The principal importers are: Florent Pauwels, Antwerp. Van de Walle frères, Ghent. GHENT, June 29, 1903. FRANK R. MOWRER, Consul. ARTESIAN WELLS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. The first experiment made in boring artesian wells in New South Wales was in 1879 at Killara Station, in the western part of the State. Water was found at a depth of 140 feet, shooting up 26 feet. Thereafter, artesian wells multiplied, being bored both by the government and by private persons. The water in the northwest was found in cretaceous rocks, but some of the best wells have pierced rocks of the Triassic age, as Coonamble, Moree, Gil Gil, and Eureka. The deepest is at Dolgelly (4,086 feet). The heat of the water is 130° F. These wells, for the most part, are situated near traveled roads in districts destitute of streams. Water is furnished to stock at the following rates: Horses, cattle, and camels.. Cents. 2 .per head... ..per 100 head... 25 Water is sold for domestic uses at 12 cents per 100 gallons. The water of artesian wells is used also for wool scouring, giving fine results. The wells are leased to private parties, the highest bidder taking the property in charge under conditions fixed by law. At some of the wells the water is used for experimental farm irrigation. Lucern, corn, wheat, tobacco, sugar cane, date palm, bananas, and other tropical products have been grown on land thus irrigated. Unfortunately, thus far, water can not be obtained at will nor in quantities necessary for irrigation, except in limited areas. Sheep and cattle during the past year have died by thousands from lack of water and grass. Of 60,000,000 sheep it is estimated that only 20,000,000 have survived. A great deal of talk is heard as to methods of conserving the waste waters of rainy seasons that now become destructive floods rushing to the ocean, and plans have been taken to form extensive reservoirs in various parts of the State subject to drought. The deepest well (4,086 feet) is at Dolgelly and cost $51,733; it yields 750,000 gallons daily. The lowest points at which water was found were at Tonngerina (164 feet) and Tatabulla (209 feet). The former yielded 120,000 gallons daily and cost $3,714; the latter yielded 100,000 gallons daily for some time, but fell off to 7,500 gallons; it cost $3,670. The Tonngerina shut down; cause not It is evident that the statesmen and capitalists of this country (Japan) intend to take a prominent part in the development of trade and commerce on the Yangtze. Many of Japan's leading lines of steamers are emulating each other and foreigners in their efforts to establish trade relations at all available points on the YangtzeChina's greatest river. The contest that is sure to come will be for a long time between England, Germany, and Japan. A day is to come, however, unless appearances are deceiving, when United States ships will be found all along the Yangtze docking and disposing of their manufactured products. The following table shows the percentage of shipping on the river: During the years 1895-1899, inclusive, 9,027,027 pounds of butter were exported from the Argentine Republic, an average of 1,805,405 pounds per year. In 1900 the exports of butter amounted to 2,322,663 pounds, in 1901 they increased to 3,322,391 pounds, and in 1902 they reached a total of 9,021,020 pounds,* an increase of 170 per cent on the previous year and of 400 per cent on the average of the five years 1895-1899. For the first three months of the current year, the returns show an exportation of 5,028,815 pounds of butter, about half of the amount exported during the whole of 1902. Official figures, 4,125 tons. + Official figures, 2,024 tons, The following table shows the amount of Argentine butter imported by various nations during the five years 1895-1899. Detailed figures for 1902 and the first three months of 1903 are not available. The price of butter at the creameries here may be estimated— allowing a good margin of profit to the dairyman-at about 16 cents in United States currency per pound. At retail in this city, the average price of butter per pound in December for the years 1899-1902 has been: From these figures and from a study of railroad rates for the transportation of butter, it seems safe to fix the average price of Argentine butter f. o. b. at 18 cents per pound. The following table shows the prices ruling in the London market during December in the years 1900-1902 (reduced approximately to United States currency per pound) for butter imported from various