1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 lutions of the International Sugar Convention, exclusive of coin and bullion, in thousands of to which the Argentine Government adhered, re- gold pesos (peso equals $0.965): sulted in a decreased production, which amounted to 137,091 tons in 1905, and in a still greater shrinkage of exports, which amounted in the same year to 2129 tons. The domestic consumption of sugar steadily increased from 84,741 tons Imports 113,960 103,039 131,207 187,305 205,154 269,971 in 1898 to 120,921 tons in 1905, but as it could Exports 167,716 179,487 220,985 264,157 322,844 292,254 not absorb the entire production, the sugar planters clamored for legislation to restrict the output. The government having complied with their demand, the production fell in 1906 to 118,817 tons, of which only 6 tons were ported, while the consumption increased to 126,133 tons, and imports rose from 394 tons in 1905 to 3218 tons. Meanwhile the price of sugar had greatly increased, owing to the increasing demand and decreasing supply, and the government felt obliged in 1907 to reduce the import duty from 7 to 6 cents Argentine gold per kilogram (2.205 pounds). There are at present 47 sugar refineries in the republic, of which 34 are in Tucuman, 1 in Santiago del Estero, 2 in Santa Fé, 1 in Corrientes, 2 in Salta, 3 in Jujuy, 1 in Formosa, and 3 in Chaco. The imports of gold and silver coin and bullion amounted in 1904 to 24,918,000 gold pesos; in 1905, 32,560,000; and in 1906, 18,212,000 peex- SOS. The exports were 1,604,000 in 1904; 819,000 in 1905, and 1,000,000 in 1906. The culture of silkworms has developed greatly throughout the republic during the past two years, mainly at the hands of Italian immigrants. It is reported that 500,000 mulberry trees have lately been planted in the province of Santa Fé, besides 200,000 trees from 2 to 5 years old, which makes possible an annual output of 220,000 pounds of cocoons. In the prov ince of Tucuman there are 300,000 trees from 30 to 40 years old, with an annual yield of about 550,000 pounds of cocoons. The industry has also taken root in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy, Santiago del Estero, and Córdoba. The quebracho forests in the Chaco region furnish an enormous trade in the shipment both of logs for railway ties and of tannin extract. Owing to a temporary depression in the price, the shipments of logs were largely reduced in 1906, and the output was stored for future exports. The refrigerated meat industry, which has assumed large proportions, has given rise to an important leather industry. There are some 200 tanneries in the republic, employing some 6000 men and turning out hides to the annual value of $20,000,000, while 100 shoe factories turn out annually 18,000,000 pairs of shoes. There are also 60 factories which produce canvas shoes, called "alpargatas," to the value of about $5,000,000 annually. Cotton spinning factories were established in 1905, and the various companies were amalgamated into one company, with a capital of about $875,000 gold. Gold deposits, as well as copper and soft coal, have been found in the territory of Neuquen; a number of companies have been formed for their exploitation, and development is being carried on vigorously. Rich deposits of copper have been found in the north, in the region between the towns of Tucuman and Salta, where there are facilities in the way of railway transportation. See COPPER; GOLD; AND SILVER. Progress has also been made in the artificial culture of oysters, in the neighborhood of Buenos Ayres, and of various kinds of fishes in different provinces. Fishing in the South Atlantic, which commenced in 1904, is progressing favorably, and in 1905 there was exported for the first time 500 tons of whale oil, which represents the surplus after the domestic demand had been supplied. COMMERCE. The following table shows the imports and exports of the republic since 1901, An Both imports and exports are thus seen to have been increasing steadily year by year, but in 1906 exports fell off as compared with 1905, partly owing to delayed shipments of wool and maize, and partly owing to the prohibition, early in 1906, of the export of live stock on account of the prevailing foot and mouth disease. important change in the character of the imports is deserving of note. Ten years ago articles of direct consumption represented 67.2 per cent. of total imports, and articles