ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 



money from the north of Europe, we must spend 

 money, which, owing to the economy we have 

 adopted, is rather a serious question. If our im- 

 ports exceed our exports, we must economize more, 

 since capital is scarce, and we have to work hard to 

 increase it ; but if economy is a sure way out of the 

 present situation, it is also a long one. Let us 

 economize, but let us also increase our produce, so 

 us to establish the balance of trade. The great agent 

 for nil this is the immigrant, and happy the laud 

 that can secure so powertul an element : its troubles 

 are but temporary, its progress constant. In every 



branch of public service let us economize, but let us 

 spend money for immigration. I will not refer to 

 the astonishing figures of Prussia in the last cen- 

 tury, nor the fabulous history of California, where 

 the sweat of honest labor has done far more than the 

 richest of its gold mines ; I will only show that the 

 most reproductive expenditure of capital is that 

 made for immigration. 



The number and nationalities of the immi- 

 grants arrived at Buenos Ayres for the six 

 years 1870-'75 inclusive are as follows: 



The total number of arrivals for 1876 was 

 but 30,965.* 



The more important features of the "Colo- 

 nization bill " referred to by President Avella- 

 neda, and which became a law in 1876, are 

 briefly as follows: 



The advance of the passage-money from any Eu- 

 ropean port to the city of Buenos Ayres. 



The free gift of one hundred hectares (= 250 acres 

 neirly) of land to each of the first 100 families 

 whicli establish themselves in one of the sections 

 already surveyed for colonization. 



The sale of lands at $2 gold per hectare, payable 

 in ten annual payments", commencing in the third 

 year, without interest. 



Advance of food for one year at least. 



Advance of working and breeding cattle, of seeds 

 and agricultural implements, the building of a 

 house, and, in general, of all that a family may re- 

 quire in such conditions. 



The entire advance, excepting the price of the 

 land, cannot exceed $1,000 gold per family, and is 

 payable without interest, and at the cost-price of 

 what they may have received in produce, in five 

 annual installments commencing after the end of the 

 first year. Moreover, the colonists are free from all 

 taxes during ten years ; and after the colony is six 

 years old, the Government will give a prize of $10 

 per thousand fortrees at least two years old, planted 

 by the immigrant. 



The intention of the Government is to grant 

 these privileges chiefly to agricultural families, 

 these being best calculated to meet the imme- 

 diate requirements of the country ; but, at the 

 same time, the bill expresses the intention of 

 favoring artisans also. 



Judging from British reports, one would be 

 justified in presuming that the new homestead 

 lawf already alluded to had begun to yield 

 fruit in 1877. Numerous mercantile firms, en- 



* The total of arrivals in 1878, 1S74, and 1875 was 186,975, 

 from which should be deducted the aggregate number of 

 departures for the same period 61,540 or an average of 20,400 

 per annum approximately. The departures in 1876, how- 

 ever, are given at 13,487 a sign of returning prosperity. 



t See also ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA tor 1876, page 80. and for 

 1376, page 88. 



couraged by its provisions, proposed the estab- 

 lishment of new colonies in Argentine terri- 

 tory, and immigration was expected gradually 

 to return to its former standard. Indeed, the 

 general character of the immigration was al- 

 ready observed to be superior to that of 1875. 

 The Minister of the Interior reported that 

 10,118 new settlers had been sent to the upper 

 provinces in the course of 1876. 



The President of the Republic is Dr. Don 

 Nicolas Avellaneda (entered office on October 

 12, 1874) ; the Vice-President, Dr. Don Ma : 

 riano Acosta (elected in the same year). 



The cabinet is composed of the following 

 ministers: Of the Interior, Dr. Bernardo do 

 Irigoyen ; of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rufino de 

 Elizalde; of Finance, Dr. Victorino de la 

 Plaza; of Justice, Public Worship, and Public 

 Instruction, Dr. Jose Maria Gutierrez ; and of 

 War and Marine, Dr. Adolfo Alsina. 



The Argentine Minister Plenipotentiary to 

 the United States is Sr. Dr. Don Manuel R. 

 Garcia; the Secretary of Legation, Sr. Don G. 

 Videla Dorna; and the Argentine Consul- 

 General (New York), Mr. Edward F. Davison. 



The governors of the several provinces, etc., 

 were as follows : 



Buenos Ayres Carlos Casares (May, 1875). 



Minister of the Interior... .Dr. V. G. Qnesada. 



Minister of Finance Rufino Varela. 



Catamarca M. Molina. 



C6rdoba Dr. A. del Viso. 



Corrientes Dr. J. L. Madariaga. 



Entre-Rios Dr. R. Kebre. 



Jujuy C. Aparlcio. 



La Rioja V. A. Ahnonacid. 



Mendoza J. Villanueva. 



Salta J. Sola. 



San Juan R. Doncel. 



San Luis R. CortSs. 



Santa F6 8. Bayo. 



Santiago B. Olaechea. 



Tucuman T. Padilla. 



Gran Chaco Territory Lieut.-Col. P. G6mez. 



The provincial governors are elected by the 

 people, and their period of office is three years. 



