable tributary lakes. - -Now all this will be guarded against, and, incidentally, the Rio Negro -may be rendered really navigable for a very considerable distance by -other engineering works for the removal and control of its bar. - -However, and when, this last may be, there can be no doubt about the -magic change that the first partial irrigation of these present desert -plains will quickly create. Trees will soon grow on the irrigated -portions, and these trees and other vegetation will arrest the clouds -which now fly on unheedingly to the superior attractions of the Andes or -the southern hills of the Province of Buenos Aires. The very southernmost -portion of that Province is now in the same sad case as the rest of the -valley of the Rio Negro, of which it forms a part. - -As the result, smiling verdure will replace arid desert; in a short -space of time, because of the natural fertility of the soil on which the -transformation will take place. - -Already two dotted lines on the railway map, one between Bahia Blanca -and Carmen de Patagones, near the mouth of the Rio Negro, and the other -branching from it to San Blas, show where the Buenos Aires Pacific -Railway intends to run its first two lines through the southernmost strip -of the Province of Buenos Aires which lies between the Rios Colorado -and Negro, and other two dotted lines, one running southwards from the -township of Rio Colorado to the bay of San Antonio, in the San Matias -Gulf, and the other from the centre of the first to a junction, near -Choele Choel, with the main line to Neuquen, show the first intentions -of the Buenos Aires Great Southern line towards that portion of the -valley of the Rio Negro which falls within its agreed sphere of influence. - -In agreeing to a division between them of the productive and -prospectively productive areas of the southern parts of the Republic, -these two great Railway Companies not only removed from their own paths -the disastrous temptation to cut each other’s throats by tariff war, but -also to a considerable extent precluded profitable competition by outside -enterprise. - -The National Government has now a line running from the port of -San Antonio running East and West right across the Territory. The -construction of this line will soon reach Lake Nahuel Huapí. - -San Blas deserves special mention as the probable future chief port of -the Rio Negro valley. On a long inlet of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth -of which is a large projecting island and having deep water right up to -its shores, San Blas has been described by high British authority to be -the finest natural port, after Rio de Janeiro, on the Atlantic coast, -both for commercial and strategic purposes. - -It formed part of a concession made many years ago by the National -Government to the late Mr. E. T. Mulhall, the Editor and, with his -brother, Mr. Michael Mulhall, the eminent statistician of his time, joint -founder of _The Buenos Aires Standard_, in recognition of services done -for the development of the Republic; which in those days of its obscurity -and distress was much aided towards a better and truer knowledge of -its possibilities in Europe by the efforts of what now is the oldest -established newspaper in America. _The Standard_ is printed, as it always -has been, in the English language. - -The Rio Negro Territory already grows a good deal of wheat and oats and -has the largest area under alfalfa of any National Territory except the -Pampa Central; it also has some vineyards and many European fruit trees -grow in the fertile valleys at the foot of the Andes. - -The minerals of this Territory are as yet an almost unknown quantity, -except some copper and salt. Petroleum has also been found at Bariloche, -but its commercial value is not fully ascertained. - -The climate of the Rio Negro is temperate and, as has been indicated, for -the most part very dry. One disadvantage to agriculture in the flat parts -of these southern Territories is the furious winds which frequently sweep -over them. The force of these will, it is reasonably hoped, be broken by -trees in the days to come. - -This reminds one of the tragi-comic history of the contemplated -exploitation of certain great salt marshes situate not very distant from -San Blas. - -The brine from these was to be, and indeed on a great inaugural occasion -was, run through pipes into immense shallow basins, where it was to lie -until its moisture had been evaporated by the sun and wind. Afterwards -the salt was to be shipped at the port of San Blas to Buenos Aires or -elsewhere. - -All seemed very well with this plan. The brine was duly accumulated in -the drying basins, the sun shone fiercely on it—and, then, the wind -blew and blew. So hard that it emptied the basins and distributed the -brine they had contained over the rest of the Universe. Thus was a good -scheme brought to naught by the miscalculations of its initiators. These, -however, were wealthy enough to take the matter in good part. Indeed, it -was from one of them that the present writer had the story. Still there -is plenty of good salt in the Territory. - -The Rio Negro has as yet only townships of rough-and-ready architecture, -the centres of its nascent commerce. Viedma, its capital, is in a fertile -tract of land at the mouth of the Rio Negro; it was, however, almost -completely destroyed by a great flood in 1899. Its communication with -the Federal Capital is maintained by the steamers which call at Carmen de -Patagones, on the opposite bank of the river, and by ferry thereto and -coach to the head of the above-mentioned new line of the Buenos Aires -Pacific Railway which already reaches half-way between it and Bahia -Blanca. The completion of this line will greatly affect Viedma for the -better, while the regulation of the current of the Rio Negro will protect -it from repeated destruction by flood. This Territory has a fair stock of -sheep, but few cattle. - - -CHUBUT - -Chubut has struck oil, literally. Petroleum was discovered there only a -few years ago (1907), and since the first discovery many more wells have -been sunk in greater or less proximity to the first find in the district -of Comodoro Rivadavia, situate almost on the southern boundary of this -Territory and on the Gulf of San Jorge. On this gulf of the Atlantic -Ocean, the new oil-fields enjoy an admirable commercial situation. -Remains only to prove fully their commercial value; of which the great -Argentine Railway Companies are evidently not yet fully persuaded as far -as fuel for their purposes is concerned, since they still use imported -coal. - -A long continuance of this present European war might, however, give -stimulus to experiment with Chubut petroleum, which evidently has some -value, even if it need more preparation for use than the North American -and European kinds. - -These oil-fields were, as has often been the case in such matters, -discovered by accident, but the discovery was made by the National -Hydrological Department in the course of a search for an available water -supply for the then new Comodoro Rivadavia port. - -On these fields claims have been allotted to Companies and private -individuals and a certain area has been reserved to itself by the -National Government. Most brilliant results of tests of all kinds are -announced, the Government line of railroad from the Rio Negro port of San -Antonio to Lake Nahuel Huapí “uses no other” (fuel); and yet, and yet, -Comodoro Rivadavia petroleum is slow to make history in the markets of -the world.[31] - -Still, time must be given for proof, especially in Chubut, the general -appearance of which Territory suggests that it was the last word of -creation, in one sense, after, of course, utterly desolate Tierra del -Fuego. It is only about two decades since the Argentine authorities -themselves seem to have grasped the idea that such a place did exist -in their dominions. It is only so long ago, anyhow, that the National -Government thought fit to send the first resident Government officials to -Chubut to look after whatever might need to be looked after there. Before -that, a small part of it was under the absolute control of a Colony of -Welsh people who first settled there in 1856-66. The rest of it was, -and to a great degree still is, almost exclusively inhabited by native -Patagonians. - -The capital of the Territory, Rawson, was founded by the Welsh colonists -at the place of their first landing on the South Atlantic coast. It has -twice been destroyed by the flooding of the Chubut River, at the mouth of -which it stood; but it has now been rebuilt more solidly than before and -on a site rather more out of harm’s way. - -The original Welsh colonists seem to have been a strangely puritanical -and narrow-minded set of persons to find themselves in such an -out-of-the-way corner of the earth as Chubut then was. So, however, it -may be observed, were certain other persons who landed in North America -a much longer while ago from a ship called the _Mayflower_. Anyhow, the -Welsh built and their descendants still maintain Protestant churches -and a stern religious spirit in their town of Rawson, a somewhat bigoted -spirit, be it added, since it forbade the inter-marriage of its flock -with anyone not of their own, or at any rate British, nationality; nor -would it, until very recently, permit their acceptance of the most -tempting offer to sell any part of the land within the colonised areas to -a “foreigner,” Argentine or otherwise. And this last restriction does not -seem to have been so much due to foresight of a future increase in land -value as to a simple objection to the admission of any stranger within -the fold. - -Time will change this no doubt, and change it as soon as Chubut begins -really to advance, but all that time has as yet done for the Welsh colony -appears to have been to sap the energy of its forefathers; the men who in -the face of discouragement and deaf official ears turned to their just -grievances, struggled on, themselves constructing irrigation canals, and -changed disaster into comparative prosperity. The Chubut “Welshman” of -to-day seems as lazy as his forebears were energetic. A fresh strain of -blood is possibly needed for his case. - -The superficial area of Chubut is very large. After the Territory of -Santa Cruz (to which would seem to have been allotted all that was left -over of the Republic except the Argentine half of Tierra del Fuego, after -the Government of the more populated parts had been arranged for) it is -the largest National Territory of Argentina, and much larger than any -Province except that of Buenos Aires. - -Its estimated population averages scarcely more than one per ten -square miles, so that there is plenty of elbow room in Chubut. With -a superficial area approximately equal to that of Italy, the total -estimated number of its inhabitants is but 31,000. - -However, no doubt there are good times coming for Chubut as elsewhere -in Argentina, though, petroleum and its general effects apart, there is -relatively little in Chubut to hasten their coming, except its fertile -Andine valleys. Sheep certainly thrive on its rough, scanty vegetation, -and seem to find just sufficient shelter on its wind-swept plains; but -Chubut has little rainfall and its available fresh waters are few and far -between at any practicable distance beneath the surface. It has only one -great river, the Chubut, from which it takes its name, and this runs very -shallow in the summer, while many of the lakes dry up altogether. In the -West, the Andine region, however, there is ample rainfall, and this is as -yet the only really productive part. - -Chubut grows and exports some alfalfa and sends some cattle to Chile, -but its chief product is wool. Its wheat, however, though still small in -quantity, fetches very good prices. A railway is projected to run East -and West across this Territory. It already reaches from Puerto Madryn to -Gainam, on the River Chubut, a little west of Rawson. - - -SANTA CRUZ - -This Territory is bounded on the North by Chubut, on the West and South -by Chile, and on the East by the Atlantic Ocean. - -Santa Cruz is not by any means so desolate, on the whole, as Chubut. It -is the land of the sheep, and its large, very large, estancias, either -on the Andine side of it or on the banks of its rivers, mostly belong to -British settlers, who have brought their own architecture, orchards and -gardens with them to this really out-of-the-way spot. Anyone weary of the -crowded world and its busy ways might live and die under the shadow of -the ever-lessening, as one gets south, heights of the Andine range, in -some snug, sheltered valley through which a rippling stream runs close to -where he would sit on a green sward in the shade of his own orchard. - -This is no fancy picture. As has been indicated elsewhere in these pages, -nothing is so English, temperature, vegetation, the very breeds of sheep -(Romeny March largely predominating), in America than some favoured spots -in Santa Cruz. Only the climate is different in being drier, the rain -mostly falling in blustering showers. - -There is, of course, a contrast when one emerges from among the Andine -valleys, rivers and lakes out on to the dry, wind-swept, desert-looking -plains. Still, even there one comes at times to oases, on the banks of -one or other of the several considerable rivers. Shelter from the furious -winds which seem to blow eternally over Patagonia is the one necessity -for man, beast and crops in Santa Cruz. Transport also is lacking. Even -the railway which the National Government has partly constructed to run -from Puerto Deseado, and for the rest has under advanced consideration, -is apparently to strike almost immediately Northwards up into Chubut; -leaving Santa Cruz, as it is now; almost a world of itself apart, as -far at least as communication with the rest of Argentina is concerned. -Its most fertile parts, like those of all these western and southern -territories, are much more get-at-able from Chile than from their -Atlantic sides. - -However, a cold-storage establishment has been built at Gallegos, the -chief port and the capital of this Territory; so that Santa Cruz may -become a centre of the frozen and chilled mutton industry instead of, as -formerly, exporting only wool and slaughtering sheep merely for their fat -and skins. It is a good sheep country in the regions at all suitable for -grazing, since disease is extremely rare in, if not entirely absent from, -flocks reared in its cold dry climate. In respect of cattle and cereals -the outlook is not so promising. Still, one cannot have everything even -in Argentina. And one can grow wheat, oats and alfalfa, besides apples -and pears in Santa Cruz. - - -TIERRA DEL FUEGO - -First of all it may be said that there are no active volcanoes in Tierra -del Fuego nor have been within the memory of man. Mr. Paul Walle, in -his excellent work, already mentioned, _L’Argentine telle qu’elle est_, -suggests that its name may have been given it by early explorers who -observed burning on it grass fires lit by the natives for the purpose of -improving the growth of certain shrubs the leaves of which they use for -food. - -Be this as it may, the name “Fire Land,” as my friend the Government -official translator naively has it in the English edition of the -Monographs attached to the latest Argentine agricultural census, is -anything but a warm spot; as certain demagogues who long troubled the -industrial peace of Buenos Aires have shown that they are well aware. - -These people were at one time periodically deported for inciting to -commit or committing overt violence in connection with labour strikes. -They were mostly anarchists of the type which tyrannical Governments all -the world over persist in regarding as criminal. These men were put on -board boats bound for their native countries, the police of which were -telegraphically advised of their departure and intended destination. -Needless to say, the anarchists took good care to contrive to leave the -boat before she reached what was for them a danger zone. Usually they got -out at Montevideo and soon were back again at their old work of stirring -up strife in Buenos Aires. - -At last the National Government had enough of this procedure and Congress -passed a law whereby any person having been sentenced to deportation -is, on being subsequently found in the Republic, liable to a term of -penal servitude; and the fact that Tierra del Fuego would be the penal -settlement to which recalcitrant anarchists would be sent was duly -and insistently made public. This had a very beneficial effect for -the Government and peaceable citizens at large. Dangerous anarchists -thenceforth ceased to return to Argentina after deportation. They knew, -or at least had read or heard, what the climate of Tierra del Fuego -is; and that for people like them, used to fairly comfortable living, -confinement there most likely meant burial there also. - -Not quite half of this charming island, over which the winds blow -straight from the South Pole, belongs to Argentina and forms the -National Territory under discussion. The other half of it belongs to -Chile. Geologically most of this island is a prolongation of the Andes. -On the Atlantic side of its forest-clad hills are sloping plains, the -continuation of the Pampean formation. On these a peculiarly hardy breed -of sheep graze, finding some shelter in valleys and hollows, and give a -wool which fetches a good price in European markets. Grazing of a rough -kind does also maintain cattle and horses on the Northern parts of the -island. Fish and shell-fish of a multitude of kinds and good quality -abound on the coast and afford material for a profitable industry, as -also do the seal and whale fisheries, and penguins are hunted for their -oil. All these fisheries are supposed to be under Government supervision, -regulated by special laws; but, in fact, the practical difficulties of -adequate supervision result in an enormous amount of highly destructive -poaching. - -The official estimate of the total cultivated area of Argentine Tierra -del Fuego is 110 hectares, of which 90 are stated to be planted with -potatoes and other table vegetables. The number of sheep is given by the -same authority (Señor Emilio Lahitte, Director of the Department of Rural -Economy and Statistics in the National Ministry of Agriculture) as over -2,500,000 and cattle at about 15,000. - -The Roman Catholic Silesian Brothers have a mission, schools and an -estancia on the island; and a Protestant clergyman, the late Mr. Bridges, -during his lifetime did a great deal towards civilizing and bettering the -condition of the native Indians and also kept a self-supporting refuge -home for the victims of the shipwrecks of small craft which are still too -numerous on this wild storm-beaten coast. This good work is now being -carried on by his son, the first child of European parentage born in -Tierra del Fuego. - -Ushuaia, the Capital, is chiefly notable for the penal gaol above alluded -to. Formerly convicts were kept, but not often for long before death -overtook them, on an island which forms the very southernmost point of -South America. It is a terribly cold, damp region where rain falls on -an average 280 days in the year. On consideration, perhaps it is the -reputation of this place which has so effectually damped the ardour of -deported anarchists; as the Ushuaia gaol is a modern structure, said -to be furnished with all the latest requirements for the well-being -of prisoners. Still, even it, in Tierra del Fuego, can provide but -uncomfortably cold lodging. - -Tierra del Fuego is not lonely for it has many fishing ports and all -navigation must pass it on the way through the Magellan Straits. For all -that, one cannot but wonder why any but prisoners and prison and other -officials go there (except, of course, fishermen and the adventurous -spirits who are ever hunting in every accessible nook and cranny of -it for alluvial gold) when there are so many much pleasanter and more -profitable places, with, between them, all varieties of climates to -choose from in the wide latitudes of the River Plate Republics. _De -gustibus_, etc., one must suppose—and yield obedience to the final words -of the saying. - - -MISIONES - -If one has sufficient Spanish, one should read Leopoldo Lugones’ _Imperio -Jesuitico_, and also the same author’s _Guerras Gauchas_, before going to -Misiones. If not, one should go there all the same. - -This territory is bounded on the North-East and South by Brazil, and on -the West by Paraguay and the Province of Corrientes. It is sandwiched in -between the rivers Paraná and Uruguay, but a very much smaller Paraná and -Uruguay than we have seen further south. - -Many parts of Argentina have been described as “The Garden of the -Republic,” and many as its most picturesque region, but the latter -description can surely only truthfully apply to Misiones. If not -sufficiently trim and cultivated to be called a garden, its superlative -beauty and its crowning marvel the Iguazú Falls must leave even the most -callous visitor pleasurably astounded; and not a little awestruck with -its ruins and reminiscences of the dawn of South American civilization, -which was heralded in these parts by the Jesuit Fathers. These -Missionaries made most practical Christians of the surrounding tribes; -teaching them the arts of architecture, carpentry, and such-like; not -forgetting humility and obedience. - -If one wants proof of all this one need but look on the ruins of -monastery and church now half hidden amid an ever-encroaching luxuriant -vegetation. - -The descendants of those same Indians can hardly be got to do as much -work in a lifetime now as they must have done in a week under the mild -but very firm rule of the Jesuit Fathers. Eventually, the power these -Missionaries had attained over the surrounding tribes became such as to -label them dangerous to even Catholic Spain; and an order was given, and -enforced, for their expulsion. They were scattered: and but the ruins of -their solid, sculptured masonry, gardens and orange and olive groves now -mark the places where once white-clad natives kept fast and feast days -with as much solemn orderliness as ever so many timid monastic novices -could do. - -Nowadays, one can get from Buenos Aires to Misiones either by rail -(North-East Argentine Railway) or by the Mihanovich company’s boats. Both -ways furnish delightful travelling through interesting and picturesque -country, though for pure scenery the river way is the best. The best of -all, however, is to go up by rail and down again by boat and to see all -there is, and there is a very great deal worth seeing, to be seen. - -By either route one can stop at Posadas, the capital, evidently from its -name an ancient resting-place for travellers (Posada being Spanish for an -inn). - -But people who are bent on reaching San Ignacio, a small river port, or -rather clearance on the Upper Paraná, near which are the chief of the -ruined Jesuit Missions, and the Iguazú Falls will probably leave Posadas -for closer inspection if need be, on the return journey. - -Once again we board a Mihanovich boat and go up a seeming river of -fairyland. - -An adequate description of the majestic splendour and beauty of the -Iguazú Falls is far beyond the pen of the present writer. One is -gradually prepared for the great sight by a series of smaller cascades -and cataracts of other converging rivers which one passes on the way to -where the Iguazú hurls its large volume of water in downward jumps or -in one horseshoe-shaped, thundering, frothy mass. Where it falls one is -face to face with the greatest waterfalls in the whole world,[32] as the -following comparative figures will show: - - Volume cubic - per minute.[33] Breadth. Height. - - Iguazú 28,000 ft. 13,133 ft. 196 to 220 ft. - Victoria (S. Africa) 18,000 ft. 5,580 ft. 350 to 360 ft. - Niagara 18,000 ft. 5,249 ft. 150 to 164 ft. - -The only point of advantage of the Victoria Falls is their height. - -The present chief source of wealth in Misiones is the various kinds of -timber and valuable cabinet-maker’s woods found in its virgin forests. -One day Misiones will doubtless export its rosewood and other beautiful -and valuable products of its forests, which also produce pine and other -building timber of superior quality to that which Argentina now imports -from Europe. Transport of timber is effected by means of tying it into -huge rafts which go down river as far as Corrientes. The timber supply -of Misiones will long continue rich, since the tendency of the forest is -ever to encroach on the surrounding land. - -A growing industry on which great expectations are based is the -cultivation of the Ilex Paraguayensis, or mate shrub. The consumption of -mate or Paraguayan tea, as it is sometimes called in Europe, is enormous -throughout both of the River Plate Republics, which now import very large -quantities annually from Paraguay and Brazil, while no sort of good -reason seems to exist why the northern districts of Argentina should not -grow sufficient to meet the home consumption. - -The Jesuits evidently appreciated and cultivated this shrub, but they had -the secret of growing it from seed, a secret the true re-discovery of -which by modern horticulturists is not yet quite proved.[34] - -Up till quite recently all Misiones mate yerba has been gathered from -the abundant virgin growth of the shrub. Once Misiones produced larger -quantities of sugar than it does now; and there is no reason why this -industry should not revive from the almost total paralysis which it at -present suffers; nor why one day the wine output of Misiones should not -be improved in both quality and quantity. - -Maize naturally grows well (it yields in six months) in Misiones; which -Territory with the general warmth of its climate, sufficient rainfall and -heavy dews, is most favourable to tropical and subtropical vegetation. -Oranges, of course, bananas, pineapples, and guavas grow practically, -if not quite, wild and ground nuts and the castor-oil plant are among -its many valuable products. The whole of Misiones is well watered by a -network of very numerous streams, and if its atmosphere by day is rather -reminiscent of a hothouse, the nights are usually cool and refreshing. - -The unevenness of its surface, while precluding much idea of extensive -cultivation, is admirably suited for the shelter and care of the best -natural produce of this exotically picturesque region. - -Misiones has quarries of valuable granite at San Ignacio; close to the -river as if they had been placed there for facility of transport. -These quarries furnished the Jesuits with the material for their famous -buildings; though that they persuaded the natives, who before their -coming had little ambition for anything save inter-tribal warfare, -to quarry, transport and build up solid masonry is nothing short of -marvellous. Truly Jesuit “influence” was a very real and concrete thing -in the Misiones of those days. - -One must not forget tobacco, or cotton, as other of Misiones’ hitherto -greatly neglected industries. - -One cannot insist too much upon the fact that no one who does not himself -visit the River Plate Republics in all their length and breadth can -really grasp even a faint idea of their diversified latent wealth. One is -apt to suppose that because Misiones, for instance, does not produce much -tobacco or sugar,[35] there is some pretty solid obstacle at the bottom -of its relative non-productiveness. People naturally think, “Well, it’s -all very well to chant dithyrambics of the marvellous might be’s of what -evidently are your pet countries, but why does all this wonderful wealth -of them continue latent, why does not one see, or at least hear, a great -deal more about it, if all you say is true?” - -The reply for this is, “Give me sufficient capital and sufficient -suitable labour (especially the latter) and I will very speedily prove my -every word.” - -The River Plate Republics have not yet (again I say it) sufficient -population to exploit even a part of their possible cereal industry, -the one which naturally gets first attention because it combines the -attractions of rich profit and comparatively little care or labour, under -the almost primitive conditions under which most of it is still carried -on. - -When there is a surplus of labour after grain and cattle have been duly -provided for, all sorts of other things will be attended to. But it is -no good expecting ordinary people, without the many more or less occult -advantages of early Jesuit Fathers, to get any constantly careful work, -such as cotton, tobacco and many other valuable crops require, out of -native South American Indians. They can’t or won’t do it, anyway, they -don’t; and it is probably easier to rediscover how to grow mate yerba -from seed than how to rediscipline for practical purposes the race which -built and gardened in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. - -The North Argentine Railway has in project a branch from its Santo -Tomé-Posadas line to run through the centre of Misiones to the North-West -corner where the frontiers of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay join. - - -FORMOSA - -This, the northernmost of the Argentine National Territories, does not -merit the superlative of its name; especially it does not do so when -compared with Misiones. Geographically and in its general superficial -characteristics Formosa is a continuation of the Chaco, by which it is -bounded on the South. On the North and East it is bounded by Paraguay -except at its South-Eastern corner, where its boundary is the river -Paraguay, with the Province of Corrientes on the other bank. On the West -it is bounded by the Province of Salta. - -Much of Formosa is almost unknown land as far as really scientific -exploration is concerned; and some tribes of its TOBA Indians still -appear to have an inconveniently violent dislike of official explorers, -several having been murdered by natives in recent times. - -The real exploration of the interior of Formosa is done by squatters -who, when turned off one holding, move on to a new one further from -the civilisation which, such as it is, is mostly to be found on the -River Paraguay, or near to it on the banks of its chief affluents, the -Pilcolmayo (which forms the Northern boundary between this territory and -Paraguay) and the Bermejo. The clearance of the rocks, sunken logs and -masses of vegetation from the beds of these rivers as a preliminary to -the carrying out of other works for the purpose of making them navigable -is under consideration by the National Government, which also proposes to -build a railway line from Embarcación, in the Province of Salta, across -the centre, almost, of Formosa, in a South-Easterly direction, to its -capital, a town of the same name and, doubtless, the first to bear it. At -present Formosa has no railroad at all. - -This Territory has several other considerable rivers and streams all -running nearly parallel to one another and to the Pilcolmayo and Bermejo, -in South-Easterly direction, to the River Paraguay. - -Almost the whole of its surface is a vast plain gently inclined; its -South-Eastern part is largely covered with forests and dotted with many -shallow swamp-like lakes—“Esteros,” as they are called. - -The forests are very rich in various valuable woods; of which the chief -object of present commerce is the QUEBRACHO, which here, as elsewhere -in the Republic, is found in two varieties, the red and the white. The -former is the richest in tannin. Quebracho extract (for tanning purposes) -will be seen to figure prominently in the tables relating to Argentine -exports.