Part 21

9. That there are a sufficient number of British subjects in the Republic to render a knowledge of the Spanish language non-essential for immigrants, and that this language is capable, during a short residence, of being more easily acquired than any other: likewise, that an English newspaper is regularly published at Buenos Ayres, and also at the city and port of Rosario, and that there is an influential English Bank and other institutions.

10. That the staple productions of the country are such as at all times to command the markets of the world, the principal exports being tallow, hides, and wool, while, during the past year, a trade in preserved meat has been opened up which seems to promise, if sufficient attention be given to establish a scientific process of curing, to assume proportions as sudden and profitable as those of the newly-developed petroleum trade of North America; that there is also a mining district in the interior provinces on the slope of the Andes, which appears, from the operations thus far conducted, to be one of the richest silver regions yet discovered.

11. That the country is being opened up in all directions by English Railway enterprises, one of which, the Rosario and Cordova Line, will be 247 miles in length, and is considered to be ultimately destined to cross the entire country to Chili, and thus to form a highway for the traffic between the Atlantic and the Pacific.

12. That the acquisition of land is easy and its tenure secure, and that additional and extraordinary facilities for settlement are in course of introduction by the circumstance of about a million of acres on the sides of their line having been ceded to the Rosario and Cordova (Central Argentine) Railway Company, and of a grant of 10,400 square miles in the fertile province of Cordova having been made to Mr. Etchegaray, which is to be transferred to a London Company.

Finally, it is to be observed, that the debt of the country, foreign and internal, the interest on which is paid with unfailing punctuality, is comparatively small; that it is gradually in course of extinction, and that the six per cent. bonds in the London market range between 90 and 100; that there are no direct taxes; and that the commerce of the country is increasing with such rapidity, that in the Board of Trade Returns of British exports for the past year (1864), it figures for £1,758,058, and stands higher in the list than Chili or Peru, and, as regards European countries, higher than Prussia, Sweden and Norway, Denmark, and many others with which we have an important traffic.

The present population of the Argentine Republic is but about 2,000,000, and immigration may be said to be its only want. This is felt and acknowledged by all classes, and every arrival is therefore warmly welcomed. The tide thither is gradually increasing, and persons best acquainted with the country express a conviction that the growth of Buenos Ayres, which at present is a fine city, with about 200,000 inhabitants, will during the next twenty years rival that which has been witnessed at New York during the like period in the past. In several cases persons of moderate capital have emigrated from Australia and New Zealand to the Argentine Republic, owing to the advantages of its greater proximity to England, and its superior facilities for the acquisition of land.

By far the greater portion of the country consists of rich alluvial plains, constituting what are called the Pampas. The climate is subject to a great difference of temperature in winter and summer, but the changes are gradual and regular. The winter is about as cold as the English November, with white frosts, and ice at sunrise. “Taken as a whole, the Pampas may be said to enjoy as beautiful and as salubrious an atmosphere as the most healthy parts of Greece and Italy, and without being subject to malaria.”[14]

The country is universally celebrated for the abundance of its cattle, horses, sheep, goats, asses, mules, and swine. The number of cattle fifteen years ago was estimated at 12,000,000, and the horses, mules, and asses at more than 4,000,000, and they are supposed since that period to have largely increased.

The salubrity of the climate seems especially beneficial to immigrants from this country, its influence being singularly restorative wherever there is any tendency to bronchial or pulmonary affections. In some districts, such as that of the beautiful city and province of Cordova, these disorders appear to be almost unknown, and as on the completion of the Central Argentine Railway it will be possible to reach the city of Cordova from London in little more than a month, that place may probably become a sanitarium for Europeans in a majority of the most important cases where change of climate is desirable.

PROTECTION OF IMMIGRANTS.

_An influential Commission, of which_ SENOR DON M. J. AZCUENAGA _is President, is formed at Buenos Ayres to assist Immigrants, by whom the following Notice is issued. Similar care is exercised at the Port of Rosario_:—

NOTICE.—THE COMMITTEE OF IMMIGRATION TO IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING AT THE PORT OF BUENOS AYRES.

This Committee gives notice to Immigrants who arrive at this port that whaleboats have been engaged by the same to bring them on shore and that a commodious “Asylum” is prepared for them, where they will find lodging and food during the first eight days after their arrival, all gratis; and that in case any sick persons should be amongst them, they will be sent to the hospitals of this city, where they will be attended with the utmost care, likewise gratis; and finally, that this Commission will undertake to procure suitable employment for them, as well in town as in the camp, without any charge.

