Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-03
IN ARGENTINE
Rich In Natural Resources
With Great Commercial
Possibilities.
AWAITING AMERICAN METHODS
Mr.. Frank w. BickneII, Detailed by
Secretary Wilson Two Years Ago to
Study Conditions There Has Return
cd to Washington and Will Compile
Extensive Report. ~ ". III.

! Iowa newspaper correspondent, who
was detailed by Secretary Wilson, q
| little less than two years ago, to study
commercial stock raising and agricul-
tural conditions in the Argentine Re-
public, South America, has just re !,
turned to Washington.
| Mr.. Bicknell will spend several
months in the preparation of his re-
port, covering a vast number of points
and including n great mass of data,
which will make a volume in itself, and
comprise a sort of text book of the
great country which occupies the
southern half of South America
Is Magnificent Country.
Speaking in general of Argentina
Mr.. Bicknell says: Argentina is q
great country; a country of rich natur-
al resources. a vast empire in extent
half as large as the United States,
practically in its virgin state so far as
comprehensive development is con-
cerned. The average citizen of the
United States has no conception of the
magnificent territory comprising this
enterprise and up to-date methods of
the American to develop a paradise,
agriculturally, and a second United
States commercially"
My mission" continued Mr.. Bick-
nell, was to take the measure of Ar
gentina, as whole, and specifically to
inquire into the live stock industry: to
ascertain so far as possible, what was
being done, what might be done, and
the probable effect of prevailing and
prospective conditions upon the cattle
business OF the United States.
Argentina is Il strong competitor of
the United States in the European cat
tie markets. Stock and wheat raising
constitute the chief pursuit of the peo
pie outside the cities, and it is well
known that the condition of Argentine
crops affects the European markets
more every year.
argentine stock raisers are fully
abreast of the times SO far as high bred
stock is concerned. For fifty years the
choicest strains of cattle have been
imported from the hight bred stock of
Europe and no finer herds may be
found on earth than those of the bet
ter parts of the Argentine Republic.
The cattle are all grass a'af' alfalfa tfnd.
The corn fed steer of Iowa and Kansas
is unknown. Ultimately the Argentine
steer will get his ration of corn, but
many years must elapse before this day
arrives. Under present conditions stock
raising is very profitable to the South
American, and he does not see the
necessity for introducing other meth
DDS of feeding which would involve
now in vogue.
Fortunately for the Iowa and Kan
sas cattle raiser, the Argentine steer,
Notwithstanding his high breeding and
magnificent appearance. is not the Iowa
corn-fed steer. This fact is not par
ticularly noticeable on foot, but the
Englishrnan very quickly discovers the
difference when he samples his roast.
The. grass-fed steer is not in it with
his corn-fed brother.
Comparison Of Roasts.
'"The grass-fed animal shrinks heav-
lily. A ten-pound roast grass-f fed
makes apoor showing when taken from
the oven compared with a roast of SIM
liar size corn-fed. 1t lacks the firm
ness and close grain OF the corn-fed,
and is much more stringy. 1t has also
lost much in size and weight beyond
that of the corn-fed. Naturally, there
fore, the Iowa corn-fed steer brings
much better price upon the European
market than the grass-fed Argentine.
The Argentine stockman is begin
ming to learn this, but ne is perfectly
contented. He is coming money under
existing conditions.
The finest farming land in the world
may be had for from So to SIS per acre
In Argentina continued Mr.. Bicknell.
1T is said large portion of Argentina
was at one time under water, and the
.alluvial deposits served to produce a
soil unsurpassed in fertility. The Ar
gentine farmer does not know the
meaning of the word fertilizer
Farming and stock raising are car
ried on in Argentina upon scale that
would paralyze even northern Mime
sofa farmers. Few farms are smaller
than 10000 acres. The 160-acre farm
is unknown. The poorest renter will
rot consider operating /, tract of less
than $40 acres, and he wants thou
sand.
The farms are in the hands of
wealthy people, who either rent the
land to 'colonists. as they are called. or
operate them by means of bosses and
sub bosses. A few years ago an En-
g!ish syndicate undertook to work
tract comprising over 100000 acres,
but the result was not entirely salts
factory and the tract was cut up into
smaller farms. This land was nearly
all within a dozen miles of railroads
and is being sold for about s13 per
acre There is no mere productive
land on earth than this.
Argentine would be poor place for
an American farmer to cast his lot
alone unless he has large capital. but a
colony of say fifty farmers, hiring an
agent interpreter for a year. could be-
come rich in short time. The agri-
cultural possibilities are simply stupen-
dous."
rs Argentine we'll equipped with
railroads." was asked.
"Splendidly." replied Mr.. Bcknell. |
For the same reasons would prefer
riding upon the Argentine lines than
upon those of the United States. This
may seem to be a strange statement,
but some Of the accommodations serv-
ice. equipment and comforts of railway
travel in Argentine are superior to ours,
tho In some respects they are inferior
to ours. Lines are numerous and traills
frequent. You can reach the leading
business points in the rei'nblic with the