20 



parties concerned in the purchase and disposal of the 

 crop, declarations of inability to make a living out of 

 farming, etc. 



PROFITS AND LOSSES. 



The years vary but the complaints do not ; nor do the 

 estimates of the losses. 



In 1912 in the pamphlet published by the Minister 

 of Public Works, for a projected "Ley de Graneros" 

 which should authorise the State to construct Elevators 

 in all the railway stations, and ports, Dr. Ezequiel Ramos 

 Mexia, presented the following statistics of economies, 

 based on an average annual crop of 12 million tons : 



$m]n. 



1. Suppression of Sacks (at the time in 



question already exceeding 30 cents each) 



at the rate of 20 cents per 100 kilos . . . 24,000,000 



2. Higher price for cereals, clean, dry and 



suitably graded, at the rate of 10 cents 



per 100 kilos 12,000,000 



3. Suppression of false freight, which cor- 



responds to substances foreign in the ce- 

 reals at the rate of 1 cent per 100 kilos 1,200,000 



4. Substitution of handling by hand for 



mechanical means, automatic weighing 

 and discharging, etc., estimated the dif- 

 ference at 41/2 cents per 100 kilos .... 5,400,000 



5. Suppression of wastage incidental to 



transport in sacks, and gang-plank load- 

 ing, 3 cents per 100 kilos 3,600,000 



Total economy effected ..... $46,200,000 



The following advantages were not computed, al- 

 though, nevertheless, they must be taken into account : 



Suppression of losses from damages, petty average, 

 etc., etc. 



Greater efficiency at the ports. 



Better utilisation of the railway rolling stock. 



Abolishing of demurrage for wagons in the ports. 



Abolishing of demurrage for ships. 



Suppression of transport of grain in humid condi- 

 tion which ferments en route with considerable deprecia- 

 tion for the whole cargoes. 



And finally the most important of all advantages, the 

 possibility of issuing warrants, with absolute security 

 for the bankers who discount them and with positive 

 benefit to the depositors. 



