The Times from London, Greater London, England • Page 19

FINANCE, COMMERCE, AND SHIPPING. No. 39,879. LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1912. PAGE 19 ARGENTINA'S INCREASING DEMAND FOR STEEL AND IRON A Description of the Large and Fast Growing Vasena Works at Buenos Aires, now Acquired by an English Company The Vast and Increasing Market that it supplies The food and substance of agricultural I ami industrial expansion is iron or steel.

The rapid growth of Argentina's prosperity i indicated erv elearlv by the growth; and present magnitude of the iron Ml In and forges of the Vasena i Works al Buenos Aires. And in turn i true that the future of tins great I iron industry at Buenos Aires, the central point of Argentina's inland eommeree. mav he judged accurately by the rate st "which agricultural, municipal, and industrial development are increasing year by year. The meuilurgieal works a important a part in Area vmeemcnt were established in 1870 by heuor Don Pedro Vasena They have been i arried on and enlarged by him and his sons it constant 1 increasing success. The announcement that the works have been taken over by an English company I MM pvu special importance to the' riuciy ot Argentina's increasing market f.ir forms of iron, steel, and brass.

and so a description of the market Th. be Buenos Aires ith product than would 1k imagined by any one who had not visited the shops at had not taken pains to inform himself i thoroughly. An Index of Prosperity. The materials being turned out by the Vasena works are in themselves an index to all the many forms of agricultural and industrial expansion, which are pro I greasing so rapidly in Buenos Aires and in the rich and busy provinces of Argentina. Kvery additional acre that is fenced and brought under cultivation means an increase in the demand for wire, and fur the implements of tilling and reaping.

Everv increase in the number of beef cattle and in the wool clip 1 means a larger ncmanci ior me implements and supplies used in the industry i ued in taking its product to the The era of iron and steel frame build ins: commenced in Buenos Aires at quite as early a day as in London or Paris. Wood is rare and costly. Economy as well as foresight dictate the use of iron or steel. The population of Buenos Aires is so creat, and most of the streets are narrow and crowded, that the city I is lecn forced to open a broad new avenue, tearing down blocks of closely i it nouses, v. tv London opened Kingsway.

Practically i of tha more important buildings along iKiUicvaru win oe steci iramc. Rapid Expansion. Arcentine railways increased from 846 kilometres between 1872 and 1 In the same period the increased from 580.000 hectares 1.775.000 hectares. In 1908 the tgricaitaal installations were valued at I 30,426,384, machinery and imple total atfl85.468.97fi. As an indication demand for agricultural implements tl value of the crop is significant THE VASENA WORKS.

NOW OWNED BY THE ARGENTINE IRON AND STEEL LTD. i 3ut 3000., A nnn VASENA WORKS 'V SHOWROOM I A Twenty Five Ton Electric Crane. Exhibits of some of the articles of Iron, Steel, Brass, and Bronze made by Vasena Works. I Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca, and the towns and cities of the interior make constant and increasing demands on the output of the forges and foundries. Municipal works in almot every instance are of the most permanent character.

Diversity of Products. So as one walk through the many shops of Pedro Vasena Hijos nearly every article that one sees in the forges, foundries, machine shops, and stock sheds is linked by association with some form of agricultural, railway, industrial, or civic development an existing need, waiting for the delivery of the article that one sees in process of manufacture. The diversity of products would amazo any one not familiar with Argentina's progress structural girders, bare of all shapes, telegraph wire, barbed wire, ploughshares, gear wheels, lelt pulleys, th" iron skeleton of the cupola for a bank building, sections destined for a giant crane, large cast iron pipes, tall ornamental lamp posts, corrugated iron plates, ornamental railings, nails, screws, bolts, rivets, nuts, bronze statuary, grilles, stable fittings, sanitary metal goods, axles, wheels, boilers a new and different product meets the eye at' almost every glance. It may be that there is a form of metal that is not made in the Vasena works, but one finds it hard to imagine what it may be. In the stores of models alone there are shapes which seem to link the Vasena works with every branch of engineering, industry, and architecture.

Equipment. The equipment of the works is most up to date. Its boilers, engines, dynamos, air compressors, and hydraulic pumps might rouse the envy of the manager of many foundries and engineering plants in England. The batteries of automatic machines for making barbed wire, screws, nuts, and bolts are probably not surpassed in efficiency by any that could be found elsewhere in the world. The heavy hammers are operated by steam, the fast hammers by air, the heavy pressing and cutting machines by hydraulic power, and the fast lathes and metal cutting saws by electricity.

Fifteen ton and ten ton electric cranes traverse the shops where heavy pieces are made, and the store rooms and sheds where Innfinished and finished iron is kept. Stationary and travelling cranes load the product on railway cars or on boats for coastwise ports or for the interior. And yet, for all the vast extent of the plant, and the magnitude and diversity of its equipment, the fact is evident that the Vasena works, far from being ahead of the needs of Argentina, are only abreast with them. The facilities and output have leen increased and increased again, year after year, and still the demands of Argentina's steady growth are far greater than the whole facilities of the Vasena works can cope with. All of the shops, yards, and stock sheds are located in Buenos Aires with the exception of the branch at La Plata which is used principally for casting.

The company own these valuable freehold properties, and extensive wharves on the Riachuelo. LDINGS. naklnft the Smaller Patterns, and COOdS. I ONE OF THE BUILDINGS. Containing Draughting Department, Shop By far the larger part of Argentina's imports of iron and steel are in the form of raw material.

In 1910 imports of iron and steel manufactures were $19.3.37,106. as compared with raw material, $23,782,322 a fact which indi catcs very clearly how large a part of the iron and steel that the country needs is being manufactured in Argentina. The incrca.se in Argentina's other manufactures increases the demands made on tho iron and steel industry. It is a sign of the time that every nation is anxious to supply itself with home made goods and is straining every nerve to encourage homo production," writes Mr. V.

A. Hirst, in his valuable work on Arcentina. A large proportion, indeed, of Argentine factories are merely auxiliary to the production of raw material, being creameries, butter factories, freezing establishments, cheesemaking factories, and the like. Brewing and distilling are both important, and there ere said to be 130 distilleries and 32 breweries in Argentina. In 1907 there were 303 flour mills, turning out 699,000 tons of flour.

There arc also numerous tobacco factories, producing an output valued at about two and a half millions sterling. All kinds of textiles are produced, but there are only two cotton spinning mills and 62 weaving factories. There are also numbers of miscellaneous industries, the most important of which are paper, matches, glassware, tanning, clothing, and building material." All of these are worth noting, because their prosperity increases tho prosperity of tho iron and steel industry. A glance at the very thorough statistical atlas of Argentina which was published on September 13, 1911, as part of 77ic Times South American Supplement, shows throughout tho whole of the agricultural area hundreds of prosperous towns which exist to supply tho needs of the busy agricultural districts with which they are surrounded Finish THE COMPANY'S WHARFS. products are lo.ded direct on Shipboard, for Coastwiaa Ports, or in boats.