Alfred A. Benitz Page last modified:
Page image.

1903 - Diary
(Source: S.B. Pryor)

Ea. Los Palmares
Calchaquí, Santa Fé — 1903
(age: 43/44 years old)

To select a QUARTER, click:
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This day-book begins with January 8, 1903 and ends with January 5, 1904.  The entries for the first days of January, 1903, are in the 1902 diary.  It's authors are:

  • January 1 – April 3: Jordan.
  • April 4 – Sept. 1: Alfred.
  • Sep. 2 – 25: Richards.
  • Sep. 26 – Nov. 15: Alfred or Richards.
  • Nov. 16 – Dec. 31: Alfred.
  • 1904, January 1 – 4: Alfred.

Alfred was absent from Los Palmares:

Jordan:  First mentioned on March 2nd, 1902, Jordan could have been an apprentice manager (i.e. a segundo).  When absent from Los Palmares, Alfred left Elias Ledesma in charge of cattle operations and Jordan in charge of just about everything else – they were Alfred’s two highest paid employees.  Jordan made the entries in this day-book through Friday 3 April, 1903.  He left on April 4 for two weeks to get married, returning on Thursday April 16 to collect his belongings.  He is not mentioned again in 1903 (He returns on 29 Feb., 1904).  We don’t know if “Jordan” was his first or last name.  (A remote possibility comes from the Arg-Brit website: “Herbert Harold Jordan”, father of “Herbert Jordan” baptized at the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bs.As. on 30 April, 1905.)

Richards, N.B.:  First mentioned 24 August, when he arrived in Calchaquí.  Alfred left him in charge while absent, most of September.  Richards likely lived nearby, possibly Calchaquí, for he went home the day after Alfred returned from his trip south (Sep.25).  Richards was gone only a few days, he wrote the Oct.3 entry.

New Brand:  ~~~  – As a result of the end to “Benitz Hermanos” (on April 1, 1902) Alfred could no longer use the ~~~ brand for it was registered to estancia La California which now belonged solely to his brother Willie.  Alfred modeled his brand on a palm tree; first used at Los Palmares on May 30, 1902.  However, his existing livestock (cows, bulls, horses, etc.) had been previously branded with ~~~ brand, which required these be counter-marked with that brand when sold (e.g. see 22 May, 1903).

Background: The photo is of Alfred taken by John E. Bz at “Los Palmares” on 24 April, 1902.  (From Auntie Olga's album, kindly lent to us by Susan Horner).

————  ~~  ————

Employe Wages, paid end of March: Alfred listed his monthly employees (mensuales) & their wages (in pesos) on blotter pages.  The first is on the bloter page between April 1 and April 2.  There are 2 lists, the first in blue is dated May 1904, the second in black ink is undated and we assumed applies to wages paid end of March, 1903.  Below, we list the employees of 1903 in the same order as Alfred listed them.  We placed the list dated May 1904 in the 1904 diary.  For a rough comparison, we converted pesos to USD 2020 as follows: (1) Pesos to Dollars per price of gold in each in 1900, (2) Dollars 1900 to 2020 per US-CPI, (3) one peso ($1) in 1903 is then equivelent to U$D 14.34 in 2020).

Peones Wage USD
Elias  + 80 1,147
Wences +    
Ballala       
Caferate + 50 717
Dm Imina      
Tomas 25 358
Paolo 18 258
Romulo 18 258
Surdo 18 258
Pancho 18 258
Demorra 18 258
Lavandera 6 86
Felipa 10 143
Balbuson 20 287
Dornigo 1 20 287
Martin 7 100
Demetra 20 287
Zenobio 25 359
Braulio 18 258
Muchacha Madero10 143
  20 287
  383 Sueldo
Corrected total:4015,750

Employee wages, paid end of July: 14 employees $345 (U$D-2020, approx.: 4,947).  Elias as capataz (and including his 2 boys) was paid the most, the rest earned between $18 & $25 per month.

————  ~~  ————

Cattle Counts: Estimated and likely incomplete.  Alfred did no count the livestock in all the herds, the herds were not separated by fences, and he rounded to the nearest 100:
  July/August: 17,000
  November/December: 15,200

Production:  Sales of crops and livestock (“$” denotes the peso).
Total sales, estimated at approx. $57,550. (U$D-2020, approx.: 825,000)

Indians:  June 17: Tracks of indians on foot was reported, but no indians were sighted.

————  ~~  ————

Reference Pages  To assist you with Spanglish terms and names local to the regions, please open Reference Pages – they will open on a separate tab / window).

The following list provides access to transcriptions and PDF files of page images.
   ♦ To jump to the transcription of a month, click on its title.
   ♦ To download page images, click on PDF file.

Front cover & pages.
Front cover, tables, undated inserts, & memoranda with addresses.
PDF file (5.9 mb)
January  &  February, 1903
PDF file (6.6 mb)
March  &  April, 1903
PDF file (10.4 mb)
May  &  June, 1903
PDF file (11.2 mb)
July  &  August, 1903
PDF file (8.6 mb)
September  &  October, 1903
PDF file (8.9 mb)
November,  &  December, 1903;Rainfall, 1903; January 1-5, 1904
PDF file (9.2 mb)
Back pages & cover
Last blotter with scribbles, tables, & back cover.
PDF file (4.0 mb)

Transcription notes:  We have transribed Alfred’s diary as written, verbatim, without correcting spelling or grammar.  However, we gave him the benefit of the doubt when his writing is difficult to read and words are obvious (e.g. ending in a vs. o).  For words that are unrecognizable, we have inserted our best guess followed by [?].  Our comments are within [square brackets and italics] or in side-notes.  The quarter & month title bars are ours.  (Transcribed by: Michael Mohr-Bell)

Undated Inserts & Memoranda

MEMORANDA from 1902.

El Banco Londres & Rio de La Plata  Casilla Correo 117 Rosario.
J. Benitz. Cruz Grande. La Cumbre  F.C.C y N.O.
Leves y Morell  3172 Cuyo B. Aires.-
J. Todd.  Mereside, Bromfield. Brayten S.O. Cumberland

1903 - Qtr.1

January, 1903

[Author: Jordan]

—— 01-07 JANUARY, 1903, ARE RECORDED IN THE PRIOR 1902 DAY-BOOK ——

January, 1903. – 2nd Week.
— 8 Thursday —

Very fine day a little warm.  Wind mostly N and N.E.
Put in the day covering haystacks, greasing carts &C.
Elias and gente came back from Dayers with 12 animales Vacuno B and 25 ajenos.  Cia de Tierras. J Sanchez. and others afterwards went over to Hartenecks to attend recuento
Mr Benitz also went over there at madrugar

— 9 —

Warm day.  Wind from all directions looked like rain in morning but passed off.
Elias and gente came back from Harteneck: with 6 animales Estancia and various ajenos, put them in Potrero Salado.  Gave a rodeo at Paso Calchaqui to N Dayers he parted 3.
Carts brought two loads of wood. Cafarate in chakra
Recorrered camp.  plenty of camp burning
Mr Benitz came back from Harteneck’s.  they have finished counting  Counted 7000 head including 145 old cows in envernada (Margarita) without calves.-

— 10 —

Very warm : 100°.  North wind.
Recorrred camp in all directions
Sanchez here for midday.  J Fillon and family passed on way home.  Carts brought wood
Cafarate in garden
Carneado capon also cow B

— January 11 Sunday —

Began raining early and kept it up by showers untill afternoon 40½ m)  Dead bull near S.W. corner of Estero grande (Fino Tristeza) Nothing else of importance

— 12 —
(written by Alfred.)

Warm fine day.  E wind. Damp heat.-
Jordan, J.Bergara & Cañete went down to Lomo Poi in horse cart to fix fence in arroya Calchaqui.-
Tried to pass over Salado a colorado ½ jaguel bull full car unsuccessfully.-  Recorrered camp: nothing new.-
Andres Anadon here at Siesta on way from Verde to Calchaqui.  Says counted 72000 head of cattle there.-
Escobar passed with 5 men to “Cacique” where he goes as Comisario.

— 13 —
(written by Alfred.)

Fine warm day.  N wind slight. heavy dew.
Had on rodeo del Medio (south side) 3500 head and ’disembechared’ a lot of calves.-  In afternoon had on rodeo Salado about 2500 head. very few embechados.
Butchered a little black novillo.-
Jordan came back from Lomo Poi where he had fixed fence across Calchaqui.
Leandro Mareiro & nephew here for night.-

— 14 —

Warm day.  N and NE. wind.  Barometer falling.
Had on rodeo Estancia about 1500.  cured quite a lot of calves.  In afternoon recorrered camp
Elias brought the bull (Jagunel) across Salado
Cafarate left with permission
Sent three peones to palmar to recorrer in the morning
Moreiro and nephew still here
Harteneck sent the volanteros back

— 15 —

Very warm day reached 100° in siesta time.  Northeast wind changing at night to S.E. with rain, is raining nicely now
Had on rodeo Palmar today 1.200 cured some calves.  castrated one old bull and several young ones
Moreiro and nephew left this afternoon.  Cafarate came back
Set out some bermuda grass before rain.  It should do well.  Ration day but few puesteros here

— 16 —

Rain and strong wind all night, the biggest rain since last april. 114½ m.  collected a great deal of water, some Esteros full
Very little work doing today.  (recorrido) the camp
Tried to make a ditch with disc harrow (very poor result)
Joachin brought correspondence from Calchaqui
More Puesteros here after rations.  Report Calchaqui swimming
Butchered two capones. Estancia

— 17 —

Pleasant day, S.E. wind.  Very little work today
Had on rodeo Potrero Salado and J Sanchez parted 27 animales
Elias also castrated one bull and branded two calves
five peones cutting (Sepa caballo) this afternoon
Butchered cow B
Report that the Indians are coming south, having passed Sabana:

— January 18 Sunday —

Warm day.  Easterly wind.  Nothing of importance doing
Gave correspondence to Aroufo to take into Calchaqui

— 19 —

Hot sultry morning.  at 130 PM. storm from south with 8½ M- rain
Mr Benitz went over to Martin’ and returned
Three peones in Harteneck’s camp cutting orchones
Cafarate began plowing for orchard

— 20 —

Just about sunrise came cold south wind and continued all day
I went up to see about taquemar and puesto Palmar
Two carts went after orchones to Harteneck.
Elias and gente filling up estero in corral
Balbueno fixing dining table
Cafarate finished plowing orchard
Mr Benitz recorrered in direction Laguna dulce
Butchered cow B

— 21 —

Cool pleasant day south wind
Carts brought ten orchones.  Peeled them and loaded one cart with palms for Mistolar.
Elias and gente still working at estero in corral
I recorrered camp.  Cafarate in potato patch
Mr Benitz went over to Harteneck’s and back

— 22 —

North wind in early morning.  Changing to south and cool
Mr Benitz went down to Puesto J Madero. (returned)
Elias finished his work in corral
Tomas took a load of palms to Mistolar and brought back five orchones and peeled them
Cafarate and I tied in the alazan (all day)
Machingo brought correspondence
Mr Benitz reports everything satisfactory at Loma and Madero’s plenty of water and river still rising

— 23 —

Pleasant day.  No wind to speak of.
Elias and gente attended rodeo at Union and parted 17 B and one Harteneck, and afterwards went to Harteneck’ to assist Don Sisto castrating bulls
Tomas took one cart to Palmar after palms
Cafarate and I working the alazan.
Machingo and gente left for San Cristobal
Andre Malino here for night

— 24 —

Pleasant day Wind from the north in forenoon and south afterwards.  Tomas brought 23 small palms
Joachin Passed with troop of butcher cattle for J Sanchez
Brought one novillo for Mr Benitz
Recorrerd camp and butchered cow and capon
Molino still here
El Comisario (Calchaqui) sent chasque with letter to Mr Benitz

— January 25 Sunday —
(written by Alfred.)

Fine day N.E. wind.-  Caferata went to Calchaqui in horse cart for stores etc.  Jordan to help across river.  Molina left again for Calchaqui.  Nothing new.-

— 26 —

Fine day Northeast wind
Tomas took two carts to Palmar. after Palms
Mr Benitz recorrered camp
I went to J Sanchez’s to ask advice when he returns.  Camp fine but plenty mosquitoes

— 27 —

Warm day.  very light variable wind
Tomas brought two loads of palms
I and Balbueno fixed roof on south porch
Recorrered camp found two fine bulls dead also one novillo.  Godoy here for night

— 28 —

Hot day.  North wind.
Cafarate got back with stores correspondence etc
Elias and gente returned from Hartenek’s
Recorrered camp  Godoy and Joaquin here for night
Butchered cow B.
Tomas took two carts after palms again

— 29 —

Very warm 38°  North wind
Went down to Loma with Godoy, who returned and is still here with his peones.
Tomas brought two loads of palms
Elias and gente went to J Sanchez’s and parted three animales vacuno:  afterwards began work on peones quarters.  Recorrered camp

— 30 —

Warmish day 36°.  North wind
Rained last night 4½ M- at Estancia but more at Mistolar and Paso Calchaqui.
Mr Benitz left for Cordoba this morning
Godoy and his gent also left.
Tomas went after palms
Elias working at peones quarters
Cafarate sharpening knives and otherwise regulating mowing machine

— 31 —

Very warm day 38°   North wind in morning about sundown came from southwest with rain, is raining now
Began putting roof on peones quarters.  Cafarate plowed fire guard on east side of old chacra.  Tomas brought two loads of palms  Leo Barga brought twenty head of mares colts etc here.  Shut them in at Estancia for night
Joaquin Hevice came here about midnight badly frightened about a small swelling he has on his hand went on to Calchaqui this morning.  Butchered capon (Mistolar)
P.S. It is raining real hard

February, 1903

[Author: Jordan]

— February 1 Sunday —

Hot sultry day, light variable wind.  Rained last night 40½ m
Nothing doing

— 2 —

Hot not a breath of air stirring
Elias and gente working at Peones quarters
Balbueno in carpenter shop
Cafarate in quinta
Jordan recorrered camp and crossed Calchaqui
Domingo brought up 6 capones from Mistolar
   Butchered 3 capones

— 3 —

Another hot day not quite so bad as yesterday
Still working at Peones quarters and recorriendo campo
Cafarate cut and raked some hay in old chacra
Balbueno finished plate cupboard
Jordan got back bringing correspondence
Butchered cow B
830 P.M. thermometer marks 34½

— 4 —

Some cooler.  began raining slowly early in the morning and continued until afternoon only 14½ m-
Very little could be done, worked some at peones quarters
Cafarate cleaning back patio
The hay that was out and raked yesterday is badly wetted

— 5 —

Pleasant, variable wind.  Scatterd, dried and repiled the hay
Sent chasque after mails.  recorrered camp.  I went over to Mr Martins, and returned.  Salado is rising.
A Huburs is here for the night.  he paid for the bull
  Sent letter to Mr Benitz

— 6 —

Pleasant day.  Mosquitos getting much fewer
Got in two big loads of hay.  Slightly damaged
D Irivarne commenced mending fence from Potrero Salado to Laguna.  Onrati Canete settled his acct and left
Chasque got back with nails correspondence etc
Recorrered camp and did some writing today
Barometer rising ‘Bu Tiempo’
   Butcherd two capones :M: [brand?]

