CHAPTER IX.

CONCERNING THE TRANSPORT TO THE PROVINCES AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE IMMIGRANTS

Art. 48.--The Employment-Offices or the Immigration-Commissions in their stead, shall use their best endeavours to provide immigrants with employment in such art, trade or calling as they may prefer.

Art. 49.--Such employment shall be procured if possible within five days after the immigrant's arrival, and on as favourable terms as possible.

Art. 50.--The Employment-Offices or the Immigration-Commissions in their stead shall, at the request of the interested parties, intervene in such contracts for employment as they may make, with a view to securing their fulfillment for the immigrant.

Art. 51.--Any immigrant who should prefer to fix his residence in any of the interior Provinces of the Republic, or at any of its Colonies, will be at once transported with his family and luggage to such place, as he may select, free of all charge.

Art. 52.--In case of an immigrant going to the Provinces, he will be entitled on arrival at his destination, to be lodged and boarded for ten days by the Immigration-Commission. At the expiration of this time, he shall pay half a national gold dollar a day for every person over 8 years old, and 25 cents for every child under that age, except in case of illness, when he would continue to be maintained at the expense of the Government as long as the said illness lasts.

Art. 54.--The immigrants can on no pretence whatever, profit by the privileges granted by the preceding articles, to pass through the territory of the Republic to a foreign country, under penalty of repaying all the expenses that have been occasioned for their passage, landing, board, lodging and transport.

Reception of immigrants in the Argentine Republic.

THE IMMIGRANT INSPECTION AND ITS REASON

Each ship that arrives in the country bringing immigrants, 2nd. and 3rd. class passengers, according to Law, is visited and inspected by a Commission comprising the Immigration Inspector, Board of Health doctor and Coast Guard officer, who examine the hygiene and healthiness of the ship, accommodation, provisioning during the voyage, supply of medicines, and as to whether a doctor or chemist is carried; if or no a greater number of passengers were carried than the accommodation allows; if the measurements of the deck, sparedeck and of the berths are in accordance with the Law; if there is sufficient ventilation, supply of firehose and cooking utensils, life belts and life boats; if there are passengers with contagious diseases; if passengers have been embarqued at ports where there is an epidemic; if any part of the cargo is inflamable or unhealthy, and, finally, receive any protest of the passengers of bad treatment and obtain from the Captain the documents he should deliver, showing cognoscence of the Immigration Law, and any incidents that have happened on the voyage. This is done in the interest of the immigrants.

RECEIVING THE IMMIGRANTS

The immigrants are carefully questioned and classified to find out their trades and means, note being taken of those who do not wish to come under the Immigration Law, their passports then being stamped «passenger only», as also are stamped «former resident» the passports of those who come under that heading.

Once the passports revised by the officials, those immigrants admited under the Law, are handed over to the receiving officials of the Immigrants Hotel who attend to them, placing them in trams, which take them to the Hotel. The baggage is taken on trucks to the same place by the Hotel porters.

FREE LODGING

Arriving at the Hotel, the names of the immigrants are entered in the Hotel register and they are given a lodging ticket valid for five days, which can be prolonged in case of sickness. The immigrants are comfortably lodged, the women and children in separate rooms to the men. The baggage is taken by the Hotel porters to a deposit where it is revised by the Custom House Officers, specially.

FREE BOARD

The rations given to the immigrants are of the best, and in the following proportions per day, per adult: meat 600 grams, bread 500 grams, potatoes, carrots or cabbage (alternately) 150; rice, maccaroni, or beans (alternately) 100; sugar 25 and coffee 10 grams; milk is given to the children. The food is cooked by steam and is served by the Hotel attendants in a large dining room.

MEDICAL ATTENDANCE

There is an Infirmary in the Hotel where patients are carefully attended; children as well as adults can be vaccinated. There is a staff of doctors, students, sicknurses, and a chemist's fully equiped with medicines and disinfectants.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT OFFICE

On arrival, the immigrants are questioned as to what part of the country they wish to go, and are offered work by the Employment Office, in accordance with the inquiries for workmen received, full information of which, of wages paid and other conditions are carefully entered up in books kept for that purpose. If there are no enquiries for workmen in the particular trade of an immigrant looking for employment, this Office undertakes to find him work by either directing him to Works and Factories or by telegraphing enquiries to the Interior. Immigrants are warned, should they wish to go to any part of the country where there is no opening for one in their trade.

