New-York tribune., 1902-03-17
II P4T1GONI4N UTOPI4." "
ARGENTINE MINISTER TAKES EXCEPTION
TO SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT IT.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In your issue Of yesterday notice an inter-
esti2g letter by your correspondent in London
under the heading of "A Patagonian Utopia. in
reference to the Welsh colony of Chubut, Argen-
tine Republic
The first Welsh settlers who arrived at the mouth
of the Chubut River established there by my
government In 1864. The beginning Of the colony
hard and hazardous. as 1t always happens to
be in a and almost desert land, lacking or
easy means OF communication with the outside
world. After some years Of trial however. the set
Element began TO prosper; railroad line was bult
to connect the harbor. Puerto Madryn with the
township Of Trelew, the populated nucleus of the
settlement: the cultivation of wheat. which thrives
wonderfully in that place gave TO the Welsh farm
ers good returns. and to-day the colony has an
extent Of 10000 hectares. little more than 5"o"o
acres and a reserve for future extension OF 10000
hectares or more than 100000 acres in ali.
The floods which in two successive years have
visited the locality and which In the opinion OF
your correspondent have discouraged the Nelsh
colonlsts are very sad but inevitable accidents,
and my country is little accountable for them as
the United States Is for the recent IRE ana noods
i'm Paterson or any other point OF this land Fortu-
rat,y your correspondent admits that our authori-
have helped the farmers anu Go'lT Tty bi s sf
extending to them every kind Of sympathy ana ma
The Complaints made by a small group of dis
Couteuted settlers, which are echoed IN lne
referred equally unjust ana uhtquh@utG- @ ,t
sons ~ the first coIouists were born IN our Iahu
and are therefore Argentine C!liZeiS uti,let uui
laws Th.,. must submit to our statutes. as every
iaw-abiding citizen does. We have found II neces-
snrv 10 establish the compulsory military service
and Their. is no reason why the Argentine citizens
| pf Chubut should he exempted from a CnarES pa
taken pf all the citizens Of the republic 10 de-
ride our authorities for this reason ana can theh
'gauchos'' tcOwboy~) Is a rather curious thing
The compulsory military service may be well or
u Judged and in fact. has several disadvantages,
but Il the proper thing 70 present II as a
@ SaVaEeTy when countries OF so hlgh stand
ing and civilization as Germany and France have
established il in their statutes,
.rbc rsaI fact Is that the DISCONTINUED commits
sion Of farmers who went 20 London has been
repudiaNd the large majority OF the Chuout pop
ulstion as their immigration 20 Canada or South
Africa presents for them much more disagreea Die
rrospccts than the submission 10 our military law.
As a matter Of informa ton. | shall add only that
at present Ohuhut is enjoying prosperity on dc-
count Of the establishment. under my own EFFORTS
! as former Secretary OF Agriculture. OF a line OF
steamers run by the Hamburg American company,
under the Argentine flag, and which IS helping on
a large scale the development OF the magnificent
regions of the southern part OF the Argentine Re
, public
valuable time. and subscribe myself
NJ GARCIA MEROC. Argentine Minister
Washington, March !, 100