[36] Quebracho logs are in constant demand for railway sleepers. - -The wide glades and open spaces in the forest afford excellent pasturage, -and are all eminently suitable for agriculture. Some parts of this -territory are destined to become rich alfalfa fields, and already -relatively considerable areas are under this forage. There is plenty of -salt, sandy soil with water near the surface. Maize also, on account of -climatic conditions and the nature of the soil in parts (where a rich -layer of humus is superimposed on a moist, sandy subsoil), should form a -valuable crop in this Territory. - -Formosa, with its Northern situation and therefore almost tropical -climate, has few sheep; but cattle, still of the native breed, thrive -well in many parts. - -Also, in Formosa, and in Misiones, a large proportion of traction -bullocks must be reckoned among the numerical value of their cattle. - -In Formosa the summer or rainy season lasts for about seven months of -the year; little or no rain falls in the winter or dry season—as in the -tropics. In the wet season many of the rivers overflow their banks and -such, likely, inundations should be taken into account by any would-be -purchaser of land in Formosa. - -He should also keep his eyes open for dangers other than floods; for -if scientific exploration cannot yet be said to have obtained any firm -grasp of Formosa, how much less can measurements and boundaries be -hoped to be in order. They are not so in most of this Territory, and a -purchasing settler might eventually find himself with little for his -trouble and money but the costs of a lawsuit forced upon him by some -owner of an historic grant made by a grateful Republic in bygone days to -the grandfather of such owner for distinguished service of one kind or -another. - -_Latifundíos_, these low-lying Argentine landowners are called; and it is -not too much to say, as has been indicated elsewhere in these pages, that -their existence is a pest and a menace to proper colonisation. - -Every such absentee landlord should be forced by law to declare himself -and his claims, and to furnish measurements and situation of the land, -the subject of the latter to be checked by the Government surveyors and -lawyers; and to do this within a fixed reasonable period from the date of -the passing of such laws. His claim to lapse absolutely _ipso facto_ in -default of his doing so. - -Then the National Government should proceed to allot fiscal lands to all -desirable comers, and afford these the aids to starting their farms and -plantations usual in other countries having unoccupied land awaiting -development, as still is by far the greater part of the territory of the -Argentine Republic. - -Every educated Argentine is just as well aware of all this as the writer -or you, the reader; but just think what a flutter in aristocratic -dovecotes on the mere suggestion of the putting in practice of such Laws -(they or drafts of them probably exist in the pigeon-holes of Government -House in Buenos Aires)! What a fluttering in those dovecotes there was a -few years ago when the discovery was made, and most imprudently revealed, -that vast tracts of land supposed to belong to the Nation had in fact -got, in one way or another, into the possession of private individuals. - -The then President, Dr. Figueroa Alcorta, declared vehemently (and caused -the declaration to be published far and wide) that whomsoever were found -to be responsible for such a scandalous state of things would be dealt -with without mercy, whoever he or they might be. - -That was all. - -The sentence was like those of the Queen of Hearts in _Alice in -Wonderland_. No one really ever was executed. Nor, as far as the public -ever knew, even called to account. Possibly someone was told not to do it -again; it must be hoped so. - -In Formosa, latent absentee landlord and squatter would almost appear to -work on a mutually beneficial, if tacit, understanding. The former does -not in the least mind his land being developed by the latter (there is -no foolish worry about such things as prescriptive rights) and generally -lets him be; until such time as he, the landlord, wants to occupy himself -or sell. - -Meanwhile the squatter has accumulated cattle and money by selling stock -(contraband, if possible, or covered by a few duty-paying animals) in -Paraguay, and need only move on a few leagues or so, when told to, with -his herds. His house and furniture are usually negligible quantities. - -Formosa does as much trade as the total of its general products (except -timber, which goes South) allows of, because Paraguay is generally too -much overrun by revolutionary, or momentarily constitutional, forces -to have much time or space free for industrial occupations. At the same -time Paraguay does manage to produce large quantities of tobacco and mate -yerba which Argentina takes, although, as has already been observed, her -own lands could perfectly well produce them, given suitable labour. - -As has been rather more than hinted at, the official Returns of Imports -and Exports as between Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil and Argentina give -but a faint idea of the actual trade between the last-named and her -northern neighbours; and the present writer would be much surprised to -learn that the upper reaches of the River Uruguay could tell no tales of -systematic smuggling between the two River Plate Republics, or the Andes -none of similar practices between Argentina and Chile. - -The fact is that adequate guard of these enormous and sparsely populated -lengths of upcountry frontier would cost more than the results of it -would pay for. And why make a fuss while such prime necessities of life -as mate and cigarettes are comparatively so cheap? - -Formosa produces tobacco and sugar; the latter, as in Misiones, being -chiefly used for the production of alcohol. - -A great deal of foreign capital is now invested in timber cutting and -exporting companies. Native labour is suitable for this work, but it is -desirable in the interests of the companies concerned that the native -overseers or gangers be controlled by whites conversant with native ways -and also having the gift of forest topography. - -This last consideration is suggested by the undoubted fact that many -a pile of logs has been solemnly measured up and the felling paid for -several times over by the white gentleman who has failed—in consequence -of a slight rearrangement of the pile, no doubt—to recognise them on -successive visits to glades and clearings which all look very much alike -except to particularly experienced eyes. - -Thus does the untutored Indian or half-caste sometimes laugh at -civilization. - -Formosa, although sparsely inhabited, boasts a large proportion of -pure whites of various nationalities among its settlers and the timber -companies’ employees. There are several Franciscan Mission Stations in -the Territory. - - * * * * * - -This hasty run over the Argentine Republic has stirred many pleasant -memories in the heart of the writer, and set him hoping that, perchance, -some one reader may be tempted to take passage to the River Plate; at -less cost than, and quite as luxuriously as, if he made his usual sojourn -on the Mediterranean Riviera. - -Would I could take him—an intelligently enthusiastic person he, of -course, would be—on a personally conducted tour of my own designing. - -We would go first to Buenos Aires, reserving the restful charm of -Montevideo for after our journeyings. Then down South; where I should -quite disabuse my gentle companion of any ideas he might have that the -owners of square miles of wheat and thousands of cattle live in top boots -and shirt sleeves in one-storied, corrugated-iron verandahed houses -in the foreground of threshing machines. I would get him invited—and -myself as well—to stay a day or two at an English estancia; the large, -well-appointed two or three storied red-brick house of which, surrounded -by lawns and spreading cedar trees, would make him rub his eyes several -times before he were convinced that he had sailed out of England. He -would surely find a house party from Buenos Aires or neighbouring—a wide -term meaning, probably, many leagues away—estancias in possession; all -the members of which would retain their old habits of dressing for dinner -and breakfasting off a choice of several hot dishes and a tempting array -of cold things on the sideboard. An English country house, in fact, with -hall and magazines and illustrated papers complete. - -Then we should make plans for the following, and, probably, many other -morrows; plans which would almost inevitably include a neighbourly race -meeting or polo match. - -Amid all this he could dree his own weird for as long as might please -him. I should not disturb any of his promised projects. - -But one day I should take him North again; and still further North, to -Córdoba, “The Learned City,” show him the Cathedral, the University and -its Library, and let him breathe the monastically mediæval atmosphere of -it all. And, outside the city, the wildness of cactus growth and gaucho -life. - -Back eastward to Rosario, merely to change train for Santa Fé, and -across the Uruguay to Paraná. From thence to Concórdia; where at least -one tranquil orange-scented morning must be spent before one crossed the -Province of Entre Rios to where the Argentine North-East Railway should -take us to Misiones. - -After San Ignacio, the Iguazú Falls and the trip thereto and therefrom -up and down the Upper Paraná, I should ask him if he ever wanted to go -anywhere else again? Whether he has ever even dreamed of anything so -beautiful? Then by river all the way back to Buenos Aires; and, one -night, across to Montevideo. There we would sit awhile in the evening and -listen to the band in the square where the little coloured lamps swing in -the fresh sea breeze; and bathe next morning and roll ourselves in the -hot dry sand of Pocitos or Ramirez. - -Then we would take railway trips in Uruguay. Over billowy pasturage and -through waves of wheat; not flat expanses such as those we shall have -seen on the Pampa, but seas of corn-covered, undulating ground. - -Then he could go back to Europe, if he liked. I should stay. - - -URUGUAY - -If a detailed sketch of each of the Departments of Uruguay be not given -here it is not because they are altogether uniform in their landscapes; -but rather because, apart from the hilly rockiness of some of the -northern parts, the scenery of Uruguay does repeat itself. While the -climatic differences are relatively slight in a country which barely -extends over, from the point of its extreme northern angle to its most -southerly point, five degrees of latitude; in comparison with those of -Argentina, which extends over thirty-five degrees. - -Uruguay, therefore, has no striking variety of climates; and except that -the surface of the Northern Provinces is more broken with jagged mountain -ranges and that in the neighbourhood of the River Uruguay and its -affluents the country is more thickly wooded, there is not much change -to be noted anywhere from its general character of an undulating grassy -plain, with here and there a mount, or clump of low wood and brushwood, -and an abundance of running streams. - -Its indigenous flora comprises a rich wealth of rosemary, acacia, myrtle, -laurel, mimosa, and the scarlet-flowered CEIBO; while its natural -pasturage is gay with red and white verbena and other brilliantly -coloured wild flowers. The best natural grasses are to be found in -the Departments of Soriano and Durazno and in parts of Paysandú and -Tacuarembó. That is to say where what is known as the “PAMPA MUD” of the -soil is mingled with calcareous and siliceous matter and contains less -aluminium, which last ingredient imparts cold and damp qualities. - -[Illustration: A TYPICAL SMALL “CAMP” TOWN (RIVERA, URUGUAY)] - -It should not be assumed from the above short general description that -the scenery of Uruguay is monotonously uninteresting. It is not; on the -contrary, it is often very beautiful indeed, with sudden and delightfully -surprising changes as the train speeds along. But these changes are on a -small scale, if one may so express oneself, compared with those which one -experiences when passing from one distant Argentine Province or National -Territory to another. - -Indeed, as a glance at the map will show, geographically, Uruguay and the -Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul can almost be considered as parts of -Argentina; as, politically, they once very nearly were. - -The real great division of the nature of the surface of Uruguay is -practically formed by the course of its Rio Negro; on each side of which -are vast rolling plains, the northern of which, however, are, as has been -said, traversed by ranges of indented rocky hills. - -The whole of Uruguay is subject to abrupt changes of temperature and -frequent strong winds of which the PAMPERO, from the South-West, is the -most violent. - -Generally, the climate is pleasantly mild. For while the summer suns -are hot, especially in the North, sea breezes and winds from the -snow-capped Andes modify the temperature. It is, however, from these -conflicting elements of sun and wind that Uruguay gets her quick changes -of temperature and frequent storms. The whole country is subject to -alternate overflowing of its rivers and drought. - -Uruguay is rich in table fruits. Grapes, oranges, lemons, apples, pears, -quinces, melons, passion-flower fruit, peaches, apricots, cherries, -medlars, figs, chestnuts, almonds and, in the North, olives, dates -and bananas, grow in abundance. The list of her flora also includes -sarsaparilla (very abundant), quinine, camomile and many other valuable -medicinal plants. Uruguayans have also given themselves the trouble to -produce relatively much larger quantities, and, generally speaking, -better qualities of ordinary table vegetables than have the, perhaps -busier, inhabitants of the larger Republic across the river; to which, -however, Uruguay daily sends large quantities of such produce. - -Uruguay has several large flour mills and exports flour, chiefly to -Brazil. - -Most of the soil consists of one composition or another of the Pampa mud -before alluded to. This mud is really ancient alluvial deposit. - -Of the latent mineral wealth of Uruguay there can be little doubt. The -Department of MINAS, as its name indicates, is one of the richest in -this respect. Gold, in quartz formation, silver, copper, iron, lead, -some coal, marble of various kinds, slate, rock crystal, agates, jasper, -graphite, alabaster, black limestone and other minerals of commercial -and industrial value are to be found in this Department and in other -parts of the Republic. Fine building limestone is found in the Department -of Maldonado. The Department of Colonia is rich in granite and other -building stone, as well as other minerals. Rocha, Soriano, San José, -Florida and Canelones are other Departments rich in mineral wealth. - -This wealth has, however, as yet been little exploited. The old trouble -here, as in Argentina, being that of insufficient labour to attend to -more than the primary industries of Live Stock and Cereal production. -Also the Uruguayan Mining Laws, though steps have recently been taken to -amend them, have hitherto proved but a poor protection for capital. - - _Note._—The wealth of the Argentine National Territories of - THE CHACO and LOS ANDES is, as to the former still practically - confined to the valuable forestal products, full mention of - which has been made elsewhere in these pages. The future of - Los Andes can only be concerned with the exploitation of its, - probably rich, mineral deposits; this Mountainous Territory - being so cold and arid as to be almost uninhabitable. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -AGRICULTURE - - -The figures representing the progress of Agriculture in the River Plate -Republics, especially in Argentina, which has had the advantage of -freedom from Civil War during by far the longer period, during the last -few decades are truly astounding. - -In 1875 the value of the principal Argentine Agricultural Exports was but -114,557 gold dollars; in 1913 the value of these exports was 307,520,854 -gold dollars. In 1892 the total of the cultivated areas of the Republic -was only 580,008 hectares; in 1912 there were 22,987,726 hectares under -cultivation, this figure not including the pasturage improved with -foreign grasses. The first ten kilometres of railway line in the River -Plate Territories were laid in Argentina in 1857, now the extent of lines -in that Republic is over 21,000 miles, and that in Uruguay over 1590 -miles, making a total for both Republics of over 22,500 miles, or rather -less than the total length (23,350 miles) of the lines in Great Britain. -And new lines and extensions are projected in all directions and will -prove profitable. - -It must not, however, be taken for granted by the above juxtaposition -that the railroad has been the whole and direct cause of agricultural -extension. That many other causes have been at work is evident since -River Plate agriculture and export flourished long before the railway -was dreamed of anywhere. During the early years of its life in the River -Plate Republics the railroad was busily enough occupied in the endeavour -to serve districts already under cultivation; and it is only in very -recent times that one of the great English Companies adopted the, even -then much criticized, policy of extensions to secure in advance a sphere -of future cultivation. It may be added that no adverse criticism of this -policy (but only approving admiration) came from anyone practically -capable of forming an opinion of the agricultural prospects on which it -was soundly based. - -Still, Argentine railway enterprise in general is conservative in that -it rather waits on than seeks to create a demand for its services; so -that the rule in these matters on the River Plate continues to be that -the railway very cautiously follows the lead of other progress and -enterprise, and much rich land in the more distant Provinces and National -Territories lies fallow waiting for the railway, while the railway is -waiting till actual production guarantees the immediate profit of new -lines at handsome rates. - -Time will solve this sort of deadlock as it does other things; but -to most people, other than railway directors, its existence seems to -indicate a lack of commercial courage and energy. They manage some of -these things, in some respects, better in the United States. - -At the same time it must be owned that the existing railway policy -protects the countries now under discussion from many of the greater -evils of local land booms and speculation in Town lots; which in early -North American days often left little but disillusionment as the share -of inexperienced speculators and paved the way for equally disastrous -railway competition. - -In Argentina and Uruguay, particularly in the former Republic, the -great Railway Companies form something really very like the _Imperium -in Imperio_ that the Argentines say they do. Their General Managers are -quite as much diplomatic Ministers Plenipotentiary as they are actual -Managers of railroads; and, consequently, require qualifications of -which the chiefs of even our greatest British systems have no need. The -work of a General Manager of a great River Plate railway system lies a -good deal at Government House and with the leading men and politicians -of the country. He must know how best to protect the vested interests -of his Company and to pave the way for new developments in competition -with newly arrived applicants and existing competitors. For such purposes -he must combine firmness, serenity in protest if need be, with urbanity -and the power to be all pleasant things to all men whose good-will is -or may possibly be of use to his Company. The slight diversion of a -projected new line is a small price to pay for the easy passage through -Congress of the scheme of a whole important extension. A scheme which may -menace the aspirations of an existing competitor or an expectant rival -concessionnaire; either of whom may also command some “influence.” - -All this, however, however true, is a digression from the question under -immediate discussion, namely, to what extent the railway has been a cause -or an effect of the spread of agriculture in the River Plate. The real -answer to this question appears to be that both the railway in these -countries and the agriculture have inter-aided and are inter-dependent on -one another in the inevitable development of a prosperity fore-ordained -by a prodigality of natural endowment. - -Comparing the figures representing the cultivable area of these Republics -with those relating to the parts already under cultivation, one can see -why extensive farming is only just now giving way to intensive systems -in those districts the situation of which, in relatively close proximity -to the great port of Buenos Aires, combined with the natural fertility -of their soil, has rendered them the most valuable of all the lands in -the Argentine and Uruguayan Republics. The capital valuation of these -lands is now so high, especially in the Province of Buenos Aires, that -all means must be adopted which will enhance their annual productivity. -In other parts it is often cheaper to put more land under cultivation -than to lay out capital in improved working of that already in hand. As -facilities for transport and the population grow, so will the need for -intensive farming, in gradually increasing complexity, be more and more -felt and complied with throughout both Republics. - -Contemporaneous with such advance will be the gradual development of -those products, other than wheat, linseed, maize and alfalfa (to which -the whole available agricultural energies of these countries have till -now been almost exclusively confined), for which the natural conditions -of one part or another of the two Republics are eminently favourable—such -as Cotton, Tobacco, Timber, Rice, Sugar and, perhaps, Coffee. - -To quote a pamphlet recently issued by the Argentine Government:— - - There are vast tracts of land available for the cultivation of - sugar cane. … With the investment of large amounts of money and - an increase in the area cultivated this industry will no doubt - in a few years be able to supply fully the demand and have a - surplus of 50 per cent over for exportation. - -This statement, notwithstanding the rather quaint English of the official -translator, has already nearly been proved true, and might have become -so in actual practice several years ago. To quote again from the same -pamphlet and with a similar endorsement of its statements:— - - In the extensive regions existing in Salta, Jujuy, the Chaco, - Formosa, Misiones, Corrientes and Tucumán (the last-named with - 300,000 hectares admirably adapted for sowing sugar cane) the - area cultivated will gradually increase. - -It should and certainly will do so at some future time. When, depends -chiefly, as do many, if not most, other agricultural developments on the -River Plate, on increase of population. - -In the meantime the Argentine National Ministry of Agriculture has done -much good work towards stimulating interest in the undoubtedly great -possibilities of cotton, tobacco and rice cultivation. The cultivation -of cotton is no new idea on the River Plate. It could hardly be so when -there are large districts so evidently and admirably adapted for this -crop. The reasons why several former well-meant attempts at cotton -growing in Argentina were unsuccessful were the difficulties of obtaining -and keeping adequate labour, and a too great reliance on the bounty of -nature unaided by much human science. Selection and just appreciation -of the time for gathering were matters which did not receive sufficient -attention, and a great obstacle certainly was the difficulty of obtaining -labour in sparsely populated districts, in which the necessities of life -are procurable by all with a minimum of effort. The natives fancied they -were being exploited if they did not get commercially impossible rates -of wages for what appeared to them extremely arduous and unwontedly -continuous and careful work. Work of the satisfactory execution of which, -moreover, their primitive mentality was not really capable. - -Even now River Plate cotton growing will need to be largely aided by -imported or colonist labour. Given that and due scientific management -and care, applied in the first place to the selection of the seed most -suitable to the soil and climate, there is no sort of reason why River -Plate cotton should not occupy a highly remunerative place in the world’s -markets, where cotton is always in increasingly large demand. - -Many districts in the Argentine Provinces of Corrientes, Santa Fé, -Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca and La Rioja and in the National Territories -of Misiones, Formosa and the Chaco are eminently suited for cotton -cultivation. - -It will be observed that Argentina alone is almost always here referred -to in connection with these secondary (as they still are) products of the -River Plate countries. The reason for this is that, while many parts of -Uruguay are equally well suited for their growth, the latter Republic is, -owing to her later continuance of civil disturbance, in a less advanced -condition than Argentina in regard to extensive development of the great -primary industries of cereal cultivation and stock breeding. - -Tentative and apparently successful cultivation of better classes of -tobacco has already been commenced in the Province of Buenos Aires and -official drying sheds have been erected in each of the Provinces of -Tucumán, Salta and Corrientes and the National Territory of Misiones. -These facilities should greatly stimulate the increase of production -and improvement of quality of the leaf in those, the most climatically -appropriate, districts. Even if they should not confer on the growers the -“moral and intellectual” benefits explicitly expected from them by the -aforementioned translator. - -As for rice, even if the question of export be reserved for future -consideration, there is an enormous local demand which could very well -and profitably be supplied locally. - -Experimental cultivation of this crop in large and suitably watered areas -of the Provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Rios and Córdoba has proved the -ease with which it could be grown in them. - -Another crop in universal demand in both Argentina and Uruguay is MATE, -or “Paraguayan Tea,” the leaf of the ILEX PARAGUAYENSIS. This shrub grows -wild in the Territory of Misiones and in the Republics of Paraguay and -Brazil; and Argentina and Uruguay import it from the latter countries -to annual values of several millions of gold dollars. The cultivation -of mate yerba only presents difficulty and risk of loss during the very -earliest periods of its growth; but study has now shown how to avoid -most, at any rate, of such risks, so that it has become an absurdity -that such an article of universal daily, indeed hourly, consumption in -both of the countries under consideration should not be grown by them -in districts so suited for the cultivation of this shrub that they have -become its home in a perfectly wild condition. - -Wherever one goes in Argentina and Uruguay the MATE (as the small gourd -in which the infusion of the dust-like YERBA—“herb”—is made, and from -which it is sucked up through a special tube called the “bombilla” from -its perforated, bulb-shaped end) is omnipresent and usually in working -evidence in the hands of one or other member of the household throughout -the livelong day. - -Mate is a stimulant of great sustaining and stomachic qualities; and its -use is not followed by the depression which follows excessive tea and -coffee drinking. A River Plate _peon_ will go from daybreak to midday, -riding or doing physically hard work the whole while, on nothing more -than a hunch of bread or a “biscuit” (a hard, dry maize-flour roll) and -a few small _mates_. With sugar, mate is very palatable and the taste -soon develops into a habit, but in the camp it is usually drunk “bitter,” -that is, without sugar, both from motives of economy and because it is -popularly supposed to be healthier and more sustaining when taken in that -way. - -At any rate, there can be no doubt that mate growing must one day become -a very large and profitable industry in the Northern parts, where the -climate is suitably mild, of the two Republics. - -The Jesuit Fathers, from whom the Territory of Misiones derives its name, -were well aware of the wholesome qualities of mate yerba, and it is -possible that the now wild growth of the shrub in that Territory owes its -existence to their cultivation. - -In connection with their primarily great agricultural industries, the -wheat, maize and linseed crops which will always remain a chief pillar of -their prosperity (even if stock-raising on the present huge scale should -be reduced by the encroachment of agricultural or, as is most likely, -mixed farming; or if the Andine regions prove as rich in minerals as some -people would have us believe), the River Plate Republics must always -occupy positions of ever-increasing weight and importance on the cereal -markets of the world. - -The world wants meat, but it must have bread, the true staff of human -life. Signs are not wanting of the coming of a day when the majority of -the human race will be forced into vegetarianism by the growing scarcity -of meat; but the time when wheat shall be no longer obtainable by the -multitude is so much farther off on the speculative horizon as to be a -negligible factor in any but abstract contemplation. As for live stock, -most middle-aged people to-day can retrace in their own memories the -decline of the meat exports of the United States; where a rapid growth -of population and spread of agriculture have so increased the local -consumption and diminished the supply that the States not only now eat -all their own meat, but already import from Argentina and Uruguay. - -When the latter countries arrive at a similar stage of their development, -as they must do one day, from whence will they and the rest of the world -get meat supplies? Even the greatest and most terrible war the world has -ever known has not reduced the population of the globe to an extent which -will do more than very temporarily, if practically at all, affect the -question of its future food supplies. - -Recently the reproductive capacities of the existing Argentine and -Uruguayan flocks and herds were brought almost to a standstill in respect -of the increase of their numerical value; chiefly on account of the -ever-increasing demands and high prices paid by the Cold Storage Export -Companies.