ARGENTINE REPUBLIC 691 merous, are, like the goats and hogs, of an infe- rior breed. A species of ostrich, smaller than that of Africa, is common on the plains, and hunted for its feathers, an article of export of some importance. Almost the only manufac- tures of the Plata provinces are ponchos, sad- dle-cloths, ropes, &c., made by the Indians, and morocco leather, wooden bowls, and dishes from C6rdoba, the principal manufacturing town. In spite of wars, epidemics, droughts, and other obstacles to the material develop- ment of the country, the following tabular statement by Sr. Don Manuel R. Garcia, Ar- gentine minister to the United States, shows that the exports have quadrupled in quantity and quintupled in amount in the 17 years from 1853 to 1870: ARTICLES. 1858. 1870. Salted ox hides 48,831 774,806 Dried ox hides 604,868 1,824,895 Horse hides 129,905 102,259 Hogsheads of tallow 1T,66S 108,884 Packages of wool 20,514 160,869 Sheepskins 1,398 67,294 Quintals of jerked beef 275,000 647,532 Total (tons) 97,453 897,722 Value $6,990,770 $89,294,690 This increase, large as it may appear, belongs to a small proportion only of the products of the country, the mineral and agricultural re- sources of which have not yet been devel- oped, for want of hands, capital, and suitable roads. Official reports show the exports of the products of cattle to have been in the pro- portion of $22 50 for each inhabitant in the province of Buenos Ayres alone in 1853, $60 in 1860, and $80 in 1870. The wool clip for 1866 was estimated at 100,000,000 Ibs. The export duties on wool, bones, hides, and tallow amount to about 3,000,000 silver dollars per an- num. The total of the exports from the port of Buenos Ayres to the United States during the year ending Sept. 30, 1870, was $6,473,- 927 61 ; while that of the imports from the United States in the same period was but $2,087,999, according to custom house returns. The balance of trade from Great Britain was in favor of the latter by over $6,000,000, and that with France by about $1,500,000. The im- ports mainly comprise cotton, woollen, and linen fabrics, machinery, coal, and iron. In 1869 there entered the principal ports 1,837 sailing vessels, with an aggregate of 401,070 tons, and 1,158 steamers ; and there cleared 970 sailing vessels, with a total of 308,325 tons, and 1,158 steamers. The highways of the re- public are, with few exceptions, as nature made them, consisting merely of a beaten track across the pampas. There are four lines of railway in the province of Buenos Ayres. In Entre-Rios there is also easy communication by river steamboats; but in the interior of Corrientes travelling is done exclusively on horseback. There are now (1872) six railway lines opened for traffic, four of which diverge from the capi- tal of the republic in different directions ; the remaining two are from Rosario to C6rdoba, and from Gualeguay to Puerto Ruiz. Besides these, there are two railways in course of con- struction, and five others projected. Along the lines already opened, new farms have been established, immense quantities of wheat sown for exportation, and the shipment of wool has so increased as at times to task the carrying power of the railways. In September, 1871, there were 1,230 m. of telegraph open, and over 2,630 m. in process ef construction. A submarine cable has been laid between Bue- nos Ayres and Montevideo, and an impor- tant line is projected to unite the capitals of Chili and of the Plate provinces. The Maua bank was the first private bank established in Buenos Ayres (1858) ; the London and River Plate bank, established in 1863, does a large and remunerative business. The Argentine bank is of more recent date. The business of the post office department has greatly in- creased in a few years; the number of let- ters passing through the Buenos Ayres post office in 1859 was but 400,000; in 1865 it amounted to 2,000,000. The constitution of the Argentine Republic bears date May 15, 1853. The executive power resides in a president elected for six years by the repre- sentatives of the 14 provinces, 133 in num- ber. The legislative authority is vested in a national congress, consisting of a senate num- bering 28, two from each province, and a house of deputies, of 54 members. The vice president, elected in the same manner and at the same time as the president, is chairman of the senate, but has otherwise no political power. The president is commander-in-chief of the army, and appoints to all civil, military, and judicial offices ; but he and his ministers are responsible for their acts, and liable to im- peachment. There are five ministerial depart- ments: interior, foreign affairs, finance, war and marine, and education and public worship. The governors of the provinces are elected by the people for a term of three years. The army of the republic consists, exclusive of the militia and national guard of Buenos Ayres (number- ing 19,867 men), of 6,482 men 2,909 infantry, 2,861 horse, and 712 artillery; there are 29 generals, 273 commandants, and 632 subaltern officers. The militia and national guard may be called out in time of war. The navy com- prises seven vessels of war, one of which mounts 12 guns. The public revenue is mainly derived from customs duties, which average 25 per cent, on imports and 10 per cent, on ex- ports. The national expenditure is made up chiefly of the cost of the army and navy, and the interest of the public debt. The expendi- ture was considerably increased from 1867 to 1870, owing to the war with Paraguay. The official estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 1869-'70, presented to the national congress, were as follows :
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