of productive consumption, 32.8 per cent.; while in 1906 the former class of imports amounted to 45.5 per cent. of the total, and the latter had risen to 54.5 per cent. The principal imports in 1906, with their values in gold pesos, were as follows: Foodstuffs, 17,662,000; wines and liquors, 11,794,000; textile goods, 54,130,000; oils, chemicals, and colors, 17,104,000; iron and metal goods, 43,534,000; leather, 2,314,000; paper, 4,914,000; agricultural and other implements, 17,158,000; railroad materials, 35,055,000; ceramic wares, 24,911,000; building materials, 22,001,000; and electro-technical products, 3,430,000. The increase over 1905 is particularly large in the case of foodstuffs, wines and liquors, cotton goods, hardware and other metal goods, building and railroad materials, and glass and earthenware. A few articles, like live stock and woolen goods, show small decreases. The The classes of exports, compared with their values in 1905, were as follows: Pastoral products, 124,136,000 gold pesos, a decrease of 16,907,000; agricultural products, 157,655,000, a decrease of 12,581,000; forest products, 5,922,000, a decrease of 1,203,000; mineral products, 274,000, an increase of 12,000; products of the chase, 1,099,000, an increase of 308,000; various, 3,169,000, a decrease of 220,000 pesos. quantities, in tons, of the principal exports were as follows: Wheat, 2,357,718, against 2,924,485 in 1905; maize, 2,500,275, against 2,555,213; linseed, 523,333, against 670,139; carcasses of frozen mutton (number), 2,771,402, against 3,326,030; uncleansed wool, 155,283, against 182,358; quebracho logs, 285,775, against 303,094; quebracho extract, 42,319, against 33,162. The destinations of the wheat, linseed, maize, and wool shipments (in tons) were, in 1906, principally as follows: ARGENTINA Nearly the whole of the mutton carcasses exported (2,716,672 out of a total of 2,771,402), and seven-eighths of the beef (140,632 quarters out of a total of 161,087) were shipped to British ports. The leading countries participating in the foreign trade for the year 1906 were as follows (in gold pesos): NATIONAL BANK, ETC. The report of the Banco de la Nacion Argentina for 1906 showed that net profit for the year amounted to 4,414,000 paper pesos (paper peso equals 0.44 gold peso), or about 8 per cent. on its original capital of 50,000,000 paper pesos, the largest in its history. In accordance with the law, this sum was added to its capital and reserve fund, which in 1907 amounted to 53,773,388 pesos paper and Its private deposits inExports, 3,695,796 pesos gold. creased during the year 1906 nearly 20,000,000 pesos paper, and its total transaction amounted 43,224,000 to 7,664,000,000 paper pesos, an increase of 2,39,417,000 100,000,000 over the preceding year. There are 35,763,000 13,332,000 many large banks, mostly operating with for25,621,000 eign capital. It has been estimated that about 6,906,000 $1,300,000,000 of English capital and $500,2,573,000 000,000 from other European countries is invested in the various commercial and industrial enterprises of the country. 1906 11,891,000 COMMUNICATIONS. The railways in operation at the close of 1906 aggregated 12,907 miles, an increase of 345 miles during the year. In various parts of the republic there were under construction 3445 miles, of which a large portion was to be completed during 1907. The number of passengers carried in 1906 was 32,501,400, against 17,813,700 in 1900; tons of freight, 26, 742,600, against 12,725,700 in 1900; the capital invested was 627,231,000 gold pesos, against 526,617,000 in 1900; the profits were 33,118,000 gold pesos, against 17,974,000 in 1900; and the interest on invested capital was 5.25 per cent., against 3.41 per cent. in 1900. The total number of postal communications during 1906 was 552,015,000, an increase of 51,627,000 over 1905, and the number of telegrams was 9,978,000, an increase of 1,042,000 over the preceding year. The national telegraph lines had at the end of 1906 a total length of 15,374 miles, a gain of 247 miles over 1905, with 2012 offices, a gain of 88 offices. Besides the national lines, there are also provincial, railway, and private telegraphs of about equal length. The maritime movement for the principal ports was in 1906 as follows: Buenos Ayres entered 2194 vessels of 4,490,000 tons, of which the British flag covered 2,581,000 tons, the German flag, 506,000 tons, the Italian flag, 514,000 tons; and