Benitz, John E. - Diary, 1907

Jan.	8	Left Cruz Grande for Cordoba. stayed the night there. called on Dr Thomo in the evening.
	9	Arrived at Los Algarrobos. met Mr Marty in Bell Ville + drove out together.
	10	Mr Marty brought out from Rosario the shares of the Co. made in nine books, all signed by Mr Marty as Secretary of the Company, and stamped with the official seal. The following is copy of Mr Martys letter that accompanied the Shares " Rosario de Santa Fe Diciembre 28 - 1906 Tengo el agrado de remitir a V^dsellados con el sello oficial de la "S.A.G. Los Algarrobos" y con mi firma como secretario los siguientes Acciones de este Compania. Serie A. Titulos de 1. Accion c/u de 100.00 ^m/_n $ № 1 al 100 de Juan Benitz 10.000.00 № 101 " 200 " " " 10.000.00 Serie B. Titulos de 10 Acciones c/u de 100. ^m/_n- ($1.000.) № 1/100 Acciones № 201 al 1200 de Juan Benitz - acciones 1000 - 100.000.00 № 101/180 " " 1201/2000 " " " 800 80.000.00 Serie C. de 50 Acciones de $100. c/u ($5000) 1/5 Acciones № 2201 al 2450 de Alfredo Benitz " 250 25.000.00 6/10 " 2451 al 2700 F.C. Marty " 250 25.000.00 11/21 " 2701 al 3250 Dr. J.D. Infante " 550 55.000.00 22/25 " 3251 al 3450 Rob. Macintosh " 200 20.000.00 26/30 " 3451 al 3700 G.O. Benitz " 250 25.000.00 31/34 " 3701 al 3900 H.P. Storey " 200 20.000.00 35/39 " 3901 al 4150 W.S. Martin " 250 25.000.00 40/44 " 4151 al 4400 Josefina Benitz " 250 25.000.00 45/ " " 4401 al 4450 Pedro Mancera " 50 5.000.00 46/ " " 4451 al 4500 Dr N Mancera " 50 5.000.00 47/ " " 4501 al 4550 Juan Arrellaga " 50 5.000.00 48/ " " 4551 al 4600 Jose Mata " 50 5.000.00 49/100 " 4601 al 7200 Juan Benitz " 2600 260.000.00 101/200 " 7201 al 12200 " " " 5000 500.000.00 12000 $1.200.000.00 Un millon doscientos mil pesos-^m/_nlegal cuyos acciones seran validos en lo que V^dlos tenga firmadas por V^d. Van igualmente los siguientes certificados ~~181/200 numeros accion 2001 al 2200~~ de acciones impresos y sellados con el sello social. pero sin mi firma: Serie B. Certificados 181/200 № de Acciones 2001 al 2200 de $1.000.00 Serie A. 100 " de $100. c/u sin numeros Serie B. 25 Certificados de $1.000. c/u Sin Numeros. " C. 25 " " $5.000. " " " Esperando V^dhallara todo conforme. queda de V^dmuy att O^ss. signed F C Marty. Signed the Shares of the Directors of the Co. as follows Alfredo Benitz 2201 al 2400 F.C. Marty 2451 al 2650 Dr J.D. Infante 2701 al 2900 Rob. Macintosh 3251 al 3450 Guillermo Benitz 3451 al 3650 H.P. Storey 3701 al 3900 W.S. Martin These Shares had to be given to comply with the Ley de S. Anonimas but I. keep there shares, and hold an acknowlegement from each Director also from the other founders of the Co. saying that the shares do not belong to them. and have there shares in an envelope ready for the inspection of a Goverment Inspector of S. Anonimas should one appear and ask to see if we had complied with the law.
	21	Signed a pagare [note] for $25.000. due at the Banco Espa�ol del Rio de la Plata on the [blank space] This pagare is in exchange of our CE Corriente [current account] in this Bank
	23	Left Los Algarrobos for Bell Ville. Cordoba + Cruz Grande. Discounted at the Banco Aleman Transatlantico in Bell Ville a pagare [note] for $20.000. interests + sello 790.$ liq. = $19.210. also opened an account Cuenta Corriente [current account]. and can have an overdraft of $5.000. drew in cash for cheque. $17.000. and paid $17.055 to the Banco de la Nacion Argentina. and closed our account with that Bank. Sold all our wheat to Carlmogno Hnos at 4.⁸⁵$1**d at $8.²⁰
Feb.	13	Gave Mr Marty a cheque on the London + Brazilian Bank for $25.000. to meet the pagare [note] due on the 10^th Feb. this 25.000. is to be charged to Cuenta Corriente [current account].
