statistics] ARGENTINE territories of Argentina, comprising the basin of the Rio Negro, the district of Neuquen, and the little-known land of Patagonia, through which the Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Gallegos rivers flow to the Atlantic, are of a very different character (see Patagonia). From Neuquen southwards along the eastern slopes of the Andes lie valleys of great fertility, with magnificent timber on the mountain sides, and a series of great lakes beginning at Nahuelhuapi, the headwaters of the Rio Limay, extends some 500 miles towards the Strait of Magellan. In the centre of Patagonia, where the steppes open out into rolling grass-land, heavy snowstorms and a low temperature generally prevail during the long winter, from May to the end of September. Near the Atlantic seaboard the climate again becomes more temperate. From Chubut to the Strait of Magellan snow falls frequently in winter, but not, as a rule, in sufficient quantities to interfere .seriously with pastoral and agricultural industry. Harbours. — In spite of some natural disadvantages Buenos Ayres remains, and will probably long remain, the principal port of Argentina, on account of the convenient and commanding position it holds for the river trade. Rosario and Santa Fe are centres of great grain-growing districts, and large quantities of wheat are annually shipped from them direct to Europe. Six hundred miles to the south of Buenos Ayres is the port of Bahia Blanca, with a shipping trade which might' be largely increased by a comparatively small expenditure on the harbour works. Still farther to the south, and only some 20 miles distant from the mouth of the Rio Negro, is the natural harbour of San Bias. Near the Chubut river is Port Madrin, and between that place and the Strait of Magellan are harbours at the mouths of the Santa Cruz and Gallegos rivers. Area and Population.—The subjoined table shows the area and population of the republic, and its provinces and territories. Administrative Divisions. Provinces. Buenos Ayres Santa Fe . Entre Rios Corrientes Cordova San Luis Santiago Mendoza San Juan Rioja Catamarca Tucuman Salta Jujuy Territories. Misiones Formosa Chaco Pampa Neuquen Rio Negro Chubut Santa Cruz Tierra del Fuego Total Population not in census Indian population Total Grand total
Area, Square Pop. 1895. Pop. per Square Mile. Miles. 117,850 1,585,022 397,188 50,915 292,019 28,784 32,579 239,618 351,223 62,160 81,450 28,534 161,502 39,764 56,501 116,136 84,251 33,715 69,502 34,546 47,532 90,161 215,742 8,926 118,015 62,185 49,713 18,975 11,282 41,401 52,741 56,320 42,345 75,924 93,427 109,142 8,298
13 7 10 7 6 3 4 2 3 2 2 24 2 3
33,163 4,829 10,422 25,914 14,517 9,241 3,748 1,058 477
1,113,846 ; 3,954,911 60,000 30,000 90,000 4,044,911
In 1869 the population was 1,830,214, showing an average annual increase up to 1895 of 4'98 per cent. Of the total population in 1895, 2,088,919 were males and 1,865,992 females. The foreign element numbered 1,004,527, of whom 492,636 were Italian, 198,685 Spanish, 94,098 French, 48,650 Uruguayan, 24,725 Brazilian, 21,788 British, 20,594 Chilian, 17,143 German, 15,047 Russian, 14,789 Swiss, 14,562 Paraguayan, and 12,803 Austrian, many other nationalities being represented by smaller numbers. Immigration and Emigration.—In the 43 years, 1857-99, 2,564,391 immigrants entered, and 882,599 emigrants departed from the ports of the republic. In the 10 years, 1880-89, the arrivals and departures were respectively 1,020,907 and 175,038 ; in 1890-99, 928,865 and 552,175. In 1899 the immigrants by ocean steamers numbered 84,442, and the emigrants 38,397. In 1900 the numbers were respectively 84,851 and 38,334. In 1900 there were 52,143 immigrants from Italy, 20,383 from Spain, 3160
REPUBLIC 613 from France, 2119 from Russia, and 2024 from Austria. In 1897, 27,593 availed themselves of the immigration laws with respect to taking up public lands. Owing to the buying up of accessible land by corporations and speculators the central and southern provinces have, so far, not attracted colonists. Chief Towns.—The principal towns are as follows :— Population. Population. . . 16,129 Buenos Ayres (1900) . 824,303 Corrientes . . . 14,632 Rosario . . . 91,669 Chivilcoy . . 13,282 Cordova . . . 47,609 Gualeguaychu . . . 12,550 La Plata . . . 45,410 San Nicolas . . 11,695 Tucuman . . . 34,305 Concordia . . . 10,825 Mendoza . . . 28,302 Rio Cuarto . . 10,410 Parana . • . 24,098 San Juan . . 10,185 Santa Fe . . . 22,244 Barracas al Sur . Salta . . . .16,672 The present constitution of the Argentine Republic dates from 25th September 1860. The legislative power is vested in a Congress of two chambers—the constituSenate, composed of members (two from each tion and province and two from the capital) elected by Governthe provincial legislatures for a term of nine mentyears, and the Chamber of Deputies, elected for four years by direct vote of the people, one deputy for every 20,000 inhabitants. To the Chamber of Deputies exclusively belongs the initiation of all laws relating to the raising of money and the conscription of troops. It has also the exclusive right to impeach the president, vice-president, Cabinet ministers, and federal judges before the Senate. The executive power is exercised by the president, elected by presidential electors from each province chosen by direct vote of the people. The president and vice-president are voted for by separate tickets. The system closely resembles that followed in the United States. The president must be a born citizen of the Argentine Republic, a Roman Catholic, not under thirty years of age, and must have an annual income of at least $2000. His term of office is six years, and neither he nor the vice-president is eligible for the next presidential term. All laws are sanctioned and promulgated by the president, who is invested with the veto power, which can be overruled only by a two-thirds vote. The president, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints judges, diplomatic agents, governors of territories, and officers of the army and navy above the rank of colonel. All other officers and officials he appoints and promotes without the consent of the Senate. The Cabinet is composed of five ministers—the heads of the Government departments of the interior; foreign affairs; finance; war and marine; and justice, worship, and education. They are appointed by and may be removed by the president. Provincial Government.—The provinces, under the constitution, retain all the powers not delegated to the Federal Government. Each province enacts its own constitution, which must he republican in form and in harmony with that of the nation. Each elects its governor, legislators, and provincial functionaries of all classes, without the intervention of the Federal Government. Each may conclude with the knowledge of the Federal Congress such partial treaties as may be necessary for the administration of justice, the regulation of financial interests, or the carrying out of public works. Each may promote by means of protective laws its own industries, may regulate immigration into its territories, and deal with similar local economic questions. Justice.—Justice is administered by a Supreme Federal Court of five judges and an attorney-general, which is also a court of appeal, and by a number of inferior and local courts. Each state has also its own judicial system. Trial by jury is established by the constitution, hut never practised. Civil and criminal courts are both corrupt and dilatory. In May 1899 the minister of justice stated in the Chamber of Deputies that the machinery of the courts in the country was antiquated, unwieldy, and incapable of performing its duties; that 50,000 cases were then waiting decision in the minor courts, and 10,000 in the federal division; and that a reconstruction of the judiciary and the judicial system had become necessary. In June 1899 he sent his project for the reorganization of the legal procedure to Congress, but no action has yet been taken beyond referring the Bill to a committee for examination and report.
