6 STATES OF THE EIVER PLATE. 



library ; English daily newspapers ; a cricket club, and 

 racecourse. 



There are three lines of railways in the province of 

 Buenos Ayres, gradually extending farther and farther 

 into the countiy — one to the north, taking the line of the 

 principal northern traffic, and the others to the west and 

 south — all opening up the most important trading districts 

 in their respective directions. 



Another railway — the Central Argentine — is in course 

 of construction, not in the province of Buenos Ayres, but 

 with its terminus in the province of Santa Fe, at a port 

 called Eosario, and taking its line through the province of 

 Cordoba to the city of the same name, the focus of com- 

 munication with the northern and north-west provinces. 

 The importance of this line of railway cannot be over- 

 estimated. At Eosario, several lines of steamers from 

 Buenos Ayres call, touching en route at several ports on 

 both banks of the Parana above and below Eosario. 

 Each of the several ports is a distinct centre of trade, 

 to which goods are shipped from Buenos Ayres, and 

 the produce of these districts is forwarded to be shipped 

 per steam or river craft to Buenos Ayres or Monte- 

 video. 



The port of Buenos Ayres is an open roadstead, with 

 inner and outer roads, divided by a sand-bank, or bar, 

 with good anchorage in both. The vessels are discharged 

 by, and loaded from lighters, which land and receive 

 cargo at moles or jetties, or are beached, and their cargoes 

 taken from or to them in high wheeled carts, or at wharfs 

 on the banks of a small river, the ' Eiachuelo,' in the 

 vicinity of which are situated the chief '•Saladeros,'kilhng 

 and salting establishments for hides, tallow melting, &c. ; 

 also barracas, or warehouses. Eiver craft, with produce 

 from the several ports of the Elvers Parana and Uruguay, 