— 7 —

Fine day.  South and southeast wind
Elias still working at peones quarters
Several small jobs about the place
Elias sent Piedrabueno to boliche with horse cart (his horses)
Cafarate cleaning sweet potato patch etc
Recorrered camp.  Salado is swiming
   Butchered cow B

— February 8 Sunday —

Beautiful day south and southeast wind.  Sent letter to Mr Benitz
Elias and gente went to Loma Poi to begin rodeos tomorrow

— 9 —

Another nice day, S and SE wind.  Elias making rodeos
J Sanchez and Froilan Miño passed with reculuta cattle from Harteneck’s they brought one bull for Mr Benitz also one novillo Cia de Tierras put them in potrero Salado.
Cafarate began cutting the large piece of alfalfa  Balbueno raked some of it
Salado rising slowly, but a little every day

— 10 —

Warm with north wind
Cafarate cutting hay.  Balbueno raking.  Tomas and Zenobio piling it.  Elias and gente had on rodeo Mistolar and cured quite a lot of calves in afternoon they shore a few borregas at Mistolar.
  No hay novedad de nada [No news of anything]

— 11 —

Warm with north wind
Had on rodeo del Medio  Very large a great many calves embeachado.:  Got in most of the hay and butchered cow B

— 12 —

Warm threatening rain
Enriques Barga’s wife died here this morning
Sent her into town tonight with mule cart, Tomas
Rodeo Estancia.  cured a few calves
Got in the rest of the hay and began cutting the weeds in new alfalfar.  Wrote to Mr Benitz
Jordan went to Calchaqui

— 13 —

Threatening rain all day   fell a few drops
Jordan got back.  Rodeo Salado about 400 head
Cafarate cutting weeds.  McChingo and gente got back from the south

— 14 —

Another warm day.  Raked and hauled the weeds out of new alfalfar.  Recorrered camp
McChingo and gente left to take another troop of cattle for Cia de Tierras  Butchered cow and capon

— February 15 Sunday —

Hot day North wind nothing doing.  Elias gente went to Morrells to reculutar.  Tomas got back with cart provistas etc

— 16 —

Very hot north wind untill about 4.PM when there came up a storm from the south, rained 6½m – wind from east now.  Tomas with Gamba took two carts to haul palms from Mistolar to Paso Cal— Cafarate and the rest of the men working at hay

— 17 —

Storm in the morning.  rained 28m-  wind from north now
Elias and gente got back from Morrells today with eight animals ajenos none for Estancia
S Rodo sent me his two remingtons today says it is orders of Elias  sent ten cartridges
Tomas and the carts with wood have been detained by the rain

— 18 —

Cooler light showers all day – 5 m – I wrote to Mr Benitz
Very little work doing today.  Brought 6 capones from Mistolar and butchered two of them

— 19 —

Pleasant day, light variable wind
Carts brought two loads of wood
Elias and gente working at peones quarters
Cafarate working at hay (straightening up a stack)
Balbueno cleaned three remingtons
Jose Wilson here at midday
   Butchered two capones (Mistolar)

— 20 —

Cloudy.  variable wind.  Stormy all around now.
Carts brought two loads of palms
Cafarate working in potato patch
Elias and gent working at peones quarters
Recorriendo camp and burning grass
Butchered cow B also one capon (Mistolar)

— 21 —

Fine day.  Light south wind
Elias and gente attended rodeo in “Union” brought back seven animals, of which we castrated two one year old bulls and branded one heifer.
Tomas and Zenobia working at peones quarters
Cafarate doing odd jobs
Sivero Miño here on his way to Verde with some horses
E Barga brought correspondence including a letter from Mr Benitz.

— February 22 Sunday —

Pleasant day.  Light southeast wind
J Wilson Mr Peters (from Molles) and his bro here for the day.  I went home with them

— 23 —

Another nice day.  I spent the day at Lucero
Elias and gente working at peones quarters
Butchered capon and Novillo B (Ringo)
I have just got home
E Barga has velorio at Tomas’ house
all hands there

— 24 —

Warm day 37° North wind with falling barometer
Carts gone after Palms.  Cafarate gone for a week
Elias and gente working at peones quarters
Began making mud today. Wrote Mr Benitz

— 25 —

Storm last rain hail and wind. fell 40½mm  Cleared off about noon nice afternoon
All hands working at peones quarters
I recorrered camp.  Cattle looking fine

Page image.

Drawing of a house on blotter
between pages for 25 & 26 Feb.

— 26 —

Began raining about three oclock this morning, quit about four this evening: 56 m– Could do nothing all day.
Cafarate came back last night
The weather looks more favorable now

— 27 —

Cool pleasant day south wind
Began mudding up peones quarters
Jordan left in afternoon for Calchaqui (with letters)
Butchered capon (Mistolar) and cow B
Cafarate sowing onions seed and other garden work

— 28 —

Nice clear day south wind
Got back just after midday (letter from Mr Benitz)
All hands working at mud peones quarters
Finished two rooms  Kitchen and one living room
The weather appears settled now.

March, 1903

[Author: Jordan]

— March 1, Sunday —

A few drops of rain E and S.E. wind
Don Sisto here with peones to assist at rodeo tomorrow

— 2 —

Nice pleasant day, light East wind
Cafarate went with horse cart to Don Sisto’s after salt etc  he also brought the wool from Mistolar 78 Kilos  In afternoon he left with mules for wool at Madero’s
Had on rodeos at Algorobal and Salado.  Parted several torunos as well as a few ajenos. (No calves to cure now)
Tomas and cartmen working at mud in peones quarters
  Butchered cow B

— 3 —

Rather warm Easterly wind very light
Rodeo Estancia and Potrero Salado parted quite a lot of ajenos and ajeno torunas
Tomas finished peones quarters
   Butchered cow B
W Klenze here trading with the peones

— 4 —

Warm light East wind
Rodeo del Medio about 4000.  Parted a few ajenos and Torunos.  Mosquitos getting bad again  Began gathering the maiz with Tomas and cartmen.  Cafarate got back from Maderos with the wool (25 bags borrego)
Gente de Dayer y Cia de Tierras arrived today
Salado rising slowly also the Calchaqui
Sent letter to Don Alfredo by W Klenze

— 5 —

Warm Light north wind
Rodeo Mistolar.  Dayer parted 3 cows and calves and one novillito.  We parted eight torunas and a few ajenas
Tomas Cafarate and Carreras gathering maiz
Four peones de Verde here for the night

— 6 —

Warm light N y NE wind
Rodeo Tapero and at Loma Poi
Castrated 6 old bulls.  Put 76 terneros in Potrero al Sud also 25 ajenos and one animal de consumo
Cia de Tierras parted 32 animales.  Harteneck 16 and Dayers (5)  Tomas and gente gathering maiz
Cafarate cut the Johnson grass and gathered maiz

— 7 —

Looked like rain all day but only fell a few drops  Wind variable:  All hands came back from Loma Poi
Hauled the Johnson grass (one load) also one load of maiz
Wrote to Mr Benitz.  Butchered two capones (Godoy)

— March 8, Sunday —

Warm day light north wind.  Romolo started to Cachaqui with horse cart  sent letter to Mr Benitz

— 9 —

Rained 14 m-  Stormy day wind from all directions
Elias went to Calchaqui.  Paulino went to Don Alberto’s  took mark to contramarcar a bull sold to A Huber.  Tomas Cafarate and cartmen trying to gather maiz, but each time that they started the rain stopped them
   Butchered cow B
Aurojo cutting hespardaño to cover maiz

— 10 —

A very nasty day, light showers all the forenoon and still cloudy.  South wind and cool.
Tomas. Cafarate. and cartmen. Got in a little maiz
Elias, his boys, and Romolo. have not got back
Paulino returned having counter marked the bull at Don Alberto’s  Rained 27½ m –

— 11 —

Nice clear day South wind
Tomas Cafarate and cartmen gathering maiz
Paulino recorrered camp.  Put out the wet maiz to sundry.  Put out the dry hide to catch the dew
The cart Elias and his boys are still missing
Balbueno reports a man hooked by a bull (Potrero)
830 Elias and boys returned with correspondence received letter from Don Alfredo Mar 2nd

— 12 —

Rather warm East wind (light)
Cart got back from Calchaqui with stores etc
Hauled hespardaña and spread it out in back patio
The rest of the men gathering maiz
P Frautas asked his acct without reason and left
Machingo returned also A Benitz.
Jordan went down to Loma and Madero’s
   Butchered cow B, 2 capones Mistolar

— 13 —

Cloudy day light north wind.  Jordan came back
Put in the maiz and gathered more
Vensa took horse cart to Loma and brought back the hides and a can of grease.
There are two carts here tonight from San Martin on their way to poblar at or near fortin Argentina
   Wrote Mr Benitz

— 14 —

Pleasant day light north wind
Gathering maiz and recorriendo el campo
Dispatched E Demorro
Took the tropilla of Oscuras to Lucero camp

— March 15, Sunday —

Nice bright day.  light North wind. :Ration day:
   (Butchered cow B)

— 16 —

Very warm N and Nwest wind light.  falling Barometer
Elias and Asnafo covering corn house
Tomas and mensuales gathering maiz
Cafarate gone to town with mule cart
Began cutting hay in old chacra, broke the machine and put in the rest of the day fixing it.

— 17 —

Stormy forenoon no rain to speak of.  South wind
Zenobia got back with letter from Mr Benitz
Elias and gente gathering maiz and covering corn house  I cut the little piece of alfa in old chacra  Domingo and and Gavino came to help this evening.

— 18 —

Pleasant day East wind (light)
Gathering maiz with all hands
Cafarate returned  M. Benite raked the hay  Pancho and I recorrered camp (No hay novedad)
   Butchered cow B

— 19 —

Warm north and northeast wind
Gathering maiz in forenoon and clearing up afterwards Hawled one load of hay
Sent horses to meet Mr Benitz at Calchaqui
Recorrered as far as little gate (palmar)

— 20 —
(written in part by Alfred.)

Low Barometer
Coudy forenoon afterwards warm.  Wind N y N.E.
Getting in alfalfa and maiz.
Took the trap to paso Calchaqui and met Mr Benitz who returned today, from the south.  [Alfred begins writing:] He had been until March 7th at La Cumbre, and the rest of time at La California.  Was at Santa Fé yesterday & paid 1st cuota to Feb 28 to Rural Society also entrance fee.  Here every thing is looking rank & plenty of grass etc.  Best maiz crop ever had here.-

— 21 —
(written by Alfred.)

Hot muggy forenoon and sharp manga of rain came up having rained 14½ m.m.  Could not gather maiz in consequence.
Julian Sanchez was here on way from Calchaqui.-
Jordan went over to Nicolas Dayer’s.–

— March 22, Sunday —
(written by Alfred.)

East wind, muggy but fine day.
Simeon Roda gave notice to leave end of month. Told Zenobia to bring his family.  Sent wool in to Berisso
   492 K. $3 per 10 k.-
    81 K Mistolar
   411 Majada Godoy.
Jordan came back tonight.

— 23 —

East wind.  Cloudy day, some very light showers of rain
Zenobio left with the wool.  I recorrered to Loma Poi  Mr Benitz to Puesto Palmar
Elias Tomas Cafarate and other Peones getting in maiz also finished maiz house
Braulio is up from Loma after oxcart to haul wood

— 24 —

Warm day 34°  N. N.E. and N.W. wind
All hands getting in maiz
Don Alfredo recorrered south and I north
In afternoon burnt (sepa. Caballo.)    No hay novedad.