[37] And purely economic reasons cause more and more land -each year to be put under cereal cultivation while numerically large -flocks and herds are pushed further into less accessible regions of the -Republics, on the boundaries of which vast quantities of finely bred -animals already graze. - -More transport (and labour), more cereals; more cereals, less live stock: -will be the rule of these Countries’ progress, following that of the -great Northern Republic. A rule which mixed and intensive farming will -only modify in a degree quite incommensurate with the experiences of an -ever and rapidly increasing demand. - -The future of both Argentina and (later on) Uruguay appears to be bound -up in their cereal production (of which wheat, maize, linseed and oats -are now the chief elements). - -I say _appears_, because the Andes may yet yield marvellous mineral -treasure; good coal may yet be discovered; it and the petroleum -deposits of Comodoro Rivadavia and elsewhere may yet provide fuel for -manufacturing industry; and the River Plate Republics may yet become the -great pig-producing countries of the world, as a United States expert -once prophesied to the present writer that one day they would be. But all -these things, even if the future do hold them in store, are beyond the -perceptibly practical horizon; while the already preponderating influence -of cereal production on the destinies of Argentina is immediately -evident. Argentina practically supplies the world with linseed. - -Uruguay is still in the infancy of its agriculture. It has as yet but -some two million acres of cultivated land as against some thirty million -acres of pasturage. But the world’s demands will doubtless lead it on the -same course as that imposed on the United States and Argentina; modified, -perhaps, to some extent by the more undulating nature of its lands as -compared with the flat Pampa. Again, Uruguay is much richer in running -streams than is Argentina; which latter country is but sparsely provided -with water courses, especially in dry weather. - -During the course of the last decade the value of the cereals exported -from the River Plate tripled. - -The great areas of cereal cultivation are the Provinces of Buenos Aires, -Santa Fé, Córdoba and Entre Rios and the National Territory of the Pampa -Central. Cereal growing in Uruguay is still chiefly confined to the -Southern Departments of that country. - -Nevertheless, Uruguayan wheat has received special quotations as the -highest quality of any in the European markets; and “Montevideo wheat,” -as it is called, is much purchased by Argentine exporters to mix with -their own grain. The cultivation of alfalfa (lucerne) is also increasing -with enormous rapidity, both for home consumption and export; and -is likely to show still greater proportionate increase as mixed and -intensive farming grow in favour. - -Economic necessity may also soon increase the cultivation of this -valuable plant as an alternate crop on, and restorative for, the -exhausted soil of many districts where wheat has been grown on wheat -since, one might almost say, time immemorial. - -Wheat, as all the agricultural world knows, absorbs the nitrogen from -the soil on which it is grown; while alfalfa, on the other hand, -absorbs nitrogen from the air and deposits it in the soil. These two -crops are therefore, as was found out long ago in North America, -naturally complementary. And a course of alfalfa prepares ground for the -replanting of wheat in a way unequalled by the most expensive artificial -fertilizers. The time will therefore doubtless come when Argentine -farmers will plough up such of their alfalfa as may be on suitable ground -and plant wheat thereon; and, contrariwise, will plough up their wheat -and give the ground two or three years of alfalfa before putting wheat on -it again. - -But this is still, to the vast majority of Argentine farmers, an absurdly -impracticable counsel of perfection. Since, does one think, he asks, -that he is going to spoil his alfalfa fields, soon after seeing them -pass through the critical stage of their tap-roots reaching water, and -break his ploughs into the bargain by cutting those thick, tough roots up -again? Not he. Alfalfa it is now and alfalfa it is going to remain; to -yield him four or even more cuttings annually. Only time and ever-growing -land values will force this kind of reasoning out of his mind. He, in the -more distant parts of the country at all events, is still in the stage -of mentality when what were good enough methods for his forefathers are -good enough for him. Nature has been kind to him. He has always reaped -much benefit from little labour or capital outlay; and this state of -things suits his nature so well that he is altogether disinclined to vary -it by following theories which do not appeal to him, be they preached -never so wisely by the ambulant Agricultural Instructors employed by the -Government to travel about the country and teach improved methods to its -rural inhabitants. The deaf ear which even the very well-to-do among -what may be called the peasant proprietors, the little-educated rural -classes, that is to say, turn to the teachings of modern science is due -to the fact that these people have long been too much spoilt by nature’s -gifts of highly fertile soil and favourable climate to perceive any very -pressing need to bestir themselves to unaccustomed expenditure of energy -or money. - -Thus, as is told elsewhere in these pages, thousands of head of cattle -and sheep die each time a drought occurs simply because their owners will -not go to the trouble and expense of boring for water (seldom far from -the surface) and putting up windmills to draw it. - -Education and economic pressure will in due course end this era of _dolce -far niente_; which is doomed to disappear from even the most outlying -of rural districts as surely as the traditional MAÑANA has from the -business communities of the great cities. Nowadays, a denizen of Buenos -Aires who scents a good stroke of business will pursue and capture it -with a rapidity and real vigour which would not shame a citizen of the -United States. Only, the Argentine will always conceal his haste under an -affected outburst of boisterous humour or an equally assumed dilatoriness -of manner. He will, in fact, be politer about it than the Northerner. -But he will get there all the same. So will the agriculturist, -comparatively untutored as he still often is, once he realizes his own -advantage in the matter; as circumstances eventually will force him to do. - -Just now the River Plate countries are faced with an exceptionally acute -phase of the problem of their increased agricultural expansion; the -governing factor of that problem, indeed the whole cause of it, being -their lack of adequate rural population. - -To appreciate this inadequacy one must realize that the Argentine -Republic alone is only a very little smaller than Germany, -Austro-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Holland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, -Portugal and Switzerland put together; while her population is only some -7,500,000. Of this over a million is in the city of Buenos Aires; and the -other cities such as Rosario, Bahia Blanca and the Provincial capitals -account for another. - -Even were the whole 7,500,000 equally spread over the Republic, we -should only get an average of 6·5 per square mile, as against some 193 -per square mile as the average of the other countries named above for -comparison of area. Uruguay has a considerably larger population (and, -it may be added, railway mileage), to the square mile than Argentina; -but even then it has only some 1,200,000 inhabitants, or about half the -number possessed by the Province of Buenos Aires. - -Unless this state of things be remedied, it would appear as if the -hitherto rapid advance of both agriculture and stock-breeding in these -countries must soon reach a point beyond which they can no further go -for want of hands to sow, reap and carry crops and rear and tend cattle -and sheep! This situation is not a perfectly new one in modern economic -history; but it may safely be called new in degree when it is found in -countries where all other natural conditions are normally so entirely -favourable to uninterrupted rural production. In countries not (as yet at -all events) directly involved in Armageddon; and while so much of the -rest of the world urgently needs every grain of wheat and every ounce of -meat they can possibly send out. - -Great irrigation works now in progress will open up further vast and -almost unprecedentedly fertile areas for cultivation; which areas railway -lines are practically ready and waiting to serve with transport and for -which new ports are in course of construction while existing ones are -being enlarged and improved. New agricultural laws have been passed to -meet difficulties which have arisen with already increased production and -land values; everything in fact has been done and is being done to second -and enhance nature’s gifts. - -But the question, “Where are the human beings necessary to an -advantageous result of and to benefit by all these preparations?” still -remains unanswered; except by the apparently very stubborn fact that they -have not yet appeared on the River Plate and show no signs of doing so. - -At the present moment the outlook from this state of things reveals only -a tangled problem, in view of the awful wastage of human life now going -on in Europe. But for its occurrence and continuance before the war the -Governments of Argentina and Uruguay are almost wholly to blame, and -that of the former country in much the greater degree. This because, -while Uruguay may be said to have only just emerged from a long period of -internal political disturbance which necessarily absorbed all the time -and energies of her statesmen, Argentine politics long ago reached their -destined haven of sunlit, calm waters. - -Argentina _has_ spent much trouble and money in propaganda; in all -sorts of publications giving true and therefore favourable statistics -of her ever-increasing rural industries, trade and prosperity. But—and -this cannot be insisted on too often for her own good and for Uruguay’s -example—she has never even seemed to trouble herself about suitable -people who might be attracted by the perusal of her statistics and -pamphlets to wish to know more of her and of their exact individual -prospects did they decide to set sail for her shores. - -Like so many of the good laws and schemes in which this country abounds, -everything concerning prospective colonists is excellently arranged and -set down on paper; but nothing is yet in really practical working order -for the reception and assignment of land to the real colonist, the man -most needed in new countries, bringing with him a small capital which he -wishes to invest in a holding which will be the future home of himself -and his family. - -It seems a hard saying, but I hold it truth that the only provision yet -made has been, and is, for the reception and despatch upcountry of the -very poorest class of immigrants; glad to get a job at manual labour of -any kind, and therefore at the mercy of the landowners who still really -govern this pretendedly ultra-democratic Republic. - -It is—whether accidentally or of set purpose is needless to discuss -here—in point of fact through the influence of landed proprietors, and -through their influence alone, that the elaboration and putting into -practice of existing colonization schemes and laws lie fallow; while -poor immigrants, by a seemingly cynical courtesy, called “Colonists,” -are granted the privilege of a share in any immediate profits to be -derived from breaking up virgin soil from which they will be turned off -practically as soon as it begins to yield—to commence a similar operation -elsewhere if they care to—under conditions which leave them little choice. - -Congress and the National Provincial Governments are to blame for this, -really suicidal, scandal; resulting from a condition of things so patent -that the Italian labourers who come for the harvest return back home -again to an existence of probably considerable hardship in Italy, in -preference to remaining as “Colonists” under the blue and white banner of -Liberty. - -The root of all this is that the Argentine _cannot_ bring himself to -part with the ownership in land, and the fact of his having done so in -the past still rankles bitterly in his mind; forgetful of the fact that -then that was the only way to interest foreign capital in the development -of his country. - -The conclusion is that, if he will not and does not give land to -colonists, he will find that his prosperity has reached sticking point -for want of labour to advance it any further. - -That is to say, the agricultural production of Argentina has almost, -if not quite, reached the limits of the power of the Republic’s seven -million inhabitants. - -“The case for the Colonist” has been put with such admirable accuracy by -Mr. Herbert Gibson, in a recent pamphlet by him called _The Land we Live -on_, that the present writer has been unable to resist the temptation -to cite some passages from it at length. A temptation enhanced by Mr. -Gibson’s faculty for hitting exactly the right nails on the head coupled -with his command of a vividly virile style. - -Mr. Gibson is a member of a family of very large landowners in Argentina; -a man of exceptionally high moral and intellectual qualities, and an -accepted and respected authority on all matters concerning Argentine -rural industry; the best interests of which he has done much to advance, -often at his own considerable pecuniary cost. - -A born Argentine, he can lay bare to the public eye the weaknesses and -faults of the agricultural systems of the Republic in a way and to an -extent impossible to a foreigner without a strong likelihood of the -latter doing much more harm than good to the cause of reform by what -would probably be deemed by Argentines a gratuitously offensive advocacy. - - It should rather befall the man who cries to the shoeblacks and - hotel waiters of the city, than to us who are of the land, to - plead the cause of the colonist. But let us state his case for - him. - - An examination of the meteorological conditions, the - constitution of the soil, the economy of inland collection, - and the average proximity of the radial point of export to - the site of production has usually convinced the intelligent - traveller, very especially if his intelligence is engaged in - ocean or land transport, that the Argentine is the garden of - the world. - - A closer examination of the abruptness of the thermographical - curves and their relation to soil foods and the growth and - harvest of its products; the difficulty of collecting from - units of large area, and at the precise moment of their maximum - yield and maturity, the seeds of annuals; the yet unbridged - gulf between the field of production and the main channels of - its collection;—might well lead the intelligent traveller to a - contrary conclusion. When he ceased to generalize he would find - the lot of the agriculturist was not as easy as it looked. - - Burmeister no doubt overstated the case if he said that wheat - would never prosper in the Pampa soil. If he said that wheat - cultivation would not prosper in the Pampa except under - skilled husbandry we could find it easy, after twenty years’ - experience, to agree with him. - - Meantime the best has been done to make it unsuccessful. The - agriculturist, if we are to call him one, is let loose on a - five hundred acre pitch of the prairie. In so many cases that - one is entitled to generalize, he set out on borrowed land with - borrowed implements to scratch the soil for three, four or five - years and sow wheat on it. - - If he is asked whether he sows winter or spring wheat he does - not know. If he is asked how many tons of straw he harvests, he - neither knows nor cares. If he is asked what calcium carbonate - and nitrate are, he thinks they are sheep dips, but is not - quite sure. If he is questioned on rotation, he waves his hand - to the rolling Russian thistle that gathers like a snowdrift - against every obstacle. - - His house is, at best, an enlarged sardine tin. He has neither - barn, byre nor pigsty. He has no enclosures for cattle, sheep - or poultry. He has no garden. He has not a single tree to - shelter him from the sun. With land suited for every form of - live stock and field farming he is enslaved to the deadly - monotony of wheat growing. - - There may be countries with a soil and climate such that - white straw crops can be grown for a large number of years - in succession without exhausting the land or setting up soil - sickness. We know it is done at experimental farms such as - Rothamsted. But we know too that the efficiency of soil culture - in pursuit of these experiments is beyond the practical - ability of the colonist; nor is the economy of the farm an item - that is taken into consideration. We know, because we have - witnessed it, that in this country after the colonist’s term of - four or five years, during which he has collected an average - crop of eight bushels per acre, is ended, what remains is a - five hundred acre field of weeds. - - We can grow weeds. Whatever other merits may be denied to us - we have achieved the production of a garden of weeds without - equal in the world. Some of them are good plants for animal - food, but out of place, for the colonist has not the means to - make use of them for that purpose. Others are weeds of the - most useless and noxious description. If it be true that the - scabby Argentine sheep has been a source of wealth to European - chemical manufacturers, the day must surely come when still - greater fortunes will be made out of weed-spraying nostrums. - - Until this agricultural arab whom we call a colonist is - replaced by an occupant with permanent or sufficiently long - fixity of tenure; until he has adequate barns, byres, sties, - water sweet and cheap, a garden and a homestead; and until he - is possessed of cattle, sheep, swine and poultry he will remain - as economically lean and weak as the muzzled ox. We have talked - much of rural banks to enable him to borrow more money; but we - have not begun to put into practice the rural economy that will - be followed by the rural bank as sure as summer follows spring. - When the agriculturist profits, instead of loses, on the year’s - overturn, he will build up the bank on his own thrift. - - Within the economy of soil cultivation there is room for two - alternatives only. Either the landowner must himself farm his - land, or he must lease it with sufficient fixity of tenure and - farming equipment to secure to his tenant the prospect of being - able to pay a fair rent. - - Agriculture in this country has very largely failed through - an attempt to drive a middle course between these two - alternatives. The landowner, usually one possessing a large - area and hitherto a pastoralist, has seen, or has thought - he saw, a larger profit to be earned by turning his soil to - agriculture. Instead of putting it to the test by turning - agriculturist, he has paid his intelligence the sorry - compliment of believing that an illiterate Italian, spewed up - on our shores may be a year since, could earn this large profit - if he were let loose upon the prairie without further capital - or assistance than the right to plough the soil, in exchange - for a share of the harvest, to be delivered threshed and bagged - to his landlord. - - The benefits the landlord has derived from this, in a great - majority of cases, have been to collect a smaller rent than - he could have earned if he had depastured or farmed the land - himself; and to receive back at the end of three or four - years his pasture land converted into a garden of weeds. The - process is termed “improving the land by the plough.” Not long - since properties in the market were advertised as especially - attractive if they were “all under agriculture.” - - Having sowed the wind the landlord is reaping the whirlwind. - He has not only failed to profit by agriculture, but he has - pledged the land and squandered the proceeds. The matter - is not that such silly methods of rack-renting, bonanza - farming, land gutting and money lending have wrought their own - confusion. It is the loss to the industrial community, to the - rural population, and to the national thrift that lays bare - the defects of the system. These are the fruits. We have to - look into the ordering of our agricultural industry, not as - determined by a “good year” or “bad year,” a “dry” or “wet” - year, but by such a readjustment of our rural economy that the - soil shall be no longer cultivated at a loss. It is necessary - to unmuzzle the ox. Without the aid of domestic live stock the - colonist can neither profit from the by-products and fallow of - the land, nor can he restore to the soil the factors necessary - to yield crops that are of themselves profitable. - - Neither have we been careful to conserve and stimulate the - settlement of a truly agricultural population on the land. We - have exported the cult of sterility from the old world to the - new. We have measured in this new world a field of production, - not for the labourers, but for their European mandatories. It - was said in the days of the Spanish dominion that America was - the “factoria” of the mother country. She has seemingly not yet - ceased to be regarded as a “factoria.” - - We take pride that we export so much and need so little. We - call it a favourable “balance of trade.” We spread abroad - pamphlets and graphic charts and dreary columns of ciphers - to show how successfully we have gutted the land we live on - to fill alien mouths. We display pictures of train loads of - labour-saving machinery, glorying in the fact that one man - aided by Pittsburg steel and Cardiff coal can fend off twenty - families from a thousand acres, and garner the yield for the - contentment of fat-handed brokers eating lobsters in a distant - city. - - Had the matter been understood rightly by the “estanciero” of - a generation or two ago, nay, even by this present generation, - he would have put a premium on fecundity. His business was to - encourage population; but while he drowsed in siesta hour over - the newspaper proclaiming the arrival of alien immigration and - smiling unctuously at the intelligence, he condemned his own - men to celibacy, unwilling to spend the price of five bullocks - on a mud hut to cradle the generation on his own land of a race - of lusty yeomen. He took pride in the number of calves and - lambs born on his estate. It would have beseemed him better to - take pride in the number of _babies_ born there. - - Such a consummation would be vastly upsetting to Malthusian - economists who view with jealousy the peopling of new fields - of production. They would have us believe that it is only here - by the overflowing of the Nile, and there by the discovery of - the New World, that the human race has been saved from famine. - If we can no longer send 350,000 tons of meat and five million - tons of cereals to the Old World our usefulness has passed away - and our mission ended. - - Fiddlesticks! Had the Pampas of South America, the pasture - lands of Australia, and the wheat fields of Canada remained - virgin there would have been ere now thousands of acres in - Great Britain under glass and harnessing the solar spectrum - and the electric currents of air to manufacture food for - the people. Feminists, instead of rending other people’s - garments to bewail the departure of their mankind, would be - conjuring out of four-inch potsherds fruit rich and rare for - the household. If among the social economists of the present - generation there is a disposition to revert to the Malthusian - creed; in this spacious country, and as far as the vegetative - population is concerned, there is no need to raise the voice of - alarm. National progress and thrift will be soonest achieved - by the increase of the national population; and, without - closing the doors to useful alien immigration, the welfare of - the community should be dependent rather upon the increase - of the family than upon the overflow population from other - lands. … Under our present system of agriculture the domestic - requirements of the country are sacrificed to foreign demand. - We measure our progress by our export trade of raw produce. - When we speak of agriculture what we really mean is the - production of maize, wheat and linseed for shipment abroad. - - It is to this end that so much has been heard of warrants, - elevators and other devices to enable the farmer to dispose of - his crop. They are in some degree devices for his own security; - but they are in a much greater degree devices to secure for the - export of cereals a more regular flow from the sources that - supply it. The time is no doubt distant when this country shall - have a population sufficient to consume the raw produce of its - soil; but by turning our eyes constantly to its export trade - as the sole source of its production we have not only limited - the lines of our agricultural production, but we have neglected - complementary lines that would have increased that export trade - by maintaining soil values. - - The cereal that gives the best return from a large area of our - Pampa soil and climate is barley. Being shallow-rooted our - indifferent tilth suffices for its seed bed; and being short - lived it can be sown late and harvested early, reducing the - risks from frost and drought. The “chacarero” who produces 8 - fanegas of wheat could produce on averages from the same soil - and with no better husbandry 18 fanegas of barley per hectare. - In food equivalents that is equal to 280 kilogrammes of pork. - - The “chacarero” does not grow barley for the same reason that - he neglects or ignores almost every branch of agriculture - except wheat, maize and linseed. For the same reason that he - neglects rotation, fallow and weeds; vegetables and small - fruits; live-stock breeding and feeding; poultry, dairy, - and bee-hiving, tree planting; and the greatest of all - cultures—home culture. He has no fixity of tenure. There is no - other reason. - - It is said of the Argentine “chacarero” that he is ignorant and - incapable of good husbandry. When he first began, of course, he - was ignorant. The gold medallist from an Agricultural College - is ignorant when he begins to practise farming. Though the - farmer’s craft engages the whole cyclopædia of science, and - there is no limit to the knowledge it demands, its practice - is essentially one of observation and local experience. To - those the “chacarero” comes as well equipped as another. His - ignorance is but the reflection of his environment. - - It is also said of him that he is greedy, and undertakes a - larger area than he can cultivate. Again, his greed is but the - reflection of the landowner’s. He is called to the land on - terms that exclude all fixity of tenure, maintenance of soil - values, small farming, rotation or live-stock values; terms - that merely bind him to plough as best he can a given area, to - seed it in cereals that will enable his landlord to collect - without inconvenience his rent in kind, delivered “dry, sound - and bagged” at the foot of the threshing mill; to continue this - process for three or more years; and at the end of his term to - go to the devil if his unsuccess has not already landed him in - that quarter. - - In a scheme of agriculture that was to take no heed of the - permanent thrift of the land and the man who tilled it we - have failed; as we deserved to fail, most miserably. We have - built upon this most uncertain apex as a base, an inverted - pyramid by which ocean and land carriers, merchants, brokers, - speculators, and every branch of parasite commerce were to - wax lustily. We may devise as we will rural credits, schools - of agriculture, prophets of agrarian science, bellowing from - the tail-end of peripatetic railway coaches, grants of seed, - warrants, elevators, labour-saving machinery, and every other - panacea to nurse the sick field labourer. Until we give him - fixity of tenure he will continue to be a sick man. There has - been no other solution to agricultural problems of the past. - There can be no other solution. Our present rural population, - concentrated on less than the present area they are engaged in - cultivating, with continuity of usufruct or compensation for - improvements secured to them, would produce a larger cereal - harvest than they now do, and add to the wealth of our animal - produce, and still more to the accumulation of our national - thrift. - -In Uruguay progress is still possible to the existing population; since -the consequences of the civil disturbances which until recently paralysed -the production of this country, by the constant commandeering of men, -horses and supplies by one or other of the combatant parties, have not -yet been overcome by the existing settlers who, therefore, still have -work ready to their hands. Nevertheless, for Uruguay also it is a case -of the more the merrier; more available labour, more rapidly increased -agricultural output. Once means are found for an appreciable and constant -increase of the population of these countries, immediate results of such -increase may be expected not only from their production of Cereals, -Live Stock and the “Secondary” products already enumerated, but also -from coffee, chicory, tea, arrowroot, sugar-beet, sweet sorghum, hops, -cinnamon, vanilla and very many others, for the cultivation of all of -which favourable conditions are to be found in one or other of the -various climates found between the many degrees of latitude traversed by -the length of Argentina and the various altitudes between the Argentine -Andine frontier line and the sea. - -At the same time much could be done for their own comfort and prosperity -by farmers, in the ample time which their chief occupations necessarily -leave them, by the cultivation of some of these secondary products for -their and their neighbours’ use. At present their almost unaccountable -neglect to