the French flag, 310,000 tons; Rosario entered and cleared 4656 vessels of 2,877,000 tons; La Plata entered and cleared 1383 vessels of GOVERNMENT. The Constitution of the republic is modeled, in the main, on that of the United States, the provinces of Argentina corresponding in their governmental functions to the States of the Union. The President and Vice-President of the republic are elected for six years by electors representing the provinces. The Senate is composed of 30 members, two from each province and two from the capital. The House of Deputies consists of 120 members, the Constitution providing that there shall be one deputy for each 33,000 inhabitants. Justice is administered by provincial and Federal courts, the highest authority being the Federal Supreme Court. The president was Dr. José Figueroa Alcorta, formerly Vice-President, who succeeded to the office on the death of President Quintana in March, 1906. The Intendant, or Mayor, of the capital is appointed by the Federal government. În 1907 the right to elect the municipal council was restored to the capital. FINANCE. The revenue and expenditure of the republic since 1901, the last four years being estimated, were as follows: 1901 1904 1906 1907 1908 Reduced to paper currency, the budget for 1906 fixed the expenditures at 234,649,144 paper pesos; for 1907, at 228,914,836; and for 1908, at 225,017,977. 1,410,000 tons; Bahia Blanca entered and 1902 The principal sources of revenue, as estimated in the budget of 1908, were as follows: Import duties, 49,500,000 pesos gold; National Bank, 16,100,000 pesos paper; tobacco tax, 16,100,000 pesos paper; insurance tax, 7,500,000 pesos paper; stamped paper, 9,200,000 pesos paper; postal service, 6,900,000 pesos paper; and railroad, 9,500,000 pesos paper. The distribution of expenditure among the various departments of government was estimated as follows: Congress, 4,122,720 pesos paper; Interior, 25,804,150 paper; Foreign Affairs, 784,581 gold and 1,230,580 paper; Finance, 11,836,716 paper; Public Debt, 22,968,485 gold and 17,339,248 paper; Justice and Public Instruction, 28,463,098 paper; War, 19,978,665 paper; Navy, 12,600 gold and 13,750,876 paper; Agriculture, 5,469,246 paper; Public Works, 500,000 gold and 33,854,520 paper; and Pensions, 8,018,917 paper. A loan of 5,000,000 pesos paper was authorized to obtain a balance between revenue and expenditure; in the above table this sum was included under expenditure only. It is to be used for public works. The external debt of the republic amounted at the beginning of 1907 to $375,173,819, and the internal debt stood at 3,701,540 pesos gold and 88,243,000 pesos paper. ARMY AND NAVY. The standing army consists of about 1560 officers and 16,600 men. It is divided into seven military districts and consists of 12 battalions of chasseurs (light infantry and cavalry), 16 regiments of infantry, 11 regiments cavalry, 8 regiments of artillery, and 4 battalions of engineers. All citizens up to the age of 45 are liable to be called to the colors, the reserve being divided into three classes: the Line, including all men from 20 to 28 years of age; the National Guard, including those from 28 to 40 years of age; and the Territorial Guards, consisting of those from 40 to 45 years of age. The navy consisted, at the beginning of 1907, of 3 armored coast defense ships, of 9100 tons; 4 armored cruisers, of 28,300 tons; 4 protected small cruisers, of 12,700 tons; 5 torpedo boat destroyers, of 1750 tons; and 22 torpedo boats, of 890 tons; total, 38 ships, of 52,800 tons. The personnel consists of about 5000 men, including 2000 conscripts, who have to serve for two years. The coast artillery corps consists of about 450 men. HISTORY. In his message to the Argentine Congress on May 8, 1907, President Figueroa Alcorta recalled as the most notable diplomatic event of the year, the visit of Mr. Root, Secretary of State of the United States, who had cemented the bonds of friendship between the two Americas. The European Powers also offered proofs of friendship and good will, the Kings of England and Spain having raised their legations to the first grade, and Sweden and Norway, subsequent to their separation, having improved their friendly relations. Intercourse with the South American republics continued most cordial. Relations with Paraguay and Bolivia improved, their differences being settled by arbitration. The Argentine Republic took part in the PanAmerican