NOTES FROM ARGENTINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 66

NOTES FROM ARGENTINE.

CFBCM O'jß OV/N ConRESPONIENT.) BUENOS AYRES, May 20. Congress has opened again, and, as usual, we arc forced to witness Ihc same old system. Day after day the session stands adjourned for want of a quorum. The country is eager and anxious for roiorms, but the powers that be are too btisy with political schemes and intriguing to let such matters irouble them. Icoav after year reforms are promised, but the promises are never fulfilled. The inefficiency ot the railways — especially the service of the Great Southern, — the amendment of the land laws, roading th<jr country, and bridging the streams. and such mattcrs,are questions too insignificant for the political powers to concern themselves with. Day after day we see immense tracts of magnificent land, out in the back blocks, being sold at from Idol to 2dol per hectare — pay Is per acre. This land passes almost invariably into the hands ot private speculators or wealthy syndicates, and they after purchase do nothing to develop it, but simply wait for the ever-advancing railway to reach their properly, when the blocks of so many hundreds of leagues are subdivided into, blocks of from one to 20 leagues and resold at handsome profits. The question -- of genuinely settling the people on the lands of Argentine has never been seriously tackled. With anything like attractive land laws and favourable conditions, great as has been the country's progress in recent years, such progress must be regarded as slow when one sees the almost unlimited possibilities. Recent movements here are centring the attention of the outside world on Argentine. The immense increase in the cereal output has placed Argentine in the position of being the greatest rival of the United States in wheat production, "whilst its maize production « continues to advance by leaps and bounds. The competition of Argentine in chilled beef some time ago opened Chicago eye's to the fact that there were others in the running, and the opening of the three new companies (La Plata, Zorate, and Argentine) has so increased both the output and the competition that the States meat people are sending men here to look through the country and its industries and report. The country is not, short of capital ; but what is required is to show the native capitalist that there's money in commercial enterprises. •So far, splendid returns have been made by buying up land and holding, and the time has now come for some of this wealth to be put into enterprises destined to develop the country's sleeping resources. Confidence in enterprises of this sore is growing slowly but steadily. ' The areas under wheat in the 1904-5 season were: — In Entro Rios, 3,708,762 acres; Cordova, 709,000 acres; Buenos Ayres, 5,265,133 acres. The latter province showed an increase of 2,000,000 acres under wheat over the previous season. For years past the estancie/s have persistently overstocked 1 this country, and now they must break it up or materially reduce their carryings. The natural consequence is sthat the land is coming under the plough, and as a rule a crop of wheat is taken off. The ploughing and working of the land, which was of the very roughest, is gradually being improved. The following table shows the movement for the whole of I Argentine, 1898-1904 inclusive: —

In 1902 the average yield was lowest — seven bushels,— whilst in 1899 13.4 was the best result. Linseed leturns run from 8i to 11| bushels On the 25th inst. .the great national fete of the country was held to celebrate "Independence Day " There was a great gathering in " Plaza Mayo " and " Arcondo de Mayo." The Arenida was lined with cavalry and infantry, and the President leviewed the troops, the demonstration commencing, at 11 a.m. and finishing at 4 p.m. During the day 16,000 school children paraded, and each child, as he or she passed the Statue of Liberty, deposited a floral wreath of crown. In the evening the city was most beautifully illuminated, perhaps the most beautiful of all being that set out- by the " Pransa," as the "Giant of Argentine Journalism " is called. Foi- frozen and chilled meats there is a great dearth of freights. For some time past the Zorate works have been stopped owing to this difficulty. The La Plata Company would have been stopped likewise but for the timely arrival of the s.s. Devon, which boat took 1000 tons of meat from these works for South Africa. By this boat the Sa.ss and Nelson theatrical troupe is returning to South Africa-, after having spent a pleasant and profitable two months in the Argentine capital.

