BARON HIRSCH'S COLONIES IN THE ARGENTINE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8163, 18 April 1895, Page 4

BARON HIRSCH'S COLONIES IN THE ARGENTINE.

The report for 189 1 of the Jewish Colonisation Association, the full text of which the Jewish Chronicle prints, shows thftb the Jewish colonies in the Argentine aro gradually, bub surely, passing the experimental stage. Baron Hirsch is no dreamer of dreams. Ho knows tbe limits of the power of hi 3 wealth nnd he doeß nob believe in modern mirac'es. The company has had to repair blunders of udministration on both sides of the Atlantic ; but they were nob irreparable, and the experience, though dearly bought, has not been profitless. Each colonisb will become the absolute owner of his hud by the annual payraonb of L 32, or about 4s 7d per acre. A medical staff schools, and flourmills are being established, and the cosb of adminisbiatiou is being diminished. Before this year four colonies were established, having a total nr a of 209,000 acres, occupied by 5G3 families. Ten groups comprising an average of about 40 families, about 400 families in all, have been bettled in the Argentine this year. Horses, cattle, and agrica tural tools woio provided in good time, and the newjomers found overy thing prepared on their arrival. .n early overy family has received an iillotm nt of 185 acres. The central administration is occupied with tho formation of new groups which can bo forwarded next year. Moasurc3 are heing t»ken, both in Russia and in the Argentine, for the arrangement of these groups, so that from 200 to 300 families may leave successively in batches from May next. The Association own a total of 444,780 acres, of which 240,097 are unoccupied, and tho Central Administration contemp'ato tho purchase of considerable further tracts in the course of next year. Owing to the excellent arrangements of the committees in Russia, more than 3000 persons were forwarded in the space of a few months withoub undue delay or difficulty. Since its foundation up to the 30th September ast i In Association|hns 5pent L363,369, of which no leas than LlBO.OOO has bonn written oft as lost. The loss is notalle «»s a proof that by way of mere mercantile speculation the project could not have repaid its founders, though the gain to humanity may well exceed the large sum which Baron Hirsch has beon content to devote to his noble object. The interest received from interim investments of the funds placed at the disposal of tho Association amounts to about L.60,000, and the | roduco in wheat actually grown is also va'uod at about LGO,OOO.