The sun., 1895-01-20
HOUSE OF sUB-PREFEcr AT GALLEGos.

placed by Argentine officials and growing host
Of shepherds. The great profits made by the
their stock from the Falklands to the Strait of
Magellan, induced many of the young men Of
Tho Argentine Government encouraged them
by giving ten-yesr leases on pasture land at the
at the psy would
sheep. The traveller will hear all about the in
crease of the flocks on the Santa Cruz before he
gets there, and the stories of wool shipments.
truthful stories too, no doubt, will prepare him
to see a small but bustling community when he
arrives. really expected to see n large well
as a bustlng place. because among the pas
sengers were two Frenchmen, who were carry
house, in which they were going to do an ex-
clusively wholesale business in ranch supplies.
When the steamer had anchored in the stream
in the distance at the south bank. under what is
known as ,Weddell's bluff. several new frame
shanties which the ships officers called the pre-
sidio. l went up there in boat with our
steamers executive officer and found enough OF
diers, while old hulk moored at the beach
would have accommodated 200 sailors easily
Officers on board the hulk as shipkeepcrs. while
the barracks were in charge OF two officers and
score of soldiers, some OF whom were keeping
these barracks in that locality could have but
one signification: The Argentine Government
expects trouble, sooner or later, with Chilli and
this is to be base for operations against the
strait of Magellan possessions Of the Western
The buildings were not all completed. and
some of the soldiers were at work as carpenters
and painters. This show of business activity
only added to my mental picture OF the town
itself aud il was with considerable pleasure
that returned down stream to land near the
ship and make my first visit there.
Climbing to the low table land that borders
the stream. looked back into wedge-shaped
valley between the hills, the Valley Of the Mis-
sionaries, and saw Santa Cruz-in all nine build
ings, or which two were unOccuped, and not a
human being in sight anywhere nor any other
evidences or life than a small flock OF sheep and
a thin reu mare grazing idly. The buildings
stood on three sides of surveyed plaZa-that
IL, there was one house each Of two sides
one stood hack mp the valley few hundred
yards, and the rest were on a third side of the
plaza. Among them was the inevitable long low
iron structure built for the home and office of
the Sub-Prefect. There was also u One-story
adobe-walled house that was u combined hotel
and general store, having four rooms, while
other was pink wooden building. one story and
aquarter high. having Ave rooms that served
the same useful purpose.
Among the buildings was an old adobe walled
structure, about ten by twenty feet large with
two places for doors, and the remains OF a couple
OF glazed windows. The earth served as a floor.
and the usual iron for roof. In one corner was
depression that looked like a dry hog walOw,
and porker gruntcd about outside the build
ing. They said this had been the church that
the missionaries preached In.
In the pink botel found q well-dressed young
man who Was glad Ia see all strangers, and par
ucularly one who wrote for II newspaper lie