A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF 



PATAGONIA 



It wniikl be possible to write a very long chapter about the future 

 of Patagonia. I do not, however, propose to do this, but to write 

 what I have to say as briefly as possible. 



To begin with, Patagonia can boast of a fine climate, for, though 

 the winters are certainly hard, no endemic disease exists. The 

 country is exceptionally healthy, nor are there any poisonous reptiles 

 to endanger life on its far-reaching pampas. There are few parts 

 of the earth of which so much can be said. 



A large portion of the land is eminently suited for the support 

 of sheep, as the enormous and prosperous sheep-farms to be found 

 along the east and south coasts bear witness. Cattle and horse- 

 breeding are also successfully carried on, and although a portion 

 of the country is unsuited for agricultural purposes, it is equally 

 certain that large expanses of ground of great fertility and rich 

 promise are to be found here. 



The tide of pastoral life from the thriving southern farms 

 round and about Punta Arenas on the Straits of Maofellan, and 

 Gallegos on the Atlantic coast, is setting strongly north and west. 

 The crying want of the country is capital to open up means of 

 communication with the interior. At present there are no railways 

 or other settled lines for the transport of produce, although I believe 

 a steam-launch has lately been placed upon the River Santa Cruz. 

 In consequence of this lack some farmers have to carry wool two 

 hundred miles by bullock-cart to the coast ; a few cover even a 

 greater distance. To send wool two hundred miles in bullock- 

 carts means at least three weeks of travel. To ofo and come from 

 the farm to the coast would thus take up about two months of a 



