ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 



21 



These returns are, however, practically for 

 ten months only, all mercantile movement 

 having been suspended for two months in 

 consequence of the late plague. It is also be- 

 lieved that, if the value of smuggled goods 

 were added to the imports, the total would 

 reach 60 millions; while the exports, if full 

 account were taken of the produce that actual- 

 ly leaves the country, would be little short of 

 35 millions ; thus showing an aggregate trade 

 of 95 instead of 73 millions for the republic. 



Great Britain stands foremost in the list of 

 nations trading with the republic, the total 

 value of the commerce between the two coun- 

 tries being 21 millions; next in order is 

 France, 9 millions; next comes Belgium, 7i 

 millions; then the United States, 5f; while 

 the trade with Paraguay ( million) is the least 

 important of all. 



The importations from Brazil, Chili, and 

 Uruguay, mainly comprise European merchan- 

 dise transshipped in those countries. Strange 

 to say, the trade with Chili is greater than 

 with Brazil ; and that with the United States 

 is more extensive than the trade with Spain 

 and Italy together. Belgium usually held the 

 first rank in the Argentine export tables, until 

 1871, when England took the lead. On com- 

 paring 1871 with 1870, it is observed that 

 France fell off one-half both in imports and 

 exports; England from 10 to 12 per cent. ; the 

 United States one-third in imports ; Germany 

 and Spain one-fourth ; while Belgium remained 

 stationary ; Italy increased by one-third, Chili 

 one-fourth ; and Uruguay nearly doubled. The 

 total decline in trade caused by the yellow- 

 fever plague was over 10^ millions, the port 

 of Buenos Ayres showing only 47|- millions, 

 against 62 for the previous year. In normal 

 times about 83 per cent, of the whole trade of 

 the republic is done through the port of 

 Buenos Ayres ; Rosaria stands for 8, and the 

 remaining ports for 9 per cent. The major 

 part of the exports to Chili are by way of 

 Mendoza, and pass duty free. It is remark- 

 able that little has hitherto been done to render 

 the vast mineral resources of the Argentine 

 States profitable to the nation. " In 1871, the 

 value of silver, lead, and copper, sent from all 

 parts of the republic, did not reach $450,000. 

 In spite of wars, epidemics, droughts, and 

 other obstacles to the material development 

 of the country," writes his Excellency Sr. Don 

 Manuel R. Garcia, Argentine minister to the 

 United States, " the exports have quadrupled in 

 quantity, and quintupled in value in the sev- 

 enteen years from 1853 to 1870." In ef- 

 fect, the exports of the former years, comprising 

 ox-hides, horse-hides, tallow, wool, sheepskins 

 and jerked beef, amounted to 97,453 tons, at a 

 value of $6,990,770; while the figures for the 

 latter year were 397,722 tons, and $39,294,690. 

 This increase, large as it may appear, rep- 

 resents but a small proportion of the products 

 of the country, the mineral and agricultural 

 resources of which have not yet been devel- 



oped, for want of hands, capital, and suitable 

 roads. Official reports show the exports of 

 animal products to have been in the propor- 

 tion of $22.50 for each inhabitant in the prov- 

 ince of Buenos Ayres alone in 1853, $00 in 

 1860, and $80 t in 1870. A significant fact is 

 that of the freighting of a vessel in November 

 last for the export of wheat, 1872 being the 

 first year in which that cereal ceased to be 

 imported into the republic. 



The interior is in the enjoyment of perfect 

 tranquillity ; and a hopeful sign of the times 

 is the rapid decay of that spirit of guacTioism 

 which in former days was so injurious to 

 the permanent and industrial interests of the 

 country. The new wool-clip promised to be 

 exceedingly plentiful, and command prices 

 nowise inferior to those of former days. Pas- 

 toral investments appear to be more profitable 

 than ever, and sheep-farming especially to 

 be in a very prosperous condition. If, during 

 the long depression, estancieros were obliged 

 to sell sheep at ruinously low prices, some of 

 them even retiring from the business bank- 

 rupt and discouraged, the recent rise in values 

 has largely benefited their more fortunate 

 successors: sheep, once sold in large flocks at 

 3 reals a head, now bring 12, and many buyers 

 have actually cleared the purchase-money out 

 of the profits of the first shearing. The cul- 

 ture of tobacco has so far been attended with 

 fair success, and promises to be one day an 

 important industry in the republic. Machines 

 for the manufacture of beet-sugar had been 

 received from England for the Alexandra col- 

 ony, admirably situated on the banks of the 

 Rio Javier, in the Gran Chaco. The value 

 of land, not only in Buenos Ayres City, but in 

 the -outlying camp, is steadily on the advance ; 

 as an instance of which may be mentioned the 

 recent sale of a square league, some sixty 

 miles from the city, for $125,000, a price far 

 beyond any hitherto obtained for that kind of 

 property. 



In financial circles, the project of the con- 

 version of the Provincial Bank having been 

 disposed of, the all-important one of establish- 

 ing a National Bank absorbs the general at- 

 tention; and a charter has lately received 

 legislative sanction. In September the Senate 

 had unanimously passed the first reading of 

 the bill for the building of six new lines of 

 railway for the upper provinces, to connect 

 them with Chili on the one side, and Buenos 

 Ayres on the other. These lines were to be 

 of 40-inch gauge, and about 1,600 miles long, 

 the estimated cost being $50,000,000 (about 

 10,000,000). The Government was author- 

 ised to bind the National Treasury to a 

 guarantee of 7 per cent. A bill had passed 

 the provincial Senate granting a bonus of 

 1,000 and 2,200 acres of land for every mile 

 of the proposed railway from Tandil to Bahia 

 Blanca(190 miles), which willbe the completion 

 of the great Southern line. The law author- 

 ising the Dolores extension had been passed, 