do so justifies an _obiter dictum_ of the great Argentine -statistician, Dr. Francisco Latzina, in a Monograph by him attached to -the last Argentine agricultural Census. - -“It seems to me,” Dr. Latzina says, “that the Ministry of Agriculture -ought to take a decided initiative in encouraging horticulture which, as -we see, does not supply the National demand. To add to the climax, even -eggs are imported in this year of grace. If this goes on, the day will -come, perhaps, when bread and milk shall be imported in order to be able -to export all the wheat, flour and butter produced in the country.” (By -“horticulture” Dr. Latzina means, in this connection, the produce of the -Kitchen garden.) - -It is a fact that, as he says elsewhere in the same Monograph, garlic and -onions, peas and beans figure among the imports of a country possessing -millions of acres of fertile land! While the farmer frequently buys his -potatoes at the Store. This neglect on his part of everything which does -not savour of export is one of the factors of dear living in Argentina. -Uruguay is on a somewhat different footing in this regard, her rural -population having, as has already been indicated, still about as much as -it can do in making good the ravages of past Revolutions. - -Still Uruguay sends vegetables to Buenos Aires, and Uruguayan housewives -complain of the high prices of Kitchen stuff which, consequently, now -rule in the Montevidean markets. - -A very large proportion indeed of the whole of the Republic of Uruguay -may be considered as cultivable. In Argentina the question of how much of -the whole area of that country may be so considered is yet without exact -solution. - -In this regard therefore it may be well again to quote Dr. Latzina, who -says:—[38] - - It is difficult to determine even approximately the cultivable - area of Argentina, because hitherto, and yet for some time to - come, the extent covered by mountains, deserts, salt marshes, - sand-hills, swamps, moors and lagoons, and the Patagonian - table-lands, which are almost entirely uncultivable—not so much - so on account of the poor soil, but on account of the want - of water and the boisterous and continuous winds which blow - incessantly day and night in those parts. A calculation such - as I wish to make can only be roughly made, and I may say that - I doubt if the cultivatable area of Argentina be greater than - half its total area—in round numbers, 150,000,000 hectares. - -Dr. Latzina then suggests the reservation of two-thirds of that area for -stock-breeding, leaving only 50,000,000 hectares for pure agriculture. - -However, hardly one-half of this last-mentioned area is as yet under -cultivation; leaving plenty of room for the present for the extension of -agriculture. - -This fact of very large areas within the Territory of the Argentine -Republic being, chiefly for climatic reasons (e.g. the more southern and -the mountainous parts of Patagonia), unfit for either cultivation or -pasturage, except in the latter regard for goats and perhaps the very -roughest kinds of sheep, should not be lost sight of when comparing -Argentina with Uruguayan statistics. One eminent Uruguayan Agricultural -Authority, for instance, has triumphantly referred (in, it must be -considered, a more patriotic than strictly scientific spirit) to the -fact, as stated by him, that the value of the Exports of Uruguay, per -square mile of that Republic’s territory, are double those, similarly -reckoned, of Argentina. Even accepting his figures as correct, which -Argentine statisticians do not, the deduction he obviously suggests is -certainly based on fallacious reasoning; indeed, the very comparison -itself is misleading. - -Uruguay is a small, compact country not two-thirds the size of the -Province of Buenos Aires, containing practically no exclusively -mountainous or arid or otherwise desert large areas and none of the -obstacles, of distance, or other kinds, encountered by transport in -Argentina. - -Truly some statistics suggest that their compilers believe that “Figures -can be made to prove anything.” - -In connection with Agriculture, locusts still unfortunately succeed -in not letting themselves be forgotten. From time to time vast swarms -of these rapacious insects appear, covering and darkening the sky for -leagues. They come from their breeding centres, undoubtedly somewhere in -the huge virgin tracts in the western tropical regions of Brazil. Many -well-meaning persons have counselled measures for their extermination -there. A counsel of perfection, alas! Those who have preached have never -been even on the frontiers of the thousands of square leagues of tropical -forest and undergrowth which yet have scarcely ever heard the voice of -man. To dream of exterminating locusts there is as if one proposed to -empty a running stream with a bucket. An impossibility. - -All that can be done is to attack and destroy the swarms when they have -arrived. For this purpose special and, it should at once be said, very -successful organization have been brought into existence by the Argentine -National Government with the loyal concurrence and aid of the Provincial -Governments and by the Uruguayan Government. - -At first the DEFENSA AGRICOLA, as this organization is called, -encountered a good deal of passive resistance from rural landowners -who, doubting its efficacy and seeing in it or affecting to see in it, -rather a means of affording remunerative jobs for Government hangers-on, -declared that its officials who pervaded the country requisitioning -labour and supplies were a worse nuisance than the locusts themselves. - -The Defensa Agricola continued its work, however, unheeding of such -protests; and now, for some time past, may be said to have fully -justified its existence and its methods by results in both countries. - -It has its centres of observation, like any other force prepared to repel -invasion, and, on the coming of a swarm being signalled, every human -being in its course is called upon to aid in the defence. - -The plan of this defence consists, briefly, in driving and sweeping the -insects into trenches backed with long lines of sheets of corrugated -iron, placed together end to end. Once gathered into these trenches the -locusts are burned; and by the untiring continuance of this process they -are gradually destroyed before much damage (very small indeed compared -with the ravages of pre-Defensa Agricola days) has been done. - -The sweeping-up process can be usefully employed for the extermination of -settled swarms otherwise its members will quickly proceed to deposit eggs -which later would hatch into young “hoppers” born with infinitely more -voracious appetites than even their parents had.[39] - -Locusts, as has been seen, come from the North and in the normal course -of their nature would disappear again in that direction, leaving bare -fields and their hungry young behind them in memory of their visit. Still -in recent years, before the full development of the Defensa Agricola, it -appeared that locusts had actually become acclimatized in some regions of -both Republics, notably in the Southern part of the Province of Buenos -Aires and in the Territory of the Rio Negro, and therefore did not return -North but managed to survive frost. - -This last menace may now, however, be considered as past. - -The Defensa Agricola does not only devote its attention to locusts. It -possesses a highly trained scientific staff which combats the invasions -of all the other insect pests which from time to time threaten the crops, -vines or fruit and other trees and useful vegetation. It issues clear -instructions as to the treatment to be applied in each case and punishes -noncompliance with its orders by fines which it is empowered to inflict. - -Agriculture has much for which to thank this Institution in respect of -protection against pests; the danger from which was increasing with the -importation of vines and fruit trees from other countries. - -The Argentine organization is under the direct control of the Ministry -of Agriculture[40]; an indefatigable Government Department the immensely -wide sphere of whose work is ever increasing; Division being added to -Division as need arises from the ever-increasing number of the branches -of National Industry, whether agricultural or not. For instance, it -is only quite lately that anything like complete official statistics -have been obtainable in relation to internal manufactures. The country -regarded itself, as it was regarded abroad, as purely agricultural in the -broad sense including Live Stock production. Now these statistics are -regularly issued by the “Division of Commerce and Industry” so admirably -directed and watched over by Señor Ricardo Pillado; a veteran the list of -whose valuable economic services to the State dates from the financial -renaissance which followed the disastrous year 1891; in which renaissance -he played a very leading part. - -Señor Pillado was largely instrumental in the devising and carrying -into execution of the drastic financial remedies rendered necessary by -the culminating abuses of the Juarez Celman regime; and it is to his -practical and patriotic genius that the Argentine statistical diagrams -and many other statistics of that country reproduced in this book owe -their existence and annual reappearances in the simple and striking forms -which is their very salient feature. - - -THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARGENTINE AGRICULTURE, 1896-1913 - -CULTIVATED AREAS IN HECTARES[41] - - ------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------------+---------- - Years.| Wheat. | Linseed.| Maize. | Lucerne.| Other | Total. - | | | | |cultivations.| - ------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------------+---------- - 1896 |2,500,000| 360,000|1,400,000| 800,000| 510,000 | 5,570,000 - 1897 |2,600,000| 350,000|1,000,000| 900,000| 522,000 | 5,372,000 - 1898 |3,200,000| 332,788| 850,000|1,067,983| 533,000 | 5,983,771 - 1899 |3,250,000| 355,329|1,009,000|1,268,088| 545,000 | 6,427,417 - 1900 |3,379,749| 607,352|1,255,346|1,511,601| 557,000 | 7,311,048 - 1901 |3,296,066| 782,880|1,405,796|1,631,733| 567,000 | 7,638,475 - 1902 |3,695,343|1,307,196|1,801,644|1,730,163| 580,270 | 9,114,616 - 1903 |4,320,000|1,487,000|2,100,000|2,172,511| 606,000 |10,685,511 - 1904 |4,903,124|1,082,890|2,287,040|2,503,384| 648,000 |11,424,438 - 1905 |5,675,293|1,022,782|2,717,300|2,983,643| 682,443 |13,081,461 - 1906 |5,692,268|1,020,715|2,851,300|3,537,211| 796,099 |13,897,593 - 1907 |5,759,987|1,391,467|2,719,260|3,612,000| 1,129,078 |14,612,792 - 1908 |6,063,100|1,534,300|2,973,900|3,687,200| 1,572,063 |15,830,563 - 1909 |5,836,500|1,455,600|3,005,000|4,706,530| 3,772,042 |18,775,672 - 1910 |6,253,180|1,503,820|3,215,350|5,400,580| 3,994,152 |20,367,082 - 1911 |5,897,000|1,630,000|3,422,000|5,630,100| 4,304,589 |21,883,689 - 1912 |6,918,450|1,733,330|3,830,000|5,955,000| 4,550,946 |22,987,726 - 1913 |6,573,540|1,779,350|4,152,000|6,690,100| 4,896,736 |24,091,726 - ------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------------+----------- - - -EXPORTS OF PRINCIPAL ARGENTINE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, 1875-1913 - - --------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+------------- - Years. | Oats. | Linseed. | Maize. | Hay. | Wheat. - | $ gold. | $ gold. | $ gold. | $ gold. | $ gold. - --------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+------------- - 1875 | — | — | 3,714 | 107,517 | — - 1876 | — | — | 136,986 | 105,496 | 997 - 1877 | — | — | 166,889 | 219,570 | 7,335 - 1878 | — | 7,107 | 290,088 | 130,648 | 105,350 - 1879 | — | 20,338 | 501,857 | 105,625 | 1,328,692 - 1880 | — | 95,485 | 288,275 | 184,695 | 46,747 - 1881 | — | 604,387 | 541,058 | 37,283 | 11,111 - 1882 | — | 1,650,043 | 2,141,135 | 132,683 | 66,864 - 1883 | — | 1,153,087 | 372,804 | 137,531 | 2,430,184 - 1884 | — | 1,699,582 | 2,274,201 | 142,153 | 4,339,970 - 1885 | — | 3,471,305 | 3,957,191 | 165,587 | 3,139,736 - 1886 | — | 1,825,199 | 4,653,421 | 149,414 | 1,510,378 - 1887 | — | 4,066,409 | 7,236,886 | 148,506 | 9,514,635 - 1888 | — | 2,131,813 | 5,444,464 | 238,308 | 8,248,614 - 1889 | — | 1,607,162 | 12,977,721 | 572,153 | 1,596,446 - 1890 | — | 1,228,825 | 14,145,639 | 198,866 | 9,836,824 - 1891 | — | 732,798 | 1,384,088 | 420,058 | 23,733,312 - 1892 | — | 2,546,220 | 8,561,231 | 374,428 | 14,696,089 - 1893 | 19,504 | 2,887,975 | 1,578,545 | 638,640 | 23,459,926 - 1894 | 29,489 | 3,583,459 | 1,046,007 | 456,386 | 27,118,142 - 1895 | 228,875 | 8,287,112 | 10,193,338 | 432,657 | 19,471,652 - 1896 | 38,389 | 6,856,106 | 15,994,556 | 899,781 | 12,830,027 - 1897 | 18,110 | 4,996,288 | 5,478,718 | 933,716 | 3,470,351 - 1898 | 20,929 | 5,420,031 | 9,274,197 | 1,246,849 | 22,368,900 - 1899 | 88,493 | 7,402,488 | 13,042,983 | 1,158,825 | 38,078,343 - 1900 | 127,249 | 10,674,011 | 11,933,747 | 1,282,620 | 48,627,653 - 1901 | 47,139 | 16,513,263 | 18,887,397 | 961,576 | 26,240,733 - 1902 | 503,465 | 17,840,952 | 22,994,060 | 1,004,133 | 18,584,894 - 1903 | 514,267 | 21,239,894 | 33,147,249 | 1,033,244 | 41,323,099 - 1904 | 541,973 | 28,359,923 | 44,391,196 | 616,287 | 66,947,891 - 1905 | 334,349 | 26,233,851 | 46,536,402 | 801,219 | 85,883,141 - 1906 | 1,117,184 | 25,915,861 | 53,365,687 | 1,169,089 | 66,561,181 - 1907 | 3,593,397 | 36,081,221 | 29,653,979 | 769,505 | 82,727,747 - 1908 | 9,697,716 | 49,004,704 | 41,556,865 | 599,937 | 128,842,610 - 1909 |10,115,161 | 43,713,358 | 58,374,430 | 580,853 | 106,038,940 - 1910 | 8,142,575 | 44,604,395 | 60,260,804 | 478,228 | 72,202,260 - 1911 |11,666,291 | 33,579,990 | 2,766,597 | 679,425 | 80,675,066 - 1912 |21,858,517 | 34,213,565 |108,908,193 | 307,112 | 97,835,174 - 1913 |20,447,278 | 49,910,201 |112,292,394 | 312,590 | 102,631,143 - --------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+------------- - Totals |89,150,350 |500,158,408 |766,754,992 |19,933,193 |1,252,532,157 - --------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+------------- - £ |17,688,561 | 99,237,780 |152,133,927 | 3,955,000 | 248,518,285 - --------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+------------- - - --------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- - | | | QUEBRACHO. | - |Wheat Flour.| Bran. +-----------+-----------+ Totals. - Years. | $ gold. | $ gold | Extract. | Logs. | $ gold. - | | | $ gold. | $ gold. | - --------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- - 1875 | 1,188 | 2,138 | — | — | 114,557 - 1876 | 33,069 | 4,928 | — | — | 281,476 - 1877 | 20,419 | — | — | — | 414,213 - 1878 | 300,282 | 63,802 | — | — | 897,277 - 1879 | 160,304 | 58,070 | — | — | 2,174,886 - 1880 | 100,695 | 44,353 | — | 10,121 | 770,371 - 1881 | 105,832 | 37,439 | — | 11,016 | 1,348,126 - 1882 | 39,188 | 28,320 | — | — | 4,058,233 - 1883 | 343,099 | 43,647 | — | — | 4,480,352 - 1884 | 261,406 | 58,948 | — | — | 8,776,260 - 1885 | 521,295 | 87,482 | — | — | 11,342,596 - 1886 | 362,807 | 40,105 | — | — | 8,541,324 - 1887 | 378,076 | 62,921 | — | 5,095 | 21,412,528 - 1888 | 639,244 | 33,132 | — | 172,700 | 16,908,275 - 1889 | 510,853 | 69,082 | — | 485,357 | 17,818,774 - 1890 | 600,894 | 28,337 | — | 826,508 | 26,865,893 - 1891 | 361,230 | 110,929 | — | 1,245,628 | 27,988,043 - 1892 | 1,024,041 | 290,849 | — | 617,811 | 28,110,669 - 1893 | 1,318,590 | 243,403 | — | 1,265,942 | 31,412,525 - 1894 | 1,019,931 | 211,551 | — | 962,687 | 34,427,652 - 1895 | 1,882,366 | 249,830 | 40,167 | 1,778,814 | 42,564,811 - 1896 | 1,949,556 | 708,738 | 68,419 | 832,718 | 40,178,290 - 1897 | 2,411,719 | 747,551 | 120,474 | 1,356,744 | 19,533,671 - 1898 | 1,592,495 | 767,972 | 119,224 | 1,882,604 | 42,693,201 - 1899 | 1,938,281 | 922,916 | 317,156 | 1,593,761 | 64,543,246 - 1900 | 1,718,085 | 1,163,120 | 595,701 | 2,398,362 | 78,520,548 - 1901 | 2,711,298 | 1,454,428 | 431,004 | 1,989,195 | 69,236,033 - 1902 | 1,603,568 | 1,726,562 | 909,904 | 2,477,233 | 67,644,771 - 1903 | 3,128,525 | 1,894,693 | 1,204,049 | 2,002,010 | 105,487,030 - 1904 | 4,757,248 | 2,409,250 | 2,011,130 | 2,527,227 | 152,562,125 - 1905 | 5,373,699 | 3,051,155 | 2,427,772 | 4,275,164 | 174,916,752 - 1906 | 4,477,964 | 3,249,888 | 2,162,949 | 3,425,101 | 161,444,904 - 1907 | 4,696,934 | 4,552,332 | 1,811,878 | 3,132,493 | 167,019,486 - 1908 | 5,133,335 | 4,698,879 | 2,994,922 | 2,962,184 | 245,491,152 - 1909 | 5,594,852 | 4,483,317 | 4,226,333 | 4,380,033 | 237,507,277 - 1910 | 4,947,137 | 4,521,783 | 4,429,357 | 5,604,430 | 205,190,969 - 1911 | 4,739,421 | 4,612,292 | 4,980,027 | 6,897,435 | 150,596,544 - 1912 | 6,926,280 | 5,940,579 | 4,836,860 | 3,568,557 | 284,394,837 - 1913 | 7,224,029 | 4,740,184 | 4,974,686 | 4,988,349 | 307,520,854 - --------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- - Totals | 80,909,235 |53,414,905 |38,662,012 |63,675,279 |2,865,190,531 - --------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- - £ | 16,053,419 |10,598,195 | 7,671,034 |12,633,983 | 568,490,184 - --------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------- - -[Illustration: DEVELOPMENT OF ARGENTINE AGRICULTURE] - -The total value of the Agricultural Exports during 1914 was some -$200,000,000 (gold), but recovery was made in 1915 to some $320,000,000 -(gold) during the latter year. - -The Argentine harvests of 1915-16 are estimated in round figures at: - - Wheat 5,500,000 tons - Linseed 1,300,000 ” - Oats 1,360,000 ” - -The Maize crop is as yet unascertained at the time of writing. - -The corresponding Uruguayan figures are as yet unobtainable. The -Statistical Department of this Republic was reorganized in 1912, but, no -doubt, has had to cope with enormous arrears. Still it is regrettable -that authoritative statistics regarding this country are difficult, when -not impossible, to obtain. - -In 1913 Uruguay exported agricultural products of the value of -$(Uruguayan) 1,857,000. 400,000 hectares in Uruguay were under wheat, a -slightly less area under maize; the cultivation of oats was increasing -rapidly, and that of barley slowly. - -As has already been mentioned, the present (1915-16) harvests are -reported as generally splendid in both countries though labour presents -a serious problem, as do freights and scarcity of ships for export. Such -complications have been prevalent and are likely to prevail throughout -the war. - - -THE SOIL - -Naturally, the soil of such a vast area as that covered by the two -Republics of Argentina and Uruguay is varied to an extent with which a -book like the present cannot attempt to deal adequately. The greatest -feature is, however, the celebrated Pampean formation which obtains -over the whole of the Province of Buenos Aires, the greater parts of -the Provinces of Santa Fé, Córdoba, San Luis and Mendoza, the National -Territory of the Pampa Central, the Republic of Uruguay, and extends -southwards beyond the Argentine Rio Negro. In many places on this -formation there are also later alluvial deposits. - -The lightest soils, those with the smallest proportion of clay and -consequently the loosest, are found in the West, near the Andes. - -Starting from the most sandy western region, the soil grows more and -more compact towards the east, along the River Paraná, the South of -the Province of Santa Fé and most of the Republic of Uruguay, the -Northern part of the Province of Buenos Aires (where rather heavy soils -predominate); while in the South and South-West, that is to say the -southern portion of the Province of Córdoba, the National Territory of -the Pampa Central and the central and southern part of the Province of -Buenos Aires, the soil is of lighter, though firmer consistency, than -that of the western part. - -The generally salient qualities of the Pampean soil are richness in -humus, deficiency in lime and good proportions of nitrogen and phosphoric -acid. A characteristic feature of the subsoil is stratified layers of -more or less calcareous concretions known as TOSCA (tufa or tophos -stone). This layer is sometimes deep down; but in the southern region of -the Province of Buenos Aires, beginning at Tandíl and Azul, it reaches -nearly to the surface, so as to appear immediately under the soil, thus -forming a waterproof subsoil impenetrable by roots. - -The present writer has seen wheat growing on less than an inch of soil -above the tosca; the roots spreading out at right angles to the stalks. - -These layers of tosca or, in other parts, clay, are of great importance -for holding water; seldom at any great distance from the surface. - -On low and level plains when the soil is light or loose, chains of -sand-hills are formed by the prevailing winds. Some of these are kept -stationary by quick-growing vegetation, while others are constantly -shifting. The shifting sandhill is, however, fast disappearing in -consequence of the advances of pastoral industry; for, and by, which they -are becoming fixed by herbaceous growth. - -The tosca and clay subsoils have in many parts occasioned the formation -of lagoons and swamps; the waters of which are, usually, at least -brackish and often salt. A white or grey efflorescence seen in these -swamps is locally called saltpetre, but in fact it only contains slight -traces of nitre. - -Towards the extreme North of the Province of Entre Rios and the Republic -of Uruguay red soil heralds one’s approach to subtropical or tropical -vegetation. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -LIVE STOCK - - -General Mitre, in his _History of Belgrano_, has said of the River Plate -Territories:— - - The natural pastures invited the inhabitants to the pastoral - industry. The vast littoral placed the country in contact - with the rest of the world by means of fluvial and maritime - navigation. Its salubrious and temperate climate rendered - life more pleasant and work more reproductive. It was indeed - a territory prepared for live-stock breeding, constituted for - commercial prosperity, and predestined by acclimatization to - be peopled by all the races of the earth. Thus we see that the - profitable occupation of its soil commences to be realized by - means of live stock brought overland from Peru and from Brazil; - that the commercial currents of the interior converge little by - little towards the River Plate; that abundance and well-being - are spread by this means; and that the first external act of - the colonists after the foundation of Buenos Aires in 1580 is - the exportation of a shipload of the fruits of their own work - (hides and sugar), which awakens immigration and the commerce - of importation. - -This reference to the “commerce of importation” is an indication of the -limitations under which the colonists laboured under Spanish rule. They -might import from Spain as much as they could, but a very jealous guard -was put on their exports lest these might compete with the industries of -the Mother Country. - -Seventy-two horses and mares were landed by Pedro de Mendoza when he -founded the first settlement of Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires in 1535. -Many of his followers were killed by the native Indians, but when Juan -de Garay coming down through Paraguay laid the real foundations of -the present capital of the Argentine Republic, he and those with him -were surprised to find wild horses grazing on the Pampa. These were the -descendants of those brought by Mendoza and the ancestors of the present -equine stock of the River Plate countries, a stock which has, however, -in common with all the live stock of these countries, been improved out -of all recognition in the course of the last half-century by imported -European strains. Still the wild descendants of Mendoza’s animals, -acclimatized through countless generations and become hardy in their free -life, were no bad raw material to improve upon. - -The first appearance of cattle on the River Plate Pampa is, as has -already been mentioned, credited to seven cows and a bull said to -have been brought from Brazil, through Paraguay, by two Portuguese, -the brothers Cipriano and Vicente Goes, early in the last half of the -sixteenth century, but other cattle were introduced in far larger -quantities about the same time or a little later under the conditions of -the appointment of Juan de Galazary Espinoza as Treasurer of the River -Plate. To Nunflo de Chaves is credited the honour of the introduction of -the first goats and sheep in 1550. - -Evidently large numbers of horses, cattle and sheep afterwards strayed in -a semi-wild condition down south from Peru and Brazil, attracted by the -wealth of pasturage. - -The early history of the export trade of the River Plate colonists in -hides, tallow, wool and jerked beef, is one of smuggling and bribery of -officials. Nevertheless, even under such difficult circumstances and -costly methods many settlers contrived, by also trading in European -merchandise, to amass great wealth, the fortunes of many of them, says -Mr. Gibson, amounting to over £60,000 sterling. - -Meanwhile the increase of cattle was astounding if one did not consider -the difficulties in the way of its utilization. In the middle of the -seventeenth century anyone could take all he wanted from the wild herds -up to 10,000 or 12,000 head, or more by obtaining licence to do so from -the Governor. - -The rights of free export of animal produce from Buenos Aires to Spain -and open trade with the interior were first granted to the River Plate -Colonies in 1778, under the Vice-Regal rule. But it was the Independence -of the Colonies in 1810 which freed them from all commercial trammels -and was the real commencement of their present agricultural and pastoral -prosperity. Since then no events (except, of course, the advent of the -railway in 1857) in the annals of the export commerce of the River Plate -have been of greater importance than the founding of the Argentine Rural -Society in 1866, and the discovery by Tellier of the preservation of meat -at freezing point submitted to the Paris Academy of Science in 1872, and -of Ferdinand Carré’s improvements for the transport of _chilled_ meat. - -The first freezing establishment in the River Plate was that erected by -Señor Eugenio Terrasson at San Nicolás, in the Province of Buenos Aires, -in 1883, and in the following year the legislature exempted frozen and -chilled meat from the payment of export duty. - -Over 99% of the whole exports of frozen and chilled meat from Argentina -comes direct to the United Kingdom,[42] and we get quite one-half of the -whole of our overseas meat and grain supplies from the two River Plate -Republics. - -The past half-century has seen amazing changes on the vast pasture -lands of Argentina and Uruguay. The first of these was the invasion of -what had formerly been the exclusive domains of cattle and sheep by -agriculture. Little by little, wheat, especially, ousted the flocks and -herds from an ever-increasing radius from the port of Buenos Aires. -Land values increased as agriculture flourished till the time came when -stock-breeders found themselves outbidden by wheat-growers or, rather, -landowners found it more profitable to grow wheat or maize on lands which -were economically accessible to transport. As the railways grew so did -this almost exclusively cereal area. - -This tendency continued until what may almost be termed the “discovery” -in the River Plate Territories of the qualities of Alfalfa (Lucerne). - -The double value of this crop as fodder and for improving the land by -collecting and depositing atmospheric nitrogen, caused it to be planted -by every intelligent estanciero, and brought back much of the cattle -to properties which had seemed for ever given over to wheat-growing. -Other contemporary reasons for the reappearance of cattle on the home -lands were the increased demand for good slaughter animals initiated -by the newly established cold-storage and export business and dawning -appreciation of the fact that one cannot for ever go on growing -immediately successive crops of wheat on the same land. - -Thus were laid some foundations of scientific farming on more civilized -lines, in which stock-raising and agriculture combine for the profit of -the farmer. The cattle industry and horse-breeding also, gained fresh -impetus from the abundance of alfalfa now grown everywhere on a large -scale and on brackish land formerly considered valueless. - -Sheep only, with their nomadic nature which demands large areas on which -to roam, their close-cropping manner of grazing and their faculty for -quickly ruining alfalfa fields on which they may be allowed to graze, -are still only found in comparatively small numbers on the high-priced -lands of the East-Central parts of Argentina and the South of Uruguay, -being chiefly relegated to outlying districts in which land is still of -comparatively small value and particularly, in Argentina, to those parts -of Patagonia the inclement climate of which suits them as it does little -else. - -Nevertheless, the finest breeds of sheep are chiefly to be found on the -“model” estancias, where as good live stock as any in the world is bred -and intensive farming has begun to be appreciated for its own sake and -on account of the normally ever-increasing value of land in all the most -fertile and accessible rural districts of the River Plate Republics. - -Durhams and Lincolns are the favourite breeds of cattle and sheep, though -many fine strains of Herefords, Polled Angus, Merinos, Romney Marsh and -Shropshires abound. No price is too high for the Argentine estanciero -to pay for imported animals for the still greater perfection of his -stock, and the great Show held under the auspices of the Rural Society -at Palermo, a park-like suburb of the city of Buenos Aires, comes as a -revelation to each expert breeder who travels, as many do every year, -from Europe to the River Plate to see it. Money and care can do no better -anywhere in the production of animals of the very highest quality. It may -be noted that the prizes (always awarded by impartial foreign, usually -British, judges) are more frequently gained by native Argentine breeders. - -River Plate live stock suffers very little indeed from any of the -diseases which are the breeder’s dread in most other countries; with the -exception of sheep and pigs, the former being greatly subject to “fluke” -and the latter to fever. Horse-breeding is carried on very successfully. -The carriage horses exported by Señor Martinez de Hoz and others are -now well known in Europe and the race-courses of Argentina and Uruguay -are the constant scenes of the display of very fine horse-flesh indeed. -That Argentine-bred race-horses are more successful in South America -than freshly imported ones is no doubt due to climatic causes. Argentine -race-horses are here specified because horse-breeding has been brought to -a higher pitch of perfection in Argentina than has yet been attained in -Uruguay. - -Poultry and pig farming may yet be said to be in their infancy in both -Republics, simply because both countries are still quite fully occupied -with the two great established industries of producing grain and meat for -export. - -Given adequate population (how often must one ring the changes on this -phrase!) very many rich sources of prosperity would quickly be disclosed -to now almost unsuspecting European eyes. Poultry and pigs are two of -the richest, and the most obvious for mention, in this chapter, of such -almost latent sources. - -The cold-storage establishment at Zárate, in the Province of Buenos -Aires, some years ago erected a scientifically equipped plant for the -curing of hams and bacon. But the difficulty is yet to obtain sufficient -pigs of first quality to make the curing industry a success. Throughout -the temperate zone of South America the climatic conditions are quite -favourable to pig-raising; and food in the shape of maize and alfalfa -is abundant at relatively small cost. When pigs and poultry receive the -care which is now acknowledged to be necessary to, and given for, the -best results from cattle, horses and sheep, River Plate poultry and pig -produce will loom large on the markets of the world, besides supplying a -daily increasing local demand. - -What has been called the Alfalfa region because of the astounding yield -of that forage given by its brackish, saltpetre-impregnated waters and -sandy soil, lies to the West of the Province of Buenos Aires. Almost -the whole of the two Republics are now, however, largely planted with -alfalfa, the spread of which has grown rapidly since the several valuable -qualities of that crop have come to be understood. - -In many districts wheat has been sown on wheat year after year ever since -the booming times of South American cereal export began. So that in many -parts of such districts the soil can do no more, and in consequence the -wheat yield has become unsatisfactory. - -When these districts cease entirely to be able to yield any wheat at all, -someone will lay down alfalfa as an alternate crop and will find the -cost of having done so, and of reploughing, say, three years afterwards, -insignificant compared with the value of the quantity and quality of -wheat the same land will yield after that process of alternation; not to -mention the value of the three years’ three or quite likely four, annual -crops of alfalfa taken off it during that period. - -This form of intensive farming will probably be the first to become -obligatory, for economic reasons, on the generality of owners of land -situated in the chief cereal areas. - -Till to-day, landowners in these large favoured tracts have grown -wealthy with little trouble and no thought as far as purely agricultural -enterprise, as apart from stock-breeding, is concerned. - -All this is, however, a digression from our present consideration of -stock-raising, except as regards the increasingly intimate connection -between stock-raising and agriculture in the most thickly populated -districts; for the Argentine Rural Statistics (more availably complete -than those of Uruguay) show that the much greater proportion of cattle is -in the Provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fé, Córdoba and Entre Rios which -are four of the chief cereal areas. And though there are more cattle -in the province of Corrientes than in either of the three last-named -Provinces, the vast herds of one of the largest meat-extract companies -account for much of this. So that it may be taken that the Provinces of -Buenos Aires (represented by a long way by the highest figures), Santa -Fé, Córdoba and Entre Rios, with the Territory of the Pampa Central in -respect of cereals, are the regions which, together, are the richest in -Live Stock and cereals in Argentina.