SITUATE forty-two leagues N.W. of Buenos Ayres, has an area of sixty-eight square leagues, including three of public lands: it comprises no fewer than 192 estancias, of which several belong to Englishmen. The partido is bounded on the north by the Province of Santa Fé, from which it is separated by sundry small «arroyos» rising near the Lagunas de Cardoso, on the west by Indian territory and the partido of Rojas, on the South by Rojas and Salto, and on the east by Arrecifes. It is watered by the river of Pergamino, called Rio Fontezuelas, and numberless «arroyos,>> some of which flow into the said river, and others into the Arroyo del Medio. Mr. Hale's estancia is on the extreme frontier, ten leagues inside of Fort India Muerta: it is on the highroad to Cordoba, adjoining the Lagunas de Cardoso and Cañada de Paja. Messrs. Peña and Anchorena have a large estancia N. of the Rio Fontezuelas, about two leagues east of the town of Pergamino. La Larga is the property of Don José L. Moreno, who has also acquired the lands of Ruiz & Duarte, on the Arroyo Palmitas. The land of the late R. Hastings lies between this and the Gata Quemada. Patrick Fitzsimons adjoins Alberto Ortiz, who has a large lagoon on his estate. The Arroyo Cepeda runs through the lands of Azcuenaga and Benitez, and here was fought the battle October, 1859, in which General Mitre, although beaten, made a masterly retreat. Azcuenaga has two estancias, San Miguel and La Rabona, and near the latter is La Amistad, the property of the late Don Pepe Herrera. The estancia of Fermin 0. Basualdo is at Centinela, three leagues south of Pergamino, between the arroyos Montiel and Dulce. Lezama has a large property adjoining the last-named river. The lands of Roque Perez and Viñas are north of the River Fontezuelas, and a little further we find the estancias of Mooney and Figuerroa, on the head waters of the Arroyo Ramallo. The Acevedo estates adjoin those of Benites, running in a straight line nearly five leagues, till reaching the Arroyo del Medio. On the other side of this frontier line there are numerous settlers, viz.: Maciel, Ramirez, Acevedo, Arias, Gonsalez, Sanchez, Rivero, &c. The estancia Goycotea is the furthermost in a W.N.W. direction: it adjoins Mr. Hale's, and is ten leagues inside of Fort Melincué. The chief estancias are .... Cernadas, .... Richard Hastings, J. C. Boer, José Herrera, A. Loza, F. Gimenez, Quintana, S. B. Hale, R. Trelles, Bett's heirs, F. Botet, A. Basualdo, Goycotea, D. Schoo, M. Lopez, A. Silva, Roque Perez, ... ... .... 22 .... 2 ... .... 33 Olmos, family,.. .... Barrionuevo, .... J. C. Vasquez, A. Fernandez, .... This partido has always been so exposed and insecure as to be considered beyond civilization, although the camps are usually very good. One of the earliest Irish settlers was the late John Doyle, who was murdered, along with another Irishman, by the fugitive soldiers after the battle of Cepeda, October, 1859. The English population is about 100. But for the dread of Indian invasions this part of the province would make rapid progress: the Provincial Government will doubtless give speedy attention to the matter. At present forts Melincué and India Muerta are next to useless: in November, 1868, a band of twenty Indians and Gauchos made a raid here, and caused much alarm. The partido is much infested with vagabonds escaping from Buenos Ayres to Santa Fe, and vice-versa. The first estancia going west from Pergamino is that called La Botija, of very good land, after which we meet that of an old resident, Mr. Jacobs, who has made great improvements. A little further is the estancia Cerillos, belonging to Mr. Michael Fitzsimons, formerly of Villa Luxan. The camps now begin to get coarse, and we come to the estancia Vanguardia, of Mr. William Allison, then to the Cañada de la Paja, where Mr. Winton is settled. Further still is Santa Isabel, belonging to Mr. Hale; near this are Mr. John Fox's place of Juncal Grande, and Mr. Michael Duffy's estancia Porvenir. There are few sheep since the last drought, but a couple of years ago the stock was very large: a great portion died, and much more was driven off in quest of better camps. Mr. M. Fitzsimons has about 3,000 sheep, Mr. Fox over 10,000. All the farmers have lost, not only the increase, but nearly half their capital of animals. Don Diego Alvear is establishing a large farm N.W., having purchased and measured a tract of land on either side of the frontier between Buenos Ayres and Santa Fé, extending from Mr. Hale's estancia out towards