No persuasion is used to induce immigrants to go to any particular part of the country, it is left to them to decide.

FORWARDING AND RECEIVING FREE

The immigrants placed up country or who wish to join their relations, are taken care of by forwarding Agents who remit their luggage properly labeled, note down the immigrants so forwarded, provide them with tickets and see them on to the train or river steamers.

ARRIVING AT THE PROVINCES AND POINTS OF DESTINATION

The immigrants who go to the Provinces or National Territories to be settled, are met on arrival of the train by the Secretary of the Branch Office, boarded and lodged for ten days until they are settled or leave for some fixed destination. If they should have to change trains, they are looked after by this Official in the same way as in the Federal Capital, from the arrival of one train until the departure of the one in which they continue their journey.

POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICE

For the better handing of the immigrants correspondence and in order that the Head Office and National Employment Office can transmit without delay, orders and instructions all over the Republic, there is a Post and Telegraph Office in the Immigration Hotel.

STATISTICAL RETURNS

The four following returns, summarize the Argentine Immigration movement from 1857 to 1903.

In those relating to the entry and nationality of immigrants, the information corresponding to the years running from 1857 to 1903 is given, and in those which refer to their trades and forwarding to the interior, the information has been taken corresponding to the last decade, this lapse of time being sufficiently demonstrative.

IMMIGRANTS PLACED AND FORWARDED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE COUNTRY BY THE NATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE DURING THE LAST DECADE FROM 1894 TO 1903.

--------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+------- Provinces and | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 Territories | | | | | | --------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+------- Federal Capital | 545 | 683 | 1.209 | 589 | 876 | 1.736 Buenos Aires | 3.071 | 4.212 | 12.028 | 8.471 | 7.503 | 9.991 Entre Rios | 2.345 | 2.129 | 814 | 1.190 | 1.184 | 1.575 Corrientes | 101 | 115 | 114 | 455 | 293 | 194 Santa Fé | 11.801 | 10.143 | 13.077 | 6.273 | 6.577 | 9.647 Córdoba | 2.413 | 2.198 | 2.995 | 1.958 | 2.659 | 3.951 Tucumán | 802 | 387 | 898 | 1.173 | 456 | 514 Santiago del Estero | 76 | 51 | 291 | 149 | 165 | 141 Salta | 19 | 36 | 47 | 237 | 345 | 224 JuJuy | 18 | 10 | 104 | 38 | 17 | 69 Catamarca | 11 | 29 | 19 | 16 | 8 | 14 La Rioja | -- | 25 | 12 | 20 | 14 | 43 San Luis | 46 | 91 | 183 | 207 | 95 | 129 Mendoza | 566 | 665 | 1.973 | 2.569 | 1.365 | 1.695 San Juan | 137 | 155 | 270 | 390 | 252 | 269 Chaco | 34 | 6 | 20 | 105 | 112 | 21 Misiones | 30 | 13 | 7 | 72 | 254 | 509 Tierra del Fuego | -- | 16 | 54 | 41 | 19 | 8 Chubut | 11 | 25 | 10 | 84 | 22 | 13 Santa Cruz | 11 | 1 | 40 | 44 | 18 | 24 Formosa | 47 | 5 | 13 | 116 | 50 | 16 Pampa Central | 7 | 17 | 63 | 160 | 93 | 117 Río Negro | 1 | -- | 55 | 293 | 69 | 34 Neuquen | -- | -- | 27 | 13 | -- | 16 --------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+------- | 22.092 | 21.012 | 34.323 | 24.663 | 22.446 | 30.950

