Benitz, John E. - Diary, 1909

Jan	3	Left with family for Cruz Grande. Marjorie, Marjoriedaw, Johnie Alfred. Miss Baker Mrs Bischoff and four servants.
Feb	10	Returned from Cruz Grande. frightfull Seca [drought]. camp looking dreadfull. cattle + stock hold out well still.
	11	Rained 20 ^m/_m last night. fine. the situation is saved. Harley Storey accompanied by Agnes and the three boys arrived at La Minnesota, to take over the management.
	15	Wrote to W.L. Miller. Peru Indiana U.S.A. asking him to send me a Polland China boar.
	16	Mr Law moved for good up to La Minnesota.
	18	Left for Rosario via Bell Ville.
	20	" Rosario for La Cumbre.
March	5	" La Cumbre with Marjorie for Buenos Aires. by express train over Mumais [??] new line to Buenos Aires. with the Gelderdales + large party from Cruz Chica.
	10	Left Buenos Aires with Marjorie for Rosario.
	12	" Rosario for La Cumbre arrived on the 13^th at Cruz Grande with Marjorie.
	28	" La Cumbre for Cordoba.
	29	Stayed in Cordoba on business connected with the Roads Com.
	30	Left Cordoba for Bell Ville + Los Algarrobos. Weather getting very dry. no wind at all.
April	1	Taking up stock for inventory
	3	Signed blank pagare [note]. backing H. Storeys signature for $5.000. that he is discounting at London Bank in Rosario, due in
	10	Left for La Cumbre via Bell Ville. to Cruz Grande.
	26	Signed (at Cruz Grande) a pagare [note] for 50.000 $ to be discounted by Mr Marty at the London Bank. (for 6 months) in my private name. this money is to be disposited on the Co.: ac. to cover my private ac. {falls due Oct. 29^th.
	28	Left Cruz Grande with all the family. Marjorie. Marjoriedaw. Johnie Alfred Elsie Macintosh Miss Baker. and Do�a Isabella, Angelina Rila + Bernabe also a boy for peon [workman].
	29	Stayed the day in Cordoba. saw the Minister de Obras Publicas [Minister of Public Works] and the different heads of Dept's about Roads. also the Escribanos [notaries] about the Solicitud [Petition] about the Toma [water intake] to be made in the Rio Cruz Grande for Alfred. and received from him the titles of Mothers place. Villa Josefina.
	30	Arrived back at Los Algarrobos with all the family.
May	4	Wrote to Mr Tom Agar asking him to put up Marjorie's name for St. Katherines school to begin in September.
	12	William arrived from La California in his 50 H.P. Motor Car. 5 hours.
	13	Went with William + 6 other persons - in his car to Bell Ville + came back. to go it took 62 minutes + to return 57 minutes.
	14	Signed a pagare [note] for 25.000 $ to be discounted at the Banco Espanol on the 17^th May. at 7% it falls due on the 17^th of November.
	15	James Ferguson (nephew of the Agars) arrived from Buenos Aires. he is to go to La Minnesota to learn Camp work.
	22	Left for Rosario. in Bell Ville took up the bill due today at the Banco de la Nacion. ^25.000.$ paid with a cheque on the London Bank, renewed the bill for $25.000 due at the Banco Aleman. for 6 months, pd. $1.050. for interest + stamps.
	24	Left Rosario for Buenos Aires.
	26	Bought a Daimler Motor car 38 H.P. 5 seated.
	28	Left Buenos Aires for La Cumbre.
	29	Arrived at Cruz Grande.
June	2	Bought at Cruz Grande a chacra [farm] of 8 hectareas. Chacra Lujan from Manuela Z de Calanilla for 1.800.$ Left Cruz Grande for Cordoba. The Daimler Motor Car driven by the chauffeur that came up for 8 days with the car from Buenos Aires ran against a gate post + destroyed the car + injured nearly all those that were in the car. but none seriously.
	3	Signed in Cordoba the titles for the land bought at Cruz Grand. Saw the Ministro de Hacienda [Minister of Finance] in Cordoba. got more funds out of him for the roads of the two depts. 6.000.$
	4	Arrived back at Cruz Grande.
	9	John Ferguson, (nephew of the Agars) arrived from Buenos Aires with his mother. he is to stay on to learn camp work, as his health is not good for town life. he was in Agar Cross y Cia. in the windmill depto.
	15	Sent the Daimler car to Buenos Aires to be repaired. Sent Hector Hermann our mechanic to B. Aires with the car to help repair it, and to learn to care for it + handle it.
	16	Left for La California via Armstrong. took Marjoriedaw along.
	17	Attended the sale of the stock of the Las Tres Lagunas. did not buy anything.
	19	Returned to Los Algarrobos. via Armstrong + San Marcos.
	25	The mason. Jackie. finished the mason work of the big galpon [barn] that he began on the 10^th July last. and started work on the big algibe[water cistern] that is to water the patio and the galpon. with a mill.