forts Melincué, Chañar, and Nutria. The fear of Indians has obliged many settlers to change the pastoral for the agricultural life, and now there are numerous chacras springing up, belonging to natives as well as foreigners. The stock returns are-135,890 cows, 25,176 horses, 17,000 fine sheep, 658,329 mestiza sheep, 24,500 creole sheep, and 2,597 pigs, being an average of 2,000 cows, 400 horses, and 10,000 sheep per square league. The valuation of land is $300,000 per league. Total valuation $23,000,000, against $13,000,000 in 1862. Contribucion tax, $92,000. Population returns are 6,714 Argentines, 146 French, 91 Indians, 57 Italians, 39 Germans, 25 English, 70 others total 7,042. There are 315 houses, and 1,110 ranchos; 10 alcaldes, 26 tenientes, 12 policemen, and 1,265 National Guards. The town of Pergamino was first used as a halting-place on the post-road to Cordoba; subsequently it became an important frontier outpost, but it suffered severely during the civil wars of 1853-61, and was sacked after the battle of Pavon. About the same time it was besieged by Indians. The church is a very handsome edifice, and there are also state schools, barracks, several shops and brick kilns, and 103 rateable houses: of these last the best are those of Zamora, Nogueras, Begué, Martinez, Olmos, Otero, Gorordo, Alcaraz, Aguirre, Cuets, Cardoso, Celhay, Cobian, Duarte, Lopez, Echagué, Fernandez, Grigera, Morales, Reinandi, Rodriguez, Saenz, Ulloa, and Vasquez, all valued over $50,000. The Irish residents of this partido are visited by Rev. J. Leahy of San Pedro. Mr. R. Jacobs has a barraca here, in connection with the firm of Pacharppe & Co., of San Nicolas and Buenos Ayres, and the stranger can nowhere find better advice or assistance than from this gentleman, who has spent twenty years in the country, and is noted for his enterprise and high character. The state schools are attended by 83 boys and 61 girls. Justice of Peace, Don Mauricio Chavarria; Curate, Rev. José Gimenez; Postmaster, Don Manuel Vasquez; Standard agent, Mr. R. Jacobs; Municipality, four members. Municipal revenue, $125,000. Pergamino is 5 leagues south of the Arroyo del Medio, 17 N.E. of Fort Chañar, 7 north of Rojas, 10 N.N.W. of Salto, and 9 N.W. of Arrecifes. Rojas. Situate 43 leagues W.N.W. of Buenos Ayres has an area of 182 square leagues, most of which is still public land. This partido was a few years ago a desert wild, unknown to sheep-farmers except as an out-of-the-way place often over-run by Indians, and latterly fixed on as a military head-quarters. The partido is bounded on the N. by Pergamino, on the W. by Indian territory, on the S. by Junin and Chacabuco, and on the E. by Salto and Arrecifes. It is watered by the Rojas river and the Arroyo Dulce, and nearly half the partido is beyond the line of frontier, which runs from Fort Mercedes almost due S. to the town of Junin. Fort Mercedes is close to a lagoon in the Cañada de Rejas, about 8 leagues S.E: of Fort Melincué; the frontier passes Tapera de los Cueros, traversing the estancias of Llavallol and Peralta Ramos; then crosses Arroyo Pelado, near which is a Fort of the same name; it next traverses the Cañada la Piedro and Arroyo de Nutrias, and finally reaches the public lands and township of Junin. There are several smaller, belonging to English settlers, of which we have returns of their valuation (but not their extent) as follows Name. James Bollasty, .... Thomas Mullady, Peter Gerraty, Value. .... .... .... $25,000 15,000 15,000 Peter Carcy, .... 40,000 The settlers outside the frontier, having lots of about 3 square leagues, are as follow-Carlos Louton, Ricardo Lezica, Carlos Alsina, Mariano Irigoyen, Benito Blanco, Edward Madero & Co., M. Nuñez. The first English settlers found their way to Rojas within the last ten years, and notwithstanding its proximity to the Indian frontier the partido is coming into much favor with sheep-farmers on account of its superior camps its present English population is about 300. Mr. James Bollasty has a very fine establishment, close to the town, comprising both pasturage and agriculture; his stock of sheep is over 30,000, and liis chacra covers a great extent of ground in which he has sown sixty fanegas of wheat; he has also a «graseria» with two boilers, for rendering down sheep. Mr. Bollasty is a fine specimen of our countrymen, and so much appreciated by his Argentine neighbors that they have elected him to the municipal board, where his genius for progress and improvement are still equally visible. |