	19	Left Cruz Grande for Bell Ville.
	20	Arrived back at Los Algarrobos.
	20	As per arrangement with Mr. Marty who sails for Europe on the 25^th I sent him a letter as follows. Confirming our conversation of a few days ago, you will oblige by endeavouring to negociate on behalf of our Company, during your visit to England, a loan of about �20,000. - stg arranging terms etz. as per our arrangements, and to which we hereby authorize you to negotiate. This loan is to be guaranteed by a deposit of shares in the Company, and the money is to be used to pay off debts of about $175,000. owing to various Banks, debts incurred by putting down alfalfa, fences + wells, stallions + bulls, and chiefly by the disastrous past winter, followed by a worse summer. no sales having been made at all. The El Victoriano & La Minnesota are indebted to me for about $23,000.^m/_n. We received this year for Dr Thomo from La Margarita ~~79 L.~~ 963 K linseed, sold at $8.²⁰ = 79.$ and 29859 K wheat sold at 4.85$ = $1,448.¹⁵ ^m/_n. this wheat was carted to our galpon [barn] by our carts. and sold from there.
	22	Rain at last. in 48 hours it has rained 14 ^m/_m not very much but as it was gentle and accompanied by mild weather it will do a world of good, and maybe break this dreadfull drought. so general all over the country, it will nearly ruin us if it goes on longer, no cattle can possibly survive the coming winter.
March	1	Left Los Algarrobos for Bell Ville + Rosario.
	2	" Rosario by nocturno [night-train] for La Cumbre + Cruz Grande.
	3	Arrived at Cruz Grande.
	19	Left Cruz Grande for Cordoba + Buenos Aires. In Cordoba at Escribania [notary-office] of Rodriguez + Peralta signed title deeds of 2� hect. of land sold to J. Schreiber [sister Josephine] + a piece of the land bought last year from Mauricio Zapato. sold it at $1.000. with certain rights to water, as per boleto [bill of sale].
	20	Arrived in Buenos Aires. meet R. Agar. who has just come out from New York.
	22	Left Buenos Aires for Isla Verde. attended Sale of Stock at Lassecas Estancia. did not buy anything. (23) Arrived at Los Alg.
	26	+ 27 Took up Stock a Los Algarrobos. Counted all the live stock.
	28	Splendid weather for the camp. damp dull days, no wind at all alfalfa very luxuriant. could not be finer, a great deal of alfalfa seed coming up in amongst the alfalfa. Cutting alfalfa The newly sown alfalfa. (with the last wheat) has come up remarkably well in the whole of the southern part of the camp. 1250 □ [cuadras, i.e. squares].
	29	Left for La Carlota via Bell Ville + Villa Maria to attend liquidation sale of La Eselina. took Pedro Cabrero along. but did not buy anything as the cattle are all tuberculosis.
	31	Went from La Carlota to Cordoba. Pedro Cabrera returned alone to El Victoriano.
April	2	Went from Cordoba to La Cumbre + Cruz Grande.
	17	Left Cruz Grande for Cordoba
	18	Left Cordoba for Bell Ville.
	27	Richard Agar arrived from Buenos Aires
May	2	Left with Richard Agar for La California via Bell Ville + Armstrong.
	4	At La California arranged with J.G. Stratter Bron Edge Lodge, Buxton Derbyshire England. to bring for me from England, a thoroughbred Pony Stallion for breding Polo Ponies. to cost put in B. Aires 200�. with 10� Com. to be out 13 Aug. Left La California for Bell Ville over Armstrong. attended sales in Bell Ville by Lamas y Villasoro. sold 15 Potros [colts] + some pigs.
