The times., 1899-07-04
A POOR PLACE TO LOCATE
Americans Are Advised to Stay
Away From Argentina.
English Speaking Persons Would BE
Much Worse on Than mt Home
Anywhere in South American
Low Wages and the Cost of n Fair
Living Higher Than in New York.

Consul Swain, at Monteviedo, writes to
the State Department on emigration 10
South America as follows:
This consulate has been in receipt of |
several communications from those who |
contemplate becoming eolonists in the |
River Plata countries. all asking particu- |
lars and opinions as to the enterprise. l |
have advised them to remain in the United |
States
"Apropos OF this subject. Mr. Warren
Lowe, the able editor of the "Buenos Ayres
Herald, on April s, published the follow
ing article on American and English emil
grafton TO Argentina. What he says about
the subject applies with equal force and
| truth to the whole River Plata country.
and l advise that it be given place in the
consular reports for the information of all
whom it may concern:
We very frequently receive letters
from people who apply to US for informa-
| ton about this country. enquiring as 10
| the advisablity of coming here TO settle
| An attempt to answer all these letters
| would almost necessitate the employment
| of a secretary, not to speak of the labor
| involved in getting all the information de-
sired We think it appropriate TO make
few general observations touching the
main points of interest, which may serve
to some extent as an answer to all these
numerous enquiries.
Those of the English-speaking race
who think of leaving their native land for
these shores should note the condition OF
other people who have gone to country
where the language is different from their
native tongue, and then reflect that they
would be situated here pretty mucn as
Spaniard, for instance, who landed on
American or British soil and was ignorant
of English They should bear in mind
that the language of this country is Span
ish; that the people are in great measure
of the Spanish race, and have its customs
and characteristics; that while there Is
complete religious liberty. the Catholic
Church is that of the State. They should
also reflect that the social observances OF
the country are very different from those
of the English-speaking races. Coming to
particulars, ii may be stated that no me-
chanic who is not an expert or specialist
in certain occupations should come here
hoping to better his condition. for the very
simple reason that the country is already
overrun by workmen from southern Eu-
rope, who are content to work for lower
wages than any British or American me-
chanic would care to accept Italy can
easily outbid America or Britain in most
departments Of labor; and, as a matter OF
fact, the operatives and manufacturers
here are either Italians or Frenchmen,
principally the former. This remark ap-
plies to all varieties Of Mechanical labor,
. with the exception of specialties, such as
electrical engineering; but in this field
. there is already a congestion in this Re-
public. We would strongly advise Eng
lish and American mechanics not to think
. of coming here to improve their condition.
The same advice applies to manufacturers
| tDfa Nnt NIL hara full
ply. but the market is overstocked with
products of native manufacture for the
most part of very inferior kind.
With regard to agriculture our dis
couraging advice would be emphasized. The
: farmer here is the Italian or the Basque
who can live in manner to which English
speaking people are not accustomed, and
will work for wages which these would
consider sufficient only to escape starva-
: tion. At the moment we write there are
hundreds of men now seeking employment
who would be glad TO work for 81 a day
OF the money of this country (Which is
equal to about 90 cents American currency
: and board themselves; and this in face of
the fact that the cost of living is greater
. here than in New York or London. Those
who have capital to lend on mortgage or
who can invest in real estate can safely
get twice as much interest or income in
: England or America. Those who have a
small capital, say OF $o,UUO or Slu,OOO. and
are ready TO go to the frontier to live a
rough life for years. where they will never
hear their native tongue. where they will
certainly suffer from inconsistencies, where
. the conditions of life to English people
. are nearly unbearable-such persons in the
/. course of time. will come out with more
dollars. if they come out at all, than they
would amass at home. The climate in this
. country is magnificent; place in the
world can surpass it in that respect. 1t is
essentially white mans climate. Stock
: grazes in the open all winter even in the
coolest localities. The country has a great
. future but no man in his senses would
take the responsibility of advising English
people TO immigrate or to come except with
capital as have already stated. True.
= many have come individually and have done
v we'll, but every attempt to establish a
I colony of English speaking people has
v proved a miserable failure. -