8. MINING AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. Although it is true that gold, silver and copper have been mined in a small way from early times, the mining indus try in Argentina has not been developed to any great extent. It is often said that the main reason is the total lack of manual, labor; that the mineral outcrops are found in the Andean region where labor is scarce; that the mineral zone has an area of 48,000 square miles and is inhabited by only 20,000 people, living mostly in or near the town of San Rafael; and that a large area is altogether unpopulated. The means of communication (as stated in consular reports, etc.,) are insufficient, and on those lines that do exist a prohibitive freight is ex acted. Writers mention districts °reported to contain') copper, petroleum, silver, iron, borax, sulphur, gold and tin. But it is quite safe to say that districts which are with cer tainty known to contain such things in paying quantities do not remain unpopulated or wholly unprovided with manual labor. Means of communication are provided readily enough in any part of the republic that particularly re quires and can make uncommonly good use of them; in fact, the capitalists interested in Argentine railway development are especially alert. The conclusion is that mines which are referred to in such terms are not of sufficient value to attract capital and labor for their development. But in C6rdoba province (which has a large population and railways) copper, silver, gold, marble and lime are found. Jujuy has mines of gold, silver, copper, mercury, borax, salt and asphalt. Other mining dis tricts are those of the province of Salta, which have kaolin, beside the minerals found in Jujuy. Similarly the provinces of Catamarca, Rioja and San Juan have mineral products. Mining of marble and wolfram is the principal indus try of San Luis; Chubut and Mendoza produce coal and petroleum. In 1915 there were 15 petroleum wells; petroleum is exploited by the government and eight private companies; gold is found in Tierra del Fuego, Santa Cruz and Chubut. See COMMERCE (Article 7).
Nearly all the important branches of human industry are represented in the period of de velopment that began after the year 1875.
Manufacturing establishments at the present time produce standard varieties of food, cloth ing, building material, furniture, etc., to a limited extent; but the republic, agriculturally so powerful, is both willing and able to con tinue to be a purchaser of such manufactured articles as can be produced more correctly and at less cost in the United States and in Europe. Naturally the preparation of products of agri cultural and pastoral industries for domestic and foreign markets increases rapidly, favored by wholly exceptional conditions. Flour and sugar mills are in vigorous and profitable oper ation, and the dairies have increased remark ably. There are 525 creameries, 16 butter fac tories, 129 cheese factories, etc., a total of 1,259 establishments connected with dairies. During the last reported year over 35,000,000 pounds of cream were produced, 20,000,000 pounds of butter, and 12,000,000 of cheese. The estimated value of these products was about $8,000,000. The production of sugar and wine tends to increase, the annual output now exceeding 230,000 tons of the former and 500, 000,000 quarts of the latter. Tucuman has 72 per cent of the registered sugar mills of the republic. Mendoza is the centre of the wine district. Important also are the tanneries (about 200 in number), the manufactories of cigars and cigarettes, of furniture, etc. But it is a mistake to speak of Argentine manufac tures and niining as though they ranked with Argentine agriculture. They do not; and their attainment of such rank in the near future is highly improbable. According to the last industrial census, there were 31,988 fac tories in Argentina, employing a total of 329, 490 persons. The total capital was $727,591,135, and the output was valued at $1,227,549,196.
According to an industrial census taken in 1914, Buenos Aires at that time had 437 shoe manufactories, which gave employment to 9,970 workmen and consumed raw material valued at $8460,418, of which $5,854,172 worth was domestic and $2,606,246 imported. The combined annual sales of these factories amounted to $16,448,514. It is estimated that the industry in Buenos Aires represents ap proximately 75 per cent of the total for the country.