	5	Returned to Los Algarrobos.
	7	Renewed the Pagare [note] for $25.000 due at the Banco Britanico de la America del Sud on the 7. May. will fall due again Nov. 3 - 1907.
	9	Left for Buenos Aires, via Bell Ville. took Vicente Soto + little Johnie with me.
	12	Attended the liquidation sale at El Venado, Felipe Semillosas, at Grl Belgrano. did not buy anything.
	16	Left Buenos Aires for Lezama to go to Estancia Belen of Manuel Juan Cobo. bought there 16 bulls for La Minnesota at $500. each.
May	17	Left Buenos Aires for Monte Maiz.
	18	Arrived back at Los Algarrobos. with little Johnie.
	22	Wrote to J.A. Moore. Coventry House, South Place, Finsbury Pa**urt London E.C. to send me two Hampshire Down rams to cost 30 or 40 � each put in B. Aires.
	25	Left for Cordoba
	26	" Cordoba for Cruz Grande.
	29	" Cruz Grande for Cordoba.
	31	" Cordoba for Rosario. (by day train.)
June	2	" Rosario for Los Algarrobos via Monte Maiz, accompanied by Miss Elsie Macintosh, Mr G. Paul + Mr Turner.
	10	Parted out of Talismans manada [brood mares] of chestnuts. eleven of the best mares. and out of the Bay Dons' manada of Shires. twelve of the best mares. these mares are for inscription in the Stud Book of the Sociedad Rural Argentina. in the "Registro Preparatorio."
	28	Wrote to Mr Cross. sent him receipts from A Ernest Williams for $1.462.²². and Murray Francis $6.000. gifts from Mr Cross. making the total of $7.462.²² which I was owing Mr Cross as for his Auditors declaration. This closes the Monterey business. and will pack all the old papers away.
July	3	Went to Rosario via Bell Ville with Miss Baker, Joe + Elsie on our way to Los Palmares. to pay a visit to Alfred.
	4	Left Rosario for Santa Fe + Calchaqui.
	6	Rode + drove out to Los Palmares from Calchaqui with Alfred.
	15	Left Los Palmares for Calchaqui.
	16	Left Santa Fe for Paran�. left Miss Baker there. she goes o to Concordia as she is no longer to be governess with our girls. left Santa Fe for Rosario.
	17	Left Rosario for Bell Ville + home.
	23	Went to Bell Ville + back.
		Discounted a bill for 25.000$ at the Banco de La Nacion Argentina [National Bank of Argentina]. with 20.000 of this took up the bill that falls due + the Banco Aleman Transatlantico.
	26	Went to Rosario via Bell Ville.
	27	Held the annual meeting of the Directors of this Company. at Mr Martys office. see my memorio [memorandum] presented to the Directors.
	28	Left Rosario again for Bell Ville + Algarrobos.
Aug	4	Left for Cruz Grade via Bell Ville + Cordoba
	5	Spent the day in Cordoba, seeing the Ministro and the Gefe of the Oficina Depto Topografico about the road that Dr Passe had fenced near Bell Ville.
Inserted here is a typed draft of the first annual management report (most likely made by JEBz) to the sharelholders of the "Los Algarrobos" Sociedad Anonima Ganadera. We have included it at the foot of this page as it is not trully part of JEBz' diary.
	6	Arrived at Cruz Grande. saw the builders + carpenters who are building a new house.
	10	Left La Cumbre for Cordoba. went straight to Buenos Aires.
	11	Arrived in Buenos Aires. bought gas outfit, bath outfit + Aguas Corrientes [running water].
	14	Saw Mr Schearer. manager of Banco Britanico about raising a house [mortgaging?]. Saw Mr Urdaniz about buying the piece of camp he bought from Gibson Hnos. adjoining the Algarrobos to the south. 2114 hectares mas o menos [more or less]. offered him 65$ per hectare. he asked for time to answer. Left for Bell Ville + Los Algarrobos.
	20	Se�or L. Urdaniz was here, drove out in hired carriage from Bell Ville he came to accept my offer of 65.$ the hect for the camp. told him that I would first have to make arrangements for payment. and that I had instructed Mr. Marty to make the necessary arrangements. I told Mr Marty that if the business was carried through I would give him a commission of 1%. and so much again if it was sold at a good profit.