— 25 —

Warm day 34°  Wind variable NE at present

All hands at the maiz again Mr Benitz and I recorrered the camp
Butchered two capones at Mistolar (for Estancia)

— 26 —

Warm day 35° North wind
Finished gathering the maiz and got it all in
Cafarate cutting hay in old chacra
Zenobia got back from Calchaqui with his family.  also correspondence and some packages for Mr Benitz.  Recorrered camp
   Butchered cow B

— 27 —

Hot day 36° North wind.  Barometer falling a little
Getting in hay, four loads.  also cleaned some of the patios
Paolo Garselano left with permission till Monday  Funes here at midday asking permission to cut espardaña in the camp.  Mr Benitz recorrered camp
Fire in the camp north and south

— 28 —

Very Hot 37° strong north wind.  Barometer falling slowly
Got in the rest of hay from old chacra (3 loads)
Recorrered camp: Mr also went to see Don Sisto
Killed and skinned an old horse to day. (Pesebrero Saino)
Zenobia has the cart loaded to go with his family to Loma
Most of gente left this afternoon for Loma tomorrow  Carnero (Puestero Palmar) here today after wire and nails
[AABz note:] Suppose to be an eclipse tomorrow (of sun)

— March 29, Sunday —

Stormy day at least untill midday.  Wind N.E. at night having been all around the compass.  Zenobia took his family to Loma
(Gente all at Loma to secoeer tomorrow

— 30 —

Stormy day. Rained 8¾m–  Wind mostly from the south changing to East
Had rodeo of cows and mares in Potrero al Sud
Counted the mares, all told 800 including 166 colts and 94 Potras  Caught one redomon. (Saino Malacara) to tame in for cart
Y Ponce took charge of Puesto Loma Poi in place of S Rodo who is leaving.  one cart came back Loma bringing 2 cow hides  Gente all got back this evening.  Ration day
   Butchered capon (Godoy)

— 31 —

First fog of the season lasting till about 8 oclock. light E wind
Cafarate began cutting the big piece of alfa.  tied in the gray horse in afternoon.  I recorrered camp in forenoon.  Elias and gente Butchered cow B and brought up ten capones from Mistolar
In afternoon they recorrered camp and cured one cow (worms)
One of the work oxen died at Mistolar today (cause unknown)  Sent the hide up to Estancia.  Simeon Rodo brought the other cart today

1903 - Qtr.2

April, 1903

[Author: Alfred]

— 1 —
(written by Jordan)

Pleasant day. East wind. Recorrered camp
Lots of ticks in the camp now.  report one vaquilla dead (de flacura)  Cafarate cutting hay. Balbueno raking  Elias and gente piling up in afternoon.
Tied in the new horse and drove him to Mistolar
Paola got back today bringing correspondence

Blotter page facing
2-3-4 April

Alfred’s lists of
employees & wages

Page image.

— 2 —
(written by Jordan)

Pleasant day 32° East wind
All hands working at the hay. finished cutting new chacra
Mr Benitz recorrered camp
   Butchered capon
    No hay novedad [no news]

— 3 — ;
(written by Jordan)

Light fog in early morning.  East wind.  Lightning in N.E.
Getting in hay but did not finish
Recorrered camp also tied in the new horse for a short time.  Mr Benitz also went over the camp and started several fires
   Butchered 2 capones

— 4 — ;
(Alfred begins writing ALL the entries)

Rained a little in forenoon and was a cloudy day with still N.E. wind.  Muggy weather but not more than 30°.
Finished stacking the alfa before the rain.  Worked 2½ days in all the alfa in new chacra.-
Jordan left for N. Dayers for 15 days leave to get married or:
Butchered 2 capones.nbsp; Nothing going on in afternoon
Sent mail off by Tomas Bergara who goes tomorrow to Calchaqui.-

— April 5, Sunday —

Muggy cloudy forenoon and in evening south wind sprung up but no rain.  Put 2 requemado volanteros into cart with difficulty.  Men left for puestos to recojer tomorrow.- Butchered 1 capon.

— 6 —

Another muggy cloudy day N & N.W. wind. Thundering 30°.-
Had on rodeo Mistolar (about 2000 head).-  Parted out for potrero and 25 cows (for consuma) 1 novillo rengo (not arrived there) 2 torunos, 2 agenos (San Cristobal).  Elias went to campier a bull over in Dayer’s camp.-  Cleaned up patio.  Put in pair of reqemados into cart.-
Men left for Lucero dipart there tomorrow.-

— 7 —

Same day as yesterday 34°.
Mail came from Calchaqui (Tomas).  Cafarate left in mule cart to bring out a few items.  Men bro’t 11 animals B – 1 S – 1 L from Lucero small potrero.-  Capared 3 2yr old bulls.  Tomas & Pablo went with 2 carts to haul wood etc.  Elias brought old colorado bull from Dayers camp.  Severo Minio here on way to Corrientes.-

— 8 —

Cloudy day S & E wind & spitting a bit in evening.-
Tomas bro’t 2 loads of fire wood from Hartenecks camp.  Elias & gente went down to Mistolar to fix up corrales for marcqcion.-   Minio left for Corrientes: made him a present of a Cordobese poncho.-
Romulo ill.  More mail this morning. (Domingo L.)
Put old bull from Dayers camp into Salado potrero.-

— 9 —

Cloudy day E wind with slight drizzles 3½ mm.
Elias & gente finished work at ensenada.- Mistolar.-
Cafrata came back from Calchaqui with cart.-
Machengo came back from Romanq with his mares (53) reports the arroyas very crecida, & animals thin over at costa.-
Velorio here tonight.  Sisto Martinez here.-
Camp and cattle looking well.-
Tomas bro’t 2 loads of wood from Hartenecks camp.-

— 10 —

Another cloudy day with east & N.E. wind. drizzled slightly last night.
Sisto left in morning.-
Nothing going on as it is feast day.-
Jordan came back tonight: is leaving in few days.-

— 11 —

North wind, cloudy, & spitting same as yesterday.-  but in evening a strong south wind came up.- coldish.
Had on rodeo in south potrero and blabbed 7 calves
Tomas bro’t 2 loads of wood from Harteneck’s camp.-
Butchered novillito.-
Jordan went over to Martin’s.
Caferata began disc harrowing newest alfa to resow.

— April 12, Sunday —

Rained a bit last night 20m.m. with south wind.  Clear cool day but E wind blowing again.-
Nothing going on.  Gente went over to boliche (some)

— 13 —

Rained again a bit this forenoon and this afternoon sort of a temporal from east.-
Went over to Julian Sanchez and helped him part for marcacion.  His cattle looking well and no garapata.
Carts went for more wood-
Had on rodeo in potrero Salado at noon.-
Relio Ponce here on way to Pozo de los Rios.-

— 14 —

Drizzled last night ½ m.m.  Coldish day S -E – and S wind again tonight, most of day having been cloudy & drizzled again tonight.-
Sent for Harteneck’s maiz sheller and disgrained 9 bags maiz.-
Butchered a capon, also a rengo novillo (señulero).
A recorrered up as far as puesto Palmar.-

— 15 —

Another rainy day (forenoon) with south wind rained 27 m.m. sort of a temporal.  looks like clearing up.-  Disgrained 11 bags of maiz.-
Jordan came from Martin’s.  Going off tomorrow.
Renner sent for pair of colorados.-

— 16 —

Brot tropilla (17) of Manoqui from Lucero camp.  Not very fat & plenty of garrapata)
Magnificent day, ideal.  cool morning.
Jordan left this morning in horse cart, taking in the 2 colorados for Renner ($200)  Wenceslado goes to bring cart back.  Junco was here cutting espadaña for himself.-
Carts hauling leña to puesto.

— 17 —

Another splendid day.  N. & N.E. wind slight.-
Took some time to find horses in morning.-
Elias & 3 peones went to Martin’s for rodeo general tomorrow.
Caferata discing alfa.-
Novillo died S.W. of estero gde.-

— 18 —

Fine day N & N.W wind and in evening suddenly a shower of rain came up from S.W. 5½ m.m.-
A was over at Martin’s rodeos (3) about 7000 head.  Cattle not as fat as here.
Horse cart came back from Calchaqui.-
Caferata discing.  Nothing new.-

— April 19, Sunday —

Fine day.  Weather looks settled at last.  S wind slight.-
Elias & gente left in afternoon for marcacion Hartenecks.-
Butchered cow.  Bro’t oxen from potrero to haul wood from Monte Aguara.  Bartolo ----- from Fortín Union parted 7 animals from potrero Salado.

— 20 —

Another fine day.  S. wind slight.-
Went over to Hartenecks (Hilario’s puesto) & helped lock in North rodeo, but order came from Harteneck A. to suspend operations & await him.-  Gente came back.
Caferata took maiz disgrainer back to Hartenecks, & in afternoon went on discing alfa.-

— 21 —

Another beautiful day.  N wind slight
M. Fraire came at noon and stops night.
Nothing particular going on.  Recorrered camp.
Bro’t up Picaso’s from Lucero camp.-
Rec’d word from Wilson rodeo general 25 Apr. Union.-

— 22 —

[BLANK]

— 23 —

Yesterday & today were fine days N wind slight. today quite warm.  A went yesterday to Calchaqui & came back again today.  Saw about boletas de marca of Baldomero & Flia.  Elias yesterday was up at puesto Palmar & counted my tamberage.  3 cows & 1 calf last years missing.
Today Carnero from there sent word that indians cut fence up there & stole 3 of his horses, which were loose.  Elias was down at Paso Calchaqui and parted about 80 of my cattle from his & put them into corral here tonight.-  Butchered a rengo novillo.-

— 24 —

Warm day North wind.-
Chasqui from Hartenecks came last night to say they are going to begin their marcacion today, so Elias & Mensuales madrugared & went over & helped mark Hilarios North rodeo 440 calves.  A. was over also.-
Machengo, Araujo, Gabino, & Minios peon, went over to rodeo general at Union potrero.-
Caferata still arreglaring alfa land (south).-

— 25 —

Cloudy day with a local shower in morning of 4 m.m.  South wind slight.  A went over to Union rodeo Cia. Tierras.  Parted 3 out.- Gente go on as far as Molles.  Elias & gente came back afternoon from yerra Harteneck’s marked 640 at Hilario’s south rodeo.-
Cart men came back from hauling wood to paso Salado.  6 days work (very little.)  Had word that 4 suspicios individuals were seen in estero on other side Salado.-
Salado rising (covers horse back) but water salty & bad.

— April 26, Sunday —

Temporalish day, wet & drizzly strong S wind & cold 4 m.m.
Caferata went to Calchaqui in horse cart in afternoon.  Also sent chasqui (boy) to Calchaqui with mail.

— 27 —

Temporal blowing all last & day.  rained 18⅓ mm last night & today a slight drizzle.
Butchered a vaquilla
J. Sanchez here in afternoon: reports a big creciente coming down from north by Chilcas & Golondrina.-
Machengo came from reculuta having parted 7 of our animals from Union 3, Lucero1 San Andres3 & 11 agenos.

— 28 —

Another day of temporal 16 m.m. & no sign of abating.
Took ageno animals 7 outside of fence & rest put into Palmar. & 3 into potrero 2 L  1 S
Elias went up to Don Albertos to see whether it is true about creciente Calchaqui.  Say there is a very small creciente coming down but already falling.  So did not open tajamar Calchaqui.  Don Alberto promised to send word if any danger.-nbsp; Indians that stole at puesto Palmar evidently cut Harteneck’s fence on north side and went out again.  They say they stole a lot towards Navarro’s obraje.-

— 29 —

Another beastly temporal day but no rain only mist.  Last night rained 3 m.m.  Wind S.W.-
Nothing going on except hide work.-

— 30 —

Cleared up today with west wind but in afternoon was cloudy again.  Cattle look delgado with the 4 days temporal.-
Ration day.  Nothing new.-
Butchered young cow.-
Recorrered camp.-

May, 1903

[Author: Alfred]

— 1 —

Fine day with some clouds N. wind.
Ox cart bro’t 1 load of gravel from Palmar lake.-
Nothing particular going on.-
Braulio brought mail.-
Caferata came bov with horse cart from Calchaqui bringing for here 1 bag salt, kerosene, caña etc.-
Dionisio Godoy here for night on way to Calchaqui with tropilla.-

— 2 —

Looked cloudy in morning but was a fine day.  N. wind slight.
Don Dionisio left for Cacique.-
Had on rodeo in potrero Salado and marked 16 calves and 35 for Frakes.
Tried to fix up boat in Palmar lake but went to pieces.-
Ox carts bro’t 2 loads of fire wood for marcacion.–
Sent 1 ox cart to Loma Poi.–

— May 3, Sunday —

Fine day, bit cloudy, wind variable
Marked at puesto Mistolar (poor) 22 calves, 2 potrancas, 119 corderos, 30 good tambera novillos for breaking in (34 altogether).-
31 sheep short since count last July.-  Nothing going on.

— 4 —

Fine warm day, bit cloudy & variable wind.-
Marked at Paso Calchaqui.  Very poor marking & calves small, likely from effects of sequia last year.  16 calves ~ – 2 potritos.  Elias marked 50 of his own calves & counted his cattle 241 & some among tamberas of Paso.-  Guess he has 300 altogether.  Sisto Martinez & 2 peones helped.  1 cart bro’t load of sand from Palmar.  The two cart men: Braulio & Paolo Garzilaso had row so sacked both.  Caferata fixing drainage & dug out batatas.–

— 5 —

Fine warm day variable wind.-
A. went down to Loma Poi at madrugado to begin marking down there.-  Had on rodeo there and parted out cows with calves & marked 169 calves and 29 cerreros & 2 potrancitas of tame mares.  Done work very nicely without any outside men except Sisto Martinez & 3 of Harteneck’s men.-  Men went to sleep at Maderos to recojer in morning.  A. sleeps at Lomo Poi.– J. Bergara not work today.  Stopped yesterday.-

— 6 —

Another fine warm day N.E. wind.-
Bro’t up mares and marked colts.  88 machos.  65 hembras.  Also marked 1 ruano colt atraversado for Don Sisto.  & left 1 fine rosillo colt orejano which Machengo wants to buy.  Sold a petizo malacara mare with ditto colt to Demecio Ledesma for $30.-marked then with Elias mark
Also parted 1 big rosillo potro for Valentin Brabo.  regalo made 3 years ago.  Afterwards parted out 45 potros 3½ yr & over & 7 mules to break in and left them along fence of south potrero.  Very fine potrado.  Mares looking well, & seems all here not in corral.

