The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-08-10

the usual acceptance of that term. 1t !
reaches from % degrees south (llke
Cuba, north OF the equator) TO 90 de-
grees south dike Montreal, nOrth), and
has every variety of climate known 10
the United States without such sud
den or radical changes. 1t EXTENDS
from So degrees west to 10 degrees
west. The greatest length is nearly
Z, 600 mIles-euual to the distance from
Mexico to Hudson's Bay; its greatest
width is about 900 miles, but it narrows
or tapers down in the Patagonian end
in contrast to its broad reach IN the
north, between Brazil and Chile.
This reference to Patagonia leads
me to emphasize the fact that the
Patagonia of my boyhood school days
is not the Patagonia of today. Then
it was a terra incognita, a synonym
for everything that is remote, wild
and impossible of access. Now 1t IS
divided into territories like those OF
certain portions of the United States
railways are making it accessible, cat
tile are grazing over its pampas, set
tiers are populating its valleys and
miners are hunting for, the riches OF
its mountains. There are yet large
sections of Patagonia that are prac-
tically a wilderness, and much of it is
arid and forbidding,. but its gradual
development is not unlike that whlch
has characterized Colorado, New Mex
leo and Arizona. When irrigation Is
applied on an extensive scale to Pata-
gonia, and the iron trail conduers its
plains and uplands, it may become as
populous and rich as many OF our
States of the Great Divide.
Argentina boasts of splendid rail-
| way facilities. 1t has now nearly
900 miles of trunk lines. Numer-
Gus new roads. branch routes, and
feeders are being constructed or
planned. 1t is possible to reach al
most every portion of it's wide area
within AS hours of the capital, the
great city of Buenos Ayres. The roll
ing stock is built in North American
style. Capacious and comfortable
coaches and sleeping cars carry pas
sengers to all points. The stations in
the big cities compare favorably with
those in similar towns Of the United
States. =.
The transcontinental trains that con-
vey travellers across the broad pampas
and climb the Andes to connect with
the road on the Chilean side are solid
land vestibuled, with up-to-date dining
lcars. The tourist or business man
can now go from Buenos Ayres, on the
Atlantic, to Santiago in Chile and VAL
lparaiso, on the Pacific, in Y hours.
There is a break in surrounding the
lsummit at $4,000 feet elevation, be-
tween railroads, but that. Is crossed in
a few hours either in a coach or on
horseback. The scenery is so grand
land impressive that any discomforts
are entirely forgotten. In a few
lyears a tunnel will be completed at
the expense of the Chilean Govern
ment through, the Cordileera,. and
then the globe trotter can step into his
palace car at Buenos Ayres and not
leave it until he reaches Santiago, the
gay and interesting capital of progress
lsive Chile.
The building of this network of
railways over Argentina has had two
lexcellent effects; one, to 1noke success
Iful revolutions almost impossible, as
the Government can send troops with
cut delay to any point; and the other
to provide shipping facilities for the
products of every section. Electric
lines have been constructed in the
principal cities, and these are being
extended into the country districts
The major portion of Argentina is one
|
Istruction easy and economical. II
is also drained by the great River Plate
system. with it's navigation rivers
reaching far into the interior and fur.
nishing additional facilities of trans
> portation.
This fair land of the South has re-
markable development of country lift
that surprises Americans. A consid
cradle portion of the agricultural anG
grazing area of the republic 1t cut w
into immense estancias, or ranches
owned mostly by wealthy Argentines
who reside in Buenos Ayres during
the winter and upon the farms il
summer. Some of these estaclas in
clude within their limits 300 square
miles while those of 20 and 40 squar,
Imiles are common. The stranger a
first stands aghast when his host, {
wealthy estanciero, calmly tells hin
that he has grazing upon his broat
pampas 10000 sheep, 10000 cattl
: and 10000 horses. Again, when tn
, hospitable owner takes him for littl
morning gallop to one corner of hi
; farm and he finds that to reach tina
corner hem ust ride hard for Ave o
six hours from the house, which
: usually located at the center of es
tancia, he begins to realize what farm
: ing means in Argentina.
The hospitality dispensed at thes
estancias makes life on them fascinat
I ing to the visitor. The house is usual
roomy, cool comfortable, and sit
uated in a picturesque spot wher
trees, flowers and fruits abound. A
Argentine men do not believe in rae
suicide, and as their families usual
E lccntain several beautiful daughter
: sthere is always abundant social enjo
t lment for the male guests. There al
e Ialso handsome sons, who CAREFUL
r Ientertain any visitors of the flares
Il lsex. A man could travel overlan
t horseback for 1000 miles in Argen
4 tina and never get beyond the pale {
e these attractive homes of the pampa
!, Having taken a trip into the ii
= terror, let us now have a passing vie