The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-03-24
BUENOS AIRES: CITY OF
SUPERLATIVES AND
CONTRASTS

Buenos Aires. capital Of Argentina,
which recently attracted world atten-
ton by Withdrawing Its representa-
lives from the League Of Nations as
sembly, Is not merely the capital and
chief port OF a South American repub-
lie. II Is a world ceDter--a city OF SUI
perlatives. contrasts and paradoxes.
Its population OF close to 100000
makes IL, by Wide margin. the me-
tropolls OF South America and tie
Southern hemisphere. II is the great.
est OF Spanlsh-speaking cities, having
nearly three times as many Inhabitants
as Madrid. II Is greater than any
Latin city except Paris. In the New
World Il shares third place with Phil.
adelphla; only New York und Chicago
sufpass II. And now that PetrOgrad
aud Moscow have shruDk, while Berlin
and Vienna are marking time, It proba.
bly, ranks or soon VIII rank as the
sixth city OF the world, led only by the
two metropolIses OF Europe, the two
Of North America, and Tokyo In AISLE. ;
This great city IL the focus OF the
culture, thought, politics. economies
and social life OF Argentina, as well as
the funnel through which pour the
millions OF pounds OF dressed meats
and the millions OF bushels OF wheat
which make up the contribution Of the
republic to the hungry peoples OF the
Old World. In its general aspect IL Is
n combination Of New York and Paris.
Its language Is the language OF Spain,
but many other things Spanish have
been thrust aside. Its Inhabitants
would laugh at the idea OF a midday
slesta--so generally observed In most
Spanish-Amerlcan countries. The OBJ
session OF "manana' has been discard
ed the people OF BuenOs Aires live In
the throbblng present, going strenu-
ously about their business In streets
whose hustle and whlrl are as balm to
the heart OF the homeslck New York.
or. who feels that, after all. lac cannot
be far from Broad and Wall or Forty
second and Broadway. Subways com
muters ana taller buildings than can
be found In any other city In South
America helghten the Illusion.
In progress and the possession OF
vision the people OF BuenOs Aires are
unsurpassed even by the restless build
ers Of North Americas greatest cities.
For centuries after its establishment
BuenOs Aires was without port.
Ships anchored miles from the shall
low, sandy shore and all freight was
handled In lighters. Within the last
% years the municipality has con,
structed the largest artificial docks In
the world These provide adequate
facilities for the thousands OF ocean
VESSELS and cOasting craft that put into
its port annually.
The narrow checker-board OF streets
In the business center which the colo
NAL Buenos Aires bequeathed TO the
world-city OF today has been a con-
slant embarrassment In the face OF
the demands OF modern business. The
municipality has wldened some OF
these narrow ways at a cost OF many
millions OF dollars into stately and
handsome avenues. and is carving 9th
or arteries OF traffic dIagonally through
the closely packed squares
In the newer parts Of the city
streets of ample width and numerous
broad avenues have been laid out
Many Of the avenues are lined with
the costly palaces Of Argentlna's null
tlmlllionaires. II is in this part of the
civ aud IN such seml-buslness avenues
ms the tree-rimmed Avvnida de Mayo,
with It's mile or more of hne hotels
clubs. cafes and business huidiilgs de
luxe that Buenos AGres reminds the
traveller Of Paris.