— 7 —

Warmish day N wind.  fine drying weather for corrals.-
Getting ready for marking tomorrow.-
Don Sisto & Hilario Martinez with their gent here for night.-
Butcherd a cow.-

— 8 —

Cloudy day (Barometre high) afternoon 4.20 P.M very heavy Began rain came up 40¾ m.m. & continues drizzling.
Began marking.  Rodeo Estancia about 1200 head & parted out the calves with their mothers and marked in corral 211 calves.  finished by 12.15
Outside men are Camilo Bergara, Negro Pinto, & Gipr. Segovia, & gente of Hartenecks & some of J. Sanchez.  almost too many men.-  Rain stops marking for some time as came down very heavy.-

— 9 —

Beautiful day.-  Could not wish better.  Rained last night 2 m.m.
Gente all left until corrals get dry again.
Butchered a novillo.-
Sent peon to Calchaqui for mail.- (Balala.)
Joaquin Huigi here for night on way from Calchaqui.-
Seems had not rained so much towards Calchaqui as river has not risen.  Lag. Palmar rising very slowly.-
The house estero is full.-

— May 10, Sunday —

Cloudy close day Wind variable slight.  A was up at Puesto Palmar.  laguna rising & water just getting around tajamar.  J. Wilson & Petre here in evening.  Nothing going on.

— 11 —

Had a heavy steady rain for an hour from 7.30 last night 30 m.m.  South wind and fresh day.-
Bro’t over red pesebre bull from Union camp.-
Mail came in morning.-
Baldacci & Carlos Avellaneda the Tucuman rezero came this evening to look at novillado.-
Lots of water in camp, more than last year this time.

— 12 —

First frost slight.  Fine day S.wind slight.-
Put on rodeo Palmar for the Tucumans.  Made a trade with him to entregar 250 novillos @ $40.00 over that he pays 35.00 each & says he will take 500 altogether.-  Parted out about 50 from Rodeo Palmar 3000 & in afternoon put on rodeo Salado where he parted about 45.  good many novillos left in each rodeo.-  Sent Domingo the puestero in for guia to Calchaqui & pay .30 cts pr head.  (have to find out the custom).  Cattle looking well & in rodeo Palmar seem more calves.-

— 13 —

Fine day coldish morning.-
Dispatched troop sold to Carlos Avellaneda.  Machengo takes them to San Cristobal 91 as that number go into 7 cars.  He paid cash for them.-
Put into Salado potrero 8 cows 4 novillos for consuma.-
Nothing particular new.-

— 14 —

Another fine day.
Butchered cow.-
Domingo Ledesma came back from Calchaqui with guia for tropa for Tucumas (Luis Remis) this afternoon.  Sent Romulo to catch up tropa with it.  Seems Comisario Mayenfisch would not dispatch man sooner as he was in difficulties for killing Mendoza himself.-
Calchaqui at paso seems high.  seems not to have rained so hard in lower part of camp.-  nor in Calchaqui.-
Caferata harrowed land for quinta.–

— 15 —

Another fine day. E wind slight.-
A & Elias went down to see a tropa about 1200 al corte which Escosia Francesa was taking to Capybara & passes Salado at Paso Paraguayo finado.  Cattle thin.–
Sent peones to sleep at Palmar puesto to recojer tomorrow.
Don Sisto here tonight to help tomorrow mark.-
Cornelio    the Porteno Cara Atado here for night with his cattle about 70 on way from Martins to Blazi’s.

— 16 —

Agreeable day, coldish, wind East, bit cloudy.-
Had on rodeo Palmar about 2000 head and parted cows & calves for marking.-  Locked in corral at 12. 30 & in afternoon 3. 45 marked 278 calves.  One hired man    the rest our men,Hartenecks, & 3 from Sanchez.-
Butchered a criolla vaquilla.-
Caferata went up to old noria Palmar with cart & dug out & hauled 23 posts.-  Romulo who took guia to tropa came back from bridge at Conchaz where he had overtaken tropa.-

— May 17, Sunday —

Cool cloudy E wind slight.-
Had on rodeo Salado about 2000 head, parted & marked 290 calves, very good ones, best so far, finished by 1.30 P.M.-
Sent peones to puesto to recojer tomorrow.-  Sent mail by Hilario Martinez.-

Blotter page facing
17-18-19-20 May

People doing the rodeo
& cattle counts

Page image.

— 18 —

Fine day wind changed to south, weather looks settled.-
Had on rodeo del Medio about 3000 and parted out with their mothers 309 calves & marked them in corral.–
Sent gente to puesto to recojer Mistolar tomorrow.-  Pintos, Camilo, & Zipriana also worked today (per day)
Sent cart to Julian Sanchez to haul palms.-

— 19 —

Heavy fog this morning and rodeo Mistolar 1800 was not on until after nine o’clock.-  Fine day.-  Parted out 313 calves with their mothers and marked them in big corral at puesto. (small corral was too muddy yet).  Best calves marked so far. & show the most breeding.  Cattle also are very fat.-
Caferata took down a cart load of batatas etc and the gente are having a regular fiesta.-  Same gente as yesterday.  No one at estancia except Demorra.  No peones of Sanchez worked today.
Butchered a very old milch cow (very fat) at puesto.

— 20 —

Fine day and a bit warmish, wind variable.-
Had on rodeo Tapera, about 3000.  and parted out 353 calves with their mothers and marked them in corral at Mistolar.  locked them in by 1 P.M. & finished about 3. 30 P.M.-  Broke one & another lying in corral.  Practically finished the marcacion: will have to recorrer again & there are heaps of small calves & cattle preñada for a winter parición.  So far marked 2006 calves.-  Not so bad on a/c of the great seca of last season (last year).

— 21 —

Fine day.  N & N.W. wind.  Lake does not seem to rise much.
Regulated a/c’s with the 4 men who worked at marcacion (through Caferata.)
Marked 24 tambera calves & 2 cerreros here.-
Butchered cow.-
Mail came.-

— 22 —

Warmish day.  N wind.
Elias & gente went to mark his colts at paso Calchaqui.
Machengo passed with a tropa of 200 small novillos from San Cristobal to Vera.  Gave him mark B to sell & countermark a couple of cows which are at Land Co’s saw mills.-
Nothing particular going on.-
Valbueno making small gate to corral

— 23 —

Warm day N and N.W. wind.
Elias & rest of peones except Surdo went to Calchaqui for "fiestas Mayas".-
A. going tomorrow.
Nothing going on.

Blotter page facing
24-27 May

“gente on place”
People living at
Los Palmares.

Page image.

Employees & families.  Alfred not included!

— May 24, Sunday —

[BLANK]

— 25 —

[BLANK]

— 26 —

Warm weather, & yesterday had a small shower.-
A. came back from Calchaqui this evening. He had gone on Sunday, also Elias & 3 of the peones for the fiestas, which were very good.  Saw race between Sanchez (zaino)and F. Martinez oscuro, the former won.-  Sisto Martinez and Knut Sylvan also came for the night.  The latter to recorrer camps of Harteneck.-  Here seems nothing new.  Alfalfa being piled up by Caferata.–
Left big bayo in Calchaqui for Rohr.– Sent a giro on Harteneck to Banco Londres to deposit.-  Came by way of Campo Carancho & passed guampita in potrero de los bueyes a nada [crossed the Guampita (river) in the oxen field by swimming]

— 27 —

Had a sharp shower last night which lasted from 12.30 to about 5 A.M. (drizzling) 18+ m.m.  Fine day E wind.
A. went with Knut Sylvan and Don Sisto to gate of H. Martinez by way of laguna Palmar.  Thx Sylvan recorrers up to administracion Margarita & then to Calchaqui to see what he thinks of these camps.-
The domador Villafañe caught up two potros tordillas negros to show how he can domar.-
Tropa of cattle (about 500) belonging to Maidana passed on way to Fuerte Argentino N of San Bernardo.–  Calchaqui seems rising as water must be going over tajamar.  Water up to Corona [see “recado” in Glossary] at paso puesto Hilario

Blotter: list of people on the place

— 28 —

Misty day but looks like going to clear up.–
Nothing going on except odd jobs.-
Machengo & comp. came back from Saw Mills Vera.  Say tajamar at Lag. Palmar has broken through and Calchaqui swimming.
Camp & cattle looking first rate and looks like going to have a good winter.-  Lots of orechano calves still in camp.  Making up yearly accounts.-

— 29 —

Muggy day E wind, no sun.
Loaded up cart with 78 cow hides 925 K and 6 horse hides which will send to Berisso tomorrow.
Recorrered camp.
Villafane caught up 2 more potros tuviano & coloradito.

— 30 —

Sun out again. N wind.-
Sent J. Bergara to Calchaqui with hides (& his boy) & to bring out stores etc.-
Recorrered camp.-
Another tropa for Fortin Argentino passing, about 1000 head belonging to Gauna of La Corina/ a Paraguayo    taking them a medios.-
Laid out fence for new quinta (orchard)

— May 31, Sunday —

Cloudy forenoon and rained hard most of afternoon 32.4 m.m. & warm.
Saw tropa going past.  Don’t know if it got out of camp (Rondared at gate) before rain.  Nothing going on.  Butchered novillito

June, 1903

[Author: Alfred]

— 1 —

Very strong N.E wind warm and clear.  Good for camp which is full of water.  Esteros chuck ablock full.-
Had to chuck out the alfa cut on the 23.d - (rotten)
A, recorrered up to Puesto Palmar.-  Tajamar nearly ½ swept away.-
Recorrered camp.-
Teofilo Suarez here for night.-

— 2 —

Strong N.E. wind looking very storms. warm, Barometer low.- 754.-
Recorrered camp.  Killed big wild capon (hog.)
Found 2 dead calves (capa.)
J.Varga was here.-

— 3 —

Change of weather.  Strong south wind temporal rained a bit at madrugado 3 m.m. Cold.-
Brot over old bull 8 from Lucero camp on costa also a cow & smaller bull.-
Nothing doing extra.
Tropita of 21 novillitos of J.Sanchez locked in tonight.

— 4 —

Murky day with south wind, cold and if clears up will be a frost.-
Had on rodeo in potrero and counted Frakes cattle 176 marked and about a dozen small unmarked calves.-  Also parted 6 animals of Robson’s, some odd torunos etc to send to Lomo Poi.  Cattle in potrero not looking well.-
Ox cart came back from Calchaqui bringing stores, & maiz sheller, wire etc.. also mail.-
Caferata plowed to plant canes in chacra near estero.-

— 5 —

Temporalish sort of day but sun was out at sun down.  Rained 6 m.m. at madrugado.-
Elias & gente left with the animals parted yesterday for Lomo Poi via paso Calchaqui where they part more.
Degraining maiz.

— 6 —

Very cold morning, heavy dew & likely frost in low ground.-
Rest of men went down to Lomo Poi for recojido tomorrow.
Nothing going on.-

— June 7, Sunday —

Go down at madrugado to south potrero.-

— 8 —

Yesterday South wind, & a bit foggy, wind changing to east - & a bit warmer today.-
Had on the rodeo of the yeguada and marked 16 colts (& broke kick one also) & marked 28 calves in south potrero 5 big ones were of Robson’s cattle, also parted 3 more potros making 49 potros parted so far.-  Today had on rodeo Lomo Poi and marked 67 calves.  Domador brought up potros to break in.
J. Bergara was up at Puesto Palmar yesterday to help Varga mark his calves ……. counted abajo marca …… 10 milck cows of ours

— 9 —

Cloudy muggy forenoon wind N.E. & rained 24 mm in afternoon & slowly continues
Had on rodeo Tapera and marked 33 calves and afterwards Mistolar & marked 35 calves.-  Rain will probably stop work for a few days.-  Camp full of water which does not soak in anymore.–

— 10 —

Drizzled last night 4½ m.m. foggy cloudy day variable wind, sun only out a short time.
Laguna Palmar rising fast now.  Salado also very high.  Butchered a novillo.-
Galvez & Don Joaquin Huigi here for night on way to Calchaqui & their gente.-

— 11 —

Foggy morning but cleared up at last with nice sun.-
Galvez and party left in morning for Calchaqui.-
Domador galloping potros.-
Tomas Bergara went to Calchaqui with his family to “Christianar” child.-
30 patata plans gave 174 kilos. 200 plants in row.-
10 rows = 11600 K. at rate of K   per cuadra.-

— 12 —

North wind, sunny forenoon, afternoon cloudy and looks like rain again; rather too much of a good thing.-
Elias & peones passing firewood across paso Salado.-
Nothing new.-

— 13 —

Warm cloudy some sun murky & looks like lots of rain.
Butchered a novillo.
Made arrangement with Villafane domador to work @ 25.00 per month began 27th May.-

— June 14, Sunday —

Very warm murky day.-   N.Wind.-
M.Fraire is was here with a prisoner Agustin Sosa who stole a horse.-
Elias was up at Bargas’ puesto, bro’t down 8 novillos of Bargas & marked 6 tambera calves.-  Joaquin Huigi bro’t mail.