For over 50 years most Argentine charities and hospitals have derived the greater part of their income from lotteries. By an agreement effected some time ago between Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentine, and Brazil a determined and combined effort is to be put forward to declare lotteries illegal after 1907. This may cause some unrest, but. that it will result in benefit to the general body of the people goes wit-h-oui ga./.iugj,

May 31. The question most discussed here at the present time is not the great naval engagement, but the continued rise of the Parana. For weeks past this river has continued to rise steadily and gradually. Over a fortnight ago the flood had become so very serious a matter that relief boats, launches, and steamers were being scut out to minimise, as far as possible, the suffering and loss occasioned by tha rise. Since then the rise has continued inch by inch, and peoplehave been" driven from their homes before t-hs gradual rise of the waters. Colonials can have no conception of what a- flood in this country is like. According to most recent advices, 70 leagues of country— or 350 000 acres— are under water. The Rio do la Plata was well called by the "Guoranies" Parana Guazu— Sea-like River. It is a veritable sea, and the rivers emptying into it are many and large. At present 'all of these rivers are in heavy flood. At Asuncion and Villa Conception the river has risen some 20ft above the normal level, and is still rising. Stock and hom<j*tsacls have been, washed away, the former being drowned by hundreds. In, Corrientes the water has risen 45 centimetres — say, 18in — during the lifast two ■days and a-half. At Resistanoia the whole population has been forced to take to eano63 and row to higher ground, abandoning everything. This is not, however-, an isolated instance. Up the river all habitations within a radius of from a mile to a mile and a-half of the banks have been, obanirlonpd owing to the advancing water. Bahia Blanea continues to advance both! in population and commercial importance. Land in the city cantimi.es to advance by leaps and bounds. To give some idea of present values, a block of land, 40yds by 35yds, in the centre of the town, with some old tumbledown buildings, sold for 165,000d01, or, say, £14,475. As your readers will probably know, Bahia Blanea is the outlet for the groat wheat region of the south.

With tha object of further developing trade between France and Argentine, a new hank, with a capital of some £2,000.000 sterling has been established. Amongst the promoters names figure some of the greatest- financial houses of Paris, Amsterdam, and Buenos Ayres. The floating of this institution demonstrates the volume of business carried on between France and A rgentins, more especially when we remember that there is already here one French financial institution doing a large and lucrative business.

During the month of April 28,115 tons of linseed, 55,709 tons maize, 59,259 tons wheat, 2388 tons quebracho, 2240 tons hay, and' 1886 tons bran were exported from the port of Rosario.

The statistical returns of stock in Uruguay have just been published. These show a. total of some 5,500,000 horned cattle and 14.750.000 sheep. The totals show a substantial reduction on those of previous returns, attributable, doubtless, to the effects of the recent revolution.

The United States authorities are putting forth every effort to secure a larger chare of the trade of the various South American Republics. These efforts are particularly noticablp iv Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentine. In Brazil large in vestments of North American money are being made in mining, industrial, and transport enterprises. The Americans already have a great hold in San Paulo, the most progressive of the Brazilian States. The trams, the Electric Supply Co., and one or two other such ventures all being run on Yankee systems and with their capital. During the past few months another Yankee concern has undertaken the building and running of a. railway line in Rio Grande do Sul, the most southern of the Brazilian States ; whilst this week another concern haa effected the ptirehase of the various tram companies' businesses operating in Rio de Janeiro, and at the same time secured th© right to a magnificent waterfall some 80 or 90 miles out of Rio" de Janeiro. Hero they purpose to generate the electricity for running their trams, and also for supplying some to various industries. In Uruguay the United States Government has just appointed General O'Brien as its representative. At the deptositiftg of his credentials with the President of Uruguay, after the usual exchange of complimentary remarks, General O'Brien delivered a great speech, in which he expressed the desire for the dvolopment of trade between Uruguay and: his country, and intimated that American capital was only waiting a ehanoe to find a suitable outlet in Uruguay and" Paraguay. The formation of an Argentine Society in New York demonstrates the movement ol thought and interest in that city in matters affecting the trade of this country. Americans — both Yankees and Canadians — continue to arrive here by every beat. They are taking up almost every line of business, from mining to cattle raising.

Year. Acreage. 1898 .. 7,30-1,000 3599 .. 8 027,500 1900 .. 8 317,790 1901 .. 8.111,283 1902 .. 9.327,496 1903 .. 10,670,451 1904 ... 12,600,000 Wheat. (000 cmit'ied) Home Total " Ex- ConYielcl. ported, sumption. 104,430 55.000 30,000 101,000 73,000 33.000 74,000 32,000 34,000 56,000 24,000 34,500 100,000 70,000 35,700 125,000 88,000 37,000 138,0010, WfiOO — (estimated)