--------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- Provinces and | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | Total Territories | | | | | --------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- | | | | | Federal Capital | 3.077 | 2.739 | 635 | 449 | 12.538 Buenos Aires | 10.213 | 12.982 | 9.828 | 13.447 | 91.746 Entre Rios | 1.456 | 1.151 | 677 | 317 | 12.838 Corrientes | 117 | 225 | 118 | 46 | 1.778 Santa Fé | 9.336 | 12.628 | 7.440 | 10.115 | 97.037 Córdoba | 3.581 | 4.002 | 1.768 | 2.973 | 28.498 Tucumán | 590 | 1.576 | 366 | 366 | 7.128 Santiago del Estero | 99 | 132 | 82 | 73 | 1.259 Salta | 94 | 76 | 31 | 61 | 1.170 JuJuy | 41 | 273 | 72 | 216 | 858 Catamarca | 14 | 35 | 10 | 5 | 161 La Rioja | 22 | 20 | 28 | 25 | 209 San Luis | 129 | 159 | 124 | 76 | 1.239 Mendoza | 2.183 | 4.160 | 1.521 | 757 | 17.454 San Juan | 354 | 190 | 155 | 82 | 2.254 Chaco | 24 | 41 | 27 | 12 | 402 Misiones | 1.136 | 1.738 | 1.083 | 81 | 4.923 Tierra del Fuego | 9 | 17 | 7 | 17 | 188 Chubut | 56 | 75 | 153 | 239 | 688 Santa Cruz | 54 | 85 | 59 | 54 | 390 Formosa | 20 | 35 | 25 | 1 | 328 Pampa Central | 145 | 181 | 173 | 349 | 1.305 Río Negro | 42 | 198 | 73 | 63 | 828 Neuquen | 17 | 29 | 39 | 11 | 152 --------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- | 32.809 | 42.747 | 24.494 | 29.835 | 285.371

IMMIGRATION FROM COUNTRIES BEYOND THE SEA AND MONTEVIDEO 1857 to 1903.

---------+----------------+--------------+-------------- | Countries | | Years | beyond | Montevideo | Total | the sea | | ---------+----------------+--------------+-------------- 1857 | 4.951 | | 4.951 1858 | 4.658 | | 4.658 1859 | 4.735 | | 4.735 1860 | 5.656 | | 5.656 1861 | 6.301 | | 6.301 1862 | 6.716 | | 6.716 1863 | 10.408 | | 10.408 1864 | 11.682 | | 11.682 1865 | 11.767 | | 11.767 1866 | 13.696 | | 13.696 1867 | 13.225 | 3.821 | 17.046 1868 | 25.919 | 3.315 | 29.234 1869 | 28.958 | 8.976 | 37.934 1870 | 30.898 | 9.069 | 39.967 1871 | 14.626 | 6.307 | 20.933 1872 | 26.208 | 10.829 | 37.037 1873 | 48.382 | 27.950 | 76.332 1874 | 40.674 | 27.603 | 68.277 1875 | 18.532 | 23.534 | 42.066 1876 | 14.532 | 16.433 | 30.965 1877 | 14.675 | 21.650 | 36.325 1878 | 23.624 | 19.334 | 42.958 1879 | 32.717 | 22.438 | 55.155 1880 | 26.643 | 15.008 | 41.651 1881 | 31.431 | 16.053 | 47.484 1882 | 41.041 | 10.462 | 51.503 1883 | 52.472 | 10.771 | 63.243 1884 | 49.623 | 28.182 | 77.805 1885 | 80.618 | 28.104 | 108.722 1886 | 65.655 | 27.461 | 93.116 1887 | 98.898 | 21.944 | 120.842 1888 | (a) 130.271 | 25.361 | 155.632 1889 | (a) 218.744 | 42.165 | 260.909 1890 | (a) 77.815 | 32.779 | 110.594 1891 | 28.266 | 23.831 | 52.097 1892 | 39.973 | 33.321 | 73.294 1893 | 52.067 | 32.353 | 84.420 1894 | 54.720 | 25.951 | 80.671 1895 | 61.226 | 19.762 | 80.988 1896 | 102.673 | 32.532 | 135.205 1897 | 72.978 | 32.165 | 105.143 1898 | 67.130 | 28.060 | 95.190 1899 | 84.442 | 26.641 | 111.083 1900 | 84.851 | 21.051 | 105.902 1901 | 90.127 | 35.824 | 125.951 1902 | 57.992 | 38.088 | 96.080 1903 | 75.227 | 37.444 | 112.671 ---------+----------------+--------------+-------------- | 2.158.423 | 846.572 | 3.004.995

(a)--With assisted passages.

=General Total (including first class passengers) 3.685.430.=

TRADES OF FOREIGN IMMIGRANTS, IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, FROM 1894 TO 1903.

