We see that even in four years there has been a remarkable development of the industries of Buenos Ayres. This development is especially demonstrated by the increase of the capital represented by the sales of merchandise or manufactured articles and by the horse-power employed. At the end of four years the capital has increased by nearly 300 per cent., the sales by the same amount, and over five times the motive power is employed.
This progress is certainly remarkable, but it does not perhaps truly represent the actual progress achieved. The Director of the Census, Señor Ricardo Pillado, declares that “the general opinion prevalent in the offices of the census department is that certain important items of information, relating to matters of great interest, have been concealed by interested persons. Among such we may cite the value of output, the amounts of sales, the capital employed, the number of employés, etc.; as the manufacturers are anxious, above all, to shelter themselves from a possible increase of taxation or licences.” So that in spite of the satisfactory results of the last census, in spite of the notable increase of wealth and industry recorded, the figures given are far from representing the true significance of the industries of the capital city.
The results already given may be classified as follows, under the headings of the kind of industry, capital employed, value of produce, motive power, and employés engaged:——
Value Number of Motive Industries. Capital. of Hands Power Production. Employed. (H.P.). Gas lighting, electric lighting, } lighting installations, } £6,712,470 £2,227,376 4,754 66,392 and plant } Alimentary products 3,873,386 10,520,532 14,227 11,756 Clothing and toilette 3,256,512 9,156,774 37,259 2,586 Woven fabrics, leather and furs 1,967,672 5,084,053 10,861 5,451 Metal work, etc. 1,598,722 2,916,793 10,090 4,311 Graphic arts, paper 1,489,525 2,178,294 8,296 2,758 Woodwork, cabinet-making, etc. 1,461,103 4,336,954 11,736 5,570 Tobacco factories 605,487 2,249,836 2,829 539 Chemical products 432,160 754,207 1,774 1,231 Building 408,056 1,097,219 4,415 719 Art products, ornaments, etc. 301,244 729,903 2,199 367 Various industries 1,364,881 5,779,208 9,875 3,895 ----------- ----------- ——————— ——————— Totals £28,421,318 £47,032,146 118,315 105,575 ----------- ----------- ——————— ———————