Buenos Ayres

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

bo'nus a'riz, the capital of Argentina. It is the largest Spanish-speaking city,--the largest Catholic city,--in the world. It is the largest city in the world south of the equator. The name is Spanish, signifying good air. The city is beautifully situated on the wide estuary of the La Plata and has public wharves extending three miles along the water front. They cost not less than $25,000,000. There are 300 miles of street railways, both horse and electric, fine streets, and public parks. Of a population reaching nearly the million mark, 200,000 are foreigners. A city hall, arsenal, government mint, large churches, theaters, cathedral, museum of natural history, parks, and libraries give the city quite a Parisian appearance, while the atmosphere of bustle and activity is more American than Spanish. There are enormous warehouses for wool, built like train sheds. Ocean freights are low. It costs only about a cent to send wool enough across the Atlantic to London to make a suit. Fondness for amusement is noticeable. American residents speak of a wonderful spirit of public liberality shown by citizens. One of the daily newspapers has erected a costly building, an ornament to the city, and has set apart a portion for the public. A share of the revenue of the paper is devoted to the maintenance of a free library, a museum of natural history, an office for free legal advice, an office for free medical service with six physicians in attendance, rooms for literary and social clubs, and, what seems strangest of all, elegantly furnished apartments for the reception of distinguished visitors from abroad. With waterworks and sewerage the city has a low death rate and is in many respects a model for the imitation of North American cities. See Argentina