[43] - -The following interesting table of the difference in numbers of cattle, -sheep, and horses in 1895 and 1908 is taken from the Argentine National -Census taken in the latter year, the latest census of the kind taken -throughout the Republic. - - -DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1895 AND 1908 - -More (+), less (-) in 1908 - - ------------------------------+--------------------------------------- - | SPECIES - PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES +------------+-------------+------------ - | CATTLE | SHEEP | HORSES - ------------------------------+------------+-------------+------------ - Federal Capital and the | | | - Island of M. García |- 11,538 |- 7,072 |+ 7,367 - Buenos Aires |+ 2,605,339 |- 18,025,479 |+ 844,568 - Santa Fé |+ 1,098,439 |- 1,019,371 |+ 509,609 - Corrientes |+ 1,382,639 |+ 1,733,462 |+ 187,039 - Córdoba |+ 754,554 |- 602,552 |+ 579,080 - San Luis |- 98,925 |+ 314,439 |+ 67,290 - Tucumán |- 23,058 |+ 25,134 |+ 57,151 - Entre Rios |+ 360,829 |+ 795,284 |+ 132,510 - Salta |+ 9,398 |+ 63,670 |+ 26,115 - Catamarca |- 7,357 |+ 28,899 |+ 19,050 - Jujuy |- 16,337 |- 62,830 |+ 8,673 - Mendoza |+ 61,252 |+ 120,186 |+ 51,268 - La Rioja |+ 170,603 |+ 60,025 |+ 22,986 - Santiago del Estero |+ 37,350 |+ 316,978 |+ 96,668 - San Juan |+ 12,629 |+ 37,237 |+ 3,458 - Central Pampa |+ 65,517 |- 486,100 |+ 52,534 - Rio Negro |+ 197,409 |+ 3,715,067 |+ 142,875 - Neuquen |+ 20,022 |+ 315,528 |+ 47,680 - Chubut |+ 305,051 |+ 2,076,322 |+ 152,925 - Santa Cruz |+ 14,778 |+ 2,018,302 |+ 28,524 - Fireland |+ 11,055 |+ 1,335,186 |+ 9,910 - Chaco |+ 181,327 |+ 2,318 |+ 13,163 - Misiones |+ 24,102 |+ 3,382 |+ 10,895 - Formosa |+ 192,300 |+ 20,044 |+ 13,058 - The Andes |+ 905 |+ 54,133 |+ 121 - ------------------------------+------------+-------------+------------ - Republic at large |+ 7,415,099 |- 7,167,808 |+ 3,084,517 - ------------------------------+------------+-------------+------------ - -The result of the comparison is to show that in the provinces and -territories of the Republic, the number of cattle has increased by -7,415,099 head, and that of horses by 3,084,517 head, whereas sheep have -fallen off by 7,167,808. - -The following are the figures for Cattle and Sheep respectively as -calculated by Señor Emilio Lahitte, Director of the Division of -Rural Economy and Statistics in the Argentine National Ministry of -Agriculture, existing in each Province and Territory of that Republic on -the 31st December, 1911. - - -----------------------------------------+------------+------------ - | CATTLE | SHEEP - -----------------------------------------+------------+------------ - Federal Capital | 14,338 | 1,222 - Province of Buenos Aires | 7,045,523 | 28,934,475 - ” Santa Fé | 4,055,624 | 1,612,799 - ” Córdoba | 2,251,744 | 2,753,773 - ” Entre Rios | 2,260,078 | 6,721,976 - ” Corrientes | 5,030,396 | 5,937,432 - ” San Luis | 861,831 | 1,565,326 - ” Santiago del Estero | 1,121,374 | 1,344,024 - ” Mendoza | 395,327 | 745,701 - ” San Juan | 174,835 | 191,752 - ” La Rioja | 600,582 | 234,587 - ” Catamarca | 382,108 | 230,201 - ” Tucumán | 653,458 | 234,591 - ” Salta | 892,248 | 630,681 - ” Jujuy | 172,387 | 1,128,321 - National Territory of Pampa Central | 399,460 | 5,751,856 - ” ” Misiones | 154,328 | 24,761 - ” ” Formosa | 359,139 | 46,397 - ” ” Chaco | 562,412 | 25,052 - ” ” Los Andes | 2,057 | 108,523 - ” ” Rio Negro | 379,312 | 8,476,993 - ” ” Neuquen | 295,770 | 1,099,161 - ” ” Chubut | 651,511 | 5,091,132 - ” ” Santa Cruz | 55,442 | 4,946,677 - ” ” Tierra del Fuego | 14,726 | 2,564,073 - ” ” Isla Martín García | 218 | — - -----------------------------------------+------------+------------ - Totals | 28,786,168 | 80,401,486 - -----------------------------------------+------------+------------ - -The 1908 Census showed that more than one-fourth of the whole cattle of -the Republic were Durhams, rather less than one-sixth Herefords and the -remainder made up of very much smaller quantities of Polled Angus, Dutch, -Red Polled, Jerseys, Flemish and Swiss, their numerical importance being -according to the order in which they are here stated, from a total of -125,829 Polled Angus to 3401 Swiss. - -As has been said, Lincolns are still in most favour among sheep, followed -by Romney Marsh and other long-wool breeds, Shropshire, Hampshire and -Oxford Downs, Southdowns and Rambouillets and Merinos. - -The reason for the great preference shown for Durhams is their reputation -for combined meat-carrying and milking qualities, in which latter -Herefords are relatively deficient. The dairy industries are already -developing on an important scale. - -There are practically no parts of the River Plate Territories except -their forests, mountains and certain as yet unirrigated tracts, such as -the Valley of the Rio Negro, which are not naturally adapted to cattle -or sheep raising, or both, and at present Live Stock is to be found -in almost exclusive occupation of close on 96,000,000 hectares out of -the calculated total of 300 million hectares of cultivable land in the -Argentine Republic. These figures are taken from the 1908 Argentine -Census, above referred to. - -The parallel figures for Uruguay are not available in such exact form -of statement, but it may be taken that there are very few parts of that -country in which cattle or sheep or both are not found. - -Diseases of live stock are, as has been said, very conspicuous by their -relative total absence in both Republics, and farmers in both Argentina -and Uruguay are very sore about the sustained attitude of the British -Government which refuses to permit the entrance of River Plate live -stock on the hoof into British ports. The farmers are convinced that -this refusal is due to the influence of British breeders who, while -thus preventing what would otherwise be a serious menace to their own -industry, yet benefit by the South American acceptance of very high -priced animals imported from Great Britain for stud purposes. The weak -point of this argument is, of course, that such importation of prize -animals is in no way authoritatively enforced on the Argentine or -Uruguayan, his obligation to purchase such animals arising only from his -necessity to do so in his own best interests. The danger on his side -arises from the possibility of latent tuberculosis and other disease, but -this he now guards very effectually against, often at much pecuniary -loss to himself, by severe tests carried out by competent veterinary -surgeons on all imported animals and the unhesitating sacrifice of any -found to be infected. - -The present writer is inclined to venture the opinion that the British -Government might rely with safety on the certificates of Argentine and -Uruguayan Government experts of the immunity of all cattle and sheep -leaving either Republic on the hoof. It does, in effect, accept such -certificates in regard to the condition of frozen or chilled carcases; -and, morality apart, it may safely be taken that every Argentine and -Uruguayan interested is much too fully aware of the importance to himself -individually of the countries’ export trade to risk the slightest laxity -in connection with the sure ascertainment of perfect immunity from -disease or contagion of all animals shipped from his Ports. - -As this matter now stands, the British authorities refuse to permit the -importation of live cattle or sheep until such time as the Argentine -or Uruguayan Governments can give assurance of the _total absence_ of -disease in _every_ part of their Republics. - -It can easily be understood that this practically postpones such -permission to the Millennium, since it is most highly improbable that -the whole of such vast areas of pasturage and the millions of head of -live stock in Argentina and Uruguay should ever be without one beast -affected in more or less degree by any contagious disease. One day, -probably (before the Millennium), other counsels will prevail with the -British Government and the whole people of Great Britain, as well as -Argentine and Uruguayan estancieros benefit by the removal of the present -comprehensive prohibition. - -For his stock, the Argentine and Uruguayan farmer does not fear disease, -that he and his Governments can and do very efficiently guard against, -but he does fear drought which he yet has only inadequate means to combat. - -The streams of the huge Pampean flat are few and far between, and are -apt to dry up in exceptionally dry seasons. Almost everywhere now the -sky-line is dotted with corrugated-iron windmills which draw water -from surface or artesian wells. But vast and costly irrigation (and -drainage) works are needed before the whole available pasturage of the -two Republics can defy the recurrence of times of drought which sometimes -much more than decimate the live stock of enormous districts. Uruguay is, -however, infinitely better provided with running rivers and streams than -Argentina. - -It was a long time before the native Argentine small farmer could be got -to see the real economy of outlay on artesian wells and still in the more -illiterate outlying Provinces are to be found men as yet unconvinced in -that regard. - -One of the agricultural instructors which the Argentine Government keeps -travelling all over the country to give advice and instruction to farmers -told the present writer not so very long ago that he had tried very hard -but without success to persuade a man in a remote corner of Argentina, -whose stock was daily dying of drought, to sink at least one artesian -well on his property, and even offered to erect a windmill for him free -of all cost except that of the actual mill. - -At last, one evening, the farmer consented to this proposal, but the -following morning brought a cloudy sky. Pointing dramatically to this -he said, “Why should I sink wells? See! Rain is coming.” After that, -my friend, the expert, gave the matter up in disgust. It was of no use -telling the farmer that drought might come again. Sufficient for the day -had been the evil thereof; and, as for future troubles, why meet them -half-way? - -Uruguay is relatively very rich in sheep, which thrive well on her -undulating lands, and exports wool to the annual value of well over -£4,000,000. - -The value of Argentine annual wool exports now totals over £9,000,000. - -The real commencement of the pastoral as well as the agricultural -industries of the River Plate in systematized form was the introduction -of fences by a landowner named Olivera, in 1838. As may be conjectured, -the erection of boundaries where none had ever been before, on properties -the titles to and limits of which were of the vaguest description, mostly -partook of the nature of an arbitrary proceeding. So evidently thought -Manuel Rozas, the tyrant; who summarily prevented Olivera from continuing -the fencing the latter had begun on his estancia “Los Remedios,” although -Olivera’s new boundaries were but ditches crowned with quick-set hedges -of “Añapinday” (_Acacias affinis_). - -After the death of Rozas, however, in 1844, an English estanciero, -Richard Newton, first employed iron wire for some of the enclosures of -his property; and, later, another landowner, named Halbach, completely -enclosed the whole of his estancia. - -The founder of the Argentine Rural Society, Dr. Eduardo Olivera, says in -one of his agricultural essays:— - - To these three men (Olivera, Newton and Halbach) the Republic - owes the transformation of its pastoral and agricultural - industries. - -It was only after the enclosing of lands that refining of stock became -possible. Previously, a stock-owner was always subject to invasion by -stray animals (often in large numbers) belonging to his neighbours. - -Thus, as we have seen, the first step, the introduction of wire fencing, -towards the present development of the Live Stock industry of the River -Plate was initiated by an Englishman, and it was another Englishman, Mr. -John Miller, who, in 1848, imported from England, for a Mr. White, the -owner of the estancia “La Campana,” _Tarquin_, the first shorthorn bull -ever seen on the River Plate. - -Therefore the River Plate Territories really owe their pastoral -development as well as their railways to the Anglo-Saxon race. - -Some ten years later it became the fashion to import stallions of the -carriage and riding kinds; it not being foreseen that the heavier breeds -would also prove useful. - -Then came the turn of sheep-breeding; first from imported Merinos. Later, -Rambouillets were introduced and a little later again the Lincoln began -to assert its right to the predominance it has since attained. - -In 1866 the Argentine Rural Society was founded by a few leading -estancieros. Still a private society, its admirable and constantly -progressive efforts, usually crowned with success, have given it a status -which is practically official. - -The Society has a Registration Office which keeps authoritative Herd and -Flock Books in which are entered the pedigrees of all the pure-breed -cattle, sheep and horses in the country whose owners have applied for -such registration; except thoroughbred horses and merino sheep, the -breeders of which last have not yet arrived at the definition of the -purity of that class of sheep. The walls of this Office are lined with -the Herd and Flock Books of the Breeding Societies of Great Britain and -her Colonies, and, as Mr. Herbert Gibson, himself a prominent member of -the Society, tells us, “there is not in the whole world an analogous -office which covers so diverse and numerous a registration.” - -The latest (1908) official Argentine live stock Census gives the -following tables of, respectively, the importation of pedigree bulls and -cows and pedigree rams and ewes, from 1880 to 1907. - - -PEDIGREE BULLS AND COWS - - Official - No. of values. - Head. $ gold. - From the United Kingdom 14,624 3,770,031 - ” France 583 120,724 - ” Belgium 325 75,235 - ” the United States 169 41,200 - ” Germany 153 27,770 - ” Chile 113 27,034 - ” Italy 62 9,553 - ” Holland 50 5,300 - ” Spain 40 5,700 - ” Other countries 40 13,870 - ------ --------- - 16,156 4,492,372 - ------ --------- - - -PEDIGREE RAMS AND EWES - - Official - No. of values. - Head. $ gold. - From the United Kingdom 65,724 3,141,971 - ” Germany 3,327 207,833 - ” France 1,184 60,154 - ” the United States 502 33,250 - ” British Possessions 223 15,500 - ” Belgium 209 19,829 - ” Australia 125 5,100 - ” Spain 128 8,165 - ” Italy 56 540 - ” Holland 10 30 - ------ --------- - 71,488 3,492,372 - ------ --------- - -Total value of cattle and sheep imported for breeding purposes during the -above indicated period $7,588,780 gold—£1,517,756. These animals have -proved worth vastly more than the prices paid for them. - -Prior to this, in 1858, the first Rural Show was organized at Palermo. -It was not a success. As Dr. Zeballos has written, “It was held in the -midst of public indifference and passed utterly unnoticed by the press.” -However, it seems to have only been a sort of fair at which all kinds of -other wares jostled some rural produce. In face of this fiasco it is not -surprising that no other Rural Show was held until thirteen years later; -when a really Rural Show was held in the City of Córdoba. This appears to -have had as much success as was to be expected after taking difficulties -of transport into consideration. - -The real commencement, however, of the series of great annual shows now -held at Palermo was made by the Rural Society in 1875. - -The chief live stock exhibits at these shows consists of— - - HORSES. “Criollos” (native breed). - Saddle and race horses. - Light draught. - Heavy draught (now in the majority). - - CATTLE. Shorthorn (in a very large majority). - Hereford. - Polled Angus. - Dairy breeds. - - SHEEP. Merino. - Lincoln-Merino crossbreds. - Lincoln. - Romney Marsh. - Shropshire Down. - Oxford Down. - Hampshire Down. - Leicester. - -The majority of the sheep exhibits are Lincolns and Merinos. - -Fine Pigs and Poultry of all kinds are also to be seen at these shows, -but they are chiefly contributed by the wealthier estancieros. As has -been indicated, the day of pig and poultry farming on a large practical -scale has not yet dawned on the River Plate. - -Mr. Herbert Gibson shows us, in his valuable Monograph attached to the -Argentine National Agricultural and Live Stock Census of 1908, that the -coming of Cold Storage establishments, as well as the increase of the -export trade for animals on the hoof, was very largely instrumental in -securing the predominance of the Lincoln breed, most frequently crossed -with merino. - -Merino for wool and Lincoln for mutton; and the cross which preserves the -best qualities of both is in effect the guiding rule of the River Plate -sheep-breeder of to-day. However, with the coming of alfalfa came also -the various black-faced or Down breeds which mature quickly into fine -meat carcases. - -It may be said that barbed wire, iron water-drawing windmills and cold -storage establishments are the chief inanimate supports of the River -Plate Live Stock industries. Another should be trees; the prime necessity -of which to afford shade for animals which know no other roof but the -heavens, from which a very hot sun shines on the Pampa in summer time, is -not yet as generally appreciated as it should be. Still the planting of -trees on pasture lands began some years ago, and only could be wished to -spread more quickly and universally than it has yet done. - -One is all too apt in dealing with the River Plate Republics to confine -one’s ideas regarding them to industries of a magnitude commensurate with -the huge extent of their Territories; but with the coming of the real -colonist, when he does come, the mixed farming which, necessarily for his -own comfort, he will bring with him will greatly enhance the importance -of milch breeds of cattle, pigs, poultry and the produce of the kitchen -garden in the rural economy of the River Plate. - - -ARGENTINE LIVE STOCK - -(LAST CENSUS, 30TH MAY, 1908) - - -------+------------+---------------------------------- - | | OFFICIAL VALUATION. - | Number of |---------------------------------- - | Head. | $ currency. | Equivalent in £. - -------+------------+---------------+------------------ - Cattle | 29,116,625 | 938,685,834 | 81,981,295 - Sheep | 67,211,758 | 287,359,076 | 25,096,863 - Horses | 7,531,376 | 205,826,834 | 17,976,143 - Mules | 465,037 | 22,561,075 | 1,970,399 - Swine | 1,403,591 | 15,672,637 | 1,368,789 - Goats | 3,945,086 | 8,321,839 | 726,798 - Asses | 285,088 | 2,854,950 | 249,341 - +---------------+------------------ - | 1,481,282,245 | 129,369,628 - +---------------+------------------ - - -EXPORTS OF PRINCIPAL ARGENTINE ANIMAL PRODUCTS, 1885 TO 1913 - - ------+----------+---------+----------+----------+-----------+----------- - | Salted | | | | Salted | - | Horse |Dry Horse|Goatskins.| Kidskins.| Ox and |Dry Ox and - YEARS.| Hides. | Hides. | $ gold. | $ gold. | Cow Hides.|Cow Hides. - | $ gold. | $ gold. | | | $ gold. | $ gold. - ------+----------+---------+----------+----------+-----------+----------- - 1885 | 682,260| 65,651| 1,081,762| 641,050| 4,488,204| 7,511,919 - 1886 | 587,271| 86,178| 306,577| 502,040| 3,649,287| 6,267,592 - 1887 | 523,128| 231,236| 460,140| 699,569| 3,639,095| 8,408,742 - 1888 | 815,840| 84,745| 585,478| 864,111| 4,584,728| 10,046,281 - 1889 | 759,588| 77,487| 821,590| 598,677| 5,260,945| 8,448,069 - 1890 | 519,483| 82,074| 1,023,478| 754,295| 5,171,473| 5,759,745 - 1891 | 908,912| 146,275| 676,329| 687,851| 3,782,143| 5,049,556 - 1892 | 380,274| 142,278| 493,647| 593,111| 3,901,454| 6,056,865 - 1893 | 673,936| 205,186| 392,958| 607,019| 3,073,310| 5,869,157 - 1894 | 758,393| 287,769| 588,458| 819,045| 3,553,198| 7,045,877 - 1895 | 1,381,719| 203,652| 648,600| 765,702| 6,332,204| 8,940,950 - 1896 | 360,109| 141,847| 689,031| 687,928| 4,598,515| 6,600,005 - 1897 | 515,708| 240,763| 779,750| 652,331| 4,605,572| 8,596,344 - 1898 | 522,368| 288,734| 1,282,816| 439,546| 5,171,440| 6,887,596 - 1899 | 459,824| 233,484| 1,211,087| 541,632| 4,334,832| 8,001,132 - 1900 | 389,625| 274,428| 770,499| 260,119| 5,285,819| 8,159,542 - 1901 | 390,826| 293,405| 791,745| 304,494| 5,281,756| 8,848,438 - 1902 | 406,794| 460,906| 823,328| 292,704| 6,384,955| 8,822,302 - 1903 | 453,237| 424,616| 847,465| 221,996| 5,360,748| 7,787,819 - 1904 | 507,450| 368,450| 1,078,196| 285,630| 5,367,610| 8,256,351 - 1905 | 160,799| 444,027| 1,080,305| 264,462| 9,147,153| 9,929,391 - 1906 | 68,933| 507,738| 1,116,762| 256,976| 8,458,664| 10,570,124 - 1907 | 51,691| 261,721| 574,204| 237,055| 8,345,410| 8,175,722 - 1908 | 18,740| 248,077| 934,174| 184,276| 7,232,842| 8,452,819 - 1909 | 28,026| 657,009| 1,124,524| 335,735| 14,214,746| 14,763,693 - 1910 | 15,526| 484,893| 1,001,824| 310,694| 16,953,372| 13,758,036 - 1911 | 33,374| 591,748| 998,631| 285,114| 19,642,362| 14,797,653 - 1912 | 23,112| 356,305| 1,231,906| 228,604| 24,844,075| 17,285,501 - 1913 | 20,394| 375,253| 1,162,878| 270,857| 24,543,795| 13,988,905 - +----------+---------+----------+----------+-----------+----------- - Totals|12,417,340|8,265,934|24,578,142|13,592,623|228,209,707|263,086,126 - +----------+---------+----------+----------+-----------+----------- - = £ | 2,463,757|1,640,066| 4,876,615| 2,696,954| 45,279,703| 52,199,628 - ------+----------+---------+----------+----------+-----------+----------- - - ------+-----------+-------------+----------+-----------+---------- - | | | Horse | | - YEARS.|Sheepskins.| Wool. | hair. | Tallow. | Butter. - | $ gold. | $ gold. | $ gold. | $ gold. | $ gold. - ------+-----------+-------------+----------+-----------+---------- - 1885 | 6,267,377| 35,950,111| 1,004,649| 3,489,169| — - 1886 | 6,350,671| 31,711,604| 775,977| 1,715,158| — - 1887 | 6,698,408| 32,749,315| 998,643| 788,777| — - 1888 | 5,610,923| 44,858,606| 1,257,970| 2,140,393| — - 1889 | 11,386,593| 56,709,774| 1,157,525| 3,297,471| 1,618 - 1890 | 6,787,108| 35,521,681| 929,686| 1,996,629| 9,608 - 1891 | 4,833,991| 36,037,518| 936,470| 2,391,388| 660 - 1892 | 9,618,175| 44,326,060| 790,227| 2,263,729| 3,045 - 1893 | 4,158,777| 25,006,348| 829,762| 2,549,763| 8,347 - 1894 | 4,915,384| 28,948,933| 996,468| 2,809,450| 5,850 - 1895 | 3,711,966| 31,029,522| 1,070,770| 3,807,751| 123,600 - 1896 | 4,061,055| 33,516,049| 902,441| 3,179,326| 225,771 - 1897 | 4,094,640| 37,450,244| 980,650| 2,656,048| 249,928 - 1898 | 6,194,267| 45,584,603| 1,099,465| 2,862,512| 231,626 - 1899 | 9,308,535| 71,283,619| 1,129,912| 2,205,593| 294,872 - 1900 | 7,472,988| 27,991,561| 1,136,107| 2,803,327| 263,939 - 1901 | 7,339,811| 44,666,483| 1,004,677| 3,902,715| 377,545 - 1902 | 8,487,078| 45,810,749| 1,064,646| 6,209,038| 1,277,969 - 1903 | 10,132,065| 50,424,168| 1,147,879| 4,755,579| 2,132,056 - 1904 | 8,676,025| 48,355,002| 1,025,580| 4,012,083| 2,117,761 - 1905 | 9,483,396| 64,312,927| 1,245,788| 5,321,099| 2,157,294 - 1906 | 8,513,910| 58,402,771| 1,243,812| 3,482,526| 1,762,130 - 1907 | 8,458,030| 59,252,948| 1,280,122| 4,806,835| 1,214,173 - 1908 | 5,626,416| 47,246,183| 1,143,615| 6,030,601| 1,419,867 - 1909 | 8,483,993| 59,921,151| 1,368,724| 7,573,230| 2,597,089 - 1910 | 8,623,922| 58,847,699| 1,335,160| 9,536,681| 1,150,610 - 1911 | 7,724,872| 50,494,027| 1,581,710| 11,768,900| 558,253 - 1912 | 7,657,157| 58,148,664| 2,111,177| 11,314,728| 1,470,682 - 1913 | 5,586,253| 45,270,016| 2,681,723| 9,944,642| 1,513,758 - +-----------+-------------+----------+-----------+---------- - Totals|206,263,786|1,309,828,336|34,221,335|129,617,141|21,068,053 - +-----------+-------------+----------+-----------+---------- - = £ | 40,925,354| 259,886,575| 6,789,947| 25,717,686| 4,180,169 - ------+-----------+-------------+----------+-----------+---------- - - ------+------------- - | - YEARS.| Totals. - | $ gold. - ------+------------- - 1885 | 61,182,152 - 1886 | 51,952,355 - 1887 | 55,187,053 - 1888 | 70,849,074 - 1889 | 88,519,337 - 1890 | 58,555,260 - 1891 | 55,451,093 - 1892 | 68,568,865 - 1893 | 43,374,563 - 1894 | 50,728,825 - 1895 | 58,016,456 - 1896 | 54,962,077 - 1897 | 60,721,978 - 1898 | 70,564,973 - 1899 | 100,004,524 - 1900 | 54,809,954 - 1901 | 73,201,895 - 1902 | 80,040,469 - 1903 | 83,687,628 - 1904 | 80,050,138 - 1905 | 103,546,641 - 1906 | 94,384,346 - 1907 | 92,657,911 - 1908 | 78,537,610 - 1909 | 111,067,920 - 1910 | 112,018,417 - 1911 | 108,476,644 - 1912 | 124,671,911 - 1913 | 105,358,474 - +------------- - Totals|2,251,148,523 - +------------- - = £ | £446,656,453 - ------+------------- - -The average annual value of the Live Stock products of Uruguay during -the five years ending 1913 was $39,682,850 (Uruguayan) = £8,443,315. -Similarly with Cereal Exports, Live Stock Exports dropped in 1914, but -have more than recovered during 1915. Evidently, however, no War-time -Export Statistics can be taken as indications of the true productiveness -of the countries concerned. - - -THE MEAT TRADE - -The export of Meat from the River Plate Territories is no new thing; the -first of such exports being authorized by Philip III of Spain in 1602. - -The export under this edict was entirely confined to jerked beef; the -salting industry only obtaining important development considerably later. -It was not until 1793 that we find another Royal Edict which granted -freedom from Export and Import duties for the salted meat and tallow of -Buenos Aires. - -About three-fourths of the exports under these Edicts usually went to -Havana and the remainder to Spain. - -The next development of this industry was begun when in 1841 a certain -Hipolito Doinnel established a salting factory at the foot of the Cerro -at Montevideo; at which he also manufactured soap, candles and sulphuric -acid. - -During all this period the export of hides was constantly much greater -than that of meat. - -The first mention of the export of horse hair relates to the year 1585, -when from 300 to 400 mares were ordered to be killed so that their tails -might be sent to the Guinea coast to be bartered for slaves. - -The first privilege or patent granted in the now already independent -River Plate Territories for meat preservation was granted by the Congress -at Paraná, in 1854, to one Samuel Laffone Quevedo for the exclusive use -of a machine invented by him for the preparation and pressing of salted -beef. - -Further experiment in preservation, by either heat, cold or in a vacuum, -led to many local patents being granted for various processes from the -year 1867 onward, to the present day in fact; in respect of alternative -systems or suggested improvements of those generally in use. - -The historic beginning, however, of the present River Plate Meat Industry -was made in the year 1877 in the spring of which _La Frigorifique_ and in -the autumn of which _La Paraguay_, specially fitted boats, sailed from -Buenos Aires with cargoes of meat preserved by the freezing and chilling -systems discovered by Mr. Charles Tellier. - -Thus, while in the past the River Plate Territories exported only -sun-dried meat for the slaves on the Brazilian and Havana sugar -plantations, now they supply meat to the most highly civilized and -exacting countries of the world. - -The free export of frozen meat was sanctioned by the Argentine Congress -in 1884, two years after the first of the existing cold storage -establishments in Argentina had been started by Mr. Alfred Drabble. An -establishment which still continues to carry on business successfully -under the control of “The River Plate Fresh Meat Company.” - -Other large companies which exploit this industry are the Sansinena -“La Negra” (est. 1883), the “Las Palmas Produce Co.” (est. 1892), the -“La Plata Cold Storage Co.” (est. 1902), the “La Blanca” Cold Storage -(est. 1902), the Sansinena “Cuatreros” (est. 1903), “The Smithfield and -Argentine Meat Co.” (est. 1905), and the “Frigorifico” (est. 1905). - -The Meat Trade recognizes an average difference of weight between -Argentine and Uruguayan beef and between Argentine, Uruguayan and -“Patagonian” mutton. Argentine quarters of beef run about 12 to the ton -and Uruguayan about 14 to the ton. Argentine mutton carcases run about -40, Uruguayan about 45 to the ton, and mutton carcases from Patagonia (in -Argentina) some 2 or 3 lbs. lighter than Uruguayan. - -Already in March, 1915, British Trade Reports showed that the meat trade -in Great Britain was particularly dull on account of the extremely -high prices ruling and the impossibility of retailers being able to -get an equivalent in their shops. Since then, through the fact of the -Governments of the belligerent powers being, as they are and are expected -to be, large buyers, the conditions of the British Trade have been -completely, if temporarily, changed by the War.