	24	My Birthday, gave the peons [workmen] a dance, tonight, Saturday, + full moon. hired 6 musicians in Bell Ville. all the women made about 500 pasteles [cakes & pastries], killed two big fat cows, 6 lambs, a box of ginger beer, a box of chocolate to make chocolate + lots of coffe. no spirits. Se�or Medina, mayordomo [ranch-manager] of El Carmen, had lunch here. he looked at the pigs + sheep with a *** of purchasing.
	27	Left for Rosario via Bell Ville. to attend show in Rosario of the Sociedad Rural Santafecina. and to be one of three Judges of Galpon [Barn] Bulls, together with H. Read + Se�or J.N. Altalaguierre.
	29	Was all day at Show Judging bulls, bad day Santa Rosa storm.
Sept	1	Left Rosario for Ca�ada de Gomez. drove out to A. Morenos Estancia. looked at bulls + cows but did not buy. stayed the night with H. Petty.
	2	Left Ca�ada de Gomez for Bell Ville + to Los Algarrobos-,
	4	The mares began to foal. first foal of Bay Don appeared last night. Had notice from J.G. Stratter. Montevideo, that he was arriving in Buenos Aires on the 5^th with a pedigree horse for me. ordered on the 4^th May.
	9	The imported Polland China sow. "Cherry Bloom 2^nd."died.
	10	Shipped to H.A. Thompson, 583 old ewes. Left for Buenos Aires with Marjorie, two boys + nurse.
	28	Returned from Buenos Aires, by River Steamer by Rosario.
Oct	1	Mr Williams, the book keeper left. he had been here for 4 years + 10 months.
	2	Wrote to W.L. Miller, asking him to bring me a boar from the States. The fifteen bulls bought at Palermo Show arrived.
	4	Mr + Mrs Schiele arrived from Las Tunas, driving.
	5	Shieles left for the Monte del Toro.
	6	I left for Cruz Grande.
	11	Returned from La Cruz Grande.
	24	Lent V. Soto 4.000.$ to buy Potros [colts] with for his own account. he is to have pasturage free. but we are to have choice of his animals at the cost price.
	26	Dr Infante + daughter arrived from Rosario. he came out as Sindico (auditor) of the Co. to examine books, and to suppress certain accounts.
	27	Dr Infante left again.
	29	Left for Cruz Grande
Nov.	9	Returned from Cruz Grande.
	25	Left for Cruz Grande via Rosario.
Dic	6	Left Cruz Grande for Buenos Aires. Marjorie joined me in Bell Ville.
	11	Returned with Marjorie from Buenos Aires.
	18	Revised V. Sotos potros [colts] and horses + mares. but did not keep any. but took 5 mules @ 48.$. Mr Paul and Mr Brown arrived from Brazil + Corrientes with a large troop of potros + horses to sell. Signed a pagare + sent it to Mr Marty for $25.000. @ 8% falls due on the April 4 - 1908. this is to renew the one falling due Jan 4. Signed a pagare + sent it to Mr Marty for 50.000. @ 8�% due July 4. this is to renew the bill falling due Jan 4/08. This bill is with my private signature and is to be transferred from the Co. to my private ac. so that I will not owe anything to the Co.
	19	Left with the family for Cruz Grande. with Governors. Cook + house maids. thirteen in all. (trip up cost $335.50) Met Mr Marty in Bell Ville. on his way out to see about the purchase of land from Urdaniz.
	20	Discounted a bill for 100.000.$ in the Banco de la Nacion. Rosario. this money is for paying for the land bought from Urdaniz. this bill was backed for me by Alfred. it falls due 31^st March. 1908 Deposited with the London Bank one book of shares of a value of 360.000.$ worth of "Algarrobos" Shares as guarantee for the 50.000.$ changed to my private account from the Algarrobo account. for details of this transaction see Mr Martys letter dated Jan 10/1908 I have the receipt for the deposit of these shares. (not negociable) and also the receipt for the parcel of the remainder of shares. Mr Marty received from Agar Cross y Cia. $12.000. for account of R. Agar. this morning is to go to help pay for Urdaniz camp. Arranged with Urdaniz for 60.$ the hectarea.