MISCEIvIvANEOUS INFORMATION REI.ATING TO AGRICUIvTURAL 

 ECONOMY IN GENERAI, IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES. 



ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 



FORMATION OF AGRICUI^TURAI, COI^ONIKS FOR THE INDIANS. — Boldin oficial, 

 Buenos Ayres, Number 6764, 9 August 1916. 



The incorporation of the native population in civil life has for long 

 constantly preoccu])ied the Argentine government, on account both of its 

 social and of its economic advantages. 



Recent decrees have attempted, within the limits allowed b}'' the laws 

 now in force, not only to solve the problem for the native groups in the south 

 of the republic but also to form colonies which aim especially at giving a 

 stable position to the Indians of the north. 



As a consequence of colonizing necessities this undertaking has become 

 particularly urgent, and a proposed law, submitted to the congress, aims 

 at protecting the Indians from the manoeuvres of unscrupulous merchants 

 and at encouraging their definite establishment in certain zones appro- 

 priated to them. Pending the voting of this law however administrative 

 measures have been taken to obtain the same result immediately. Among 

 them is the decree of 26 July 1916 which forms for the Tobas and Pilagaes 

 Indians two colonies for arable and live stock farming. 



Numerous groups of these natives have expressed their desire to bene- 

 fit by the arrangements made for the Indian tribes and to establish them- 

 selves at certain points of the Chaco and Formosa territory which they 

 occupy already. After an enquiry made by government officials, which 

 ascertained that these lands were appropriated to agriculture, two colo- 

 nies for arable and live stock farming were formed, one in Chaco having an 

 area of some 53,000 hectares (i), and the other reaching on the south to 

 the Rio Pilcomayo and comprising about 85,000 hectares. 



A new step has thus been taken towards the civilization of these tribes: 

 they abandon the nomad state and agree to establish themselves in a 

 fixed place and give themselves uj) to the work of agriculture. 



(i) hectare = 2 acres 1 rood 35.383 jjoles. 