[44] - - -MEAT TRADE EXPORTS FROM 1885 TO 1913 - - ------+-----------+-----------+---------+----------+----------+---------- - | Frozen | | Sundry | | | - | & chilled | Frozen | frozen |Preserved |Extract of| Powder of - | beef | mutton | meats | meats | beef | meat - YEARS | | | | | | - | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold - ------+-----------+-----------+---------+----------+----------+---------- - 1885 | 1,680| 75,323| — | — | — | — - 1886 | 12,800| 360,508| 1,876| — | 169,991| — - 1887 | — | 963,112| 8,837| — | 75,888| 15,250 - 1888 | 3,326| 1,459,839| 38,343| 13,809| 128,080| 117,457 - 1889 | 58,742| 1,322,604| 17,930| 101,714| 105,668| 19,830 - 1890 | 53,029| 1,633,105| — | 42,661| 375,132| 19,175 - 1891 | 5,902| 1,862,247| 31,211| 258,926| 389,454| 62,116 - 1892 | 22,695| 2,034,898| 49,217| 633,601| 520,892| 226,288 - 1893 | 222,279| 2,003,254| 34,324| 196,080| 198,070| 75,497 - 1894 | 12,400| 1,864,110| 59,645| 65,250| 134,393| 21,562 - 1895 | 63,482| 1,675,273| 16,120| 92,325| 208,399| 21,217 - 1896 | 119,863| 1,804,205| 24,204| 204,315| 683,487| 13,551 - 1897 | 169,644| 2,035,778| 27,903| 115,127| 257,772| 5,582 - 1898 | 234,681| 2,393,358| 38,839| 162,294| 605,522| 58,034 - 1899 | 363,141| 2,265,069| 36,863| 181,600| 765,504| — - 1900 | 2,458,957| 4,512,973| 70,797| 140,480| 230,416| — - 1901 | 4,490,447| 5,041,023| 91,648| 94,717| 433,590| — - 1902 | 7,001,833| 6,405,804| 163,820| 164,404| 592,696| — - 1903 | 8,151,956| 6,251,959| 203,973| 374,154| 693,174| — - 1904 | 9,774,354| 7,089,287| 272,308| 242,861| 414,188| 4,885 - 1905 | 15,285,693| 6,268,059| 356,299| 248,826| 870,950| 599,460 - 1906 | 15,380,897| 5,391,055| 400,275| 125,908| 842,142| 959,203 - 1907 | 13,822,162| 5,582,781| 450,198| 159,477| 1,791,574| 1,536,828 - 1908 | 18,081,443| 6,307,688| 740,421| 178,057| 1,379,952| 1,239,918 - 1909 | 21,065,747| 5,319,612| 649,206| 639,013| 2,702,988| 1,057,675 - 1910 | 25,370,815| 6,008,133| 721,618| 1,215,370| 3,046,680| 1,267,964 - 1911 | 31,283,396| 6,873,285| 946,859| 1,541,333| 1,031,154| 904,730 - 1912 | 34,285,076| 5,613,971|1,017,992| 1,769,882| 1,223,860| 1,349,557 - 1913 | 36,622,889| 3,674,206| 910,311| 1,257,391| 1,598,136| 1,097,566 - +-----------+-----------+---------+----------+----------+---------- - Totals|244,419,329|104,092,519|7,381,037|10,219,575|21,469,752|10,673,945 - +-----------+-----------+---------+----------+----------+---------- - = £| 48,495,900| 20,653,277|1,464,480| 2,027,693| 4,259,871| 2,117,846 - ------+-----------+-----------+---------+----------+----------+---------- - - ------+---------+----------------------+---------+----------+----------- - |Preserved| LIVE STOCK |Condensed| Jerked | Totals - YEARS | tongues |----------------------| soup | beef | - | | Cattle | Sheep | | | - | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold | $ gold - ------+---------+----------------------+---------+----------+----------- - 1885 | — | 2,345,313| 58,552| — | 4,204,077| 6,684,945 - 1886 | 27,267| 2,203,150| 41,557| — | 3,738,820| 6,555,969 - 1887 | 20,990| 1,415,625| 42,884| 8,257| 2,398,424| 4,949,267 - 1888 | 56,668| 1,798 251| 34,685| — | 3,456,787| 7,107,245 - 1889 | 58,706| 3,194,113| 66,526| 6,889| 6,139,875| 11,092,597 - 1890 | 185,412| 3,579,456| 159,428| 10,547| 3,913,304| 9,971,249 - 1891 | 195,753| 3,997,270| 387,545| 7,728| 3,566,854| 10,765,006 - 1892 | 198,813| 2,264,675| 170,422| 6,455| 4,100,488| 10,589,044 - 1893 | 171,584| 4,433,944| 362,904| — | 4,115,134| 11,813,070 - 1894 | 266,144| 4,540,160| 448,678| — | 4,564,447| 11,976,789 - 1895 | 158,911| 7,003,230| 1,292,527| 12,069| 4,225,419| 14,768,972 - 1896 | 127,980| 6,543,550| 1,536,056| 61,964| 3,217,541| 14,336,716 - 1897 | 112,270| 5,018,222| 1,512,684| 22,941| 2,466,313| 11,744,236 - 1898 | 112,044| 7,690,450| 1,733,963| 32,447| 2,116,468| 15,178,100 - 1899 | 116,439| 6,824,010| 1,631,041| 29,342| 2,038,413| 14,251,422 - 1900 | 204,196| 3,678,150| 594,675| 24,005| 1,979,557| 13,894,206 - 1901 | 205,525| 1,980,372| 78,248| 16,217| 2,879,455| 15,311,242 - 1902 | 167,854| 2,848,445| 368,656| 11,769| 2,647,450| 20,372,731 - 1903 | 142,170| 4,437,420| 503,241| 100,599| 1,542,018| 22,400,664 - 1904 | 189,400| 2,852,820| 85,219| 114,044| 1,391,931| 22,431,297 - 1905 | 155,615| 5,160,483| 364,209| 122,066| 3,738,444| 33,170,104 - 1906 | 91,200| 1,676,145| 315,359| 70,614| 596,643| 25,849,441 - 1907 | 227,119| 2,062,390| 331,701| 107,789| 1,178,056| 27,250,075 - 1908 | 262,058| 1,876,820| 311,376| 115,822| 772,819| 31,266,374 - 1909 | 360,444| 4,087,820| 265,908| 188,735| 1,325,053| 37,662,201 - 1910 | 284,352| 4,056,450| 231,540| 204,293| 1,033,020| 43,440,235 - 1911 | 214,150| 8,202,750| 332,070| 175,744| 1,661,615| 53,167,086 - 1912 | 189,523| 9,140,089| 314,694| 197,433| 1,400,748| 56,502,816 - 1913 | 131,952| 6,848,830| 311,991| 375,392| 658,097| 53,486,761 - +---------+----------------------+---------+----------+----------- - Totals|4,634,539|122,120,394|13,888,339|2,023,161|77,067,270|617,989,860 - +---------+----------------------+---------+----------+----------- - £| 919,551| 24,230,236| 2,755,622| 401,421|15,291,125|122,617,022 - ------+---------+----------------------+---------+----------+----------- - -During 1914 the meat producers and importers were alarmed by the purchase -of most of the chief River Plate cold storage establishments by United -States companies, who were credited with the intention of forming a -“combine” to monopolize the industry. Certainly at the commencement of -1914 they were paying high prices to estancieros and selling considerably -increased exports at low prices in the British markets. It would appear, -however, as if matters were in the course of adjustment between all the -River Plate Cold Storage companies when the War came and, as has just -been indicated, altered all the conditions of the meat markets. - -For all the above causes it is difficult to assign a _value_[45] to -recent River Plate Meat Exports. Exports which it must be remembered -leave no record as having paid _ad valorem_ export duty, since they are -duty-free exports. - -As for the future of this trade there can be little doubt but that it -will continue to increase commensurately with the available quantity of -live stock of high quality. The Cold Storage Companies will buy no other -and thus have constantly encouraged and advanced scientific breeding on -the River Plate. It may safely be assumed that this trade is not likely -to lose by the occurrence or effects of the War. - -Recently, in view of what seemed a threatened shortage of cattle for -export demands, producers commenced breeding from one-year-old cows; -instead of beginning only at two years of age, as formerly was the South -American custom. - -Not only do the Cold Storage Companies export Meat but they also work -up into marketable forms the various by-products of the animals they -slaughter. - -[Illustration: ARGENTINE MEAT TRADE 1888-1913 - -Progress of Exports in the last 26 years - -NOTE.—As will be noticed from the subjoined tables, the decrease for 1913 -was due to a falling off of the exports of frozen mutton and of cattle on -the hoof.] - -[Illustration: FROZEN AND CHILLED BEEF - -Progress of Argentine Exports compared with the principal exporting -countries] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -FORESTRY - - -Did anyone ever hear of Argentine timber? Few people indeed; though a -good many more know that both of the River Plate Republics are large -importers of wood from the North of Europe. That they need not be so, -because they have all they, and a good many other countries besides, -can possibly need already growing in their own territories (and as much -more as may be wanted, only for the trouble of planting under highly -favourable natural conditions), will come as a surprise even to some -Argentines and Uruguayans; so accustomed are they to import all their -building timber and furniture. Yet the above are facts.[46] - -The only well-known forestal products of the River Plate are the logs of -and extract from the QUEBRACHO (_Aspidosperma Quebracho_, Schlet). The -wood of this tree is very hard—hence its name quebra-hacha, break-axe—and -is valuable for cabinet-making, fine carving, and engraving, etc.; but it -rots quickly when exposed to the influences of weather. Notwithstanding -this, on account of its hardness, it is in large demand for railway -sleepers. The extract is very largely used for tanning. - -The following lists and descriptions given by Señor Fernando Mauduit in -his erudite Monograph on “Arboriculture in Argentina,” attached to the -Argentine National Census, 1908, cannot, certainly, be improved on by the -present author. These lists, although confined to the enumeration of the -chief classes of trees only, are at the same time fully indicative of -the general nature of forest vegetation not only in Argentina but also in -Uruguay. - -A glance at the map of both Republics will show that, from geographic and -climatic distribution, they may practically be reckoned as one country -in this regard. Indeed, as will be seen, Señor Mauduit specifically -includes Uruguay in what he terms the Riparian Region. He says that the -configuration of the different zones and the fertility of their soil -allow of the cultivation of every product of the two Americas, Asia, -Europe and Australia, with the exception of those of the torrid zone. - -The following enumeration of “regions” and of the chief kinds of trees -found and capable of being grown in the River Plate countries, with the -respective descriptions, are taken from the Monograph above referred to:— - - 1. SUBTROPICAL, comprising the plains of Santiago del Estero - and the Chaco, the lowlands of Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy, North - Corrientes and Misiones. - - 2. NORTHERN ANDEAN, stretching along the Andes, from San Juan - to the Bolivian frontier, comprising Catamarca, Salta, Jujuy, - Los Andes and part of Tucumán. - - 3. SOUTHERN ANDEAN, from San Juan to Neuquen. - - 4. NORTHERN PAMPEAN, from Santiago del Estero to Buenos Aires, - wherein the eucalyptus trees do not suffer from frost, and - comprising Córdoba, San Luis, part of Santa Fé and Buenos Aires. - - 5. SOUTHERN PAMPEAN, comprising Córdoba and San Luis, where the - eucalyptus freezes, Southern Buenos Aires and the Pampas. - - 6. AUSTRAL, composed of the territories of Rio Negro, Chubut - and Santa Cruz. - - 7. RIPARIAN, comprising the islands of the Paraná, Entre Rios - and the shores of the rivers Plate, Paraná and Uruguay. - - 8. MARITIME, stretching along the Atlantic coast in a - belt three leagues wide, more or less, according to the - configuration of the soil. - - 9. STRAITS, consisting of the shores of the Straits of Magellan - and Tierra del Fuego. - - The confines of all these regions cross and merge into one - another, at times, on account of the altitude in their - different zones. The vegetation typical of one zone is often - scattered through one or more neighbouring ones, so that they - cannot be exactly defined. The greater or lesser altitude of a - place often goes towards modifying the uniform character of the - vegetation. - - In the first region the forests contain the best timber in the - Republic, cedar or hardwood, so-called (cedrela) quebracho - white and red, lapacho, algarrobo (carob), acacia, ibirá, - molle, ñandubay, different woods, Misiones pine, Brazilian - araucaria, tarco, urunday, aguaribay, cebil, timbó, palm - trees, etc., and the fruit trees of the region, orange, lemon, - pomegranate, guava, chirimoyas (custard apple) and pantas. - - Fruit tree planting, though seldom, is more carefully done - than formerly, and its products inundate the markets of Buenos - Aires, Rosario and Santa Fé. - - The Paraguayan tea tree, or rather bush (mate), is grown in - many places and cultivated rationally. Mr. Thays’ experiments - give room for hoping that this precious bush may become a - certain source of future wealth, whereas the old system of - cultivation was bound to entail, early or late, the total - extinction of the product. - - All kinds of eucalyptus trees grow well, and the extensive - planting of these trees in the Chaco, Misiones, in Tucumán, - Corrientes and Santiago del Estero is a consummation devoutly - to be wished for. - - The same trees are found in the second region, but fewer in - number and smaller in size, orange, lemon, fig, plum, peach and - pomegranate trees, also the vine can be successfully grown, - and in the valleys guayavos, chirimoyas, pantas, avocados and - persimmons. Plantations of mate and eucalyptus could also be - tried. - - The third region is warmer and partly covered with vineyards. - Here the vine is in its native element. - - On the slopes of the Andes the soil is admirably suited for the - planting of forest trees, such as pines, firs, beeches, and - all others peculiar to mild, dry climates; as well as for that - of fruit trees, such as the walnut, chestnut, apple, cherry, - pear and peach trees … the vine where late frosts are not very - frequent. - - In the Northern Pampas, or the fourth region, all kinds of - fruit trees can be grown, soil permitting, orange, fig, - persimmon, vines, mulberry, almond, peach, apricot, plum, - cherry, walnut, chestnut, pear and quince trees. This is the - forest tree region of the plains: hardwood, native willows, the - paradise tree, ombú, laurel, sequoia, cypress, sycamore, maple - and many others. The caldén tree covers immense stretches, - likewise the carob tree. - - The fifth or Southern Pampean region differs from the preceding - one in the cooler and even colder climate in its southern part. - Apart from the trees which suffer from frosts this is the most - favourable zone for tree cultivation in general. All forest - trees which resist 10° below zero grow well here, the oak, - beech, ash, maple, pine, fir, spruce, poplar, elm, sycamore and - such fruit trees as the peach, cherry, plum, apricot, quince, - pear and apple tree. - - These two regions are those containing the largest plantations - of trees of all kinds, millions of eucalyptus trees, farms, - parks and gardens, richly stocked, representing millions of - dollars, and ever-increasing and multiplying orchards and - groves which bring in thousands, but whose output could be - increased tenfold without succeeding in ousting the preserved - fruit imported from Europe and North America. - - The sixth or Austral region, as its name indicates, is exposed - to the south winds. It is the cold region which excludes the - eucalyptus, the Californian pine, and peach tree, the vine, - etc., but where in sheltered spots the cherry, plum, pear and - apple tree can be grown, the last especially. This, once known, - would make the fortune of this region. Cider manufacture would - furnish a wholesome, pleasant beverage, much cheaper than wine. - - Moreover, the preparation of apple preserves of every kind will - one day be like that of North America. The man who plants apple - trees, beginning from 38° S. latitude to the south, secures for - himself and his children returns proportionate to the outlay - made. - - The seventh region is very fertile and suited for the planting - of willows, poplars, alders, cryptomerias, cypresses, - sycamores, magnolias, palm trees, orange trees, tangerines, - persimmons, etc. Peach and quince trees are grown here on a - large scale to supply the markets of the capital. It has been - the cradle of fruit-growing, and as it has been endowed with - a mild climate and a generally humid soil everything grows - luxuriantly and produces abundantly, though the general quality - of its products is not equal to that of the fruit grown in the - fifth region. - - The eighth region is arid in certain places, and always - exposed to the winds and sea fogs which are so harmful to the - growth of the trees. The winds from the south blow throughout - the year on nearly all our sea coast. The only trees that can - be grown successfully are the eucalyptus (_E. globulus_), the - Canadian and other poplars, the tamarisk, cypress, lambertiana, - maritime pine, _Pinus insignis_, and all must be planted very - thickly in order to resist the impetuous attack of the winds - and the fogs. - - In the ninth and last region we have included the shores of the - Straits of Magellan as far as Gallegos, and inland as far as - the hills; and on the other shore Fireland (Tierra del Fuego). - Fruit tree planting cannot be thought of there for the present, - the only thing to be done is to propagate largely the native - growths, and where the climate permits it to plant spruces, - pines, firs, birches, beeches, hazels, currant bushes, yews, - all of which are sturdy growths of the colder countries. - - - CHIEF INDIGENOUS SPECIES OF FOREST TREES - - QUEBRACHO, _Aspidosperma Quebracho_, Schlet.—A tree 20 metres - in height by 1 metre in diameter, with very hard wood, greatly - valued for certain purposes. Does not resist exposure to - the elements, however, and rots easily. Greatly prized for - engraving and cabinet-making and for fine wood carving, etc. - The bark and leaves are rich in tannin. It appears that there - are some varieties which do not possess so large a percentage - of tannin. - - It grows easily from seed which is sown in beds when ripe, - where it must be nursed before sowing in beds. Its growth is - slow at first, but once the roots have taken well in a soil - rich in humus it attains a great size. It multiplies naturally - from its seeds and should form a third as a stock tree in the - afforestation of the subtropical regions. - - BOLDU, _Boldu chilanum_, Nees.—Grows to a height of 15 metres - in the Andean regions, where its timber is used for various - purposes. It multiplies from seed and should be sown in beds in - holes. Can be utilized as an auxiliary in afforestation of its - native region. - - LIGNUM VITÆ (Palo Santo), _Bulnesia Sarmienti_, Grisb.—20 - metres in height by 0·75 metre in diameter. Grows plentifully - in the Chaco and Misiones, Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy, gives a - timber, heavier than water, which is used for cabinet-making - and various ornaments. Multiplies easily from seed as an - auxiliary in subtropical woods. - - PALO BLANCO, _Calycophyllum multiflorum_, Grisb.—About 15 - metres in height, gives very fine timber, yellow in colour, - used for different joinery purposes. Multiplies from seed like - the preceding tree and used also as an auxiliary in the same - regions. - - HORCO MOLLE, _Bumelia obtusiolia_, Roem and Schlet.—12 metres - in height by O·50 metre in diameter. Furnishes excellent timber - for cabinet-making and coach-building. Multiplies from seed - sown in rows as soon as ripe. In mixed subtropical woods, it - serves as an auxiliary for afforestation and reafforestation. - - GUAICUM, _Cesalpina melanocarpa_, Grisb.—From 10 to 15 metres - in height. Gives nice veined timber, used for cabinet-making - and ornaments. Its bark, as well as the seed pods, contains a - large percentage of tannin. It multiplies from seed and is a - secondary tree throughout the subtropical zone. - - RED CEDAR, _Cedrela brasiliensis_, A. Juss.—30 metres in height - by O·75 metre in diameter, and sometimes more. Furnishes very - fine light timber of a nice colour and easy to work. Much - used for joinery work. One of the best stock trees in the - subtropical zone, where it should be used for reafforestation - in the existing woods, and afforestation throughout the - subtropical region. To be sown in rows as far as possible and - with seeds in layers. - - TALA, _Celtis tola_, Gill, _Celtis sellowiana_, Miq.—From 10 - to 15 metres in height. This tree is of slight importance - for afforestation, although its timber is good for posts, - cart-trees, handles for tools, etc. Grows in the first, second - and third regions. Multiplies from seeds in layers as an - auxiliary in mixed woods and woodlands. - - PALO DE LANZA AMARILLA (Yellow Lancewood), _Chuncoa trifolia_, - Grisb.—Same height and regions as the preceding tree. To be - planted in the same woods. The timber is useful for joinery - work. - - LAUREL, _Emmotum apogon_, Grisb.—One of the finest trees of the - subtropical region; over 25 metres in height by O·50 metre in - diameter. The timber is very fine and good, and is useful for - carpentry work. One of the best kinds for reafforestation and - as stock for afforestation. Sown in rows in little holes with - seeds in layers as far as possible. - - WHITE OR YELLOW LAUREL, _Oreodaphne suaveolens_, Meissn.—30 - metres in height by 0·50 metre in diameter. Furnishes light - timber, aromatic, easily worked and suitable for joinery. Is a - good auxiliary for reafforestation and for afforestation in the - first region. Sown like the preceding one. - - BLACK LAUREL or MOUNTAIN LAUREL, _Nectandra porphyria_, - Grisb.—Same height as the preceding trees and 1 metre in - diameter. Gives fine yellow timber with a black grain like - walnut, but requiring a long time to become seasoned, and - splitting when worked before being quite seasoned. Employed in - hydraulic works, as it keeps well in water. A good auxiliary - kind for afforestation in the first, second and fourth regions, - the seed to be sown in little holes, in rows and in layers. - - TIMBÓ PACARÁ, _Enterolobium timbouva_, Mart.—A very leafy tree - of the subtropical region, from 15 to 25 metres in height by 1 - to 1·50 metres in diameter. Furnishes timber used for carpentry - and different household purposes, for boats, casks, etc. The - bark contains tannin, and the sawdust of the dry wood causes - sneezing. This is a good auxiliary kind for woods in the first, - second and fourth regions. Multiplies from seeds sown in holes - in rows. It can also be grown from twigs to be planted at the - end of May, a metre apart, in rows of from 1 to 3 metres apart. - - BEECH, _Fagus antarctica_, Mirb., _F. betuloides_, Mirb., _F. - oblicua_, Mirb.—A tree of 20 to 30 metres in height, peculiar - to the austral regions, where it forms forests and woods. - Its timber does not resist damp greatly, but is much prized - for box-making and internal woodwork. Multiplies easily from - its seeds, which grow naturally in its shade. When they are - gathered to be used for afforestation they must be sown at - once in layers, or in little holes, as their germinative - power is soon lost. Is one of the best kinds of stock - trees for afforestation in the 6th and 9th regions and for - reafforestation where it already grows. - - LARCH, _Fitz-roya patagonica_, Hook.—This conifer of the woods - of the south attains a height of 30 metres, and the timber - given by it is equal to pinewood and used for similar purposes. - Is very suitable for afforestation intermingled with wild pines - in the austral region, and with spruce in that of the straits. - It might also be added to the araucaria in the extreme south of - the Southern Andean region. - - QUILLAY (Soap Bark), _Garugandra amorphoides_, Grisb.—This - is a very thorny tree and can be used as a protective belt - round large orchards or plantations for industrial purposes, - in places where animals trespass, and there is no other way to - prevent it. It attains a height of 15 metres by 0·75 metre in - diameter and multiplies naturally from seed. Its timber seems - to be of good quality, and its bark is used as soap in cleaning - woollen and cotton fabrics. - - It can be planted as indicated above in regions first, second - and third; and, should it become a nuisance, it may be rooted - out when the plantations are strong against trespass. - - CHAÑAR, _Gourlien decorticans_, Gill.—Whole woods of these - trees are to be found in regions 1, 2, 3 and 4. Its fruit is - edible and animals crave for it. Its timber is used for various - household purposes. - - WALNUT (Cayuri), _Juglans australis_, Grisb.—15 metres in - height by 1 metre in diameter, with timber equal to European - walnut. This valuable tree, which ought to be cultivated on - a large scale, is gradually vanishing from our woods without - any attempt at reafforestation. We shall become aware of its - industrial value only when it has completely disappeared. It is - suitable as a stock tree in afforestation and as an auxiliary - in reafforestation. - - RED QUEBRACHO, _Loxopterigium Lorentzii_, Grisb.—A valuable - tree, 15 metres in height by 2 metres in diameter, its timber - is greatly prized for building purposes, and possesses so much - tannin that it is largely exploited in the Chaco forests. It is - slow of growth, and, therefore, measures for its multiplication - are indispensable, so as to avoid exhausting this source of - wealth. It is one of the best stock kinds for reafforestation, - a third being planted with species of a more rapid growth. - It multiplies naturally if care is taken to prevent forest - fires and to leave always a few full-grown trees standing. Red - Quebracho timber is hard, heavy, and not easily worked. It is - used especially for railway sleepers, posts, columns, frames, - etc. It is nicely veined, and heavy furniture can be made from - it. Buried or in water it keeps for many years. - - TIPA (Hardwood), _Machærium Tipa_, Benth.—A tree from 20 to 25 - metres in height, very leafy. Its timber is used for different - household purposes. A splendid avenue tree, but very third-rate - as a forest tree. The seeds are sown in rows, once ripe: 1st - and 4th regions. - - MORA (Mulberry), _Maclura Mora_, Grisb.—From 15 to 20 metres - in height by 1 metre in diameter. Furnishes yellowish, - fine-grained timber, which is used for the manufacture of - elegant furniture. Well seasoned, the wood is the colour of - mahogany. An excellent auxiliary tree in the subtropical, - Pampean and Northern Andean regions. In mixed woods it may be - stock or prevailing tree, according to the kinds grown with it. - It may also be used for woodland cutting. It is sown in rows, - or grown in nurseries for two years, when the young plants are - transplanted. - - PALO DE SAN ANTONIO, _Myrsine floribunda_.—15 metres in height - by 0·75 metre in diameter, with a straight trunk and springy - wood, which is used principally for making staves. To be sown - in rows as an auxiliary, in mixed woods, in the 1st, 2nd and - 4th regions. - - CEBIL, _Piptadenia Cebil_, Grisb., _P. communis_, Benth.—A - tree of 20 to 25 metres in height by over 1 metre in diameter. - Grows in the subtropical Andean and Northern Pampean regions. - Excellent timber, but can only be utilized when quite seasoned, - and is used principally for joinery. To be sown as stock trees - in furrows or small holes. - - ALGARROBO (Carob Tree), _Prosopis alba_, Grisb.—From 15 to 20 - metres in height by 1 metre in diameter, with timber much used - in carpentry, and bark possessing a large percentage of tannin. - A good kind for afforestation in regions 1, 2 and 4; to be sown - as stock trees in furrows or small holes. - - ÑANDUBAY, _Prosopis algarrobilo_, Grisb.—About 10 metres in - height, with hard timber, generally used for large stakes and - posts. Grows well throughout the northern and even in the third - region. To be sown as an auxiliary in mixed woods. - - IRIRARÚ, VIRARÚ, PALO DE LANZA (Lancewood), _Ruprechtia - excelsa_, Grisb.—10 to 15 metres in height by 0·75 metre - in diameter; giving excellent timber for various household - purposes. To be sown as an auxiliary in woods of the northern - regions, predominating among timber for cutting. - - LAPACHO, _Tabebuia Avellanedæ_, LORENTZ, _Tabebuia flavescens_, - Benth.—This beautiful tree is covered with blossoms in spring - time, the former with pinky mauve and the latter with yellow - blossoms. In the northern forests it grows to a height of 25 - metres, its wood is very fine-grained and very much prized for - all sorts of fine carpentry. Two excellent kinds for stock in - tall mixed woods, 1st and 2nd regions. To be sown in rows, in - furrows or small holes. - - COCO (Cocoanut Tree), _Zanthoxylum Coco_, Gill.—From 10 to 12 - metres in height by 0·75 metre in diameter. The wood is very - pretty and fine, valued for elegant furniture. To be sown in - rows, furrows or small holes as an auxiliary in mixed woods and - plantations in the 1st and 2nd regions. - - URUNDAY, _Astronium juglandifolium_, Grisb.—A splendid tree - from 25 to 30 metres in height by 1·50 metres in diameter, - common in the Chaco. Its timber is very hard and richly - coloured, it is used for furniture, ship-building, etc. One - of the best kinds for stock and reafforestation in the first - region. Multiplies naturally from seed if care be taken to - leave a few trees standing at suitable distances for producing - seeds, which scatter easily. In the warm valleys of the 4th - region, as well as in the 2nd, to be sown in furrows with other - auxiliary species for afforestation. - - ALDER TREE, _Alnus ferruginea_, Kth.—From the Northern Andean - region, where it grows to a height of 15 metres by 0·75 metre - in diameter. Gives white, very easily worked, damp-resisting - timber, used for joinery work. A good auxiliary kind for - afforestation in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 7th regions. To be sown in - rows, in furrows or in plots with other species, one being the - stock tree. - - NATIVE or RED WILLOW, _Salix Humboldtiana_, Witti.—15 metres in - height by 1 metre in diameter. Grows well in all regions where - the eucalyptus does not freeze, gives timber for carpentry - and multiplies from seed. A good auxiliary in mixed woods and - timber for cutting, and for reafforestation on damp soil, where - it is planted from twigs towards the end of the winter. For - afforestation it is sown in plots when the seeds are ripe, in - regions 4 and 7 and the more temperate part of region 3. - - SOUTHERN PINE, _Araucaria imbricata_, R. and P.