The present notice is given as a precaution that the Immigrants may not be imposed upon by individuals who go on board with whaleboats, offering to take them on shore, because, besides that those individuals make them pay for landing them, they take them to taverns where they are obliged to spend their money, and, having no means to pay with, they lose their luggage.

The Immigrants are therefore advised in their own interest to disembark in the whaleboats sent by the Committee, and to go direct to the “Asylum,” situated in the street Corrientes, No. 8, where they will have nothing to pay.

By order of the Commission, Buenos Ayres, Nov. 1, 1864. GEORGE P. E. TORNQUIST, Secretary.

The following is a list of the classes of Immigrants most required in Buenos Ayres:—

OCCUPATION. Monthly Wages with Board.

Farmers £3 0 0

Gardeners £3 15 0 to 4 10 0

Farm Servants £2 5 0 to 3 0 0

House Servants, Men 2 5 0

House Servants, Women £2 0 0 to 3 0 0

Cooks, Men 3 0 0 to 3 15 0

Cooks, Women 2 5 0 to 3 0 0

Boys from 10 to 15 years 0 15 0 to 1 5 0

Sempstresses 2 15 0

Milliners 2 15 0

Dressmakers 2 15 0

Laundresses 2 16 0

Daily Wages without Board.

Bricklayers 6s. 0d.

Joiners 6 6

Blacksmiths 6 6

Shoemakers 7 6

Tailors 6s. 0d. to 9 0

Labourers 4 6

Railway labourers 6 0

Miners — —

NOTE.—_Higher Wages may be calculated upon in the interior Provinces, and Artisans of superior merit will always obtain more than is quoted._

OBSERVATIONS.

In the rural establishments merely, situated in the suburbs of the capital, thousands of families may engage themselves immediately.

With respect to those Immigrants who may come to establish themselves in the flourishing Colonies of Santa Fé, Baradero, San Jose, or others actually forming in various parts of the Republic, we do not hesitate to say that, owing to the fertility of the land, they will rapidly acquire a modest fortune.

In summer, Farm Labourers get 6s. to 7s. 6d. per day.

The scarcity of Domestic Servants is notorious—a preference being given to Women.

Sempstresses, Milliners, Dressmakers, and Laundresses, however numerous the arrivals, are certain of employment.

Artisans of all descriptions, and Immigrants, even though of no fixed calling, will get employment to their satisfaction, immediately on landing.

The Railways now employ a large staff, but some thousands of labourers are required for the earthworks that are being pushed forward with the greatest activity.

Immigrants—above all, those with a knowledge of Minerals—will find very lucrative employment in the rich and numerous Mines of San Juan, Mendoza, La Rioja, Catamarca, Jujuy, Cordova, and Salta, which are now being worked with the most satisfactory results.

A fortnightly journal, called _The Brazil and River Plate Mail_, is published in London by BATES, HENDY & CO., 4, Old Jewry, E.C.

STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE RIVER PLATE.

I have been disappointed in getting a statement of the up-river traffic in passengers and merchandise, both of which have assumed very large dimensions; but the following list of steam agents at Buenos Ayres, and the steamers employed, will give some idea of what is doing in this way, as well as the increase that may be looked for when the war in Paraguay is over:—

_Matti and Piera_ (the leading agents, with a large fleet of steamers.)—The steamer Rio Negro, weekly, for Salto and ports; the steamers Uruguay, for Rosario, Paraná, and Santa Fé, from the Railway Station, Retiro; the steamer Rio Uruguay, for Monte Video; the steamer Rio Negro, for Monte Video; the steamer Lujan, for Gualeguay, Rosario, Paraná, and Santa Fé, from the Railway Station, Retiro. These steamers mostly make weekly passages; the communication with Monte Video is more frequent.

_Henry Dowse_ (one of the oldest steam agents in Buenos Ayres).—The steamer James T. Brady, for Monte Video; the steamer Beauly, for Colonia; national steamer Estrella, from the Tigre, for Rosario, Paraná, Santa Fé, and intermediate ports.

_Alvarez and Risso_.—For Monte Video, the steamer Villa del Salto, on Mondays, returning early on Thursday mornings; the steamer Rio de la Plata, on Wednesdays, returning early on Saturday mornings. For Salto and ports, the steamer Villa del Salto, on Thursdays, returning early on Monday mornings; for Salto and ports, the steamer Rio de la Plata, on Saturdays, returning early on Wednesday mornings; for Salto and ports, the steamer Salto, twice a month, taking passengers, cargo, and parcels, for all intermediate ports. For Corrientes and Itapiru, the Oriental steamer Tigre, taking passengers, cargo, and parcels; for Bahia Blanca and Patagones, the National steamer Patagones, once a month, taking cargo, passengers, and parcels.

