Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-13
The HERALD MAIL BAG
WRITES OF BUENos AIRES.

~. y. T1uTu. 1911 1NOTIndH avenue, one
of the exchange students of the Uni
versity of North Dakota to the Uni
versity of Buenos Aires, South Amer
lea. has written interestingly of con-
ditions as he has found them in both
the city and the university. After
commenting on the big difference in
the attitude of the people there, es-
pecially their attitude of leisure, he
says:
But, Notwithstanding this attitude
Of leisure. n cannot help but feel
that there is here, nevertheless. ener-
getic life. When it is remembered
that Buenos Aires has a population
of over 100000, one-sixth the total
population Of Argentina; that it is
with n or two exceptions. the only
outlet for the vast amount of food
and raw materials produced in this
country-of cattle alone there are
now over 80, 000, 900 head-one is not
surprised to find here business activ-
ity and wealth statistics which indi-
cate that energetic life.
I'm 1873 the total export Of Ar
gentina was four thousand tons; in
tons. The population in 1873 was
one and three-quarters millions, in
1895 four millions, in 1915 eight mil
lions, and, in. 1921 nine millions.
I'm. trade with the United States
it is significant to note that despite
the British predictions that the gov
eminent would abandon the shipping
board, and the immediate death Of
the U. S. merchant marine the Nun
son line has been increasing it's ton
mage and expects to nave soon one
ship leaving this port every week.
Also I have just been assured by one
of the American vfce-consuls here.
as we'll as the Munson line DISPATCH
er. that considering business condi-
TONS. traffic Is excellent. The ex-
change situation has hit business con-
ditions here as elsewhere. I have
met more than n American here
who has gone to the wall through the
rapidly f~iuctuating exchange. But
conditions are improving. and Argen-
tine as a field for American invest
ment is receiving her due share Of
interest.
More than s34s.o oo, 900 Of foreign
loans was placed! in the United States
in 1921 hale of which was South
American, while 1856, 0Oo, 900 \ was
placed in 1920, and none was South
THE Germans "a year or so ago had
only one ship plying the South Amer
lean trade. Now, I. am told, they
L oAA4pS 1udh1uS lIC6S DOTS,
only two less than England herself.
Wave of Economy.
Though Argentina is a wealthy
country, and the people have been ac-
customed to luxury and to spending
their money as fast as it has beer
available, the world trade situation
mas inaugurated a reform, Shop-
Keepers complain that while hereto
lore people came in and ordered re-
CARELESS of price, they now come in.
look things over. inquire regarding
prices. complain % things being high
and go away making relatively few
purchases. The Argentipes have
really begun to a v a bit, a charac-
teristic, sc I am told, that was abao-
tlutely foreign to this country q few
years back.
1T is rather unique that With over
10000 British in Buenos Aires alone,
there are less than 1000 Americans
IN the whole Argentine republic. It
Is customary for Americans down
here, especially those who have not
been here long, to greet each other
with, Well, how much more time
nave you got to do? meaning. how
long does your contract require YOU
to stay here. 1 attribute this >atti-
Id judging from my own exper-
fence, to the place of woman in the
social scale. One finds that whoie-
some social intercourse between men
n women, SO well typihed in our
own co-~educational college groupa.
entirely lacking. But even In this
respect the Argentine is changing.
.One American who has lived here
Tor twenty-four years told me that
1t was not more than a year or two
ago that he could not think of let
ting his daughter go out on the street
alone; that even married women took
children or some one else with them
when they went shopping, because tn
so alone would be to subject them
selves to insulting remarks. BE savs
That today. however, he quite often
auoWs ms daughter to go. out alone.
Six Departments.
The university here is divided into
SIX departments, with a president
over all, whose position il chiefly ~
honorary one. At the head Of each
real executive OF his department
The department OF economies 4. ~:
most recently organized, being about
ten years old. 49, - $500
~ present / an working In the
Seminarto from eight to eleyen each
morning. Ny duties just now consist
OF reading English articles which i
may consider of economic value and
making 2 short index-like digest 81
The studentsgh here have a FORM II
self-governmehtsSSth the details OF which
= have not yet Unrestricted. Ha,fpscs
II Tor the present to i that thev
have sOime voice An the seiection ~
professors. and sometimes * ant nu
a3strtke aga1nSt N Instructor vehnn,
tney think - too poor 70 be put up