Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-05-28
BY Roger w. eabson

1t is not the city which makes the
city. The future of Chicago does not
depend upon Chicago but rather upon
the country surrounding Chicago. 1t
is the same with Buenos Aires. Hence,
; went out to see the agricultural amt
stock 1aising country.
The first stop was Belgrava, Il very
attractive suburb about five miles
from Buenos Aires. Soon after le.lv-
ing Belgrava small farms for truck
gardening were seen by the score.
About every 20 minutes the train
stops at. little town of couple of
hundred people. There is one main
sti Get with the general store at the
corner. There are two barber shops, a
saddler's shop and a blacksmith shop
There is the usua! agricultural i'm
ple1nent agency. Yes, these towns are
very much like those in which many
Of you readers-in the sta:-s-were
brought up.
alighted from the train at one
Of these little stations, named Soils.
With the exception of two Of three
persons dressed like myself, the men
were dressed like cowboys in the
states. Arriving at the estancia
(ranch) l found a different type Of
ncn--called "gauchos." These are .ae
real native Argentines who have not
mixed with any other race.
These men wear low canvas shoes
with rope soles; they wear no stock
ings and their cotton trousers are
buttoned about the calf of the leg. A
rough coat and the regulation black
hat make up the rest of their attire
The habit of the country regarding
meals is odd. The first meal consists
of rolls with tea or coffee taken at
any time and any place. No. one
bothers much about it, especially the
cook! The great meal is at IL o'clock
and it is called breakfast. 1t starts
or eggs, sort of an irish stew; then
comes chicken. cooked in some form
with vegetable, then follows q roast
of lamb with another vegetable or
salad: and finally crockers, cheese and
coffee. Directly following this heavy
meal, all were invited to lie down for
a siesta-
At five o'clock we were invited out
on the side porch to have tea.
At $3.50 horses were brought up
fully saddled and we left for ride to
see the stock. have never seen bet.
ter cattle in my life. The grass is so
rich and the seasons so open that the
cattle can be bred. raised and fatten
ed all in the same alfalfa field.
Each of these estancias average
about 5000 acres. Even the homestead
in Argentine carries 1914 acres COM
pared with our homestead Of 100
acres The land in Argentine is sold
in squares, hectares and leagues. a
square is ALI acres; Il hectare 10000
square meters or 2.47 acres: while q
league is $500 hectares or 6177 acres.
Land in the west and some in the
NORTH is apt to be dry and should have
Irrigation: land in the south is often
too wet and sometimes flooded; but
the rainfall in the great province OF
Buenos Aires is usually just right and
hence lands here sell at the highest
prices, namely from $50 to SIS. The
ranch from which am writing raises
about 10 bushels Of wheat and 10
bushels of corn per acre.
II one will go 200 or 800 miles far
Their good lands can be obtained near
the railroad at from $25 to $50 per
acre; or away from the railroad at
J from SO to $50 per acre. suppose
that virgin land can be purchased for
very much less: but have referred
above to only good land, suitable for
immediate planting. Argentine 10 des-
tined to become the great competitor
q the United States in exports cf