—A tree 50 - metres in height of our southern forests. Its timber is equal - to the best pine, and it is one of the best stock kinds in the - 6th region. To be sown in rows or in little holes when the - seeds drop naturally in the 5th and 6th regions. - - MISIONES PINE, _Araucaria brasiliensis_, A. Rich.—This conifer - grows to a height of 50 metres by 1 metre in diameter in - certain valleys of the northern regions 1, 2, and part of 3, 4, - 7 and 8, as far as Mar del Plata. Its timber is equal to that - of the pine, it is used for joinery and building. Sown like - the preceding tree. - - CYPRESS, _Libocedras chilensis_, Endl.—From the Andes, where it - grows to a height of 25 to 30 metres by 0·70 metre in diameter. - Its wood is fine and excels for furniture and veneering. A good - auxiliary kind for the dense woods of the south. - - - CHIEF SPECIES OF EXOTIC FOREST TREES GROWN IN THE COUNTRY - - FIR, _Abies Nordmanniana_, Spach.—From Asia Minor, where it - grows to a height of 40 metres by 1·50 metres in diameter at - least, 5th and 6th regions, in tall woods consisting of firs - alone. - - ACACIA OLIVE, _Acacia melanoxylon_, R. Br.—From Australia, - where it attains a height of 15 to 20 metres by 1 metre in - diameter; very branchy, and giving very hard wood known as iron - wood. A good stock kind in acacia, mimosa and laurel groves in - regions 4, 5, 7 and 8, as far as Mar del Plata. To be sown in - rows or in furrows. - - FRENCH MIMOSA, _Acacia dealbata_, Link.—Likewise from - Australia; it attains a height of 20 metres by 0·50 metre in - diameter, but breaks easily. A good predominating species and - for reafforestation of timber for cutting, in regions 4, 5, 7 - and 8, as far as 38° S. latitude. - - MAPLE TREE, _Acer pseudo platanus_, L.—A European tree 20 to 30 - metres in height by 0·75 metre in diameter, growing as rapidly - as the sycamore maple. An excellent auxiliary kind for tall - woods of trees with deciduous leaves, in regions 4, 5, 6 and - 7. To be sown in rows, in furrows or one-year-old saplings 2 - metres apart. - - HEAVENLY TREE, _Ailanthus glandulosa_, Desf.—From China, from - 25 to 30 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter; very sturdy, - and multiplying on all sides from the numberless saplings which - grow from its roots; furnishes fine, hard, well-veined timber. - A good kind for mixed woods and for stock timber in regions 4, - 5, 6, 7 and 8. To be sown in rows or planted from saplings. - - ALDER TREE, _Alnus glutinosa_, Gaertn.—From Europe and Western - Asia. From 20 to 30 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter. - Grows well in the riparian region, and its wood is useful for - carpentry. Sown in rows, in furrows or in plots. - - SPANISH CHESTNUT, _Castanea vesca_, Gaertn.—From Europe, Asia - and Northern Africa. It grows here as a fruit tree, but may be - grown also as a forest stock tree in tall and mixed woods, and - as an auxiliary in timber for cutting in regions 3, 4, 5, 6 - and 7. Its wood is principally used for staves, casks, etc. To - be sown in rows as soon as it falls, as the germinative power - is of short duration. It may also be sown in nursery beds, for - transplanting when two or three years old. - - CASUARINA (She Oak).—Various species are grown here, chief are - _C. quadrivalvis_, Labill., _C. equisetifolia_, Forst., and _C. - glauca_, Sieb. Herb. We ignore the height to which they may - grow, but many specimens we have are from 20 to 30 metres high. - The mode of reproduction and cultivation is the same as for - eucalyptus. The wood is excellent. Suitable for high woods in - the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th regions. - - CEDARS.—Although not yet grown on a very large scale, the - specimens we have of _C. Atlantica_, _C. libani_ and _C. - deodara_, natives of Mounts Atlas, Lebanon and the Himalayas, - are hardy, cold-resisting, and everything points to our - being able to grow them well in high woods intermingled with - cypresses, in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th regions. Its - timber is first class, and useful for many purposes. - - SWEET CHERRY, _Cerasus avium_, Moench.—From Europe, where it - grows to a height of 20 to 25 metres, gives splendid wood, - greatly prized for furniture. The few specimens we have - scattered through the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th regions. To be - sown in nursery beds after gathering the seeds, or in layers in - furrows or small holes. The nurslings are transplanted when a - year or two old. - - CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA, Don.—From Japan. Grows very well here, - easily attaining the same height as in its native land, which - varies from 30 to 40 metres. A good kind for tall woods on - rich soil. Multiplication and cultivation like that of the - eucalyptus in the 4th, 5th and 7th regions. Trials in the 8th. - - DAMMARA AUSTRALIS, Lumb.—From New Zealand. The few specimens we - have in the environs of Buenos Aires show a species quite as - hardy as in its native land, where it attains a height of 50 - metres by 2 metres in diameter. Grown like the eucalyptus in - compact groves and in the same region. - - EUCALYPTUS.—Native of Australia. We reckon our specimens of - this gigantic tree by the thousand, of several different - kinds. The first known specimens of _E. globulus_ were planted - more than half a century ago, and now it would take a long time - to enumerate all our progressive citizens who have devoted - large tracts of land to forming dense groves of these trees, - which, besides giving them good returns in the sums represented - by the present eucalyptus groves, have also contributed to - increase the value of the land, directly or indirectly. - Directly, thanks to the amount of vegetable mould which these - trees originate, and indirectly for the shelter afforded by - them for growing certain kinds of plants and rearing delicate - breeds of cattle which would not have thriven in the open - country. It would be difficult to estimate the share of the - eucalyptus in the increased value of the lands, flocks and - herds. In order to form an idea on the subject one must imagine - what estancias were sixty years ago, with the sheltering ombú - and the peach grove, enclosed by paradise trees and willows. - How long it took to grow a tiny grove of willows, paradise tree - and black wattle, which barely furnished sufficient wood to - heat the water for brewing mate or Paraguayan tea. Different - kinds of Eucalyptus are grown under apocryphal specific - designations, and therefore we abstain from giving them lest we - lead planters into temptation. - - The best among them are the following:— - - _E. Amygdalina_, Labill.—From Australia and Tasmania, 140 - metres in height by 4 or 5 metres in diameter. - - _E. Botrioydes_, Smith.—From Southern Queensland, where it - attains a height of 60 metres by 2 metres in diameter. - - _E. diversicolor_, F. v. M.—From Southern Australia, 140 metres - in height, over 2 metres in diameter. - - _E. cornuta_, Labill.—From the same place as the preceding one, - 60 metres in height by 2 metres in diameter. - - _E. hemiphloia_, F. v. M.—From New South Wales, where it - attains a height of 60 metres by 2 metres in diameter. The best - wood of all. - - _E. leucoxylon_, F. v. M.—From New South Wales and Victoria. - This is the famous “iron bark”; it is only 30 metres in height - by 2 metres in diameter. - - _E. melliodora_, Cunningh.—New South Wales and Victoria. Gives - very fine timber and grows to a height of 60 metres by 1·50 - metres in diameter. Its blossoms are much visited by bees. - - _E. occidentalis_, Smith.—From Western Australia. Like E. - globulus, can be grown near the sea coast. Generally it does - not exceed 40 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter. - - _E. pauciflora_, Sieb.—Southern Australia and Tasmania. From - 50 to 60 metres in height by 2 metres in diameter, wood of - excellent quality. One of the best cold-resisting species. - - _E. Pilularis_, Smith.—Southern Queensland and New South - Wales, 100 metres in height and 4 metres in diameter; wood of - excellent quality. - - _E. viminalis_, Labill.—Southern Australia, where it grows to a - height of 100 metres by 3 or 4 metres in diameter. - - All these species have been imported and planted in different - places. Some, on the one hand, and others, on the other, - probably have been lost, the remainder are mixed to such a - degree that at present no information can be given about them - without falling into error. - - All the species mentioned and some others were planted in “3 - de Febrero” Park, about the year 1875-76, in the clump which - shaded the guanacos’ corral. At first they bore distinguishing - numbers, but now nothing remains to designate them. Another - nursery had been started on the other side of the railway to - the Tigre, beside the avenue of palms, of which also we believe - not a vestige remains. There also was a nursery of ombús, one - of hardwood trees and a collection of American grape vines. - - ASH TREE, _Fraxinus excelsior_, L.—Europe. From 25 to 30 metres - in height by 1 metre in diameter. Gives very elastic, white - or yellow timber, greatly prized in carriage-building. Grows - well in the 5th, 6th and 7th regions. The seeds are laid down - as they ripen, sometimes they take two years to germinate, but - when they fall naturally to the ground and are covered over by - leaves in autumn they sprout well. On this account and that - of its intrinsic value this tree is one of the best kinds for - stocking tall and mixed woods. The best plan for afforestation - is to sow the seeds in nursery beds and plant out the following - year. - - BLACK ACACIA, _Gleditschia triacanthos_.—A thorny North - American tree; here growing to a height of 25 metres by 0·70 - metre in diameter. Its wood is excellent for cabinet-making. - Sown in rows as an auxiliary—on account of its thorns. It gives - a quantity of edible pods like that of the carob tree. It grows - well in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th regions. - - WALNUT, _Juglans regia_, L.—From Europe and Asia. Does not - exceed 25 metres in height, but is a metre and more in - diameter. Grows as a forest tree, but is very suitable for - stocking mixed woods in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th regions. To - be sown in rows, in holes or in nursery beds and planted out - when a year old. As the seeds keep their germinative power - for a month only, they must be sown immediately or placed in - layers. The wood, which is greatly prized, is one of the best - known and valued. - - PARADISE TREE, _Melia azedarach_, L.—Southern Asia. 15 metres - in height by 0·60 metre in diameter. A good auxiliary species - for mixed woods and timber for cutting in the 3rd, 4th, 6th and - 7th regions, where the eucalyptus does not freeze. - - NEGUNDO FRAXINIFOLIUM, Nutt.—From North America, growing well - in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th regions, where it attains a - height of 10 to 15 metres by 0·50 metre in diameter. It is a - good kind for mixed woods and timber for cutting. The seeds are - sown immediately on ripening. It is also grown from grafting - twigs. - - FIR, _Picea excelsa_, Linck.—From Europe, where it attains a - height of 40 metres. The few specimens we know do not allow - of our expressing any opinion, based on practical experience, - about the possible merit of this splendid tree in our woods in - the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th regions, though its origin and growth - give reason for hope. In Europe, in all the plantations we know - of in Germany, England and France, the fir is one of the best - cold, storm and drought-resisting trees. - - It is sown in rows, in furrows 2·50 to 3 metres apart, - according to the soil. It may be planted alone or alternately - with birch trees. - - PINES.—The kind best known and cultivated here are the - _Pinus austriaca_, _P. insignis_ and _P. Pinaster_. Without - questioning the specific designation applied to certain kinds - of pine trees, we may say that _P. insignis_ grows luxuriantly - in the 4th, 5th and 7th regions, forming dense woods; the - _P. Canariensis_, not quite so hardy, does not flourish so - far south, the other kinds may be grown in those as well as - in the Riparian austral and maritime regions, where they may - prove very useful, as well as the varieties _P. maritima_, _P. - laricio_, etc. - - PLANE TREE, _Platanus orientalis_, L.—From Europe and Asia - Minor. It grows to 40 metres in height by 1 or 2 metres in - diameter. It is the favourite for avenues; grows taller in the - woods, but its foliage is not so luxuriant. Propagated from - grafting twigs to be planted 50 centimetres apart in rows 2·50 - metres apart. To be thinned out when two years old, leaving the - latter distance between them and filling up the gaps with those - taken out. Its wood is useful for many purposes, though not - first class. - - POPLAR, _Populus_.—We have many large plantations of the - Lombardy poplar, _P. Nigra_, L., Canadian poplar, _O. - Canadensis_, Michx., and the Swiss, Virginian and some of - the Carolina poplar, which is the male plant of the same - species. Some plantations of the silver poplar, _P. alba_, _P. - euphratica_ and _P. simoni_, have also been planted. - - All may be utilized as auxiliaries in planting mixed woods and - timber for cutting. They are very hardy, and the wood is used - for packing-cases, boxes, etc. They are planted from grafting - twigs 50 centimetres apart, in rows of 2 metres, to be thinned - out when necessary. - - WHITE ACACIA, _Robinia pseudo-acacia_.—North American. Grows - to a height of 25 metres by 0·60 metre in diameter; when - dry, the wood is excellent, and is used for coach-building, - cabinet-making, etc. It grows well, especially in mixed woods, - as the saplings are utilized. In timber plantations it must be - planted singly as it overruns the ground in a short time. To - be sown in rows 25 or 30 kilogs. to the hectare, without any - mixture. From the strongest and straightest specimens stock - trees are chosen, the others are cut down to the ground every - two, twelve or eighteen years. - - WILLOW, _Salix_.—The willow is very useful for planting woods - in damp or low-lying places in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, - 8th and 9th regions. It is grown from grafting twigs, a metre - apart, anywhere. The weeping willow, _S. babylonica_, gives - fuel which sells well. The osier willow, _S. purpurea_, _S. - rubra_, _S. vitellina_, _S. viminalis_ and _S. amygdalina_, - furnish fine and common osiers, which are so much used in - basket-making of every kind, and for light wicker furniture for - the garden and the beach. It is one of the chief products of - the Paraná Islands and others. - - ELM TREE, _Ulmus_.—The elms we possess belong to the species - _U. campestris_, L., and _U. montana_, Burch, both from Europe. - They attain a height of 40 metres by 1 metre in diameter, and - grow well on cool gravelly soil. The elm in general is more - suited to the hills or declivities than to the plains. It - is very hardy and long-lived. Its timber is excellent for - coach-building, and some parts of it for cabinet-making. It is - a good species for stock, in suitable places, in the 3rd, 5th, - 6th and 7th and some parts of the 9th region. It is sown as - soon as the seeds ripen on well-tilled soil, either in furrows - or plots. - - - EXOTIC FOREST TREES WHICH IT WOULD BE WELL TO INTRODUCE - - FIR TREE.—The most interesting species are:— - - _A. amabilis_ and _A. balsamea_, from North America, grows from - 30 to 40 metres high by 1 to 1·50 metres in diameter. Suitable - for the 3rd, 5th and 6th regions. - - _A. bifida_, _A. brachyphylla_, from Japan, attain a height of - 40 or 50 metres, 4th, 5th and 7th regions. - - _A. bracteata_, Hook and Arn.—From the mountains of Santa - Lucia. 50 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter. - - _A. concolor_, Lindl.—From the Rocky Mountains, where they grow - to 30 or 40 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter. These two - species should be tried in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th regions. - - _A. grandis_, Lindl.—From the northern states of the Union. - Attains a height of 90 metres by 1 or 2 metres in diameter, - 3rd, 4th and 6th. - - _A. magnifice_, Murr., and _A. mobilis_, Lindl.—From California - and Oregon, where it grows to a height of 70 to 80 metres by 2 - or 3 metres in diameter; 2nd and 3rd regions, and the hills in - the 4th and 5th. - - _A. pectinata_, D. C.—From Europe. 40 metres in height by 1 - metre and sometimes more in diameter; 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th - regions. - - _A. religiosa_, Lindl.—From Mexico. Attains 40 to 50 metres in - height by 1 or 2 metres in diameter; 2nd and 3rd regions. - - All fir trees require hilly ground already stocked with trees. - It is useless to plant them on the open plain. Other conifers, - known also as firs, belong to the genera _Picea_ and _Tsuga_. - - MAPLE TREE.—The _Acer campestre_ and _A. platanoides_.—From - Europe, appear to be suited for our 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th - regions, the latter as a stock species. Thirty feet high. - - The _A. eriocarpum_, Michx., and _A. rubrum_, Michx., are two - handsome species from North America, where they grow to a - height of 20 to 35 metres by 1 metre in diameter. - - To be essayed in the same regions as the preceding trees. They - require deep soil and are cultivated like the sycamore maple. - - ALDERS. The _Alnus cordifolia_, Ten.—From Europe, and _A. - orientalis_, Dcne., from Asia. Would grow well in the 7th - region and on the shores of the 5th, 6th and 9th. - - ARAUCARIAS. The _Araucaria Bidwilli_, Hook, and _A. - Cunninghami_, Ait., both from Eastern Australia. Grow to a - height of 50 to 60 metres and give excellent timber; 2nd, 3rd - and 4th regions. - - _A. excelsa_, R. Br.—From Norfolk Island. Attains a height of - 70 metres by 1 metre and over in diameter; 2nd, 3rd and 4th - regions. - - _A. Cookii_, E. Br., and _A. mulleri_, R. Br.—From New - Caledonia; 40 metres in height; 1st, 2nd and 4th regions. - - All grow on deep, humid soil, rich in vegetable mould, like - certain parts of the Chaco and of the 1st and 2nd regions. - - BIRCHES.—Valuable trees for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th - regions. Do not exceed 30 metres in height on the best soil, - but very hardy and reach a metre in diameter. The best species - are _Betula alba_, _B. nigra_, _B. lenta_ and _B. pubescens_. - - AMERICAN WALNUT TREES.—All give excellent timber, strong and - hardier than the European kinds. Could be planted and sown in - regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The best species for woods are _Carya - alba_, Nut., and _C. amara_, from Canada. _C. olivæformis_ - and _C. porcina_ from the central states of North America. - _C. tomentosa_, Nutt., is popularly known in North America as - Hickory. - - Tall trees, generally very leafy, and suitable for stock in - mixed woods and for special wood planting, together with - European and Asiatic species, cultivated like the common - walnut, _J. regia_. - - CEDARS.—All cedars give very fine wood known as cedar-wood, - whence the confusion with real cedar belonging to the conifera - family. - - The Red Cedar of Australia, _Cedrela australis_, Muell., grows - to 60 metres in height. May be planted in the 1st and 2nd - regions together with the one we have, _C. brasiliensis_. _C. - sinensis_, A. Juss, seems more suitable for the 3rd and 5th - regions. - - CHAMÆYPARIS.—This resinous tree gives excellent timber in the - United States, where it grows to a height of 25 to 30 metres - by 0·60 metre in diameter. The species _C. Lawsoniana_ and _C. - Nutkænsis_, from North America, as well as _C. obtusa_, Endl., - from Japan, appear to be suitable for dense woods in regions 4, - 5 and 6. - - DACRYDIUM.—Indigenous to Tasmania and New Zealand. The forest - species furnish good carpentry timber. From some descriptions - of Chilian conifers it would seem that some of these are very - like Dacrydium. - - The most interesting species are _D. cupressinum_, Soland, _D. - Franklinii_ and _D. Kirkii_, F. v. M. - - These trees grow to a height of 40 to 60 metres and require - very generous soil, rather damp and warm, like that of the - 1st and 2nd regions in our country. To be cultivated as the - _Araucaria brasiliensis_ or Misiones pine. - - DIOSPYROS.—The _D. lotus_, from Italy, and _D. Virginiana_ - furnish valuable timber know as ebony. They do not exceed 20 - to 25 metres in height. A trial might be made in the 2nd, 3rd, - 4th, 5th and 7th regions. - - DRIMYS, _D. Winter_, Forst.—A Chilian tree 15 to 20 metres in - height, gives winter bark, used in medicine. To be tried for - mixed woods in the 3rd, 4th and 5th regions. - - BEECH, _Fagus sylvatica_, L.—A European tree 30 metres in - height by half a metre in diameter; gives excellent wood for - boxes and wooden partitions or anything not exposed to the - weather. A first-class species for the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th - regions as a stock tree in tall woods. - - ASH TREE.—The _Fraxinus americana_, L., _F. quadrangularis_, - Michx., _F. sambucifolia_, Lam.—From North America, are trees - of 30 to 35 metres in height by 0·60 to 1 metre in diameter. - The timber is highly prized for coach-building and other - special work. It appears suitable for mixed woods in 5th, 6th - and 7th regions, where it may be grown like the common ash tree. - - BLACK WALNUT TREE, _Juglans nigra_, L.—From North America, - where it attains 40 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter. - Though its wood is not so valuable as common walnut, it is very - pretty and fine-grained. It might be planted and grown in the - same regions as the other kinds of walnut. - - JUNIPER TREE, _Juniperus virginiana_, L.—From 25 to 30 metres - high by 1 metre in diameter, growing in North American - forests. The wood is very nice, and used by cabinet-makers, - etc. This conifer appears suitable for dense woods in the 3rd, - 5th and 6th regions, with Lambertiana and other cypresses, and - is grown in the same way. - - LARCH TREE.—The European _Larix europea_, L., and the American - _L. microcarpa_ are hardy species of 25 to 40 metres in height - by 1 metre in diameter, with deciduous leaves, which makes its - transport easy; 5th, 6th and 8th regions; in tall woods with - other conifers. Grown like the Spruce. - - SPRUCES.—Great conifers of the cold regions of North America. - The most suitable species for woods, besides the _P. excelsa_, - Linck., which we already grow, are the _P. alba_, Linck., from - Canada, _P. Engelmanii_, Car., from the Rocky Mountains, _P. - morinda_, Linck., from the Himalayas, and _P. nigra_, Linck., - from Northern America. The latter species is suitable for the - 6th and 9th regions; the others for the 5th and 6th, grown as - firs. - - LIBOCEDRUS DECURRENS, Torr.—From California, where it grows to - 40 metres in height, over a metre in diameter, is very strong - and gives excellent timber. Appears suitable for afforestation - together with the Chilian variety in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th - regions. - - To be sown and cultivated like the Lambertiana cypress. - - TULIP TREE, or WHITEWOOD, _Liriodendrum tulipifera_, L.—From - North America, where it attains a height of 60 metres by 3 and - 4 metres in diameter. Gives good wood and appears suitable for - growing in tall woods on deep and humid soil in regions 4, 5, 6 - and 7. - - To be sown thickly in furrows or in beds for transplanting when - a year old. - - PINE TREES.—We already have different kinds of pine trees which - flourish in woods. It would be well to introduce the better - species, because we lack such as _Pinus australis_, Michx., - from Carolina and Florida, where it grows to 35 to 40 metres - in height. This is the species which gives the timber known as - pitchpine. - - _P. Benthamiana_, Hartw.—From California. 70 metres in height - by 2 metres in diameter. Good timber. - - _P. excelsa_, Wall.—From the Himalayas. 40 metres in height. - - _P. Jeffreyana_, V. H.; _P. Lambertiana_, Doug.; _P. - Sabiniana_, Doug.; and _P. Torreyana_, all from California. - - _P. Strobus_, L.—From North America. A hardy tree 40 metres in - height by 1 metre in diameter. - - The Californian species might be tried in the 4th, 5th, 6th - and 8th regions. The Himalayan species on the mountain ranges - of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, and the last-named species in - the 5th, 6th and 8th. That from the Carolinas might be grown - together with _P. insignis_. - - To be grown in woods of the same kind in the same regions and - in the same way as those we have. - - PLANERA CRENATA, Desf.—A tree from the Caucasians; excellent - timber and very hardy. - - Grown like the elm and in the same regions. - - CAUCASIAN WALNUT TREE, _Pterocarya caucasica_ and _P. - Spachiand_.—Trees 20 metres in height, magnificent timber and - suitable for intermingling with other walnut trees, especially - Carya species. - - SEQUOIA.—From California, where it grows to 80 or 100 metres in - height by 5 or 6 metres in diameter. The species _S. gigantea_ - is that which attains the greatest size; the _S. sempervirens_ - is more modest and less exacting about the nature of the soil - and its situation. The former requires porous, deep and rather - clayey soil, situated on hills or in ravines. To be tried in - the 3rd and 6th regions and on the mountains in the 4th and - 5th. Grown as the pine. - - LIME TREE.—The different European and North American species, - _Tilia argentea_, Desf., _T. nigra_, Burk, and _T. silvestris_ - from Europe, might be planted in the 5th, 6th and 7th regions - in heavy, porous, clay soil. - - _Tsuga douglasi_ (Fir).—From Colorado State, North America. - Attains a height of 50 metres and furnishes excellent timber. - Suitable for planting woods together with spruces and firs, and - grown in the same way. - - AMERICAN ELM TREE, _Ulmus americanus_, L.—This is a very hardy - species at least 30 metres high. Its timber, though not so very - good, is yet used in carriage-building and the like. Grown like - other elm species and in the same regions. - -Lest it should be thought that a disproportionate amount of space has -been allotted here to this matter of forestry it must be pointed out -that timber of all kinds constitutes one of the greatest of the still -latent treasures of the River Plate. A treasure which could be easily -realized but which has hitherto been extraordinarily neglected not only -in practice but even by most writers on the countries in question. - -Argentina will one day export timber and ornamental woods instead -of importing them as she has done hitherto; and perhaps the present -difficulties of maritime transport will help to turn the eyes of both -Republics to the wealth of building and other timber and fine woods they -have at hand. - -A visit to the coach-making works of those of the River Plate Railway -Companies which manufacture their own luxurious saloon and sleeping cars, -would alone suffice to astonish many people by the beauty and value of -the native woods there used, both in the cabinet-maker’s art and in the -most solid portions of construction destined to resist exceptional strain. - -Señor Mauduit has already been quoted on the subject of the need of shade -for cattle. A need which estancieros now pretty fully appreciate. