AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF SOUTH AMERICA 
61 
their own estates or in approving laws that would limit the size of es- 
tates or make subdivision of them compulsory. In the fall of 1924, the 
minister of agriculture, foreseeing a probable influx of immigrants 
and the necessity of making land accessible to them on easy terms, 
proposed a law designed to authorize the National Government to 
expropriate up to 50 per cent of large holdings, with provision for 
fair compensation, in all cases where the proprietors are unwilling 
either to sell or to colonize at least 50 per cent of their land. 
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES 
The development of manufacturing industries in Argentina is 
handicapped by lack of water power; scarcity and cost of fuel and 
such raw materials as iron, steel, other metals, wood, and cotton, 
high freight rates, and relatively small population and low purchas- 
ing power. The country has great mineral resources, including coal 
and iron, but these are undeveloped. Petroleum wells at Rivadavia 
and in Neuquen are producing, but not in sufficient quantity to sup- 
ply domestic needs. It therefore seems probable that until the do- 
mestic production of petroleum, coal, other minerals, and cotton is 
greatly augmented, the industrial development of Argentina will be 
retarded. 
Unfortunately, the latest data with respect to the manufacturing 
industries of Argentina are those reported by the 1914 census (Table 
47). The census reports show the value but not the quantity of 
production. The manufacturing industries of Argentina, as in some 
other South American countries, were stimulated during the war 
period by the reduced volume of imports available and by high 
prices. The census figures of 1914 are therefore of value simply as 
an indication of the status of the industry prior to the war. 
Table 47. — Principal Argentine manufacturing industries, 1914 
Industry 
Establish- 
ments 
Capital 
Production 
Value of 
raw material 
Power 
Persons 
engaged 
Food 
Clothing and toilet.., _ __ 
Number 
18, 983 
7,081 
Dollars 
324, 230, 639 
42, 526, 921 
91, 771, 964 
26, 590, 793 
6, 175, 090 
45, 685, 996 
16, 136, 825 
14, 001, 389 
14, 616, 860 
177, 151, 440 
Dollars 
420, 466, 128 
68, 060, 323 
97,483,146 
36, 957, 139 
6, 843, 485 
40, 029, 681 
23, 901, 201 
16, 837, 171 
17, 084, 978 
62, 688, 821 
Dollars 
279, 511, 030 
38, 079, 076 
41, 406, 671 
17, 593, 563 
2, 990, 684 
19, 437, 864 
11,956,941 
9, 551 ] 046 
35, 126, 031 
Horse- 
power 
164, 786 
5,784 
44,570 
9,026 
442 
17, 935 
4,915 
3,058 
10, 203 
418, 038 
Number 
134, 842 
57, 764 
C onstruction 
Furniture and vehicles 
Artistic and ornameltal 
Metals 
Chemical 
Graphic arts 
Textile 
Miscellaneous 
Total 
8,582 
4,441 
996 
3,275 
567 
1,439 
2, 458 
957 
87, 317 
29, 007 
4,297 
29, 327 
9,9S6 
13, 286 
15, 560 
28, 815 
48, 779 
758, 887, 917 
790, 352, 073 
461, 350, 984 
678, 757 
410, 201 
Values converted from paper pesos to dollars; 1 paper peso =$0.424512. 
Since the census year there has been considerable development in 
the manufacturing industries, especially in the making of shoes and 
other leather goods, stockings and other fabrics, brick and cement, 
foundry work, tools, agricultural implements, coaches and rolling 
stock for railways, cigarettes and cigars, etc. 