countries: From the foregoing it will be seen that Argentine butter has improved in price in the London market very rapidly in the last three years, until it now stands second as regards demand, and that the average price-approximately 24 cents-leaves a high rate of profit to the Argentine exporter. It is only natural, therefore, that the dairy industry should be increasing rapidly in importance here, and that it should ultimately reach enormous proportions. By conservative estimates the average yield of milch cows is 4 quarts per day. Assuming that there will be two hundred and fifty milking days per year, each cow will give 1,000 quarts of milk annually. With improved machinery, this milk will yield from 3.2 to 3.3 per cent of butter, or, say, 65 pounds per year. At this rate the amount of butter exported during 1902 (9,021,026 pounds) would represent the yield from 138,000 cows, or thereabouts. Unfortunately, no statistics exist with regard to the home consumption of milk and butter; consequently, no very accurate estimate can be made of the number of cows now in use for dairy purposes in the Argentine Republic. Assuming that there are 700,000-apparently a fair estimate-there remain about 8,000,000 cows which could be utilized for dairy purposes. The average cost of a small creamery may be estimated as follows: 500 cows at $25 each=$12,500, at 8 per cent per annum.. Interest on machinery.... Total....... The yearly yield may be estimated as follows: 500 cows at 4 quarts of milk per day for 250 days=500,000 quarts, yielding, at 3.15 per cent, approximately 31,500 pounds of butter at minimum price. of 16 cents per pound....... 500 calves less 20 per cent=400 at $6.60... Total.......... $1,000 I, 250 I, 920 660 770 440 130 6, 170 $5,040 2, 640 7,680 This would leave a yearly profit of, say, 24 per cent on the capital invested. Allowing for some exaggeration in the estimates of yield, one can safely put the profit at 20 per cent. Much is being done toward improving the breed of cattle in this country and the milk-producing stock will doubtless soon be greatly. bettered. The Durham breed is the principal base for the crossing of Argentine cattle and will in a few years predominate on the estancias, or estates. The splendid results obtained from the Durham breed for dairy purposes are well illustrated on the estancias of Messrs. Santamarina, at Tandil. In a little less than six months, 5,000 mixed or mestiza Durham cows (natives crossed with Durhams) have been tamed. From these, 3,750 good milch cows have been obtained, each giving an average of over 4 quarts a day. In a short time all 5,000 will be giving the same results and the dairy will produce 330,000 pounds of butter per year. Some of the leading estancieros (farmers) have gone in for crossing the Durham and Flemish breeds and have obtained excellent results. The principal dairies in the country are: The Granja Blanca, belonging to Mr. E. Fynn, established some twelve years. It has two establishments besides the factory in Buenos Ayres. The first, at Las Heras, had on December 31, 1902, 2,455 milch cows and on the Escobar farm there were 2,492. returns from the Las Heras farm for 1902 were: The This establishment turns out the following products: Pasteurized milk, maternized milk for rearing children, sterilized milk in bottles and tins for travelers and invalids, concentrated and condensed milk, kefir, sweet milk, butter, soap, casein, and milk liqueur. The Martona, at Canuelas, is another establishment which ranks high. It belongs to Mr. Vincente L. Casares, and, like the Granja Blanca, has shops all over Buenos Ayres. The Company La Union Argentina, at Buenos Ayres, makes butter from milk and cream sent to it from all parts of the Republic. It has lately purchased one of the largest Radiator separators in the world, capable of handling from 2,500 to 3,500 quarts of milk per hour. La Marina owns a farm at Las Palmas, with 9 dairies and 1,050 Durham cows, and there are 1,600 more when any of the others get dry. It also possesses a creamery in Zapiola, with a cheese factory; about 300 cows are milked there. A group of estancieros sends milk to the Progreso and Tandilera dairies. The factories make the butter for 1.2 cents per pound, and, in case of export, they guarantee the estancieros a minimum of $19.54 per 100 pounds. The Progreso turns out 234 tons per day and the Tandilera 21⁄2 tons. The Santamarina Creamery, in Tandil, has 3,000 cows and will shortly work 5,000; there will be 24 dairies spread over 241⁄2 leagues. |