Conference at Rio de Janeiro, giving in this manner a further proof of friendship to Brazil. Representatives were also named for The Hague Peace Conference and the delegates took a prominent part in the deliberations of that body. (See HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE.) Invited by the Government of the United States to take part in the Jamestown Exposition, the President decided to send the frigate El Sarmiento and a delegation of officers. The government initiated a movement for the assembling of the International Conference at Buenos Ayres, 1910, for the purpose of rendering uniform the code of international law in so far as it relates to the principle of domicile. The reason for selecting the year 1910 for the conference was that the Argentine Republic will celebrate in that year the hundredth anniversary of its independence and now plans to hold a great exposition. On May 28 the engine drivers and firemen on all the railroads throughout Argentina de cided to call a strike in sympathy with the Great Western Argentine Railways, in order to help the latter in their demands for increase of pay and better working hours. In spite of this strike the government, in July, reported that the economic conditions of the country continued excellent. In the same month the ministers for War, Public Works, and Justice, having resigned, were succeeded by General Aguirre, and Señors Don Carlos Mashchwitz, and Don Juan Bibiloni. A small revolution broke out in the province of Corrientes in the autumn, and after several persons were killed and wounded on both sides, President Alcorta ordered the Federal troops into the province, to prevent further disorders between the local political parties. Upon the investigation of Señor Perez, the National Commissioner, order was restored. ARID LANDS. See DRAINAGE; IRRIGATION. ARIZONA. One of the organized Territories of the United States, situated in the southwestern part along the Mexican border. By the revised areas of 1906 it has a total surface of 113.956 square miles, of which only 116 square miles are water. Its population in 1900 was 122,931, and in 1907 was estimated at 185,000, of whom about 26,000 were Indians. By act of Congress of June 16, 1906, Arizona received the opportunity to join with New Mexico in the formation of a State, on condition that a majority of the legal voters in each Territory should favor such a union. Arizona rejected this proposal by a vote of 16,262 to 3141. Phoenix is the capital. MINERAL RESOURCES. The principal mineral products are copper, gold, silver, and lead. Copper mining, in which Arizona ranks next to Montana and Michigan, shows a remarkable development, rising from 118,317,764 pounds in 1900 to 235,908,150 in 1905, and to 262,566,103 in 1906. The estimate for 1907 was 260,356,000 pounds. About one-half of the product comes from Cochise County. Arizona produces approximately over one-fourth of the total copper output of the United States. The production of gold reached the maximum value in 1904 of $3,478,532. The estimated value for 1907 is $2,539,516. The silver yield was largest in 1907, amounting to $1,792,272, and representing a steady increase since 1904. The lead output in 1905 reached 4,940,910 pounds, which is an increase of 3,160,943 pounds over the previous years. See COPPER; GOLD; SILVER. The AGRICULTURE. In 1907 the area of agricultural land assessed for taxation was 1,539,395 acres, but the Governor's report stated that the area actually under cultivation and producing crops was little in excess of 200,000 acres. greatest part of this, almost 150,000 acres, is in Maricopa County, or the Salt River Valley. In this county ditches were dug some years ago for the irrigation of 300,000 acres, but the dependable water supply was overestimated, and the area actually irrigated is now somewhat less than half that amount. The next largest farming area is in Graham County on the Gila River, while considerable areas are cultivated along the Gila and Colorado rivers in other counties. These lands are cultivated solely by irrigation, and the crops are alfalfa, wheat, and barley. Fruits of all kinds, both temperate zone and sub-tropical, are grown on a small scale. Especially worthy of mention is the increased cultivation of oranges in the Salt River valley. Fruit cultivation and agriculture generally will be A FREIGHT TRAIN PULLING UP THE VALLEY OF THE RIO MENDOZA, ARGENTINA DOCKS AT BUENOS AIRES |