	27	Left for Buenos Aires via Monte Maiz with Marjory. Marjoriedaw. Johnie Alfred. Miss Elsie Macintosh + Miss Baker.
July	3	Miss Elsie Macintosh. Miss Baker + Marjoriedaw. left Montevideo for England on the S.S. Rimutaka, Marjoriedaw goes to join Elsie + Jo at St Andrew School in Scotland. Miss Baker + Miss Macintosh go for a holiday.
	9	Left Buenos Aires for Los Algarrobos via Monte Maiz. accompanied by little Johnie.
	10	Arrived back at Los Algarrobos.
	12	Put the 1^st alfalfa hay up into the loft of the new galpon [barn] Received a poder [power of attorney] from Mrs Thume to manage La Marguarita Colony. " the Titles " Escribanos [notaries] for the land bought from Manuela Calanilla de Zapata
	18	Marjorie + little Alfred returned from Buenos Aires via Monte Maiz Left for Rosario via Bell Ville, to sign books of the Cia.
	20	Returned to Los Algarrobos via Bell Ville. drove out with Hector in the new Daimler car that just arrived at Bell Ville from Buenos Aires.
	23	Marked out + began to make the two corrales + feeding trough on the north side of the newgalpon [barn].
	30	Went to Bell Ville in the Daimler Car. went to the Banco de la Nacion discounted a pagare [note] 25.000. at 180 days. due ordered a giro [funds transfer, bank draft] of 15.000$ to be made. this sum is to be placed to my credit in the London Bank in Rosario. and the remainder of the liquidation to be placed to my credit in the Banco Aleman Transatlantico in Bell Ville.
Aug	1	Went to Cordoba via Bell Ville.
	2	Stayed in Cordoba on road business.
	3	Arrived at Cruz Grande
	10	Left Cruz Grande for Bell Ville. direct train.
	24	Left for Bell Ville. for Buenos Aires
	25	Left Buenos Aires for Bell Ville.
	28	Left for Rosario
Sept	1	Returned to Los Algarrobos.
	7	Left for Cordoba
	8	Arrived at Cruz Grande
	11	Left Cruz Grande for Cordoba
	12	Returned to Los Algarrobos.
	18	Left for Buenos Aires
	23 & 24	Bought bulls in Palermo [show].
	24	Left Buenos Aires for Bell Ville.
	26	Judged the durham cattle at Bell Ville Show with H. Reid. Bought 19 bulls at Bell Ville show.
Oct	1	Marked out the Polo Ground at Los Algarrobos.
	11	Left for Cordoba
	12	Arrived at Cruz Grande
	16	Left Cruz Grande for Bell Ville
	17	Arrived back at Los Algarrobos.
	26	Signed Pagare. to renew the bill due in my private name for $50.000 in the London Bank. Sent Mr. Marty a cheque for $51.725. for six months. falls due on the 29 April 1910.
	24	25 + 26 Held Polo tournament + dance.
November	4	Left for Buenos Aires, with visitors, in Daimler Car. to Bell Ville the car on returning with the driver to Los Algarrobos met with a bad accident. the driver had drank + overturned the car.
	6	From Buenos Aires went out to Vedia [in Bs.As. province] to Benito Villanuevas Estancia El Dorado. bought at Remate there 9 bulls at 350.$ and 1 at 500.$ for La Minnesota. and 9 at 475.$ from Mr. Stent for El Victoriano.
	7	Returned to Buenos Aires from Vedia.
	8	The 15 Hampshire Rams ordered from J. Moore England arrived at Los Algarrobos. (one ram died on road from Bell Ville) the price of these rams is �17.10 for 12 rams and �12 for 3 rams.
	7	Left Buenos Aires for Cruz Grand.
	10	Arrived at Cordoba
	12	Cordoba to Cruz Grande.
	10	Santiago Paul left Los Algarrobos to join his brother up in the Chaco. made him a present of a good riding horse. and sent a present of a goodalazan potro [chestnut colt] to Benito Rumazon at Reconquista. Also sent Paul, Hugh, a present of two y***d stallions for their mares
	15	Disraeli the old Shire stallion died suddenly. we have had him a great many years. and was a good stock getter and is the father of the fillies served by Bay Don. Disraeli was sent out to me by William Kemmis when he left Las Rosas.
	20	Mr Pinnell sent young Holland to pick out a potrillo [colt] to race with. he took a nice little Alazan [chestnut].
	26	Sent a draft for 252 � to J. Moore to England for 15 rams.
	27	Signed a pagare [note] that Mr Marty sent out for my signature. it is for $150.000 ^m/_n on the Banco de La Nacion in Rosario. and it is to help Alfred to pay for the Tres Lagunas camp it renews a bill due on the 27^th. this bill falls due 27 May 1910.
