The Argentine as a Market - Nowell Lake Watson

Unfortunately, however, for the success of the venture, some concerns were not in the precarious state to which the majority had been reduced. By dint of better management and through other causes they still succeeded in maintaining substantial returns. These refused to enter the Trust—or Kartel more strictly—and the result was a more or less complete failure.

Two combines were instituted, nevertheless, the above mentioned “Union” (in a modified form, no doubt) and a body known as the “Centro Azucarevo.” These concerns devoted themselves with energy to the solution of the problem of the surplus, and, as was to be expected, the easiest seemed to be that supplied by political means, the president of the “Union” being also president of the Chamber of Deputies. So successful were their efforts that in 1897 a bounty of 12 c. per kilo was sanctioned, raised for the next year to 16 c. To pay for this bounty an Inland Revenue tax of six cents paper per kilo was declared on all sugar home or imported. As in countries nearer home, the bounty system was an attempt, a costly attempt, to market a commodity which in normal circumstances was absolutely incapable of meeting its competitors. Argentine sugar under the most favourable conditions could not, and never was expected to, compete in the open market with that of other countries. In the circumstances it must be admitted that the whole scheme was merely an organised exploitation of the public in the interests of a weak industry and certain speculative financiers. “What public interests,” exclaims Mr. Pillado, “what benefit for the community could be cited to warrant a contribution from the country at large of $40,000,000 in five years as a gift to the exporters of sugar?”

Of the $39,850,000 levied, $25,250,000 were given as a free gift to the exporters, only $14,600,000 finding their way into the exchequer.

[Statistical Appendix.]

**IMPORTS, under principal heads—Value in $1000 Gold.**
			1890.	1895.	1900.	1905.
Live-stock			400	611	364	1,307
Food stuffs
Animal foods			=16,411	984	1,755	2,242
Vegetable foods and fruits				539	633	960
Spices and condiments				1,053	590	866
Legumes and cereals				1,607	1,701	2,556
Substances for infusions and hot beverages				5,801	5,335	6,093
Flour, macaroni, fancy breads, fecula				428	436	820
Tobacco and applications		2,554		2,293	3,147	4,455
Drinks—	Wines		=12,990	7,304	5,637	6,596
	Spirits and liquors			1,301	1,284	2,159
	Sundries			211	356	411
Textiles, raw and manufactured
	Silk		=30,024	1,254	2,485	2,602
	Wool			7,650	7,141	10,967
	Cotton			20,309	19,536	27,066
	Sundries			8,238	8,433	5,582
Oils—Vegetable, mineral, etc.			—	3,193	4,194	5,556
Chemical, medicinal, and pharmaceutical substances and products			3,875	2,429	3,760	6,275
Paints and dyes			—	789	865	1,441
Timber:	In bulk		=7,399	3,295	5,500	11,799
	Wrought		=7,399	739	1,540	2,368
Paper and applications
	Paper and pasteboard		=3,628	1,335	1,924	2,272
	Applications		=3,628	678	1,001	1,861
Leather and applications		1,704		641	1,244	1,796
Iron and applications
Raw material			=48,109	5,696	9,088	14,814
Machinery and agricultural implements				1,202	1,861	—
Iron and steel manufactures				4,701	8,104	11,357
Agriculture			—	—	—	16,532
Locomotion and Conveyances			—	—	—	23,362
Other metals
	Unwrought		—	594	1,262	1,896
	Manufactured		—	846	2,080	3,998
Stone, clay, glass
	Raw material		=10,385	6,375	7,120	14,355
	Manufactured		=10,385	1,102	1,772	3,111
Electrical supplies			—	—	—	2,034
Sundry articles and manufactures			4,955	1,881	3,321	5,428
Totals			142,402	95,096	113,485	205,154

**EXPORTS, under principal heads—Value in $1000 Gold.**
	1890.	1895.	1900.	1905.
Live-stock products	=61,306	74,620	71,253	141,042
Live-stock		9,052	5,942	7,189
Meat, hides, wool, etc.		60,352	61,084	122,026
Manufactured animal products		4,367	3,568	10,148
By-products		857	659	1,642
Agricultural products	=34,590	41,448	77,426	170,235
Raw material		39,085	73,045	161,188
Manufactured products		1,960	2,952	5,584
By-products		402	1,428	3,462
Woodland products	1,413	2,161	3,508	7,125
Products of the chase	346	272	990	790
Mineral products	673	338	262	261
Other products and sundries	2,488	1,316	1,158	3,388
Totals	100,818	120,067	154,600	322,843

EXPORTS OF FROZEN MEAT AND JERKED BEEF.
	JERKED BEEF.		FROZEN BEEF.		FROZEN MUTTON.		Other frozen and Preserved Meat and Tongues.
Years.	Tons.	Value $1000 gold.	Tons.	Value $1000 gold.	Tons.	Value $1000 gold.	Tons.	Value $1000 gold.
1896	45,907	3,217	2,997	119	45,105	1,804	3,288	356
1897	36,238	2,466	4,241	169	50,894	2,035	2,414	255
1898	22,242	2,116	5,867	234	50,833	2,393	3,154	313
1899	19,164	2,038	9,079	950	56,627	2,265	3,322	334
1900	16,449	1,979	24,590	2,458	56,412	4,512	3,175	415
1901	24,296	2,879	44,904	4,490	63,013	5,041	3,047	391
1902	22,304	2,647	70,018	7,001	80,073	6,405	4,729	496
1903	12,991	1,542	85,520	8,151	78,149	6,251	7,354	720
1904	11,726	1,391	97,744	9,774	88,816	7,089	7,249	704
1905	25,288	3,738	152,857	15,285	78,351	6,268	8,488	760