— 15 —

East wind, dampish, cloudy.  Barometer 755.
A, recorrered as far as paso.-
Bro’t wood from paso Salado.  Say Salado is a bit lower.-  Calchaqui very high.  Put harrow stick with 6 teeth out of water 21 c.m. between each tooth.  Juan Andres (butcher from Calchaqui) here for night on way to J. Sanches.-
Alberto Huber also here for night.

— 16 —

Another warm murky day E wind.  Barm 754.-
Got alfa up from stack in potrero, pretty rotten.-
Nothing going extra.-

— 17 —

Warm day N wind looks stormy barometer 753½
J. Andres passed with tropita 55 animals of Sanchez A. Hubers1, Bargas6, & Elias1.-
A. Fellon & bro was here this afternoon & had a look at Frakes cattle.  He offers $218.00 orejanos por muerto.–
Told him would let him know if no one offers higher price.
Butchered a light cow.- (criolla).
Bro’t up some potros from Salado potrero.-
Sisto Martinez sent word indian tracks on foot were seen coming in.-  Tomas Bergara came back from Calchaqui with cart.  reports roads bad & Calchaqui rising.–
Sent Romulo to Calchaqui with doradillo for Renner.

— 18 —

Wind changed at last to south strong and cleared up although in morning was misty for a bit.-
J. Andres tropa escaped last night from corral at paso but luckily found them again near Mistolar.-
Recorrered costa Calchaqui but no indian signs.-
Romulo came back from Calchaqui.–

— 19 —

First decent frost of the season.-  Cold clear day but wind blowing again N.E.
Butchered novillo.-
Recorrered camp.-  Nothing new.–

— 20 —

No frost at sunrise as there was a wind.-
N. & N.E. wind, warm.
Elias & gente left for Palmar to make a raft for Loma Poi.–
Nothing new.-
Breaking in horse.  The two doradillas pull together now.

— June 21, Sunday —

Looked very much like rain until noon when strong S wind came up.  A was up at tajamar & where they are making raft.-  Machengo came from San Cristobal, says butcher Tucumano comes on Wednesday.-

— 22 —

Strong Cold south wind clear forenoon, in afternoon cloudy again & wind stopping Barometre 757.
Elias & peones came back from Palmar.  Started balsa with 83 long palms off this morning 3 men on board.
Caferata cutting alfa ! in big chacra.
Got up pesebre bull.

— 23 —

Variable wind barometro 754 south wind slight.
A went as far as paso Calchaqui in trap.
Balsa got as far as puesto Mistolar at noon.
Caferata cutting alfa slowly.
Cattle look thinish, fallen off a lot.-

— 24 —

Stormy wind last night but cleared up and frost,2nd N wind today barm. 755
Put 4 more thin bulls into big chacra
Caferata finished cutting alfa at noon.
Nothing going on.  awaiting the butcher.

— 25 —

Fine day, looks settled. N and E wind barm 761.
Sent Wenceslado to Calchaqui with mail.-
As the Tucumano has not turned up so sent 2 men with balsa from Mistolar to Lomo Poi.
Put 3 more thin bulls into big chacra. (10 in now) .
Nothing going on.-

— 26 —

Fine day S and E wind. Very slight frost.- 767 barm.
Xpecting the Co. to have rodeo in Union camp went as far as paso Salado but seeing no movement came back again.-
Tucumano (Carlos Avelaneda) and Baldazzi turned up at noon to part tomorrow.-
Raked hay in afternoon.-

— 27 —

Frost.  Wind changed to N.E and cloudy again in afternoon.  Barm 76½
Had on rodeo Estancia and marked 40 calves & butchered a novillo.  The Tucumano wants to part the torunos first as they went down to Lomo Poi with the gente to part on rodeo tomorrow.  Mail came from Calchaqui.-
Caferata and horse cart went to Calchaqui.

— June 28, Sunday —

Fine day E. & N.E. wind    barm 763 Frost.
The Tucumano parted 14 torunos & 1 novillo from south potrero, 24 novillos & 8 tambero (104) from Rodeo Lomo Poi.  Locked in there tonight to part tomorrow at Tapera.-

— 29 —

Frost this morning.  N wind blowing & looks rainy (Cloudy barm 759).
Finished tropita for Tucumano at Rodeo Tapera where he parted 29 good novillos making a total of 76 animals 68 @ $40. and 8 tamberos & ox @ 45.- $3080.  which he paid.  Passed them across near Paso Lucero, and Avellaneda & Baldazzi left for Martin’s after breakfast.-
Balbueno raked alfa which is in fine condition but am afraid will get wet.-

— 30 —

Strong North wind and clear most of the day 759 barm.
Lake still rising and not as high yet as in 96". Bro’t into galpon 5 loads of alfa.-
Balbueno raking.  Nothing otherwise going on.
Balsa got to Lomo Poi at noon.  It took 1½ days from Palmar to Mistolar.  2 days to Paso Calchaqui. 3 2½ days to Lomo Poi – 6 days altogether.

1903 - Qtr.3

July, 1903

[Author: Alfred]

— 1 —

Warm day Strong N wind Barm 757.
Hauling alfa & filling passage between coach room and pesebre.
Nothing going on.
Butchered old cow.

— 2 —

North & NE wind looks stormy Barm 760.-
Got in last 2 loads of alfa.-
Cart came from Calchaqui with stores and mail.-
Bro’t 2 thin bulls up from Mistolar to alfalfa.-
Ration day.-

— 3 —

Wind changed to south slight & cloudy  Barm 761.-
Had on rodeo del Medio about 2800 and marked 66 calves and put 13 cows and 1 novillo into Salado potrero for consuma.-
Caferata left off work (to last night).-
Lake seems lower.-  very likely on account of wind.

— 4 —

Cloudy day south wind & temporal began blowing with slight rain. Disgraining maiz.-
A. went over to Lucero for night.-

— July 5, Sunday —

Rained yesterday & last night 10 ½ m.m.764 Cleared up & was fine day.  A. came back from Lucero, Saw Reid about new contract: Referred me to Bluv.-
Sisto Martinez here for night.-

— 6 —

North wind, frost, Barm. dropped to 755 ½
Nothing particular going on.
Laguna Palmar looks like going down.
Bro’t up tropilla Manoqui & began saddling up.-
Mig. Arévalo from Arbol Solo here for night.-

— 7 —

Wind changed to south strong & looks settled.
Saddling up tropilla of Manoqui.  Seem very badly broken in mouth.–
Butchered a pig in afternoon.-
Joaquin Huigi here for breakfast on way to Calchaqui.

— 8 —

Very hard frost8th, but wind changed again to N.E. barm 764 ½ cloudy.
Cut up hog to make bacon & hams.
Recorrered camp; nothing new.-

— 9 —

Weather cold with East wind, cloudy 765. barm. Settled.
Feast day.  Nothing going on.
A was down in Lomo Poi in trap.-
Bro’t 1 thin bull from Lomo Poi for alfalfar making 18.-

— 10 —

Hard frost.9  N.E. wind clear, Barm 761.-
Butchered cow.-
Recorrered camp.-
A. going to Calchaqui tomorrow.-

— 11 —

[BLANK]

— July 12, Sunday —

[BLANK]

— 13 —

[BLANK]

— 14 —

On Saturday was a fine day NE wind.barm 768  Sunday very strong north wind & warm and in night changed to south like a temporal which blew all day yesterday with drizzle & slight rain in night 2.75 m.m.
A got into Calchaqui early 10.30 a.m. leaving trap at paso, & going in on horse back.  Wedding of Molinari &Eliza Beeholz in afternoon & baile at night.  Yesterday A went & visited Livingstons for a few hours at Espin.
The mail had been sent out on Saturday & missed me on road, Elias sent chasqui to Calchaqui with it.
Made trade with Rohr for 100 refuga mares at 6. or $7.-
Borrowed 12 torniquetes from Hartenecks & made fence for orchard.  Butchered cow today & put one thin bull more into potrero alfa.  Nothing of importance going on here.  Caferata had come back & went on to La Verde camp looking for work.-
Calchaqui river at paso has gone down about 10 8 7 inches since 15 June.-

— 15 —

Weather cold South wind Clear Barm 770.-
Peones left for south potrero to recojer yeguada tomorrow.
Nothing particular going on.

— 16 —

Hard frost10., clear.  Wind changed again to N.  Barm 766.-
Parted out 100 of the oldest & worst mares to sell to Cia Forestal (all of San Pedro countermarked also).  Tried to part them first on rodeo but too much work so parted them in corral at Lomo Poi.  Peones sleep down there tonight.-
Nothing going on here.-

— 17 —

Frost.11  North wind slight .  Barm 764.
Men brought up the mares parted yesterday and put them in Salado potrero sent for.-
Killed another (3rd) skunk in deposito.-

— 18 —

Slight .12  East wind clear Barm 761.-
Took out the alfa out of galpon & in passage and gave it a drying as looked as if going to spoil.
A caught a young carpincho outside of Palmar lake.-
Tropa of 1000 novillos from Alemanns to San Luis passed this afternoon  Sosa the mayordomo in charge.-
Anadon and Macario came this afternoon and pass the night to tak away the mares to Las Toscas.–
Butdhered a cow.-

— July 19, Sunday —

Blotter page facing
19-22 July

List of 15 horses

Page image.

Warm day E wind Barm 761, clear.
Entregared the yeguas to Macario Carrizo for Cia Forestal 99 which had parted on the 16th and 2 mares from tropilla Mulas (1 too many as yapita.) 100 @ 7.00 also went with Anadon to Lomo Poi & entregared him a potro saino Col. [Colorado] star in front & 2 white hind feet as regala.  Elias & gente helped mares across Calchaqui.  Lent a mule (negra) to Tunin for his march to Campo del Cielo.-

— 20 —

Warm day.  E wind & bit cloudy.  Barm 762.-
Took out rest of alfa out of galpon and gave it a of drying and put back again.
Caferata digging holes for fruit trees in new enclosure back of house.-
Another tropa of 550 vaq. from Alemann&squo;s for San Luis Estancia passed in charge of Luis Jorge Carles.
J. Barga took mail to Calchaqui.-
Domador caught up 3 more potros to break in (tostados).

— 21 —

Had a very slight shower last night ⅓ of millimetre, wind S and E slight, barm 764
Ursesindo Gomez came from “Las Estacas”. to take away Robsons cattle.  Sent gente to south potrero to ‘parar’ rodeo tomorrow.-
The Tucumano (Avellaneda) and Baldacci came at noon, wanted to buy oxen & tambura novillos.  Said would be back Aug 10 to part novillos again.-  Caferata digging fruit trees for transplanting from front yard.  Butchered cow.-
Tropa of vaq. last night seemed to have a ‘disparada’ at gate & are 4 animals short.-

— 22 —

East wind, warm cloudy & now at 6 P.M raining slightly with Barm 763.
Went down to south potrero & parted out Robsons cattle 116 and kept back ½ of the calves (17) & Gomez marked with the rest 99, and also a potro & potranca.  Parted out all the calves out of potrero & marked 16.
Caferata & new peon (Paulino   ) planted out 28 fruit trees.-
J. Barga bro’t mail.-

— 23 —

Slight shower of rain last night 3 ½ m.m. warmish day cloudy east wind Barm 762.
Planted fig trees47 in new orchard making 75 with peach trees planted so far.-
Some peones went up to Palmar to recojer tomorrow.-
Nothing particular new.-

— 24 —

Pleasant day E wind slight, a bit cloudy Barm 765.-
Had on rodeo Palmar about 2500 and marked 39 big calves & broke 1 (not marked).  Parted out 22 reses & novillos & some bad cows with their calves.-  Cattle looking very well for time of year.  Bergara parted a cow to butcher at his puesto Palmar and butchered a cow here also.-
Planted out 3 ombu trees in front of patio (peons) & watered all the transplanted trees.-
Camp looking very well for time of year

— 25 —

Warm day, a bit cloudy, North wind, Barm 763.  Looks more like rain.
Had on rodeo Salado about 1500 and marked 28 calves and parted 10 cows & 1 novillo for consuma into potrero.-
Sent ox cart to J. Sanchez to haul his paja.
Finished earthing up the new trees & did odd jobs.-
Domador (Ramon Villafañe busy with trap horses and young alasanes.
Nothing new otherwise.-
Caferata worked 6 days this week.
Paulino   "   4 "  "  "

— July 26, Sunday —

Cloudy day. NE wind & N slight. Barm 762.-
A & domador tied in young pair of requemados in coach; rather wild yet.  J. Bargas family at paso Salado.  Elias recorrered Palmar.-

— 27 —

Cloudy day N wind.  In morning looked very much like rain  Barm. falling 755 ½°
Men recorrered camp.-
Disc harrowed orchard.-
Paulino Almiron preparing land for onions.

— 28 —

Wind changed last night to south had a slight rain 1 mm & this afternoon clear with Barm. 760.-
Butchered cow.
Elias & 5 peones went down to in front of Rodeo del Medio to make ditch from Salado to estero.  At 3 punteadas the water comes.-
A was down at paso Calchaqui with trap.
Knut Sylvan sent letter from Estancia Aves that he has taken charge.-  (also mail f Calchaqui.)
Lent horse to Corvalan’s son to go to Calchaqui & sent mail with him.-

— 29 —

Fog this morning, E & NE wind barm 757.  Fine day.
Same work as yesterday, making ditch from Salado: top punteado 100 mts long.-
Caferate went down in front of laguna at Lomo Poi to make ditch there.
Dug out 1 ombu & 7 paraisos for Lomo Poi.-

Blotter page facing
30-31 July

Sueldos (Wages)

Page image.