_The Steam Company for the Rivers_ run three screw-steamers, the Taraguay, the Goya, and the Guarani, chiefly with cargo, for Corrientes and Curupaity.

_G. T. Paez_ runs steamers to Gualeguay, to Rosario, and intermediate ports, amongst them the Castor, Pollox (English); national steamers Lucia and Elena, and the Italian steamer Venezia.

_Rubio and Foley_ despatch the British steamer Iaguarete for Corrientes, Itapiru, Curupaity, and ports, and the National steamer Victoria, for La Victoria and Zarate.

_The South American Steamboat Company_ despatch steamers for Humaita, Curupaity, Corrientes, and ports. They also provide steam communication to Monte Video, with cargo and passengers.

At Monte Video there are several steam companies and agencies connected with Buenos Ayres. Monte Video steamers run chiefly up the Uruguay; others going up the Paraná call at Monte Video, and between Monte Video and Buenos Ayres there are now steamers running daily to and from both ports, one or two being powerful American river boats, with splendid accommodation for passengers.

The following particulars of up-river distances may be interesting:—

Miles. From Monte Video to Buenos Ayres 106 Buenos Ayres to Martin Garcia 33 Martin Garcia to Higueritas 30 ——— 169 Higueritas to Fray Bentos 60 Fray Bentos to Gualeguaychu 27 Gualeguaychu to Concepcion del Uruguay 33 Concepcion del Uruguay to Paysandú 15 Paysandú to Concordia 90 Concordia to Salto 3 ——— 228 Buenos Ayres to San Fernando 18 San Fernando to Las Palmas 12 Las Palmas to Zarate 36 Zarate to San Pedro 55 San Pedro to Obligado 6 Obligado to Los Hermanos 12 Los Hermanos to San Nicolas 32 San Nicolas to San Piedras 8 San Piedras to Rosario 31 Rosario to San Lorenzo 18 San Lorenzo to Diamante 54 Diamante to Santa Fé 36 Santa Fé to Paraná 10 Paraná to La Paz 102 La Paz to Esquinao 72 Esquinao to Goya 73 Goya to Bella Vista 53 Bella Vista to Corrientes 87 The Branch Line to Gualeguay 20 ——— 735 From Buenos Ayres to Bahia Blanca and Patagones 840 From Colonia to Cape St. Maria 200

SHIPPING MOVEMENTS.

MOVEMENT OF SHIPPING (SAILING AND STEAM) TO AND FROM BRAZIL AND THE RIVER PLATE DURING THE YEAR 1867, TAKEN FROM THE BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS:—

INWARDS. SHIPS. TONNAGE.

{Brazil 477 188,643 English {Monte Video 73 23,067 {Buenos Ayres 44 19,237

{Brazil 139 29,174 Foreign {Monte Video 39 10,153 {Buenos Ayres 32 8,968

Total English and Foreign:—

Brazil 616 275,562 Monte Video 112 123,597 Buenos Ayres 76 64,348 ———

OUTWARDS.

{Brazil 493 195,487 English {Monte Video 163 79,453 {Buenos Ayres 142 46,462

{Brazil 291 80,082 Foreign {Monte Video 111 44,144 {Buenos Ayres 62 16,886

Total English and Foreign:—

Brazil 784 275,569 Monte Video 274 124,597 Buenos Ayres 204 64,348

Footnote 10:

See "Climate of the Swiss Alps and of the Peruvian Andes compared."

Footnote 11:

See "Les Altitudes de l'Amerique Tropical au-dessus le niveau des mars au point de vue de la constitution medicale."

Footnote 12:

See "Syria and the Holy Land."

Footnote 13:

There is now weekly communication by steamers between Europe and the River Plate.

Footnote 14:

"Encyclopædia Britannica."

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

1. Made the changes indicated in the ERRATA section. 2. Added opening quotes (“) to each paragraph in the block quotation on p. 53 consistent with the practice used elsewhere in this book. 3. Changed gods to goods on p. 192. 4. Changed coveying to conveying on p. 205. 5. Parana is used more frquently than Paraná. Also depôt more frequently than depot. In both cases, neither form was changed to the other due to both being frequently used. 6. Silently corrected typographical errors. 7. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. 8. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.