The investment of foreign capital in the Argentine Republic has
assumed far greater proportions during the past twenty years than
in any other corresponding period since its formation. As one
example of importance, it may be stated that the total capital
invested in private and government-owned railways in the year 1895
amounted to $485,360,121, whilst in 1913 the capital employed in
railways operating in the Argentine Republic reached
$1,210,475,331, of which over ninety per cent is British. In 1895
the foreign capital invested in the Republic, including, at that
time, about $400,000,000 of External National Debt, barely exceeded
$1,000,000,000. An official estimate of foreign capital invested in
the country at the end of 1910 gave the following figures:
$_Gold_
1. Loans and various Argentine Bonds 691,831,000
2. Railways 804,413,000
3. Banks 37,541,000
4. Ports 22,164,000
5. Street car lines 91,576,000
6. Freezing plants 8,392,000
7. Gas and electric companies,
water works and sanitary works 58,035,000
8. Land and loan companies 160,800,000
9. Other companies 41,650,000
10. Mortgages and properties 150,000,000
11. Commerce and credit 200,000,000
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Grand total $2,266,402,000