— 30 —

Had a very slight rain last night ¾mm with thunder and today strong South wind.  Barm 762.
Elias, Romulo, Surdo, Wenceslado, Ballala, Villafañe junior, Domingo, working at ditch (top punteado) 200 mts long.  Water comes in at 2nd punteado now.-  Reports of Salado rising further up.-
Teofilo Suarez is here.  says will make alambrado Palmar cutting Nandubay posts & hauling them & make fence like east side of Salado potrero fence (4 varillas Palma) @ $15.00 cuadra. 130 mts.

— 31 —

Strong Cold South wind blowing.  Barm 767.
Elias finished ditch (in front of Rodeo del Medio) from Salado to Esteros largo about 250 mts long. (deepest part 4 punteadas) at nom. making 24 days work = 1 man.  They say water runs very strong.-
A. was over at Hartenecks. (no one at home).  Calchaqui north of puesto Mistolar is fordable now.- (cuadrilla)
Mail was bro’t out by Corvalan (Jun). and taken in today by Pacheco.-

August, 1903

[Author: Alfred]

— 1 —

Tremendous frost 13- in morning, about biggest of season & today slight E & NE wind.  Cold evening barm 768.-
Bro’t load of wood from paso Salado.-
A was down at ditch made yesterday.  Running very fast & calculate 1000 cumetres of water every hour going into estero.-
Was also down where Caferata is working in front of laguna Lomo Poi & was at Lomo Poi.
Dionisio Godoy and his gente came from Cacique and stop the night. Report lots of water up that way.-

— August 2, Sunday —

Cold cloudy morning.  N.S. wind.  Barm 763.  The men juntared mares of Godoy who stops the night.  J.Martin here today & stops the night.-

— 3 —

A. went to Calchaqui, also horse cart (Villafañe).

— 4 —

[BLANK]

— 5 —

Dampish fine weather for last few days & a slight drizzle on Monday.  A came back from Calchaqui this morning and had stopped the night at Estancia Las Aves.  Knut Sylvan and Sisto Martinez also came.  Showed Sylvan Frakes cattle in potrero, Godoy still here, but his gente had left with the potros of Godoy.  Godoy had countermarked 18 mares for Mig. Fraire, & is going to take away some sheep as soon as he brings certificate for 550 sheep which is my share mas o menos last Feb.-  Men had been recorriendo camp etc.–
Caferata working at ditch.-
J. Sanchez & J. Andres passed on way out.

— 6 —

Variable winds.  Fine forenoon, (heavy fog) afternoon muggy and this evening a temporal began blowing with rain Barm 755.-
Sylvan & Sisto left.  Sold Sylvan 2 horses (bayo & tostado negro) at $100.- Godoy also left for kil. 140.
Butchered cow.
Elias & gente left for Maderos to mark tambera calves.-
Cart came from Calchaqui bringing stores and also the family Pedro Saltó, who comes for chacrero & wife as house keeper.-

— 7 —

Had rain last night 10 m.m. with heavy & strong south wind.-  but a fine clear day with south wind, and West.  Barm 760.-
Went down to Madero’s puesto and marked 20 tambera calves and 4 colts.-  Also marked his cattle 26 head C = 10 cows 4 vaquillas, 5 hembra calves, 3 macho calves, 2 novillos 2 year old, 2 novillos 3 year od.- and 9 yeguariza = 5 mares, 1 horse, 2 potrancas, 1 potrita hembra, and 1 horse (not marked) but with R. Veras mark (alazan)
Caferata moved his familys goods to chacra house.-
Sheep at Maderos not looking well: told him to not lock in.-
J. Andres Ruiz Diaz passed with tropita of 27 from Sanchez.-
New Chacrero Pedro began work.-

— 8 —

Fine day variable winds barm 760.-
Gente came back from Lomo Poi.-  New chacrero (Pedro    planted some paraiso trees and onions.-
Wilson came over in afternoon and A went over with to Lucero to sleep.-
Sent tostado negro over to Hartenecks for Sylvan & for the mail.-

— August 9, Sunday —

Frost.  SE wind Barm 762.  A came back from Wilson’s in evening.  Had met Mr & Mrs G. Martin & John, and Petrie. Julian Sanchez here for night.–

— 10 —

Cold morning Warm day N.E wind.  Barm 763.-
Butchered cow.-
Cia Tierras parted 40 animals in South potrero.-
Recorrered camp
Chacrero began disc harrowing maizal for plowing.-
A Huber here at noon.
J. Sanchez sent to borrow maiz and alfa.-

— 11 —

Coldish cloudy forenoon warm day N wind Barm 757.
Nothing going on. Recorrered camp.-
Sold pig to J.Andres Flores $15.-
Horses cleared wit disc harrow.–
A. recorrered up to puesto Palmar.  So far the lake seems to have fallen about 8 inches.-  The desplayados at taperas Waldino & Barga still covered with water.

— 12 —

Warm day.  N & S.E wind.  Barm 756 ½
Gente passed over leña across Salado.-
Chacrero disced maizal this afternoon; horses cleared and killed old doradillo.-
Nothing new.-

— 13 —

Last night a strong south wind came up like a temporal but cleared up today and cold.&nbp; Barm 766.  S wind.-
Gente went over to Cia Tierras to see if we can aparte as they are having recuenta (2nd)
Chacrero harrowing (disc) with oxen ½ day.-
A was down where Caferata is making ditch to lag. at Lomo Poi.  Let water run but wants 1 punteado in espartillar about 30 mts.  Report Petrie nearly having been drowned at paso Molles.

— 14 —

Hard frost15 but fine day N.E. wind.-  Barm 762.-
Butchered cow
Butchered hog in afternoon.
Comisario de Campo Escobar & 3 police here for breakfast – fotographed them and lent them horses.-
Some of the peones who had passed to Estancias Unidas passed on way back.-

— 15 —

Warm day NE wind  Barm 757.-
Fixing up hog.-
Escobar & his policia passed on way back from boliche.-
Doña Felipa has veloria tonight.–
Bro’t alfa from stack to house in morning.–

— August 16, Sunday —

S wind, cool.  Barm 762.
A was over at Harteneck’s.  Sylvan & S. Martinez going to see cattle at Palacios.-
Nothing new.-

— 17 —

Frost 16 slight.  East wind.  Barm 767.
Chacrero discing old maizal.  Dug out last of batatas.-
Elias & gente & also gente with Fritch of punta laguna came back from reculuta Cia de Tierras.  Parted 34 animals of ours from Union, Lucero, & San Andres potrero. Fritsche stops night.-

— 18 —

Strong E wind and coldish.  Barm 764.
Marked 3 calves of reculuta animals and drove them up to Palmar.
Parrared rodeo in potrero for punta laguna and they parted 5 or 6.  Altogether taking about 24 animals of Morells, J.Sanchez etc.-
Butchered cow.-
Recorrered camp which is beginning to look dry.-
Mancha among calves pretty bad.-
Machengo came back from down south.-  Chacrero discing etc.-

— 19 —

East wind, camp burning.  Barm 765.-
Caferata had finished zanja at Lomo Poi on Monday.  About 12 days work, arranged to pay him $36.00 for the work about 133 cubic metres.-
A was down at Lomo Poi.-
Men recorrered camp.-
J.Barga brought mail.-

— 20 —

N.E wind warm Barm 761
Caferata borrowed mules & cart to go to Calchaqui.-
Sent 2 chajas to Latham Hall.-
Bro’t up load of alfa from chacra.
Gente went to puestos to recojer rodeo tapera tomorrow.-
Teofilo Suarez also bro brought the paja () last night & today began putting up orkones for new room at quarters.
Finished disc harrowing the old rastrojo.-
J. Bargas was here, Agreed to lend him 6 oxen to move his goods to Cacique.-

— 21 —

Warm day S wind (slight) Barm 762.  Fog in morning.
Had on rodeo Tapera 2000 & parted 8 cows & 1 novillo for south potrero and afterwards had on rodeo de la Lomo (1500) and parted about a dozen more cows.  Also a big fine requemado bull which put into south potrero.  the cows for consuma and the bull (for the plantel latter on).-  Cattle at rodeo de la Loma looking very well.-  Chacrero began plowing in old maizal.-  Leo Suarez & brother put up rest of orkones and cumbrero of rancho.-

— 22 —

Warm day E. wind.  Barm 761 ½.-
Men brought up mares from camp.  Put M. Fraires’ back into Salado potrero.  Machengo marked his orejanes (19).  J. Suarez & bro went up to Palmar in cart to bring tijeras.-   Chacrero plowed in afternoon.- 7 vueltos
Nothing new.-

— August 23, Sunday —

Fine warm day NO wind.  N.  Barm 760.-
Nothing going on.  Ernesto Taraira passed on way to San Martin.-  Sylwan sent mail.-

— 24 —

Fine warm day. 30° wind N.E.S.E.  Barm 761
Elias & peones went down to make a ditch between the esteros full of water from zanja to next estero south.
Wenceslao brought mail from Calchaqui: sent him back with led horse to bring out H.B. Richards tomorrow.-
J. Vargas family & cattle 90 & sheep left for Cacique.  Lent him 6 oxen to go with.-
Sent mail over to Sylwan.-

— 25 —

Warm. N.E. wind 31°  Looks stormy Barm 756 ½.
A went down to paso Calchaqui in trap & met Richards who came from Calchaqui.-
Elias & gente finished yesterday’s ditch, & began new one from Salado to estero N of Arbol Solo.
Caferata came back from Cachaqui with mule cart.-
Knut Sylwan and Sisto Martinez were here at noon.
Plowed all day with horses.- (Domador & chacrero)
J. Suarez working fixing tijeras de palma for house rancho.

— 26 —

Weather changed, thunder in morning, slight rain, 1 mm & then strong S wind & looks like temporal.  Barm 761.
Elias & gente worked at zanja in forenoon.
Butchered cow.-
Plowed in afternoon.
Child of R. Villafañe died.-
Bro’t up leña from paso.
  "  "  load of alfa.

— 27 —

Temporal in afternoon 3¼ m.m. strong S wind in morning.
Barm 762 ½
Plowed in forenoon and gente worked at ditch in forenoon  Cafferata also worked at ditch.-
Fixed up carrieage with Richards.

— 28 —

Fine clear day S wind.  Temporal last night 1 m.m.  Barm 760 ½
Plowed all day.
Men worked at ditch all day.-
Made plans for new boat at Palmar lake.-
Rec’d mail from Hartenecks.-
J. Suarez cut canes & began enlataring rancho.–

— 29 —

Fine day.  Cool morning.  S & E wind Barm 765.-
Same work as yesterday.-
Butchered cow.-
Entregared cow to J. Bergara to butcher.-
Sent mail to Calchaqui with Balala.-
A and Richards went over to Martins for paseo.-

— August 30, Sunday —

Fine day.  N wind slight.  Barm 761.-
Cafferata finished zanja in forenoon.  Gente went to puestos to recojer in morning tomorrow Mistolar.  M. Fraire here for night.  Mail came.-

— 31 —

Warm day.  N wind, west in afternoon.  Barm 763 ½–
Had on rodeo Mistolar in morning about 2000.  cattle looking well and afterwards had on rodeo Lomas about 3200 not looking so well.  “Recojered” them to sweat them.-
M. Fraire took his mares off in afternoon (16.)
Hilario Martinez here for breakfast, also Leandro Moreiro who stops the night.  Teofilo & Bro thatching rancho.-
Plowed all day.
Sent Caferata down to Lomo Poi to dig ditch from Salado a bit longer.-

September, 1903

(H.B. Richards wrote most of September, 2 - 25.)

— 1 —
(Written by Alfred)

Wind north again & warm Barm 758.
This forenoon had on rodeo Estancia 1800 & Salado 1200.  Cattle seem all right.
Caferata had dug ditch at Lomo Poi 35 metres 1 days work.-
Plowing as usual in maiz field.-
A making preparations for going south tomorrow.-
Teofilo thatching; his brother went to cut paja.-
Balbueno making window frames.-
Butchered cow.

— 2 —
(HB Richards begins writing – difficult to read)

Wind early NW 9.am W 10 am SW 3 pm S.  Rodeo Alagarrobal parted 6 reses cattle picking up.  Plowing still in maiz field
Went to Calchaqui  A.B. started at 9-15 pm from Calchaqui train delayed hot axle
McKonnick & friend came about bulls went away about 3.0 pm

— 3 —

Wind SE  E in afternoon  N BR [N B Richards?] started  remise from Calchaqui arrived 10. To 11 pass.
Calchaqui bajando.  Arrived Estancia 2 pm peons went to puesto Madera to recojer for next day.  Elias recorrio campo.  Sin novedad.  Thermi 17 cent.  Bar. 763.50
Entregared piece of harrow to Cafferata

— 4 —

Wind cold from NE  Clouds & rain threatening  Sun rise therm 12.50 Cent. Bar. 6.pm. 765
Escocio Troncoso came with Rivera about horses
Killed cow. Troncoso [Famoso?] sent telegram about horses

— 5 —

Culf (torito) in tambo died appears to have been horned as the tripas were out region of navel no sign of desease  10. am Therm. 16. cent Min 10 wind changed all round from W to E strong at night  Bar 766.  Very dry  Brought horses from other side Salado in good condition Butchered cow 174 Kilos  Paro rodeo en Algorrobal

— September 6, Sunday —

Salado still high  Butchered cow 174 Ks espinozo 13
wind E term 18.

