MATERIAL CONDITION OF ARGENTINA. 469 



By tlie so-called " Colonisation Act " passed in 1876 on the model of tlie 

 United States Homestead-Bill, the national domain was divided into squares of 12 

 miles on all sides, comprising 400 lots of 250 acres each. The first hundred 

 arrivals received their lots gratis, and the rest was then sold at the rate of two 

 dollars the hectar (2^ acres) ; to prevent the creation of large estates it was 

 decided that nobody could purchase more than four lots. Colonisation Companies 

 were to arrange for the introduction of settlers ; but after a few experiments, for 

 the most part unsuccessful, this system was abandoned. 



Since 1887 " agricultural centres " have been established in the province of 

 Buenos Ayres round about railway stations distant at least 60 miles from the 

 capital, and to these estates the law of expropriation is applied in the case of all 

 absentee owners. In three years over 250 villages have been founded on this 

 plan, representing altogether about 5,525,000 acres of arable land. 



In 1888 the province of Santa Fe, which has received the largest number of 

 settlers, comprised over 190 colonies with upwards of 6,500,000 acres. In nearly 

 all these colonies each settler is allowed to acquire as many c/iacras (lots) as he 

 has means to purchase, and of these he becomes the absolute owner. Property on 

 the communal principle of collective ownership exists only amongst the "Hussi- 

 fied " Germans, Mennonites, or others on the east side of the Parana. Here the 

 Russian ?)nr has been introduced, and is even said to have acquired a more 

 decidedly communistic character. 



Minerals — Industries — Trade. 



Mineral products constitute but a small portion of the national wealth in the 

 hind of "Silver." Even in favourable years they scarcely exceed £280,000, 

 although certain gold, silver, lead, and copper mines are very rich in ores. But 

 they are all situated in mountainous regions of difficult access, and in the Andean 

 provinces of the north-west they are often blocked by snow in winter. The coal- 

 fields of San Rafael and of the foothills appear to constitute the chief mineral 

 wealth of the Republic ; but mining operations have scarcely yet begun in these 

 rugged districts. 



Taken as a whole, the industries are but slightly developed. Till recently they 

 were confined to the production of articles of primary necessity connected with the 

 alimentation, housing, and clothing of the people, everything else being imported 

 from Europe and the United States. The only important industry was directly 

 associated with stock-breeding — the preparation of meat, hides, and the like. 

 Weavins: had even retrograded since the Indian women had ceased to make stout 

 coarse fabrics from various raw materials. 



But the sudden penury caused by the financial crises and bankruptcies has 

 compelled the Argentines to develop a number of industries, which were not needed 

 so long as there was plenty of money to buy all they required in Europe. Thug 

 have recently sprung up breweries, sugar refineries, paper mills, and various other 

 factories, provided with the best plant and managed by skilled hands. 



Being favoured by the facility of transport across the level plains, the trade of 

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