Agriculturers 312.723 Masons 8.500 Upper cutters 898 Surveyors 16 Architects 12 Fitters 81 Sawers 127 Barbers 1.332 Coal-men 99 Butchers 725 Carpenters 7.142 Coppersmiths 439 Cooks (male, female) 9.265 Confectioners 500 Merchants 30.996 Dressmakers 28.194 Tanners 691 Coachmen 149 Calkers 54 Quarry-men 255 Clerks 10.755 Gilders 99 Draftsmen 41 Joiners 604 Electricians 711 Bookbinders 77 Sculptors 43 Firemen 793 Apothecaries 352 Photographers 65 Cattle breeders 690 Engravers 113 Glovers 76 Smiths 3.546 Tinsmiths 548 Printers 38 Engineers 17 Workmen 118.223 Gardeners 923 Brickmakers 262 Lithographers 37 Marble-cutters 59 Sailors 7.739 Engine drivers 445 Mechanics 2.113 Milliners 6.051 Millers 605 Musicians 796 Miners 1.272 Physicians 41 Furniture makers 92 Bakers 2.382 Stone cutters 1.208 Painters 926 Laundresses 8.749 Fishermen 112 Teachers 12 Watchmakers 372 Tailors 4.985 Without trade (children) 113.433 Without trade (women) 8.111 Servants (male, female) 28.450 Hatters 501 Weavers (male, female) 6.546 Typographers 481 Coopers 316 Turners 103 Dyers 62 Harness makers 133 Viner, winemakers 403 Veterinaries 33 Plasterers 100 Shoemakers 6.094 Other trades 8.430 -------- 751.366 ========

+--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: To make the following table easier to read on | | the screen it has been transposed to show Years as column headings | | and Nationalities as row headings. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+

NATIONALITY OF IMMIGRANTS FROM COUNTRIES BEYOND THE SEA, EXCLUSIVELY, from 1857 to 1903.

Years | 1857-59| 1860-69 | 1870-79 | 1880-89 | 1890-99 ----------------+--------+---------+---------+---------+-------- Italians | 9.006 | 93.802 | 156.746 | 475.179 | 411.674 Spaniards | 2.440 | 20.169 | 44.802 | 148.394 | 124.891 French | 720 | 6.360 | 32.938 | 78.914 | 40.544 Austrians | 226 | 819 | 3.469 | 16.479 | 8.681 English | 359 | 3.603 | 9.265 | 15.692 | 4.691 Germans | 178 | 1.212 | 3.522 | 12.958 | 9.204 Russians | | | | 3.837 | 15.665 Swiss | 219 | 1.562 | 6.203 | 11.659 | 4.875 Belgians | 68 | 519 | 628 | 15.096 | 2.654 Dutch | | | | 4.303 | 675 Portuguese | | | | 1.751 | 1.612 Danes | | | | 1.097 | 1.230 North Americans | | | | 1.094 | 794 Swedes | | | | 613 | 441 Others | 1.128 | 6.282 | 7.295 | 8.330 | 13.659 ----------------+--------+---------+---------+---------+-------- Total | 14.344 | 134.328 | 264.868 | 795.396 | 641.290

Years | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | Totals ----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+----------- Italians | 52.143 | 58.314 | 32.314 | 42.358 | 1.331.536 Spaniards | 20.383 | 18.066 | 13.911 | 21.917 | 414.973 French | 3.160 | 2.788 | 2.378 | 2.491 | 170.293 Austrians | 2.024 | 2.742 | 2.135 | 1.378 | 37.953 English | 421 | 439 | 405 | 560 | 35.435 Germans | 760 | 836 | 1.029 | 1.000 | 30.699 Russians | 2.119 | 2.086 | 1.753 | 1.429 | 26.889 Swiss | 355 | 363 | 267 | 272 | 25.775 Belgians | 117 | 117 | 148 | 174 | 19.521 Dutch | 43 | 35 | 37 | 72 | 5.165 Portuguese | 205 | 156 | 141 | 202 | 4.067 Danes | 121 | 175 | 187 | 139 | 2.949 North Americans | 89 | 151 | 132 | 93 | 2.353 Swedes | 10 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 1.127 Others | 2.901 | 3.841 | 3.134 | 3.118 | 49.688 ----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+----------- Total | 84.851 | 90.127 | 57.992 | 75.227 | 2.158.423