The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-03-23


these troops Of ox-csris. how great was the ne
cessiiy for railroads in this part Of South America
AT ROidan. four leagues from Rosario, the Com
pany's land begins, taking in breadth Of one
league on each side of the line. II contains some
of the richest in the Republic. Little cultivation
is necessary to make the virgin soil productive.
Already the Company is disposing of il to ad-
vantage A gentleman whom met has square
mile Of it inclosed in a wire fence be has, he
sides sheep and cattle all his Enclosure being
under cultivation He uses the steam piow, and
the newest scientific appliances. We passed es-
tancias. srourd which We saw thousands OF sheep,
cattle and horses at PASTURE, on the seemingly
buundless plains. I he carancho. large vulture-
like csrrion bird. the ostrich, the owl the bisca-
cho. in habits and in its flesh resembling the
rabbit. in look the fox. occasionally crossed our
path Near the station Of TOrtugas. 20 miles
from Rosario. were pointed out to US the graves
of those who died Of the cholera in the summer
season Of ls67-6S. Ii raged fearfully in this
neighborhood among the Europeans especially
who were emplo, ed in making the railroad. The
river TOriugas is crossed by a wellhuilt iron
bridge. Near il are many iagoons. the water Of
which as well as uf the rver. Is said to possess
medicinal properties. Here Is the finest land Of
the Company. At-Leones. 100 miles from Ro-
Sario. the station master is the son Of a highly
respectful E1llHtlcf tA are lAc Iuu>Cc
near, except his own most humble dwelling. The
few minutes the train staid. | paid him a visit
and found that he had only arrived few months
ago. and with partner. who added little capital
10 his own very limited means. having bought q
few hundred acres from the Company. had at
once proceeded to bring them under cultivation.
He plowed with oxen himself anG told me he
had sOwn 100 acres of wheat. With one years
produce. he fully expected land | was told by
others that he was quite reasonable in that ex
pectation,l To pay for his land. machinery and
stock. His abode was an old poStd, that is.
house where travellers formerly obtained posting
aorses before the railway ran the coaches of the
road. Ii consisted of four mud walls inclosing
one room. which contained two beds. large hin
for his stores stove in the middle for cookery.
two chairs, deal table. and few book shelves.
well filed. Observing two doors on opposite
sides hit no windows asked how be managed
in such darkness to read and write. oh" be
replied. pointing to the doors, when the wind
blows on this door, we open the other. and rice
UerSa and it is then light enough This Young
proprietor. thus rouqhing it in the Argentine
panpas, found by inquiry had every prospect of
reaping fair r-compense for his manly exertions.
Al fragile MneriO. is large village under an
lntendenie or Mayor. 1t is chiefly important
now us a centre round which as ! said is collect
ed colony of British. Notice was posted up
at the station that divine service would he held
there on our return. the following Sunday. The
building of the station is fitted up with every
convenience. and in the refreshment room
found dinner awaiting as two of the dishes being
"a biscaeho aux herbes" and biscacho au naturel.
Here the railruad touches the Tercero River
which flows eastward. to join the Parana- Tn
like the rivers Segundo and Primero- which are
successfully crossed between Frye Muerto and
Cordoba its waters are free from saline matter
and therefpr- well fitted for supplying the loco
motive engines. On this account. the rail slightly
defects to meet the stream. The other rivers |
have named have no visible Outlet they enter.
finally. two lagoons full Of saline matter. the
waters Of which. in summer. disappear by evapora-
ton. or. at all events are not transmitted Ii
was P. NJ ere we arrived al the permanent
way camp situated al the extremity Of the por-
ton Of the line actually completed, and about
220 miles from Rosario. This camp for the en-
ployees is moved about four miles further on each
week. as the line rails are laid down The houses
run on wheels and are drawn BY bullocks.
Between Villa Nueva and the encampment.
the open pampa country gave place for some
miles to forest of algorroba trees The wood
being very hard. has been generally used for
seepers on the railway. While at the camp. we
obtained horses to convey Us in private dill
eence over the first stage Of that distance which
had still to be done before reaching Cordoba.
This was as far as Chanares. situated in the
forest. consisting Of few miserable buildings
forming the posta. Here we stayed all night,
two of our party sleeping in the diligence. Had
We not brought refreshments with US, we must
certainly have starved. We left at A. NJ. on
the second day of our journey. and proceeded
through a country. sometimes open pampa, some
times forests Of stunted trees Of algerroba-
From Chanares to Cordoba is full so miles. !
This was divided into eight stages. We usually |
had to wait an hour at least at each posla during
which we found enough to entertain US in the |
specimens We encountered of gauehO semi-bar- |
A whole troop of horses would be /
driven into a small Enclosure called corral. and /
then the five selected for the next stage were /
taught with precision by the lasso Each horse 1
IS ridden by gancho. wearing poncho of divers /
colors. slouched bat. and high boots into which 4
trousers of immense width are tucked. The team /
is formed by four horses. in the same relative 20
sitian as an English four-in-hand with fifth 1
pulling considerably in advance of the leaders.
Each draws by a single rope attached to the /
girih Of the saddle on which the post-boy is
seated. This method of traction, confined.
hink to the River Plate countries is called the
;inche." Il evidently seemed painful arrange
nent for the poor animals. Were the saddles
rot girthed to the utmost degree Of tightness. II
would not answer. The speed was usually quick
,anter. We had to wait two hOnrs at the Sc
.undo River. for bulocks TO draw the diligence
icross-these being required in adii'ion to the
iorSes-owing TO the heavy sands which form its
led 10 the interval. | had the opportunity of
EXAMINING the iron bridge (which was all but
inisbed by which the trains will cross the Sc
rundo 1t is 100 feet in length. and about 40
Get above the surface of the water. As we
posted along The remaining eight leagues Of our
Quincy through a parkike district. We every
low and then came upon portions of the rail .ay
n process Of construction. At Cordoba Itself
he work is in very advanced state as regards
he permanent way and the necessary buildings.
fine iron yiadnct spans the valley which We
lad to cross before approaching the city. and the
,ny excavations worthy Of the name on the line
f The ruad occur here. We passed. drawn up
N the sandy plain in frODt of the future terminus.
oil 300 large Ox-carts. assembled from all he sur
Ounding distriets-Saita. Catamarca TacumaR
ian Juan, Mendoza. &c. ] was told that some
lad been several months in coming from 'lacnulan
nd Salta lying. as they do far of TO the north.
ny one seeing these carts would at once admit
he great need of railways this part Of the
ointment 10 convey the silver and copper ores,
nc the agricultural and other produce to the
cast and to bring European imports back from
he coast 10 the interior
We entered Cordoba about p NJ. and we're
Hospitality received at the house where the rail
say officials at present are living. After break
ast the following morning "WEDNESDAY. June 30)
took walk round the city. None bad hth-
80 sas, in Gonfh a,uorica r,loasad me Al fnuPh