— 7 —

Bar falling fast 8 am 762.  12 noon rain 370
Bar 763 rainfall 9 ml. hail in manga.  Therm 15
Troncoso left at 1200 with 51 horses.
Camp sin novedad.  Plowing in morning  taming potros.  E wind morning turned S at night
Balbuena & Teofilo sawed wood for cart

— 8 —

Morning cloudy.  Bar 763  term 11
Fine afternoon  Bar fell a little evening
Capataz went to Calchaqui about horses
Lent cart to sleep in  Pass to fetch stores from Calchaqui.  Balbuena & Teofilo worked on mending cart

— 9 —

Fog in morning  Wind N still cool
Bar falling. 6 pm 760.50 Therm. 21.50
Recojered mares boys taming
Finished menfing cachape
Berdun reported three potros on other side salado
Camps sin novedad
Miguel Freyre took potro barrozo B

— 10 —

Butchered cow.  Brought potros from other side Salado.  Plowing domando  Campos sin novedad.  Sanja opened a bit more  Fine day cool Bar 765.  Therm 23.50  Wind SE.  Went to Algorrobal to look for boat curvas [canvas?].
Flour rice & salt arrived.

— 11 —

Wind NE  Therm. 24.  Bar. 765. Warm
60 lambs señaled puesto Mistolar
Cutting alfalfa.  Plowing.  Brought curvas from Algarrobal.  Taming potros. (7).
Villafaño left plowing sigue con redomones [continues with taming]
Two broods of young chickens

— 12 —

Wind E.  Bar. 766.  rising & falling very little  Therm 26.  Balbuena squared curvas.
Alfalfa brought in.  Plowing.  Sent chasque to Calchaqui.

— September 13, Sunday —

Warm.  Therm. 34.  Bar 762 fallins.  Canoe from pass ceasu [casco?]
6. hides. & 3 gdes from Mistolar  Camp sin novedad
Wind SE

— 14 —

Wind. N.  Therm. 34.  Bar. 7.65. falling
Collected.  Alfalfa & gramilla.  Took canoe to pieces  Luis Fellon went to collect palms for raft.  Puesteros brought in their quincenal reports Loma Poi.  Madera.  Campo sin nov.
Salado falling.  Plowing.
Fixed up disk harrow.
Sent. Letter to A.B California [La California?]

— 15 —

Wind N.  Bar 7.65.- rising & falling  Therm. noon 21.50.
Butchered cow.  Teofilo finished sawing curvas for boat.  Gave out rations of yerba. 2½ Ks to puesteros.  Entered notes of mortandad for quincena. 1 to. 15 Sept.  Plowing

— 16 —

Wind NE  Bar 765.  Therm 31 max night 15
Dug out ditch of the Loma water running well.  Fixed up boat.
Taming potros  Teofilo went to Palmar to get palms
Moreira arrived at night.  Camps sin novedad
Weather a bit threatening signs of high wind
Finished plowing

— 17 —

Wind NE very threating weath thunder in afternoon no rain.  Bar. 7.65.  Therm 32
Recorrio sin novedad.  Sent chasque for nails & with letters.
Received letter from A.B. about plowing &@.
Opened up ditch Loma water running well

— 18 —

Very dark all day.  Wind NE  Bar 761 Therm 32.
Recorrio sin noved
Butchered cow.  Not able to plow too dry.  resow a bit alfalfa.  Johnson grass passed over with disc harrow.  Comisario Escobar came, gave him time. of arrival 9.am

— 19 —

Wind NNE continual.  All night thunder & rain 8 mil.  Bar 756 & falling   Therm 31½ 9 pm Bar falling still no wind to speak of.
Camps sin novedad.  Domando.  None of the potros bucked at all, all through but a bit hard in the mouth.  Peste of influenza all through. the people.  Wind at night still NNE gentle.

— September 20, Sunday —

S wind.  Storm at night.  Therm 28. Bar. 758.  Sin novedad.

Stained blotter page
20-23 Sep.

“OJO” next to 22nd.

Page image.

— 21 —

Sent cart to Calchaqui with letters
Wind S cold.  Therm 16 noon.
Butchered cow.
Camps sin novedad.
Moreira came back from Mogotes
Killed some extra cocks meat of cow lost about two cuarters
[AABz:] Eclipse of sun tomorrow [NBR:] (No sign of eclipse)

— 22 —

Fresh day with N wind.  Bar. 765.  Therm. 24.
Camp sin novedad  Moreira went back home with companions.  Salto plowing fixing up canoe.  Borrowed 10 Ks erba from Harteneck’s.  to return.  56 lambs señaled. 60. before Mistolar  116 total

— 23 —

Wind NE Bar 765.  Therm 31
Butchered cow.
Recorrida sin novedad.  Trap horses went off to Loma.  NBR. started in afternoon & slept a puesto Paso.

— 24 —

Cool morning wind E morning NE afternoon  Bar falling  Therm 31
1 ternera dead.  C.b.
Brought back the trap horses from Loma
HBR started from Paso to Calchaqui arrived 10 am.

— 25 —

Wind N very warm.  Bar falling 753 Therm 35.  A Benitz returned 6. am from below.  I returned home.
Butchered cow.

— 26 —
(Alfred writes)

South wind came last night & cloudy and cool and tonight thundering.-  Barm 757.  75)
Recorrered camp and fixed up alambrado.-
Junin & comp domaring the oscuros 13 & yegua tuviano.-
Pedro Salto working in quinta etc.-
Wants rain for chacra etc.-
Caceros here for night with a few milk cows for Pozo de los Rios.-

— September 27, Sunday —
(Alfred writes)

South wind cloudy (muggy)  rained last night 1¾ mm  Barm 763  cool & in evening E wind.
Nothing going.  Ditches from Salado had “hundared” [juntared] lots of water.  Sisto & Hilario Martinez came in evening to help recojer tomorrow.-

— 28 —
(Alfred writes)

Fine cool cloudy day and E wind & tonight looks like rain  Barm
Had on rodeo Palmar in morning and parted out about 80 calves with their mothers and locked in & afterwards had on rodeo Estancia & parted out about 90 & marked afterward 177 calves in all.-
Butchered cow.
Ramon Villafaña harrowing.
Caferata went to town with cart & mules. took paraiso seed for Carlos Most & Guil O’Connor.  A Huber here for night . 760.

Stained blotter page
with John Todd’s
address in England.

Page image.

— 29 —
(Alfred writes)

Wind SW.  Bar 760.  Therm. 25  slight garua [garuga – drizzle] in morning.  Had on rodeo Salado in morning and parted out 82 calves and marked them.  and at noon went down to Lomo Poi and had on rodeo there and parted and marked 62 calves in corral there.  K. Sylwan and J. Fillon here for night.
A. sleeps down at Lomo Poi.  Killed vaquilla con cuero at Lomo Poi.  Sylwan bro’t mail.-

— 30 —
(Alfred writes)

Hot day (warm) day E & N.E. wind.  heavy fog Barm 759.
Had on rodeos Tapera & Mistolar and parted 177 calves with cows and marked them at Mistolar.  Hartenecks gente who had helped left.&nbp; Huber here still.-  Nothing particular going on.  Villafana harrowing.-

1903 - Qtr.4

October, 1903

[Authors, by day: Alfred or Richards]

— 1 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm day N.E. wind  Barm 757.-
Butchered cow.-
Campiared Huber’stropilla who also left (up by Palmar).-
Ramon harrowing with mules.-
J. Suarez finished rancho yesterday.-
Nothing new.  Want rain for grass & chacra.–

— 2 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm day variable winds S and E  Barm 758 cloudy.-
A. Went up with Teofilo Suarez to measure length for fence from laguna north of tapera of Waldino to gate on Calchaqui 2675 metres m o menos direction with magnetic north is due east.-  He and his 2 brothers and son of R. Villafana went to cut posts in campo Harteneck.  Sylwan cobrars $15.00 per 100 rent for cutting posts.-
Recorrered camp etc. nothing particular going on.–
Pedro Salto plowed in quinta close to house (south) & harrowed.  Ramon finished harrowing.-  L. Moreiro here for night to see about rent for his place.- at Mogotes.

— 3 —
(Richards writes)

Wind NE .. SW . SE  Bar: 760.   Therm. 26
Storm of wind & dust from SW from 3 to 5 pm very little rain thunder & lightning Therm dropped to 15 Cent.
Recorrida sin novedad.  Villafano cleaning patio
Moreira left.  Brongos & sapallos sown
A left for San Justo & Sarralegui’s

— October 4, Sunday —
(Richards writes)

Butchered cow.
Cool day  Wind SW.  Bar. 765  Therm. 25
Capataz left with people to Harteneck’s recuento.  Got curvas with Gregorio from Algarrobal in morning sin novedad.

— 5 —
(Richards writes)

Wind N.  cool day.  Bar.763 Therm. 24.
Worked with Balbuena a boat.
People away at Hartenecks recuento.
Maiz sown.

— 6 —
(Alfred writes)

Wind N.  bar. 757.  Therm 24.
Sowing maiz.in quintita  People returned from Hartenecks  Sin novedad in camp.
A came back from Calchaqui at noon having gone to Sarralegui’swith Knut Sylvan.  Had rained a good deal there on Saturday.-

— 7 —
(Alfred writes)

Forenoon strong N wind 35°  N.W and afterwards S in afternoon.  Looks like seca.-  Barm 759.-
Elias & gente left again for Hartenecks for recuenta tomorrow.  Machengo for San Cristobal to take a tropa.-
Salto and Caferata began cross plowing.  The former with horses & the latter with mules.-
Nothing going on in camp.-
Felis from Cacique here for night–

— 8 —
(Richards writes)

Warm day  Bar. 758.  Therm 28  Wind SE strong  Weather threatening & cloudy.
People & A.B went to Harteneck’s recuento
Sowing maiz.  Sent boar to Salado pass in canoe & brought back maiz (3 bags) from Wilsons
Boat building.  Balbuena sin novedad.

— 9 —
(Richards writes)

Wind SE.  Bar 760.  Therm 28.
Salto sowing
People away at Hartenecks
Boat building

— 10 —
(Alfred writes)

Wind variable N.E.SE.E therm 28 Barm 758.-
A came back from Hartenecks (recuento 9900 todo que pisa) also Jorge Collins who came on a paseo.-
Gente stops over at Hartenecks for marcacion.-
Butchered cow novillo in afternoon.-
Boat building Richards & Balbueno.-
Caferata and Salto plowing two plows.-

— October 11, Sunday —
(Alfred writes)

Hot day  Winds N and E  Barm 756.-
A, Richards & Collins went up Palmar in trap.-
Nothing new-

— 12 —
(Alfred writes)

East & NE wind.  Barm dropped again to 754½, last night a strong S wind.
A & Collins went to Hilario’s puesto (Harteneck’s) where they were marking.  Collins stopped there.-
It seems they had counted about 7700 abajo marca and about 2200 orechano’s of which about 500 were fit to mark.-  Sacked Ramon Villafaña tonight, harragan.-
Caferata & Salto plowing (2 plows.)  Gente still working at Harteneck’s.-

— 13 —
(Alfred writes)

Barm went down 748 at sunrise and had a tormento with 6½ m.m. rain in morning & blew strong S wind in afternoon & tonight raining again slightly.-  Barm 752½.–
Gente came back from Hartenecks recuento & marcacion.-  Had been there since the 4th  In afternoon gente left for Lomo Poi to recojida yeguada.-
Felis Roman brought mail.-
Plowed in afternoon.-

— 14 —
(Alfred writes)

Reained ½ mm. last night & was a fresh day with strong S wind.-  Barm 760.-
Parted out 52 cohuditos from yeguada and brought up to Estancia.  1 mare also came along by mistake.-
Rained more in south part of camp.-
Suarez took cart and 8 oxen to haul posts for fence.---

— 15 —
(Alfred writes)

Cool day S wind  Barm 764.-
Butchered novillo.-
Put cohuditos into Salado potrero.-
Gente left for puesto Palmar for recojido tomorrow.-
Ration day.  Nothing new & only 3 vacuna died in quincena--
Report a lion or dog or aguara having killed 13 corderos at puesto Mistolar.

— 16 —
(Alfred writes)

Wind north.  Barm 762½.-
Had on rodeo Palmar 3000 parted about 40 picked cows & 2 bulls and then rodeo Estancia2000 parted about 35 cows 1 bull picked and then in afternoon rodeo Salado about 1500 and parted about 20 picked1 bull cows for plantel.-  Hilario Martinez and 2 men helped.-
Report that there was a slight frost visible in chacra in batatas.

— 17 —
(Alfred writes)

Wind N. and E variable, fine day  Barmo 761°.-
Had on rodeo del Medio 3000 & parted 40 more cows for plantel and then marched to Mistolar.  In afternoon had on rodeo Mistolar2000 & parted about 50 cows, also 3 bulls & lock in Mistolar tonight.– Cattle improving very fast.-  Fine novillado among cattle.-
Richards hard at work on boat.—

— October 18, Sunday —
(Alfred writes)

Cool day wind E by N Bar 761 Therm 24 Had on rodeo Tapera and parted out 32 cows 1 toro for plantel, & gente marched to Lomo Poi.- A. also goes to sleep there.-

— 19 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm day 29½°  E and NE wind Barm 758.° Seca.-
A came back from Lomo Poi.  Had on rodeo at Loma Poi yesterday afternoon and parted about 30 cows & vaquillos.-  Today took them to potrero Sud 276 cows 10 toros finos for padres, and left in potrero besides 39 torunos viejos, 4 reses, 18 señueleros, 1 buey.-  and put rest of animals from potrero into camp.-  Hilario Martinez parted 8 or 9 animals and left for Los Aves.-
J.Andres here for night.  Sent mail with policia for Calchaqui.-

— 20 —
(Alfred writes)

Hot day 34°.-  N & E wind, Barm 758.  Thundering tonight.  Butchered a big osko novillo.
Put ajenos. Sanchez, Punto Laguna etc) outside of fence
Put 6 reses into potrero Salado.-
Sent Tomas Bergara to J. Sanchez to borrow ox cart.-
J. Andres passed with tropita of 25 animals to Calchaqui.
Preparing to plant maiz.-

— 21 —
(Richards writes)

Coolish day.  Cloudy & thunder at night & early morning.  Barm. 761 falling  Therm 28  Wind next to nothing SE & E.  novillito died c.b.
AB started in morning for Calchaqui
Camps sin novedad

— 22 —
(Richards writes)

Coolish day  Therm 25  Bar 760.  no wind in day got up at night E Cloudy. V threatening
Camps sin novedad.