	28	Remulo the tin smith returned from Cruz Grande from putting up the gas instalation at Villa Josefina.
Dic.	2	Marjorie + Elsie Macintosh returned from Buenos Aires. on the 27 June. Miss Elsie went to England with Marjorie Daw to place her at school.
	3	Paid 20.000. to each of Don R. Agars + T. Agars private accounts at Agar Cross + Co. monies to their credit for sales made.
	5	Robert Warnoch, brother of William Warnoch who was Mayordomo of La Minnesota + died last Dicimber the 24^th. was here, just arrived from Ireland to settle up his brothers affairs.
	6	Mr Robert potter left Los Algarrobos. Mr Nicolayson took over the books as head book keeper at 200.$ a month. Mr Haakon Bryhn, the new assistant bookkeer arrived. a swede. salary 50.$ a month. A frost fell last night. ¹/₂ degree of frost. it froze and ruined all our maize 200□ [squares; 339 ha. - see Cuadra, in Measures page]. it must have done enormous damage all over the country.
	7	Miss B. Baker returned from England. she left with Miss E. Macintosh + Marjoriedaw in June. on a holiday.
	8	Went to Rosario via Bell Ville.
	9	In Rosario gave Mr Marty a cheque on the London Bank for 2500.$ received of it 1.000.$ in cash to take to Cruz Grande, and gave Mr Marty 1.500.$ to place to our credit to our account Signed the Libro de Actas [Records Book] of the Sociedad Anonima Ganadera, Los Algarrobos [approx: Los Algarrobos Cattle Co., Ltd.] as Director Gerente [Chairman of the Board]. Left Rosario in the evening for Cruz Grande.
	10	Arrived at Cruz Grande from Rosario.
	16	Finished putting down the piping to lead water from a tank built above Alfreds house [El Rincon] over to a tank I. built in our chacra [farm] for irrigation. the pipes pass through Villa Josefina and the pipes for their house use are connected with this pipe line. the Cruz Grande pipe leading from the Villa Josefina tank has been cut, and joined on to the pipe line. as the water from the Cruz Grande River is better + purer. I pay for half of the cost of making the acequia [water / irrigation channel] and the tank and have right to the use of the water. [Note: If you look inside the tank, you will discover AABz placed the Villa Josefina & Cruz Grande outlets above El Rincon's so that when the water level drops during a shortage they will be cut off first!]
	18	Sent William a cheque for 1.532.97 in payment of the last account sent me, dated Oct 1. Wrote to him protesting to the unjust charges of interests he makes me, and against charging pastage [pasturage] for my potros [colts].
	19	Left Cruz Grande for Cordoba
	20	Saw the Ministro de Hacienda [Minister of Finance] in Cordoba and tried. (but did not succeed) to get the 2.000.$ the government still owes me for the Road Commission of Punilla of the Decreto [Decree] of Aug 2 - 1909.
	21	Yesterday and today was at the Escribano [notary] Felix M. Rodriguez y Peralta with Pantaleon + Medardo Heredia to get the titles of the land they sold. one piece they sold to Alfred for 1.300.$ and one piece they sold me for 300.$. but as there were some delay. I could not stay to sign the titles. but the Heredias will stay to sign tomorrow. and I. will sign on my next visit to Cordoba. Gave Medardo 200$ and Pantaleon 300$ and this with the 500.$ advanced in small sums before, makes 1.000.$ they have received on ac. of these sales. Left Cordoba for Bell Ville. Arrived at Los Algarrobos at 10.¹⁵ P.M.
	22	Mr Mac.Cormick came to revise [inspect] our novillas [steers] for the Frigorifico [packing plant] River Plate.
	23	Sold a two year old Shire Stallion, "Bay Dons" son to, Se�or Lowrie of the Estancia Monte Christo for 500.$. he took the stallion with him. The Saltena are joining mangas and beginning to march. [translation: The hoppers are swarming and beginning to move. - See locusts in glossary.]
	25	Had a Christmas fiesta for all the children at Los Algarrobos. gathered 35 children together. showed them the Magic lantern and cakes + chocolates.
	28	Mr + Mrs Richard Agar arrived at La Minnesota early in the morning. came on before lunch to Los Algarrobos. Accepted offer of the River Plate Fresh Meat Co Ltd. for 105.$ each for 500 novillos [steers] to be parted out of our lot of 683 at the end of January.
	29	Sent by Rail to Cruz Grande, in charge of Jesus Ponce who takes some animals of his own also, 3 harness mules. + one horse for carriage this is the horse tamed by Jose Schmeidlin. also send a horse for single harness to Arturo Pagliari in Cordoba.
	30	Mr + Mrs Richard Agar left for La Minnesota where they revised [inspected] all the stock. they stay the night there. and go on to La California tomorrow. Colonists began to thrash wheat in La Maya potrero [field]. Locusts [see glossary] very bad, putting up barrera [barrier] all around the maize. Maize is splendid. quite recovered from the frosts.