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -LITERATURE AND ART - - -As in most young countries, the Muses have in Argentina and Uruguay had -to be content chiefly with the imported offerings of foreign writers, -artists and composers; while native science has principally been confined -to medicine and surgery and various branches of rural productiveness. -Still the River Plate Territories have always had their historians and -poets, and recent generations have produced some painters, sculptors and -composers. - -The Histories of Mitre and Araújo are admirable literary monuments to the -glory of the River Plate Territories and the memory of their authors. -The poetry of the lately deceased Guido y Spano and of the still living -Zorrilla de San Martin occupies a deservedly high place in modern -literature; while the names of Juan Cruz Varela, José Mármol and José -Hernandez (the author of the Lyrics of Gaucho life published under the -title of “Martin Fierro”) will ever remain household words on the River -Plate. - -Godofredo Daireaux and Leopoldo Lugones are typical and delightful -writers whose sketches are faithful vignettes of the manners and customs, -landscapes and sentiment of a century and half a century ago, of times -of heroic battles and early peaceful progress. For the rest, one must, -with the Muses, wait with such patience as one may for the appearance -of National types of literature and art; types probably only to be -formed when the National types of men and women have reached their fully -distinct development out of existing cosmopolitan chaos. At present -Argentine and Uruguayan Art and Literature[47] are chiefly imitative; -music, painting and novels being mostly exaggerations of, often not the -best, ephemeral European taste and fashions, while architecture usually -alternates fidelity to stucco with trivially fantastic French “Villa” and -“Château” styles. - -Novelists seek to make one’s flesh creep; Painters to outvie either -incomprehensibility or banality; Architects achieve futility and -Musicians are reminiscent of everything except the sad charm of melody -which is their natural inheritance, through the _Payadores_, from Moorish -Spain. The old intervals and harmonies are carefully eschewed in favour -of anything, no matter what, which may seem to have a piquant flavour of -“art nouveau.” - -Nevertheless, nature sometimes will out and the old-time moods now and -again penetrate the covering of pseudo-Viennese melody and modern Italian -harmonies under which the composer has sought to hide his natural gifts -and atavistic inspiration. - -It is only in the theatre that the true native genius is allowed full -play. Some of the real Argentine dramas and comedies are refreshingly -delightful in their truth of characterization, sentiment and humour. All -is of the soil, true to type and racy. But such things are only played at -minor houses and in rural districts. Fashion knows them not, nor desires -to know them, while Italian and French operatic and dramatic companies -hold the boards of the leading theatres at prices which make it quite -obligatory for all the best people to be seen frequently in their boxes -or stalls. Still the minor theatre is the casket of the one true jewel in -Argentine Art which shines with its inherent native brilliance. - -Unless, perhaps, florid oratory may be termed an Art. If so, it is one -which has a wide vogue throughout South America. Few events are there -allowed to pass without lengthy and vigorous “Discursos”; the real or -simulated passion of which rings strangely false in Anglo-Saxon ears. -Much virtue, however, lies in accepted convention, and the South American -sees nothing comic or discordant in a frock-coated orator doing his best -to turn over a sheaf of manuscript with one hand whilst he indulges in -what to us is painfully exaggerated gesticulation with the rest of his -body. On the contrary, the bravas of the audience which punctuate the -barn-storming enunciation of the most high-flown sentiments are evidently -and whole-heartedly sincere expressions of admiration for, at least, -the speaker’s mastery of the declamatory art. Discursos are, in South -America, the inevitable accompaniment of every event of any mark, from a -funeral to the announcement of a dividend. - -It is part of the Hero Worship which has so large a place in the Latin -nature. A worship none the less fervent because the enjoyment of it -by its living object is frequently as brief as it must be sweet. Once -dead, of course, a hero is one for ever if he have attained his niche at -some prominent period of his country’s history. Great Presidents live -perennially in the knowledge of every school child, and one bad one is -still honoured by reference to his name and attributes in the comic -journals whenever an unflattering comparison to a living politician is -sought. Rozas and Artígas have their true meed of mingled praise and -blame. - -But all this digresses from the heading of this chapter; through, -perhaps, an unconscious effort on the author’s part to eke out an as yet -somewhat barren subject. - -The truth is that no country nor individual has ever produced much -art of any account during its or his infancy. And Argentina and -Uruguay are still in the barely adolescent stage of their economic and -political development. The many sympathetic, though often contrasted, -characteristics of the true Argentine and Uruguayan hold out, however, -good hope for artistic achievement in the future. The facts that -Argentina has already one truly native sculptress of more than mediocre -talent in Lola Mora, and one master of the art of word-painting in -illustration of the old-world charm of some of the people and scenery -of various distant parts of the Republic in Leopoldo Lugunes must not -be lost sight of. Nor must the further one that the poetic spirit of -the past which still broods over the wide Pampa has been caught and -crystallized by Godofredo Daireaux in his _Tipos y Paisages Argentinos_ -and other delicate allegories and sketches. The River Plate awaits a -native W. C. Cable to write a rosary of tales of the Old Colonial Days -of the Puerto de Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires, of Vice-Regal balls, -of high-combed, mantilla-coifed and beflounced belles in seringa and -orange blossom scented gardens; of sighs and vows breathed between window -bars; of times the politely veneered roughness of which has been softened -for us by the haze of remoteness; a haze which soon will have produced -complete obliteration if some living, understanding brain does not -quickly record their outlines and fill these in with appropriate tints. - -Someone will, must, do this. But no stranger. Only a native genius, -daintily contemplative, can, as a labour of love, bring back to life the -_dolce far niente_ days of South America before its Colonists awakened to -the shrill call of Liberty and Independence. - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] _Tipos y Paisajes Argentinos_, by Godofredo Daireaux. - -[2] Though see Mr. Herbert Gibson’s opinion, quoted later. - -[3] Still the following words, which occur in an anonymous work on -Uruguay issued by authority of the Consulate-General of that country in -London in 1883, are as essentially true to-day as they were then. - -“It cannot too often be repeated that only two classes of emigrants are -fitted for the New World: those who are accustomed to manual labour … and -those who have capital to invest. Clerks and penmen should know to whom -and in what capacity they are going.” - -Argentines and Uruguayans can themselves supply all the book-learning and -clerkly devices as yet needed on the River Plate. - -[4] The _chiripá_, or primitive native substitute for trousers, is formed -of a shawl-like blanket. This is wrapped round the loins, kilt-fashion; -after which it is brought up between the legs, from back to front, and -the end tucked through the girdle, to hang again down in front. - -[5] The first cattle on the River Plate Territories were seven cows and -a bull, brought down through Paraguay from Brazil by two Portuguese, the -brothers Cipriano and Vicente Goes. - -[6] The crop has been a good one as regards wheat. As regards maize, it -is uncertain at the time of writing owing to some early rains. - -[7] In the case of each of these items Mr. Tornquist gives the facts and -reasons on which his calculation has been based. - -[8] With the commencement of 1916, however, capital is flowing into -both countries from the United States for both public works and private -enterprise. - -[9] The 1915-16 harvests are reported excellent. - -[10] Who concluded his term of office as President of the Republic in -March, 1915. - -[11] See, e.g. Spanish, _Llegar_: Portuguese, _Chegar_. - -[12] In both countries Congress consists of a Senate and Chamber of -Deputies. In Argentina the term of office of the President of the -Republic is six years, in Uruguay four years. - -[13] Dr. Leopoldo del Campo, a high authority on Argentine Constitutional -Law, once publicly stated that Provincial revolutions were sometimes -stimulated by superior influences, with the idea of provoking the -Presidential intervention. - -[14] A present breach of this custom has already been referred to. - -[15] Señor Batlle has now been succeeded in the Presidential chair by Dr. -Viera, formerly his very able Minister of Finance. - -[16] A long, narrow, stone-paved court with the doors of single -dwelling-rooms leading into it and a portal opening on to the street. - -[17] One immediate result of this in Argentina was a crop of private -failures. The occurrence of these has since, however, steadily decreased -in number. None at all were recorded during December, 1915. The year -1916 has begun in both countries with a good financial situation and a -promising outlook. - -[18] The substance of this advice has recently been embodied in a Foreign -Office Report. - -[19] The entry of Italy into the war has stopped this. - -[20] Already well begun. As will be seen from the latest statistics, -given in another chapter. - -[21] United States Banks have recently opened and are opening branches in -Buenos Aires and Montevideo. - -[22] These approximate figures relate to the three years immediately -preceding the commencement of the war. - -[23] If the Province has lately found difficulty in paying the interest -on its debt, this has been on account of large expenditure on Public -Works; coupled with mismanagement of its large revenues. - -[24] In regard to the outlying Provinces it should always be borne in -mind that the _number_ of head of Live Stock possessed by them need not -and usually does not afford any indication of _value_, for the farther -one gets from Buenos Aires the less careful breeding one finds, and -therefore the greater predominance of native cattle and sheep. - -[25] _L’Argentine telle qu’elle est._ - -[26] Native riding whip of solid hide, straight and tapering. - -[27] The _boleadora_ consists of two or of three round stones encased -in hide and attached, each by an independent thong, to the end of a -lasso. The thongs with the stones are swung round the head and, suddenly -released, twine themselves round the legs of the animal to be caught; -which is thrown down by the jerk of the tightened lasso. - -[28] Monograph attached to Argentine Agricultural and Live Stock Census, -1908. - -[29] This is largely due to the heavy cost of transport even from the -mines to the railway head at the City of San Juan. - -[30] The Jesuits also had settlements in Neuquen. - -[31] The National Government is now taking active steps to put Rivadavia -petroleum on a sound commercial footing and has recently issued 5% Bonds -to the value of 1¼ millions sterling for that purpose. - -[32] Those of Guayra, in Brazil, are rather _rapids_ than falls. - -[33] This volume is subject to great fluctuations. - -[34] Mate seed must either be picked while it is very young and soft or -else be chemically treated to soften it before planting. - -[35] Most of the sugar produced in these Northern Territories goes to -make CAÑA, or native rum. - -[36] Prior to the War, Germany imported large quantities of Quebracho -logs for extract-manufacturing and other tanning purposes. - -[37] The alarm caused by the realization of this menace has been fruitful -of measures taken by breeders to maintain the increase of stock: and it -is just to add that these measures are already showing good results. - -[38] Monograph attached to National Census, 1909. - -[39] It is to these newly born “hoppers” that the most rigorous sweeping -and burning is usually applied. They present the greater facilities for -this treatment, and are, as has been indicated, more destructive than -their parents, who may be said to be at the end of life’s span when they -arrive. - -[40] In Uruguay, the Ministry of Industries is concerned with all -agricultural matters. - -[41] 1000 hectares = 3861 square miles, and 1 hectare = 2·4711 (or a -little less than 2½) acres. - -[42] At present most of these supplies go direct to Havre for the use of -the allied troops. - -[43] Uruguay can still be roughly divided into two parts by drawing an -almost straight line from, say, Mercedes on the River Uruguay to San -Vicente on the Atlantic, the chief cereal areas lying south of this line, -while the land north of it chiefly carries live stock. - -[44] At the moment of writing (February, 1916) the demand by the Allied -Governments has become less. - -[45] A letter, received by the author during the preparation of this -book, from one of the great Cold Storage Companies, says: “Much regret -that we cannot give you any reliable information in regard to the Export -Value (for 1914), and do not even care about hazarding a guess.” - -[46] It is only fair to add that lack of transport from the chief -forestal areas at present offers economic difficulties. - -[47] Uruguayan literature is the less open to adverse criticism in this -regard. - - - - -INDEX - - - Agricultural instructors, 225, 260 - - Agricultural Show, 89 - - Agriculture, Argentine, Development of, 241 - - Agriculture, Cultivable area, 217, 237 - - Agriculture (Exports), 215, 242, 245 - - Alcorta, Dr. Figueroa, 2, 3, 64, 65, 66, 67, 208 - - Alfalfa and wheat, Alternation of, 224, 225, 254, 255 - - Alfalfares, 158 - - Alta Gracia, 149 - - Americanisms, 44 - - Anarchists, recalcitrant, 198 - - Anchorena (family), 187 - - Andalgalá, 164 - - Andes tunnel, 124 - - Arab-Semitic blood, 41 - - Araújo, 299 - - Argentines and Uruguayans contrasted, 42, 45, 59, 60 - - Aristocracy, Argentine, 4 - - Armageddon, 227 - - Arrowroot, 236 - - Artígas (general), 30, 31, 38, 71, 152, 301 - - Artígas (Department), 63 - - Asistencia Publica, 14, 54 - - August, 1914, 94, 95 - - Avellaneda, 141 - - Avenida de Mayo, 14 - - Azul, 142 - - - Bahia Blanca, 140 - - Balfour, Jabez, 169, 170 - - Ballot, 36 - - Banda Oriental, 30, 31, 60 - - Bank Holiday, 19, 94, 95 - - Banks, 18, 112, 137 - - Banks of Issue, 103 - - Baring, 31 - - Batlle y Ordoñez, Señor, 33, 70 - - “Bear” (a famous), 118, 119 - - Belgians, 27 - - Belgrano (General), 168 - - Belle Ville, 149 - - Bella Vista, 155 - - Bermejo (River), 168, 205, 206 - - Boleadora, 15, 170 - - Bolza (Buenos Aires), 117, 118 - - Bolza de Cereales (Buenos Aires), 116 - - Bomberos, 14 - - Borax, 168 - - Brazil, 35 - - Bread and meat, 222 - - Bridges, The late Mr., 199 - - Britain, 259 - - British railway management, 53 - - British trade methods, 106, 107 - - Buenos Aires (Province of), 63, 139-44 - - Buenos Aires (Province), Chief products of, 142 - - Buenos Aires (City), 82, 83, 90, 92 - - - Cafayate, 174 - - Caja de Conversión, 19, 98, 99 - - “Camp,” 11, 60 - - Campo, Dr. L. del, 67 - - Campo Santo, 174 - - Canelones (Department), 63, 214 - - Capital, 11 - - Capital, Federal, 63 - - Carbó, Dr., 18 - - Carmen de Patagones, 190, 193 - - Carnot, 74 - - Carré, Ferdinand, 251 - - Castilian language, 43, 44 - - Catamarca (Province of), 63, 163, 164, 165 - - Catamarca (Province), Chief products of, 163 - - Catamarca, City of, 164 - - Cedulas, Argentine National, 114, 115, 119, 120 - - Cedulas, Provincial, 119 - - Census (Commercial and industrial of city of Buenos Aires), 137 - - Centenary, Argentine, 67 - - Cereal cultivation, Chief areas of, 223, 224 - - Cereals (export), 246 - - Cerro Largo (Department), 63 - - Cervantes, 43 - - Chaco, The (Territory), 63, 214 - - Chacrero, 27 - - Chaves, Nunflo de, 250 - - Chicory, 236 - - Children, 57 - - Chile, 35 - - Chilled meat, 251 - - Chiripá, 14 - - Chivilcoy, 142 - - Choele Choel, 190 - - Chubut (Territory), 63, 193, 194, 195, 196 - - Chubut (Territory), Chief products of, 196 - - Cinnamon, 236 - - Club Uruguayo, 79 - - Coffee, 173, 218, 236 - - Colastiné, 145 - - Cold storage, 254, 265 - - Cold storage companies, 222, 269, 272 - - Colon Theatre, 85 - - Colonia (Department), 63, 214 - - Colonist-s, 7, 10, 27, 228, 265 - - Colonist, The case for, 229 - - Colonization, 10, 27, 97 - - Commissary, Police, 68, 73 - - Common sense, 5, 7, 50, 59 - - Comodoro Rivadavia, 193, 194 - - Comparative movement, in Ports, 125 - - Concessions, 51, 52 - - Concórdia, 152, 153 - - Congress-es, 62 - - Conquistadores, 43, 46 - - Constitution-s, 62, 65, 72, 75, 174 - - Conventillo, 91 - - Conversion Fund, 99 - - Conversion Law, 76, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103 - - Copper, 164, 166, 179, 184, 192, 214 - - Córdoba, Province of, 63, 145 - - Córdoba (Province), Chief products of, 146 - - Córdoba, City of, 146, 147, 148 - - Corn Exchange (Buenos Aires), 116 - - Corrientes, Province of, 63, 153 - - Corrientes (Province), Chief products of, 153, 155 - - Corrientes, City of, 154, 155 - - Cost of living, Comparative, 84, 85 - - Cotton, 2, 8, 16, 181, 219 - - Coya Indians, 172, 173 - - Credit, Commercial, 111 - - Credit, Customary trade, 112 - - Credit, National, 76 - - Credito Argentino, 120 - - Crisis of 1890, 31 - - Cuenca Vidal, 189 - - Curanderas, 159 - - Curanderos, 159 - - Curuzú Cuatia, 155 - - - Daireaux, Godofredo, 1, 299, 302 - - Defensa Agricola, 239, 240 - - Departments, 63 - - Deputies, Chamber of, 63, 67 - - Development of River Plate territories, 1 - - Dique San Roque, 149 - - Doctrinairism, 27, 69, 70 - - Doinnel, Hipolito, 268 - - Dollar, Uruguayan, 43 - - Drabble, Mr. Alfred, 269 - - Drama, Native, 86, 300 - - Drought, 225, 259 - - Dulce, River, 158, 163 - - Durazno (Department), 63, 212 - - - Earthquakes, 176 - - Elections, Corrupt, 36, 68 - - Emigrants, 12 - - Empedrado, 155 - - Entre Rios, Province of, 63, 150 - - Entre Rios (Province), Chief products of, 150, 151 - - Espinoza, Juan de Galazary, 250 - - Estancia-s, 52, 53 - - Estanciero-s, 48, 76 - - Exports, 128, 130, 135, 136 - - Exports, Cereal, 135, 242, 245 - - Exports, Live stock and products of, 135, 266, 267 - - - Farming, 52 - - Fashion, 92 - - Ferry boats, Train carrying, 151 - - Fisheries, 199 - - Flores (Department), 63 - - Florida (Department), 163, 214 - - Formosa (Territory), 63, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210 - - Fortune-tellers, 55 - - Frozen meat, 251 - - Frozen and chilled meat (exports), 275 - - Futures, Grain, 116 - - - Galician language, 44 - - Gallegos Port, 197 - - Garay, Juan de, 249 - - “Gatos,” 117 - - Gaucho-s, 2, 13, 47, 48, 158, 159, 170, 171, 172, 173 - - German trade methods, 104 - - Gibson, Mr. Herbert, 171, 229, 250, 262, 264 - - Goes, Brothers, 16, 250 - - Gold, 157, 179, 187, 200, 214 - - Gold speculation, 103 - - Golondrinas, 109 - - Government, 4, 5, 62, 64, 74, 75, 76, 77 - - Government, Provincial, 64, 65, 77 - - Government, Municipal, 77 - - Granite, 203 - - Grapes, 177, 180, 181 - - Groussac, Mr. Paul, 43 - - Guanaco, 173 - - Guaraní, 43 - - Guayra Falls, 202 - - Guido y Spano, 299 - - - Halbach, Mr., 261 - - Harvesters, 8 - - Harvests, 26 - - Harvests, Recent, 245, 246 - - Havre, 251 - - Hernandez, José, 299 - - High Court, Argentine Federal, 2, 3, 63 - - “History of Belgrano,” 249 - - Hops, 236 - - Horse breeding, 253 - - Hospitals, 53 - - Hot springs, 174, 188 - - Hotels, 90 - - Huerta, President, 38 - - Humahuaca, 168 - - Hurlingham, 89 - - Hustling, 105 - - Hypothecary Bank, Argentine National, 114, 115 - - - Iberá, Lake, 156 - - Ibicuy, 151 - - Iguazú Falls, 151, 182, 201, 202 - - Ilex Paraguayensis, 220 - - Immigrants, 228 - - Immigration, 42, 126 - - Immigration (Comparative returns), 126 - - “Imperio in Imperium,” Railway, 216 - - Imports, 129, 130, 131, 132 - - Independence, Declaration of, 29, 47, 162, 168 - - Indian-s, 15, 41, 46 - - Intendente Municipal, 62, 64 - - Intensive farming, 6, 255 - - Intermarriage, 41 - - Interpreter, 108 - - Interventor, 66 - - Iron, 214 - - Irrigation, 137, 149, 150, 158, 160, 162, 163, 166, 167, 175, 177, - 180, 186, 188, 189, 190, 227 - - Italianate population, 42 - - Ituzaingó, 155 - - - Jesuits, 160, 185, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 221 - - Jeunesse dorée, 58 - - Jockey Club, Argentine, 5, 88 - - Juarez Celman, 31 - - Jujuy, Province of, 63, 167, 168, 169 - - Jujuy (Province), Chief products of, 168 - - Jujuy, City of, 168 - - - _La Frigorifique_, 268 - - _La Paraguay_, 268 - - La Plata, City of, 139, 140 - - La Rioja, Province of, 63, 165, 166, 167 - - La Rioja (Province), Chief products of, 165 - - La Rioja, Province of, 165, 167 - - La Rioja, City of, 166 - - Labour, 7, 11 - - Lago Pellegrini, 189 - - Land, 5, 7, 51 - - Lands, Fiscal, 7 - - Language, 42, 43, 44 - - Latent landlords (Latifundíos), 9 - - Latifundíos, 207 - - Latzina, Dr. Francisco, 17, 236, 237 - - Lavalle, General, 168 - - Laws, 72 - - Leach family, 167, 169 - - Lead, 179, 214 - - Lertora, Mr., 54 - - Liebig factories, 153 - - Linseed (export), 242 - - Live Stock, Chief areas of, 255 - - Live Stock Disease, Comparative absence of, 258 - - Live Stock Disease, Precautions against, 258, 259 - - Live Stock Products (exports), 266, 267 - - Live Stock on Hoof, Prohibited importation into Great Britain, 258, 259 - - Live Stock (statistics), 256, 257, 262, 263, 264, 265 - - Loans, National, 114, 115, 119, 120 - - Loans, Provincial, 65 - - Locusts, 238, 239, 240 - - Los Andes (Territory), 63, 214 - - “Los Remedios” Estancia, 261 - - Lotteries, National, 88 - - Lugones, Leopoldo, 299, 302 - - - Maize (export), 242 - - Maldonado (Department), 63, 214 - - “Mañana,” 20, 49, 225 - - Marble, 166, 179 - - Mar Chiquita, 149 - - Marcos Juarez (town), 149 - - Mar-del-Plata, 5, 88, 123, 141 - - Mármol, José, 299 - - “Martin Fierro,” 299 - - Martinez de Hoz, Señor, 253 - - Mate, 56, 220, 221 - - Mate Yerba, 202, 203 - - Mauduit, Señor Fernando, 277, 278, 298 - - _Mayflower, The_, 44, 194 - - Meat, Early export of, 268 - - Meat trade (exports), 270, 271, 272, 273 - - Meat trade, Recent, 269, 272 - - Mendoza, Pedro de, 249, 250 - - Mendoza, Province of, 63, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178 - - Mendoza (Province), Chief products of, 175 - - Mendoza, City of, 176, 177 - - Mercedes (Corrientes), 155 - - Metan, 174 - - Metric measurements, 106, 107 - - Mihanovich (boats), 201, 202 - - Mihanovich, Nicolas, 81 - - Miller, Mr. John, 261 - - Milling industry, 116, 145, 213 - - Minas (Department), 63 - - Minerals, 157, 163, 164, 166, 187, 192, 214 - - Misiones (Territory), 63, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 - - Misiones (Territory), Chief products of, 203, 204 - - Mitre, General, 31, 123, 249, 299 - - Mitre, The late Señor Emilio, 122 - - Mitre Law, The, 122, 123 - - Monetary system, Argentine, 101 - - Monetary system, Uruguayan, 33, 104 - - Monetary values, Equivalent, 100 - - Money Markets, 93 - - Monroe Doctrine, 105 - - Montevideo (City), 32, 45, 53, 79, 80 - - Montevideo (Department), 63 - - Moorish civilization, 41, 58 - - Mora, Lola, 301 - - Morals, 90, 91 - - Moratorium, 20 - - Mulhall, The late Mr. E. T., 191 - - Mulhall, The late Mr. Michael, 191 - - Nahuel Huapí, Lake, 187, 191, 194 - - - National Territories, 62, 63 - - Negro blood, 40, 41, 46 - - Negro race, 15 - - Neuquen (Territory), 63, 185, 186, 187, 188 - - Neuquen (Territory), Chief products of, 187 - - Newton, Mr. Richard, 261 - - Nueve de Julio, 142 - - - Old Colonial days, 29 - - Oligarchies, Provincial, 2, 64, 65, 66, 67 - - Olivera, Señor, 261 - - Once cereal market, 116 - - Onyx, “Brazilian,” 157 - - Oratory, 300 - - - Palermo, 5, 87, 88 - - Palermo Agricultural Show, 253, 263, 264 - - Palermo race-course, 5 - - Pampa, A tale of the, 1, 44 - - Pampa Central (Territory), 62, 63, 182 - - Pampa Central, Chief products of, 183, 184 - - Paraguay, 35 - - Paraguay, River, 205, 206 - - Paraná, City of, 151, 152 - - Paraná Congress, 268 - - Paraná, River, 123, 143, 144, 145, 150, 151, 154, 155 - - Paraná, River, Upper, 202 - - Patriarchs, 1, 2, 48, 51 - - Payadores, 13, 299 - - Paysandú (Department), 63, 212 - - Peaches, 177, 180 - - Penna, Dr., 54 - - Peon, 12, 47, 48 - - Pergamino, 142 - - Petroleum, 193, 194 - - Philology, 43 - - Pig farming, 253, 254 - - Pilcolmayo, River, 205, 206 - - Pillado, Señor Ricardo, 17, 101, 241 - - Plaza, Dr. Victorino de la, 18, 34, 39 - - Pocitos, 79 - - Politics, Argentine (foreign or commercial), 3 - - Politics, Argentine internal, 3, 4, 75 - - Ponchos, 14, 173 - - Population, 8, 15, 96, 97, 254 - - Population, Problem of, 226, 227, 228 - - Ports, 125 - - Posadas, 201 - - Poultry farming, 253, 254 - - Protective economic measures (War), 94, 95 - - Provinces, 62, 63 - - Public works, 137 - - Puente del Inca, 177 - - Puerto Deseado, 197 - - - Quack doctors, 55, 159 - - Quebracho, 2, 144, 154, 158, 206, 277 - - Quevedo, 268 - - Quichúa, 43 - - Quintana, Dr. Manuel, 66 - - - Railway enterprise, 215, 216, 217 - - Railway “Imperium in Imperio,” 122 - - Railways, 215, 216 - - Railways, Foreign, 6 - - Railways, Foreign capital invested in, 122 - - Railways (total lengths of lines), 122 - - Railways (gauges in use), 122 - - Railways, The Buenos Aires Western, 122, 184 - - Railways, The Central Argentine, 52, 122, 149 - - Railways, The Buenos Aires Great Southern, 122, 124, 140, 184, 186, 191 - - Railways, The Buenos Aires Pacific, 122, 124, 140, 177, 184, 190, 193 - - Railways, The Central Córdoba, 124 - - Railways, The Entre Rios, 124 - - Railways, The Province of Santa Fé, 123, 124 - - Railways, The Province of Buenos Aires, 124 - - Railways, The N. E. Argentine, 201, 205 - - Railways, The Central Uruguay of Montevideo, 122 - - Railways, Argentine National, 124, 163, 167 - - Railways, An U.S. Syndicate, 124 - - Railways, travelling comforts, 123 - - Ramirez, 79 - - Rawson (town), 194 - - “Reds,” 32, 60, 69, 76 - - Rebenque, 170 - - Recoleta, 89 - - Regulations, 72 - - Retail traders, Nationalities of, 138 - - Revenue, Surplus, 136, 137 - - “Revolución de Arriba,” 67 - - Rice, 218, 219 - - Rio Colorado, 143, 183, 187, 189 - - Rio Cuarto (town), 149 - - Rio Grande do Sul, State of, 35, 213 - - Rio Negro (Argentina), 183, 187, 189, 190 - - Rio Negro (Uruguay), 213 - - Rio Negro (Territory), 63, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193 - - Rio Negro (Territory), Chief products of, 191, 192 - - Rio Negro (Department), 63 - - River Plate Spanish (language), 42, 43, 44 - - Rivera (Department), 63 - - Rocha (Department), 63, 214 - - Rosario (de la Frontera), 174 - - Rosario (de Santa Fé), 145 - - Rozas, Juan Manuel de, 30, 31, 38, 152, 261, 301 - - Rural banks, 28 - - Rural Society (Argentine), 251, 262 - - - Saenz Peña, Dr., 34, 36, 64, 67, 68, 76 - - Saladillo, River, 158 - - Salta, Province of, 63, 169, 170, 172, 173, 174 - - Salta, City of, 174 - - Salto (Department), 63 - - San Antonio, Bay, 190, 191 - - San Blas, 191, 192 - - San Ignacio, 202, 203 - - San Jorge (gulf), 193 - - San José (Department), 63, 214 - - San Juan, Province of, 63, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182 - - San Juan (Province), Former finances of, 178, 179 - - San Juan, City of, 182 - - San Luis, Province of, 63, 156 - - San Luis (Province), Chief products of, 157, 158 - - San Martin, General, 156 - - San Martin, Zorrilla de, 299 - - San Matias (gulf), 190 - - San Rafael, 175 - - Sandhills, Shifting, 248 - - Santa Cruz (Territory), 63, 195, 196, 197 - - Santa Cruz (Territory), Chief products of, 197 - - Santa Fé, Province of, 63, 144 - - Santa Fé (Province), Chief products of, 144 - - Santa Fé, City of, 144, 145 - - Santa Marina, Señor, 81 - - Santa Rosa de Toay, 184 - - Santiago del Estero, Province of, 63, 158, 159, 160 - - Santiago del Estero (Province), Chief products of, 158 - - Sarmiento, President, 31, 152 - - Securities, 28 - - Securities (investment), 116 - - Senate, Senators, 63, 65, 67 - - Servants, 56 - - Settlers, 9, 185 - - Sierra de la Ventana, 143 - - Silesian Brothers, 199 - - Silver, 164, 166, 179, 214 - - Single-tax, 28 - - Smuggling, overland, 209 - - Socialism, 28, 70 - - Society, Argentine, 4 - - Soil, The nature of, 246, 247, 248 - - Spain, 29, 30 - - Spanish blood, 40, 46 - - Spanish-speaking commercial travellers, 107 - - Speculative shares, 113, 118 - - Squadron of Security, 14 - - Soler Theatre, 79 - - “Soriano” (Department), 63, 212, 214 - - “Standard,” The Buenos Aires, 191 - - Statistics, Foreign trade, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133 - - Statistics, Uruguayan, Deficiencies of, 132 - - Stock Exchange, Buenos Aires, 113, 114 - - Storekeeper, 8 - - Sugar, 16, 160, 161, 162, 167, 218 - - Sugar-beet, 236 - - Sulphur, 179 - - “Sun of May,” 168 - - “Swallows” (Golondrinas), 9 - - Sweet Sorghum, 236 - - Swiss colony, 27 - - - Tandíl, 82, 143, 144 - - Tarquin (bull), 261 - - Tea, 236 - - Tellier, Charles, 251, 269 - - Terrasson, Eugenio, 251 - - Theatre, 58 - - “The Land we Live on,” 229 - - Tierra del Fuego, 63, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 200 - - Tigre River, 87, 89, 143 - - Timber, 16, 187, 202, 209, 277, 298 - - Tin, 164, 166 - - Tobacco, 16, 181, 218, 219, 220 - - Tornquist, Mr. C. A., 19, 21-26 - - Tosca, 247, 248 - - Tramways, Buenos Aires, 84 - - Tramways, Montevideo, 71, 85 - - Transandine Railway, 175, 177 - - Traps for the unwary, 9 - - Treinta y Tres (Department), 63 - - Tres Arroyos, 142 - - Tronador (mountain), 187 - - Tucuarembo (Department), 63, 212 - - Tucumán, Province of, 63, 160, 161, 162, 163 - - Tucumán (Province), Chief products of, 160 - - - United States, 44, 105 - - United States, trade methods, 105, 106 - - Urquíza, General, 151, 152 - - Uruguay, 212, 213, 214 - - Uruguay, River, 123, 155, 156 - - Ushuaia, 199 - - - Vanilla, 236 - - Varela, Juan Cruz, 299 - - Viceroys, Viceregal, 29 - - Victoria Island, 187 - - Vicuna, 173 - - Viedma, 192 - - Viera, Dr., 18 - - Villa Constitución, 145 - - Villanueva, Señor Benito, 143 - - Voting, Obligatory, 36 - - - Walle, Paul, 159, 197 - - War, The, 18, 28 - - Welsh colony, 27, 194, 195 - - Wheat (chief areas of production), 223, 224 - - Wheat (export), 135, 242, 246 - - Wheat and lucerne, Alternation of, 254, 255 - - White, Mr., 261 - - “Whites,” 32, 60, 69, 76 - - Windmills, Water-drawing, 142, 225, 260 - - Wine, 157, 165, 174, 175, 177, 180 - - Wit, Native, 13 - - Wolfram, 157 - - Women, 55, 57 - - Wool exports, 136, 260, 267 - - - Yankee, 48, 106 - - - Zárate, 151, 254 - - Zeballos, Dr., 263 - - Zinc, 179 - -PRINTED BY WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD. PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - - - -Transcriber’s Note - - -List of changes made to the text to correct suspected printing errors: - -Page 5 “Is there a good bargain to be made” changed to “If there is a -good bargain to be made” - -Page 17 “the latter is still” changed to “the former is still” - -Page 43 “certain Argentine amateur philogists” changed to “certain -Argentine amateur philologists” - -Page 65 “would proceed to rat shamelessly” changed to “would proceed to -rant shamelessly” - -Page 79 “take convenient tram” changed to “take a convenient tram” - -Page 151 “take train” changed to “take a train” - -Page 221 “the Adine regions” changed to “the Andine regions” - -Page 255 “Buenos Aires, Sante Fé, Córdoba” changed to “Buenos Aires, -Santa Fé, Córdoba” - -Page 270 (table header) “Power of meat” changed to “Powder of meat” - -Page 294 “_C. sineusis_” changed to “_C. sinensis_” - -Page 295 “A first-cless species” changed to “A first-class species” - -Page 297 “especially Csrya species” changed to “especially Carya species” - -Page 297 “_Tsuga doglasi_” changed to “_Tsuga douglasi_” - -Page 302 “Godefredo Daireaux” changed to “Godofredo Daireaux” - -Page 308 (index entry) “Spanish-speaking commercial travvellers” changed -to “Spanish-speaking commercial travellers” - -Corrections to accents, punctuation and the publisher’s catalogue which -follows have been made without note. - - - - -A SELECTION OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY METHUEN AND CO. LTD. LONDON - -36 ESSEX STREET W.C. - - -CONTENTS - - PAGE - - General Literature 2 - - Ancient Cities 12 - - Antiquary’s Books 12 - - Arden Shakespeare 13 - - Classics of Art 13 - - ‘Complete’ Series 14 - - Connoisseur’s Library 14 - - Handbooks of English Church History 15 - - Handbooks of Theology 15 - - Health Series 15 - - ‘Home Life’ Series 15 - - Leaders of Religion 16 - - Library of Devotion 16 - - Little Books on Art 17 - - Little Guides 17 - - Little Library 18 - - Little Quarto Shakespeare 19 - - Miniature Library 19 - - New Library of Medicine 19 - - New Library of Music 20 - - Oxford Biographies 20 - - Seven Plays 20 - - Sport Series 20 - - States of Italy 20 - - Westminster Commentaries 20 - - ‘Young’ Series 21 - - Shilling Library 21 - - Books for Travellers 22 - - Some Books on Art 22 - - Some Books on Italy 23 - - Fiction 24 - - Books for Boys and Girls 29 - - Shilling Novels 29 - - Sevenpenny Novels 30 - - -A SELECTION OF MESSRS. METHUEN’S PUBLICATIONS - -In this Catalogue the order is according to authors. An asterisk denotes -that the book is in the press. - -Colonial Editions are published of all Messrs. METHUEN’S Novels issued -at a price above 2_s._ 6_d._, and similar editions are published of some -works of General Literature. Colonial Editions are only for circulation -in the British Colonies and India. - -All books marked net are not subject to discount, and cannot be bought at -less than the published price. Books not marked net are subject to the -discount which the bookseller allows. - -Messrs. METHUEN’S books are kept in stock by all good booksellers. If -there is any difficulty in seeing copies, Messrs. 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