Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-16

The visit OF Secretary Root to Rio de
Janeiro and Buenos Ayres has doubt
less, In stimulating public curiosity,
done much to dispel the customary In
difference I'm the United States to all
things that concern South America
save the Monroe doctrinel Paraguay
and Uruguay are generally regarded
somewhat as fabulous regions; more
is known Of the Sphinx. Even many in
telligent citizens think Of Argentina
vaguely as u spot on the map; but
where that spot may be-whether north
or south of Brazil east or west Of
Chile-is matter they may perhaps
boast of having known In school days,
but know no longer.
1t is certain however, that at least In
this respect Mr.. Root Is not a typical
American. When he arrived at Buenos
Ayres he undoubtedly was familiar
with its geography. He was conversant
with the statistics relating to the great
South American capital. He knew that
it's inhabitants numbered nearly one
million, was still growing at a rate ex-
ceeded on the American continent only
by New York and Chicago Its great
importance as a railroad and shipping
center had come home to him, and he
was familiar with the conditions of its
perity. But 1T may safely be assumed
that even Mr.. Root, no matter what his
previous knowledge of Buenos Ayres
may have been, experienced a great
surprise when he actually trod the
streets and plazas of this wonderful
"Paris of America"
Deep, Dark River
The tourist on arriving in the great
mouth of the Platte is struck with the
extraordinary appearance of the river
which is OF a deep chocolate color. If
he can shake off the shackleS of custom
and divest himself of the notion that
water to be beautiful must be blue, he
will find that the river has n charm
quite its own, and that the many ves-
sells lying at anchor take on a peculiar
picturesqueness standing out sharply
against the soft brown of the back
ground.
The harbor of Buenos AyreS is one of
the most important and interesting in
the world The many miles of docks
are so crowded with shipping that fire.
quently during the busy season
freight vessel has to wait for several
weeks out in the roads before her de-
spairing agent can secure a place for
her to discharge or load her cargo.
Though the city is usually likened to
cathedral and government house GER
tainly has much of the character of the
French capital-it is more similar in
general appearance to Havana. Though
it is by no means without domes and
towers the birds eye view shows
f1at-roofed, low built city, and one of
many and delicate tints, with blue and
pink predominating. The streets are
narrow, with the exception of the finer
f,.of9 a., f,.n1
and 1t is difficult in the busy hours for
two persons to walk abreast on the
sidewalks. But the crowding of the
thoroughfares is largely compensated
for by the frequent occurrence of large
and beautiful plazas, where spreading
palms and playing fountains give a
charming sense of space and refresh
ment.
No Trolley crowding
The system of trolleys is extensive
and we'll conducted; the law against
overcrowding is so effectually carried
out that the motorman never stops to
take on passenger unless there is
seat vacant. When the impatient New
Yorker mas stood half an hour on the
curb, vainly hailing car after car, he
begins to underestimate the disadvan-
tages of his own city's trolley service.
But when he is not attempting to board
q car during the rush hours, he appreci-
ates the actual superiority of the Bue
nos Ayres system. Many of the cars
have seats on top, easily reached by
stairway. From these a fine view of
the city is obtained,
The fare on the trolleys is generally a
tri1e under our scent value; and on
one line in the city a ride of several
miles costs only two and a half cents.
1t must be admitted however, that the
trolley fare is the only thing in the city
that the writer found to be cheap.
Prices are in proportion to the great
wave of prosperity which has recently
swept over Argentina
Buenos Ayres is well named Good
Airs" The climate is delightful Even
in the hot season, which, of course, oc-
ours during our winter, there is a chill