178 



*j 



ELEVATORS AS PROFITABLE INVESTMENT 

 FOR CAPITAL. 



According to the figures submitted to the Senate 

 by the Minister of' Agriculture in 1915, a grain mer- 

 chant of Santa Fc, Sefior .Jose Botto, after having 

 studied the system of elevators in the Tufted States, 

 constructed three such near and about "Roxario. These 

 have proved an excellent business, rendering no less 

 than 32 per cent, interest on the outlay. 



The expenses of running eaeli \\vre $755 per 

 month, comprised as follows: 



.Manager $ 200 



Engineer 125 



Stoker 100 



Two "peones" a $ !()() c u 200 



Insurance and other expensr- 50 



Oils (irease $.">(), Combustible $50 80 



(Mai/ "Maslos" Imrni 



Total per annum $9,060 



The elevators were not worked all the year round 

 but about on^v eight months of the year, although the 

 staff was retained throughout. 



A minimum tariff was charged, which en the basis 

 of an annual movement of 15,000 tons maize and wheat 

 produced the following : 



For receiving ami discharging at 7 cents per 



100 kilos ^ $10,500 



For cleaning 33 per cent-, or 5000 tons, at 10 



cents per 10 kilos 5,000 



For shelling 33 per cent., or 5000 TOILS, at o 



cents per 100 kilos 2.500 



For depositing 500 tons per month, :tt 8 cents t 



per 100 kilos 3,600 



Total $21,600 



Profits were approximately $12,500. C'ost of ele- 

 vators and installations (approximately 10003000 tons 

 capacity) $100,000. ,In these profits do not figure the 

 half per cent, commission charged by the elevator- on 



