The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-09-10
j. II. CLOSE, OF ST. oLAInsvILLE.

His Experiences In the ArEentlns Re-
pubIIc of South Notwithstanding n'
formation About tho cOantry.
Mr.. j. II. Close, formerly Of St Glars.
willie, Ohio, but more recently Of Buenos
Ayres, South America, was in the city
on Saturday last lie is 4 broihor.in-
law Of George Adams, ESQ.,, Of Wheel.
lug, and lie and his family arc sojourn.
ing for the present at their old home
across the river. Ten years ago Mr..
Close made voysge to South America
for his health, and took with him a con.
segment OF farm stock from Belmont
county, which he disposed oil to such au'
vantage that no concluded 10 embark IN
the business and to that end established
himself and family at Buenos AyreS,
the capital and principal port OF the
Argentine Republic, country about
half as large as the United States, but
possessing only about three millions oi
population. II was at that time Just IN
The iucipiency ofits rapid railroad deyul-
opment under tho auspices oil Barring
Bros. and other capitalists. and there
was a good demand for tho SUPERIOR
breels u farm animals Of this country,
as also for all sorts OF improved asricut-
tural machinery, all OF which gave Mr.
Close quite a satisfactory business at
Buenos Ayres.
Under the stimulus OF these aud
other importations OF now blood tho
Argentine Republic has begun to cut al
important figure Rgriculturally, e:apeci,,
alIy in tho matter OF meats, wool and
grain. Those who wcre at tho Chicago
fair and studied her exhibits fully
realized this iact. She has to-day, &C.
cording to Mr. Close, about one hundred
and forty million head OF sheep, and
corresponding development in nearly
all other kinds OF farm stock. Fuese
sheep exist entirely OIL the wild
pampas grasses OF the country and have
no other food. Nor are their owners at
any expense for shelter. Hence wool
raising has great advantage over INC
industry in tho United states. And the
sumo thing Is true OF wheat culture. In
country OF such linitIess area. aud
having as yet less than two persons TO
the square milo, and where land Is SO
cheap, and where agricultural
machinery Is rivAlling the bonanza
farming Of our Dakotas, the export OF
wheat III increasing quantities Is bound
TO tell on the business in the United
States.
There ia n large and important omi-
grafton going OIL from all parts OF Europe
10 tic Argentine Republic, principally
from Italy, Spain. France, Switzerland
and Germany. The English speaking
population is as yet relatively small.
Nevertheless it is growing and there Is
no reason TO doubt tho fna! dominancy
OF the Anglo-Saxon in the new republic.
Italy has had large population ut
work building the railroads OF the coun;
try. These railroads have outstepped
populeliou and were the cause OF tho
collapse Of the great banking house Of
| Barring Bros, which collapse got back
not only Argentina but England and,
indirectly, the United States. II was
| the cause OF so many OF our securities
being returned TO US from Europe in the
last three years. There is no reason,
however. TO doubt that history In our
country will repcat itself in the South
American republics, and that popuia-
ton will gradually overtakc these over
built railroads.
Mr.. Close spoke Of the fact that this
country had no longer steamer com,
munication with Buenos Ayres, aud
that travellers and mails. and even mcr-
chandise, had 10 reach the republic ny
way Of England. lie is scarcely able to
sec how we arc to compete with the sub.
sides OF Great Britain in this trade. and
thinks II misfortune that so narrow u
Wow Of our interests WIS taken at
Washington. However, We will soon
have an object lesson Us to what, II any-
thing, tho new tariff will do for us as
respects this great and growing South
| American state. Tho country must Ger.
tainly be within tho pale oil the "mar-
kets OF the world" about which We have
heard so much.
blr. Close speaks enthusiastically OF
tho climate Of Buenos Ayrcs. The
name signifies good air." and, mas
much US he fully recovered his health
down there, no is inclined to endorse
tho appropriateness OF tho name. lie
dIssents from the customary American
view OF tho Spnniard, and regards
| tho better class oil thofn us honoIapIe
people, and distinguished for their in
| teiiyonce aud politGnGss.
Tic money OF tho country at present
is irredeemable paper. One dollar in
gold Is worth over threo dollars IN
paper. Both gold and silver have dis
appeared from the avenues OF trade, OK
cept that all imports are settled for on
u gold basis. This is great drawback
to Argentina's prosperity, for II ia Just
ms truo down there as it Is elsewhere,
that country doing business on dc
preciated currency is poor country to
buy in. Nevertheless, such are tho re-
sources OF tho country that this condi'
ton of affairs is not expected to be
long lived. and Mr.. Close expects to sec
n rGsuscitation such rs we arc nccustonl'
cd 10 hero in our own country.