34 



ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 



000. It is proposed to raise 200,000 by an 

 issue of debentures. 



No new telegraph-lines were made, but much 

 trouble and expense were incurred by repairing 

 during the war the already-existing lines. No 

 less than 748 miles were repaired on the Entre- 

 Rios and Corrientes line, the rebels having de- 

 stroyed 27,000 pounds of wire. 



The receipts for telegrams show an increase 

 of 40 per cent, over those of 1873, and teleg- 

 raphy, wherever practicable, has been gener- 

 ally adopted by the people. Two extra wires 

 were in process of establishment between Bue- 

 nos Ayres and Cordoba, and one from Rosario 

 to Santa F6. 



More telegraphs are, however, still required. 

 President Avellaneda in his message speaks of 

 towns in Buenos Ayres with populations of 

 from 7,000 to 10,000 suffering from the absence 

 of telegraphic communication with the capital, 

 adding that he has offered every assistance to 

 the Governor to meet the want ; and the Min- 

 ister of War urges the necessity of establish- 

 ing lines between the war-office and the mili- 

 tary posts on the frontier of that province, as 

 indispensable to prevent the incursions of the 

 Indians. 



The yield of the Post-Office Department 

 amounted to $174,000, or $16,000 in advance 

 of that of the year immediately preceding; 

 and the increase for 1875 was estimated at 

 three times that amount. 



The mail matter for 1874 was as follows : 



Letters 8,781,824 



Dispatches 280,143 



Newspapers, etc 1,956,864 



Total 5,918,831 



The cost of transport for each letter, etc., 

 was two-thirds of a cent., and the profit one- 

 third of a cent. 



Some idea of the national manufacturing in- 

 dustry can be derived from the following list 

 of prizes, etc., distributed at the industrial 

 fair held at the capital in the early months of 

 the year : Diploma and medal for a steam-en- 

 gine ; diploma and medal for the manufacture 

 of artificial marble ; diploma of honor for the 

 manufacture of silk fabrics ; diploma of honor 

 for calcareous mosaics ; diploma of honor for 

 the manufacture of tubes and wire from lead 

 extracted from Argentine mines; diploma of 

 honor for clocks and watches manufactured in 

 the republic ; diploma of honor for the man- 

 ufacture of glassware ; diploma of honor for 

 skins prepared for glove-making in the repub- 

 lic ; diploma for pianos made with Argentine 

 wood, etc., etc. 



Magnificent specimens of marble are found 

 in great abundance in the Cordoba Mountains, 

 some of which are reported equal in quality 

 to the finest Carrara marble. 



No better summary of the improvements in 

 progress and of the present state of the coun- 

 try can be presented than the subjoined ex- 

 tract from the President's message, already 

 drawn upon, and which, though dating from 



the month of May, is generally applicable to 

 any month in the year : 



President Sarmiento made ports at Ensenada, Za- 

 rata, and San Pedro, tending greatly to facilitate 

 commerce and increase the revenue. I have in like 

 manner opened Bahia Blanca and Ajo for coasting 

 and foreign trade. The port of Ajo yields a reve- 

 nue of $40,000 in the first three months of the pres- 

 ent year. The new custom-house at Eosario is now 

 open ; a port will at once be made, and the Minister 

 of Finance is negotiating for the extension of the 

 pier of a branch of the Central Argentine .Railway, 

 which branch can be built at little expense, and will 

 be of material benefit to the trade of nine of our 

 provinces. 



The new regulations and facilities for northern 

 trade are found to be of great service. 



The proprietors of the Catalina wharf have peti- 

 tioned for permission to extend their work. 



The dredging of the Eiachuelo has been carried on 

 without ceasing throughout the year. Two dredges 

 are working ; 10,000 tons of mud have already been 

 removed from the river, and a project for canalizing 

 the latter will be submitted to you. 



Surveys are in progress for the canalization of the 

 Gualeguaychu, Victoria, Goya, and Esquina Rivers : 

 but there are many other bars in the Parana and 

 Uruguay, for which I propose to have dredges im- 

 ported: and we shall then have all our ports and 

 channels unobstructed for commerce. 



The Department of Agriculture is doing much 

 good in all parts of the republic. Last year 200,000 

 plants and 16,000 parcels of seed were distributed ; 

 and there is in each province an agent appointed to 

 facilitate the work, and report upon the nature of 

 the soil and the climate. The park at Palermo, for 

 the city of Buenos Ayres, progresses rapidly under 

 the able direction of the late President of the Ke- 

 public. 



The war-office was busily employed in the equip- 

 ment and distribution of army corps. "When the re- 

 bellion was ended, divisions had to be paid off, and 

 men sent to their homes : most of the forces, of the 

 northern reserve and Buenos Ayres divisions were 

 National Guards. The troops of the line had to be 

 sent to the frontier, where barracks and plantations, 

 established at a heavy outlay, had been destroyed. 

 In short, all had to be done anew. 



The army was found much reduced, the rebellion 

 having cost four cavalry regiments and two battal- 

 ions of foot ; but, as the ballot was judged unad- 

 visable, the Minister of War ordered a general re- 

 cruiting by voluntary enlistment ; for which pur- 

 pose the republic has been divided into eight sec- 

 tions, each under the command of a field-officer. 



The report of the war-office will soon be laid be- 

 fore you, with a new system for protecting frontiers, 

 and some bills on army reform. It is proposed to 

 suppress the proveedurias which have been making 

 money out of the soldiers' rations. 



The artillery depot has undergone a complete 

 reform. Steam workshops are in course of prepara- 

 tion for the manufacture of every description of 

 arms and ammunition. 



The Marine School is reorganized ; and a floating 

 school for young sailors is in process of equipment, 

 under the auspices of the Government. 



MESSRS. SENATORS AND DEPUTIES : You represent a 

 nation which is making great strides, and which only 

 requires wise laws and prudent administration. 

 The rebellion was but an accident, serving to show 

 that the republic will not consent to anarchy or dis- 

 order. The commercial crisis, far from indicating 

 decadence, is precisely such as the most flourishing 

 nations at times experience : the causes in our case 

 can easily be remedied, and will serve as a lesson 

 for the future.* When people employ capital in un- 



* Numerous suspensions (among others, that of the Mau& 

 Bank) and failures occurred after the termination of the re- 



