John E. Benitz

Private Diary

Notes & [bracketed-words]: See glossary.

1904

John E. Bz Diary

First Page

February 23

Left Los Algarrobos - for Buenos Aires, to meet Mr Thomas Agar + family who arrived on the 21st from England.

29

Left Buenos Aires for Cruz Grande, accompanied by Mr + Mrs Tomas Agar + little girl + companion Miss Kennedy.

March 2

Arrived at Cruz Grande with Mr T. Agar + family

3

Received from Mr T. Agar 15 shares of 10£ each [approx. 1,050 USD-2000 each] in the Scottish Estancia Co. Ltd, the shares are dated July 7-1903. Gave him a letter to the Co. asking that these shares be alloted to me. dated the letter July 7-1903 See copy of this letter in copying book.

8

Left Cruz Grande for Bell Ville. drove out to El Victoriano where I slept that night.

9

Arrived at Los Algarrobos.

11

Left for Bell Ville to catch the 5 a.m. train tomorrow for Cruz Grande.

Sent by encomienda to La California to Clara [wife of brother William] as a loan three books on architecture. - Keiths Magazine on Home Building, Sedgwick + Saxton Arte collection + "Modern Dwellings by Geo F Barber + Co.

12

Arrived at Cruz Grande.

19

Gave Mrs Amy England a cheque № 138 - $394.79 to pay the account with Cruz Chica up to date.

23

Left Cruz Grande for the Estancia, accompanied by Mr T. Agar + family.

Received from Juan Kurth y Cia $2.500 [28,000 USD-2000]. in exchange for a cheque № 137. Paid him his ac. with Cruz Grande, $125.95.

March 24

Arrived at El Victoriano with Mr T. Agar + family. the stop there and I stay with them to show them over the Estancias.

April 2

Mr T. Agar + family left "El Victoriano" for La California. Received from Mr T. Agar, a letter written (+ copied) by my book keeper Mr E. Williams, putting in black + white, the outcome of our conversations, re. management, books, + about purchase of more land.

22

Left Los Algarrobos for Rosario, via Bell Ville.

23

Discounted at the Banco de Londres y Brazil, a pagare for $20,000. m/n. due October 23rd 1904. Liquidation

pagare descontado      20,000  [discounted note = 234,000 USD-2000]

            menos 6%                        600  [less 6%]

                                                19,400

            menos sellos                      40  [less stamp tax]

                                                19,360

Deposited in the Banco de Londres $11,534.50/100  m/n

Bought store + other things.

Went to Buenos Aires by night train, accompanied by Marjorie with little Johnie + Alfred and nurse girl.

27

Saw Mr T. Agar + family off, by the Danube.

30

Left Buenos Aires for Bell Ville

May 1

Arrived at Bell Ville, on the way to the Estancia, called at the Estancia of Benjamin Sastre, + arranged the purchase of ¼ league of land adjoinging the "El Victoriano" for the Scottish Estancia Co Ltd. at 40.$ the hectaria. [625 ha.@ 40 = $25,000 or 292,500 USD-2000]

Installed Pedro Cabrera as Capataz of El Victoriano. Mr Barry left. also Doña Mercedes the Cook + Martin the Coachman.

16

Went to Bell Ville to see Benjamin Sastre + the Escribano Publico about the titles of La Escondida.

17

Made a Boleto with Benjamin Sastre before  the Escribano Publico. Castellanos, for the fraccion of camp joining La Minnesota to the east. and El Victoriano to the south, this piece of camp is called "La Escondida." and by the titles + plan it comprises. 939 hectareas 9 areas, 17 cent areas, [939.917 ha. or 2,321 acres] made the boleto for 30.$ so as to evade paying too much contribucion Directa [real estate tax]. but the real price is 40$ per. hect. The N. side measures 1.567.50 m. the S side 1.585.70 m. the E side 5.956.50 + the W side 5.958.50. m.

The surveyor who made the plan of El Victoriano,  measured La Escondido on the E side. adjoining La Minnesota, and made it 5972 m. and on the S side adjoining El Victoriano. 1593 m. comprising a total of 961 hectareas.

In the evening returned to Los Algarrobos.

Bautista Mottino left today with his family. he has worked here as a mason in charge of the building just 12 months. Have working on the building at present, eleven peons, five masons, seven carpenters, 1 painter.

Gave my power of attorney as manager of the Scottish Estancia Co. Ltd. to Castellanos the Escribano in Bell Ville, to send to Cordoba to be registered, to make it legal in the Prov. of Cordoba.

May 29

Went to Bell Ville.

30

Signed the titles for La Escondida, gave Benjamin Sastre an order on Agar Cross y Cia. for $37.596.68 m/n. for 939 hect 9 areas 17 ct areas at 40$ per hect.  Señor Sastre gave me some old papers of the measures of La Escondida camp, also the copies of original titles. as this is the last land to be sold of that camp.  [939.917 ha. = 2,321 acres;  37.596.68 m/n = 439,881 USD-2000]

June 8

Received a letter dated the 6th from Richard Agar, in which he offers to pay out of his pocket all expenses for planting trees at La Minnesota.

July 8

Left for Cruz Grande to bring down the family, as the upper rooms of the house are completed.

July 14

Arrived at Los Algarrobos with the family, also three servants.

17

Grahame Paul arrived from England, as Pupil. [Graham later married John’s niece, Nena Benitz, see family tree.]

August 12

Received the pagare for $25.000. m/n. [280,000 USD-2000] with the Banco Britanico de la America del Sud. for 6 months, will fall due on the 12th February 1905. Paid in cash the interest 6% and stamps, $800. m/n.

18

Bought at Flores a second hand phaeton for 300$ took it to Mendiondas carriage factory and arranged with them to paint, retire, repair, furnish extra pole, for 150.$.

19

Received from Don Ricardo $3.000. for account of La Minnesota.

20

Returned from Buenos Aires.

24

My Birth day. Planted out 110 select peach trees.

25

Started making up the manadas for the year.

Began to plant out trees bought in Buenos Aires. Platanas [sycamore maple?] and Pinos Maritimas [marine pine] in front of house and along drives.

September 1

Went to Rosario took little Elsie along.

3

Acted as Judge of Shorthorns at the show in Rosario.

5

Returned from Rosario, in Bell Ville signed the titles of the Escondida camp bought from Benjamin Sastre for El Victoriano.

9

Made up the manadas and turned out the five stallions.

12

Went to Buenos Aires with Marjorie.

15

Received from Don Ricardo 100$ to invest in sheep for little Richard. This is to be kept seperate from the Estancia.

19

Bought from Mr Candy 13 Hampshire rams at 140$ each.

Sept. 20 Arrived back at Los Algarrobos.

Oct. 23   Paid the bill due at the Brazilian Bank for 20.000$

               Discounted a bill at the British Bank for 20.000$ with this money paid the Brazilian Bank. This bill falls due Jan 15th.

Dic. 28   Left with all the family + servants, also Mr Paul for Cruz Grande