The Universities of Argentina maintain the traditional faculties of
Jurisprudence, Belles Lettres and Philosophy, Pure and Applied Science,
to which recently have been added such departments as Pedagogics,
Agriculture, and other newer departments. The enlargement of the
activities of these Universities, especially the creation of the
University of La Plata, is proof of Argentina's advancement in this
field. The La Plata University has been instrumental in the exchange of
Professors and has encouraged in many ways the visits of public men of
note of Europe and North America, thus recognizing the desirability of
maintaining and fostering the most pleasant relations between Europe and
the United States of America.
Recent statistics show that the University at Buenos Aires had on its
register 1,051 students in the Law Faculty; 210 in that of Philosophy
and Letters; 2,501 of Medicine; and 602 of Exact Sciences. The La Plata
University, according to the same figures, had 2,184 students, and the
University of Cordova 584.
In point of fact, in all the liberal arts and professions, the Argentine
Republic takes one of the first places. Literature, Music and Art are
also at a very high standard and it is perhaps appropriate to mention
here in regard to music that not only is its study general throughout
the country but, that in Buenos Aires alone, there are upwards of sixty
Conservatories of Music where instruction is received in the higher
branches.
In regard to the national defences, Article 21 of the Constitution
provides for compulsory service by all Argentine citizens in defence of
the country. The regular army, though comparatively small, has attained
a high state of efficiency, which may also be said of the reserve
forces. During latter years considerable and important additions have
been made to the Argentine Navy, notably by the recent construction in
the United States of the _Rivadavia_ and the _Moreno_, which, to-day,
without doubt, are among the finest battleships afloat. In other naval
matters, such as gunnery, dry docks, naval bases, armaments, repairing
shops and technical instruction, there has been a remarkable advance in
the last twenty years.
While the figures given here in connection with Argentine exports
indicate increased production for home consumption, it is also desirable
to demonstrate the progress made by the Republic in latter years in the
establishment and development of national industries, as well as in
exported articles. The new era of industrial expansion which set in
about the year 1903, shows equally remarkable advance in regard to
industries already then established and the creation of others which in
time will assume considerable importance. Metallurgical industries have
made rapid strides not only in numbers but also in the value and extent
of their production; and, there is little doubt, that as the
exploitation of the many iron and copper mines to be found in the
Republic is proceeded with, this branch of national industry will attain
still greater proportions. Other new industries for which the Republic
offers a most suitable field are those of Cotton, Tobacco, Textile
Fabrics, Oils, Rice, Silk and Forestal productions. Some of these have
been largely extended during the last ten or twelve years, notably those
pertaining to the production of hard-woods and their extracts, furniture
and other wood manufactures. The latter industries especially are likely
to receive a great impetus through the action of the Government in
devising efficient means for new methods of exploitation and
conservation of the forests, as foreshadowed in the Message of the
President to Congress in 1913.
To demonstrate the extraordinary development of the stock breeding
industry, it is only necessary to state that according to the last
Agricultural and Livestock Census taken in 1908, the Republic was shown
to possess 29,116,625 head of cattle, 67,211,754 sheep, 3,945,036 goats,
and 7,531,376 horses, being an increase over the census of 1895 of
approximately 30 per cent in the number of head of cattle and of nearly
50 per cent in the number of horses. This numerical increase, however,
does not fully express the high degree of development reached in this
national industry and particularly in regard to cattle and horses. In
the years intervening between those two censuses, hundreds of millions
of dollars were expended on the purchase and importation of pedigree
stock, which have placed Argentine bred animals on a standard of
equality with many of those raised in the old countries. This may be
seen by the values stated in the respective years named. In 1895 the
stock of cattle was valued at $221,000,000 and in 1908 at $410,000,000,
whilst the horses were valued in the first census at $26,000,000, the
value given in 1908 was over $90,000,000.
[Illustration: COLON THEATRE (TEATRO COLON), BUENOS AIRES, ONE OF THE
FINEST OPERA HOUSES IN THE WORLD]
[Illustration: PLAZA HOTEL, BUENOS AIRES]
The founding in 1858 of the Argentine Rural Society by a group of social
spirited breeders and land owners, was the starting point of the
expansion of this industry and owing to the ideas and methods introduced
by that Association, it was found necessary in more recent years to
create the Ministry of Agriculture, which includes within its sphere of
operations not only the governmental control of the agricultural and
pastoral industries, but also the entire range of the Republic's foreign
commerce. The annual shows of the Rural Society in Buenos Aires attract
visitors from all parts of Europe and it has been conceded that for the
variety and all-round quality of the animals exhibited, they excel the
regularly established shows of Europe. At the 1913 exhibition of the
Argentine Rural Society, the locally-bred champion Short-horn Bull,
"Americus," created a world's record by realizing the unprecedented
price of about $35,000 ($80,000 currency), whilst even larger sums have
been obtained for yearlings produced in the country. Nor is this
surprising when it is stated that Argentine breeders have paid the
highest known prices for pure pedigree stock, in which general statement
may be included the payment of more than $150,000 each for three famous
Derby winners. The breeds of cattle most encouraged in Argentina are
Shorthorns and Herefords, Lincolns predominating in Sheep and
Clydesdales and Percherons in Horses. Still, there are hundreds of
millions of acres of rich pasture lands not yet stocked, so that when
the time comes to place these vast areas under cultivation, the number
of animals that could be maintained is almost illimitable. It should be
further added that the climatic conditions of the country permit of all
its animals being reared in the open; and as showing the possibilities
awaiting those who enter this field of national industry, it may be
pointed out that in hundreds of cases where land has been rented and
cultivated for the purpose of fattening cattle, the lessees have been
enabled within a very few years to become absolute owners of the land as
a result of their profitable operations.
The Dairy and Flour industries have likewise shown great improvement,
whilst considerable promise is held out by the establishment and
development of other industries, such as the cultivation and export of
fruits, the breeding and fattening of hogs, poultry farming, bee-culture
and the manufacture of vegetable and animal oil products.
The vigilant economic policy undertaken by the present government of the
Republic is likely to exercise a very beneficial effect upon the future
of these and other industries when normal conditions are restored. The
questions of roads, canals, ports, transport charges and other matters
which affect the development of commerce were all being considered with
a view to improvement prior to the outbreak of war; and even at the
present time work is proceeding for the deepening of existing channels
and the extension of ports and docks. Immigration has necessarily been
checked through the war, but when this disturbing element no longer
exists, renewed vigor will be applied to a general extension of
industrial establishments in every direction where the natural resources
of the Republic can be made available.