A few interesting facts and figures.

In a little work of this description it is not proposed to tire the mind of the reader by quoting a lot of official figures which, interesting as they may be to the statistician, convey little or no meaning to the general public. At the same time, it is impossible for the visitor to understand the raison d'etre of a city of such importance and luxury as Buenos Aires unless it be fully realised that it is the main entrance of the imports and principal outlet for the exports of the Republic, and no idea as to the importance of the country in the commercial scale can be gathered without the aid of a few figures.

Railways.

The railway system of Argentina possesses a peculiar point of interest to the English visitor, for it is almost entirely due to British capital that the network of railways which now connects all points of the Republic was originally brought about.

Whoever may entertain the slightest doubt as to the Republic's triumph and march along the road of progress must at once have all such doubts dispelled by even a casual glance at the official railway figures. The total amount in metres of railway track completed, or in the course of construction, on December 23rd, 1908, was 23,722,600, showing an increase over the year 1907 of 1597 kilometres 100 metres. This means to say, that in that year railway lines in the country were pushed forward at the phenomenal rate of 4½ kilometres every day. The total cost of railway construction in the Republic up to December 3ist, 1908, was reckoned at £1,41 1,457.

The mileage of some of the principal railways in March, 1909, was as follows :
Great Southern Railway ... ... ... 2740
Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway ... 2494
Central Argentine Railway ... ... 2390
Buenos Aires Western Railway ... ... 1305

The respective capital of these four railways to date is:
Great Southern Railway ... ... £33,300,000
Pacific Railway ... ... ... £15,450,000
Central Argentine Railway ... £32,188,141
Western Railway ... .. ... £17,020,805

Argentine Wheat.

Firstly, as a wheat-producing country, Argentina ranks sixth in the world, only being beaten by the United States, Russia, France, India, Austria and Hungary. The crop for the present year (1909) is calculated to reach 5,162,000 tons, and on December 31st last (1908) the various Railways, by order of the Government, had sufficient rolling stock on the line to ensure the transport of 1,065,000 tons of grain monthly, the tonnage being distributed as follows :

TONS.

Southern Railway ... .... ... ... ... 235,000
Western Railway ... ... ... ... ... 167,000
B. A. and Rosario Railway ... ... ... 142,000
Central Argentine Railway ... ... ., 135,000
Pacific Railway ... ... ... ... ... 157,000
Argentine Great Western Railway ... ... 60,000
Andino Railway ... ... ... ... ... 19,000
Central Northern Railway ... ... ... 30,000
Province of Santa Fe Railway ... ... ... 67,000
Central North Eastern Railway ... ... ... 35,000
Cordoba and Rosario Railway ... ... ... 18,000
Total ... ... ... 1,065,000

The above quantities do not refer only to wheat, but also include linseed, maize, and oats. The total cereal crop for 1909 is calculated to aggregate 15,494,000 tons.