The Coolidge examiner., 1934-02-02

centuries ago because they lay
along the Andean mule paths over
which Spanish goods came down
from Panama and Peru to the Plate
settlements.
Some OF the first sugar mills In
the western world, crude and priml-
tive yet making good sugar, were
built about Tucuman.
Pack trains and creaking cara
vans Of high-wheeled freight wagons
piled for many years between the
Argentine northwest and Buenos
Aires. While the pampa was still
as empty as Oklahoma In 1870, they
crossed II on well-worn trail, just
as our own OK wagons traded from
Missouri to Santa Fe In the ante
railway days. And there was the
same Indian menace.
Old maps show a string of forts
across the pampa west OF Buenos
Aires. Here the Indian frontier was
hundreds OF miles long. and the
forts stood guard between Indian
raiders and the white settlers.
From the lookout towers on these
forts soldiers watched the waving
seas OF pampa grass for signs OF
skulking Indians. Sometimes
warning that Indians were sneak
Ing through the tall grass was
given by fleeing animals or by
sudden alarm and movement among
the birds. Again, charging past the
forts on horseback. Indians, carry
Ing long spears. raided the ranches
behind the lines. and In the course
OF years many Spanish women and
children were seized and carried
into captivity. These Indians stole
cattle, also, by the thousands and
drove them over the Andes for sale
in Chile.
indians Finally Subdued.
Through all these turbulent times
the pioneer coonists stubbornly
pushed their settlements farther
and farther ont on the plains.
Finally, about the same time that
Custer. Miles, and Crook were con-
quering the last Of our warning
tribes. Argentina sent the famous
General ROca on his now historic
drive against the pampa Indians.
This campaign ended forever all
danger from these predatory saw
ages.
The heat and hammering of In
dian raids. outlaw fights, and des-
perado forays, the trials OF revo-
luton and civil war. produced a
fighting breed. hardy and audaclous,
fit to handle the laundering herds
and guide the rising tide of immi-
grant farmers from southern Eu-
rope.
Although the swift growth OF
pampa farms and cities Is of more
recent date. foundations for this
power and wealth began In the days
when San Martin marched his cav
airy over the Andes and helped
Chile and Peru win freedom from
the Spanish yoke.
The pampa with It's 100000 square
miles. is TO Argentine what the Nile
valley is to Egypt. 1t works with
the rhythm OF a great factory; so
many square leagues of corn and al
falfa fed to so many million head
OF cattle and hogs mean so many
shiplOads OF meat for Europe.
And there is wheat! So much
wheat that a big crop here affects
the world price at Liverpool. and
so hits the pocketbook OF wheat
farmers in the United States, Can
ada. Australia, Russia, and else
where.
Coming OF the Railway.
Let us look at what you might
call the stage props" or mechan-
les and scenery. which the Argen-
tineans have set up to make their
humming pampa one OF the worlds
amazing industrial spectacIes.
In the old days when a guachos
wife wanted to visit her neighbors
she sometimes rode sitting on
a dried horsehide. Her husband,
mounted on his horse, dragged this
horsehide sled with long rope tied
from 1t to his horses girth. On
this primitive conveyance, rough as
a North American Indian travois,
the pioneer pampa woman rode, slip
ping over mudholes or bouncing
through clouds of dust
Over this same pampa now pala-
tial passenger trains, with sump-
tuous diners, sleepers, and glisten-
ing observation cars, race from
town TO town, over level tracks,
often with no curves for scores Of
miles.
Hailing from Newburyport. Mass,
and shipwrecked on the shores of
Argentina. William Wheelwright
built the first really important rail
way over the pampa. Today his
pioneer line forms part Of the Cen
trail Argentine system. He planned
the Transandine line. but did not
live to see it built.