— 23 —
(Richards writes)

Windy all day rain threatening & thunder.  Therm 24  Bar. 763 rising
Cart went for leña in morning
Camps sin novedad
Bolichero came.

— 24 —
(Richards writes)

Cool day & fine Wind E Bar 764 Therm 24.
Cart with wire arrived 12.o.
Cut 11 cojudos ajenos in the Mistolar
Norsulo bolichero cwamt. [went] aways.
Camp sin novedad.

— October 25, Sunday —
(Alfred writes)

N.E. wind, fine day.  Barm 760½
A came back from Calchaqui at noon.  had been at La Nicolasa.
Butchered cow.  Elias capared ageno cohudos at paso Calchaqui.-
J. Fillon & mother passed for Pozo Mariano at noon.

Blotter page facing
25-28 October
List of horses

Page image.

— 26 —
(Alfred writes)

Strong East wind, warm, 31°  Dry-  Barm 760, bit cloudy
Cart took 18 rolls wire, 14 rolls pua, 100 torniquetes to alambrado. & bro’t back leña (2 carts).-
A was up at Alambrado nuevo & recorrered Calchaqui fence.-  Nothing particular going on.-

— 27 —
(Alfred writes)

Drizzly day. Rained 7¼ m.m.  Wind SE.-  Barm 762½.-
Nothing going on.-  Tunin & compañero came back from Sarralegui’swithout bringing the novillos, as the overo nevada at La Emilio got estropeado & had to leave it there and no more were to be found.–
They brought a vaquilla from La Vara.-

— 28 —
(Alfred writes)

Drizzled last night 8 m.m. & was a muggy cloudy sort of a day.  Barm 762.
Lent horse cart to Julian Sanchez to send in Clemente who seems to be dying.-
Planting maiz, Caferata and Saltó.-
Had on rodeo in potrero & marked 18 calves Frakes and 16 of ~.
Put trap oscuros madrina Tuviana tamed by Bedun 14) on to other side of Salado.-

— 29 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm, muggy day regular Chaco weather cloudy.  Wind slight E  NE, S.  Barm 760½
Went to Mistolar and marked 3 tambera calves, counted 30 novillos 3 yr. & over (mostly tamberas) and 4 bullocks.-
Went afterwards to paso Calchaqui and marked 5 tambera calves and 4 cerreros and counted about 36 tambera novillos and among Elias cattle 18 novillos, 4 oxen, & 59 tambera cows B.  Elias marked 19 calves.-  Elias Alfredo was over at Sylvan’s.  got mail today.  Finished planting maiz, up to old batatal.-

— 30 —
(Alfred writes)

Threatening sort of day.  Variable winds, thundering, heavy fog in forenoon.  Barm 759.-  Ration day.  Gente went over to Hartenencks to part, but rodeo was put off until tomorrow.-
Wilson came at noon, also 7 cohuditos, 1 potro, 1 burro, which Machengo had brought from down south but had no time to bring from San Cristobal, as he was down with a tropa for Faciano.-  Sent letter to Blew (via Reid San Cristobal) to England.-
Butchered cow.-

— 31 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm muggy SW wind slight 32°  Barm 756½
Gente went over to Hartenecks and parted at Estancia potrero (noria Chamorro) 4 animals.-  Sent the cohuditos (7) and burro to Lomo Poi.- (to south potrero).  Palenkiando the potro saino negro from Las Tijeras.–
Nothing especial going on.  Caferata and Salto preparing albardones para batatas.-

November, 1903

[Authors, by day: Alfred or Richards]

— November 1, Sunday —
(Alfred writes)

Variable sort of day, Warm, strong S. wind in afternoon Barm 757
Mr & Mrs Sylwann were here for day.  Had lent them volanteros.  J. Martin was also here, paid 3600 on a/c.-  Tropita about 400 going up to Fortin Argentino, belonging to Gauna.-

— 2 —
(Alfred writes)

Looked very rainy this morning and spitted some wind mostly South.  Barm 758.-
Entregared 25 torunos to Hartenecks from South potrero @ $40, also sent a baya tambera vaquita to Juan Andres Ruiz Diaz for a cow he had given for carne-con-cuero at Romerias in Calchaqui (which I had promised to give).-
Elias had parted 18 animals at Union (Cia Tierras).
Domingo & 3 peones went to part at Hartenecks & to help work there.  Got in some alfa cut Friday.  Fixing land for batatas.-

— 3 —
(Alfred writes)

Fine rain today, cool, just the thing for the camp etc & still continues slowly.  22½ m.m.
Transplanted batatas 7 rows on the ridges had made.
Butchered cow.
Took the reculuta cows up Palmar..
Gente(4) not back from Harteneck’s yet.-

— 4 —
(Alfred writes)

Strong south wind, drizzled last night 5½ m.m. Barm 762.- clear night.
Nothing going on.  A. recorrered Palmar.  J. Suarez planting posts on Palmar fence.
Bro’t up some scattered horses from Lomo Poi.
F. Miño & J. Sanchez here for night.-

— 5 —
(Alfred writes)

Cool fine day S wind. Barm 764.-
Miño & Sanchez left.-
Fixed fence on Calchaqui river.-
Burnt up carcase of bull near tapera Waldino & cut zepa caballo. Caferata did not work since tuesday.–

— 6 —
(Richards writes)

Cool & fine in morning, cloudy with tendency to rain.  Bar 764. Therm 18
A B started 2 p.m for Calchaqui.
Campo sin novedad.

— 7 —
(Richards writes)

Cold day with rain, 6.¼mil  Bar 764  Therm 14.
Mended mower.
Mr Douglas & Mrr Roberts came about 3 p.m.from Saralegui’s
Butchered cow.

— November 8, Sunday —
(Richards writes)

Milder day.  Very little wind SW.SE signs of rain & cloudy. afternoon.  Vale to Arevalo 25.00 going for a soldier.  Bar 762  Therm. 23.

— 9 —
(Richards writes)

Fine cool day  Bar 764  Therm 27.
Messrs Douglas & Roberts left afternoon.
Cutting & gathering alfalfa
Camp sin novededad.
Capataz & people away at Morrel’s parting

— 10 —
(Richards writes)

Fine mild day.  Bar 760 falling Therm 28.
Mowing machine broken started to mend it
Alfalfa made ready to cart.
Don Joaquin came morning went in after noon.

— 11 —
(Richards writes)

Warm day  Therm 31  Bar . 760 . steady
Alfalfa cutting.  Sent about wire to Teofilo
People still away.  Burnt old alfalfa in patio.

Page image.

Josephine’s Silver Wedding
(Blotter page facing 12 November)

— 12 —
(Richards writes)

Warm day  Wind NE  Bar 762 Therm. 33
Worked alfalfa all day  Machine out of order in afternoon
Cafferata went to Calchaqui
People still away at Morrells.

— 13 —
(Richards writes)

Very warm  Wind SE  EbyS.  Bar 762 Therm 34.
Working alfa.  Machine packed up in afternoon.
Butchered cow.

— 14 —
(Richards writes)

Very warm  Therm 36   Bar 758 Wind E all day.
Threatening storm in evening thundering.
Capataz returned .  1 novillo recululado a Morrell’s.
Worked all day on reaping machine
Don D Collins came

— November 15, Sunday —
(Richards writes)

Cloudy.  Wind SE & E  Therm 29.  Bar 758
Madero & Zenobio reported quincena sin novedad 1535 sheep sheared  Rain 24 m.m. at night & early. Msnf [morning?]

— 16 —
(Alfred writes)

Fine day S wind for camp, with a slight summer shower 1 m.m. in afternoon  Barm 758.
A came back from south.  Had been at Vera (cia Tierras) La California, & B.Aires
D. Collins here.-
Elias & gente left for Madero’s puesto to part sheep for Palmar puesto.-

— 17 —
(Alfred writes)

Fine day S. wind.  Barm 758.-
D. Collins left.-  Tropa of Nicolasa for San Luis    vaquillas passed-
A was down at Maderos & took out share of sheep of Feb. this year.  Counted sheep 2105 & the 60 capones taken out in Feb makes 2165.  The sheep in Feb were 1550 and as the capital 3 yrs before was 450 makes 1100 to be divided with Godoy 550 each ganancia in Feb. & the aumento since then 615 corresponds 205 to me.  Making 755 (less the 60 capones) makes 695 which Elias & the peones are bringing up for Palmar puesto, leaving there 1410.  Rec’d telegram from Middleton re novillos.  Caferata came back with cart.  Tried to cut alfa but machine out of order.

— 18 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm day 30  Wind E and S  Barm 758.-
Tropa of 800 vaq. for San Luis from La Nicolasa locks in night Sosa the mayor domo passed.
Sheep arrived from Maderos.  Started to dip them in afternoon.  Sent alambre up to J. Suarez Palmar potrero – 5 rollos 6 pua.-

— 19 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm day 32°  Wind S & E.  Barm 758½.-
Dipped the sheep and senalared 102 borregas & carneritos lanudos & sent them to Mistolar, to flock there.
Senalared also 52 shorn sheep.  All with new señal.-
Tomorrow send them to Palmar.-
Still cutting alfa.-
Mail came (Joaquin Huizi.)

— 20 —
(Alfred writes)

Hot day  Therm 34°  wind S & E.   Barm 757½.-
Parted the capones out 6 to keep here for consuma and 1 abeja parrida and sent the rest on to Palmar puesto 522 of which we had señalado with new señal 42. (23 lanudos 19 pelados), making señalado altogether yesterday and today 194, rest were of Godoys Señal (500) (here & Palmar)
Finished cutting alfa and afterwards Salto plowed for maiz.-
Valbueno raked hay.  Sent to Palmar fence 4 rolls wire.-
Elias went to Calchaqui to see about getting his eye cured.
Caferata & family left to work at abra [obra – project] Carancho.-

— 21 —
(Alfred writes)

Very hot day 34½° N wind Barm 759.-
A. received the Palmar alambrado from Suarez 2640 mts.  9 estirades [estirada – section] of 130 mts to codo [elbow].  12 estirados or 1430 mts to arroyo from codo.-  270 postes mo/m [mas-o-menos – more-or-less].-
Was also up at rodeo Sanchez costa Lag. Palmar where J. Morell was parting.-
Took cattle out of Palmar potrero.-
Pancho Martinez here for night from La Nicolasa. (came to take torillado : told him to come back when they are parted out.  Joaquin Huigi here for night also.  Richards ill.-
Butchered 2 capones.

— November 22, Sunday —
(Alfred writes)

Very hot.  N.E. wind 34½  Barm 760.  Bank of clouds S.W.
Gente left for Lomo Poi for recojido tomorrow.-
Arreglado a/c with J. Suarez.  nothing new.  Butchered 2 capones

— 23 —
(Alfred writes)

Very hot day 36½°  N wind.  Barm 756.
Began parting novillos & toritos.  Began south potrero and parted 14 torunos 1 buey, 9 toritos, and then had on rodeo Lomo Poi800 and parted 86 novillos and 37 toritos
Elias came back from Calchaqui with mail, doctor does not know what is the matter with his eye.-
P. Nicolirich sent chasque re’ novillos for sale and asked for a trap to bring him out.  Sent word would send for him on Wednesday.-
Lent horse cart to J. Suarez & he brings out a cargo in return.-

— 24 —
(Alfred writes)

Very hot day N. wind 38° Barm 754.
Had on rodeo Tapera1500  parted out 128 novillos 41 toritos.-
Gente marched to Mistolar.-
Sylwan here, also his gente who help.-
P. Nicolorich came in afternoon to look at novillos for Castagnino-
Mail came.-
Salto plowing.
Butchered 2 capones.

— 25 —
(Alfred writes)

Very hot last night & wind changed to S this morning very strong & then to E.  Fresh day  Barm 756.
Sylwan left.
Had on rodeo Mistolar2300 and parted 173 novillos & 45 toritos.  Cattle looking very well.
Took the areo afterwards to Palmar potrero about 400 novillos & 132 toritos.-  P. Nicolovich here.
Butchered cow.-
Camp beginning to look bad on a/c of sequia.-

— 26 —
(Alfred writes)

Splendid rain this morning 54⅔ m/m.- & looks like more E wind, warm  Barm 754.-  Rain juntared some water in camp.-
No work today.-
J. Suarez came from Calchaqui with horse cart & stores.-
A & Nicolorich went up to Palmar fence in trap in afternoon.-

— 27 —
(Alfred writes)

Fine day for camp, damp & hardly any sun barm 757
Had on rodeo del Medio4000  and parted 250 novillos & 34 toritos.  Did not part any toritos from the bigger part of the rodeo.
Afterwards had on rodeo Salado2000  and parted 200 novillos & 40 toritos (did not finish parting the toritos.)  Locked them in Ensenada for night.-
Butchered a vaquilla.-
Salto fixing mud on E wall of house (outside).-

— 28 —
(Alfred writes)

Warm day E wind slight, muggy heat Barm 761
Had on rodeo Estancia about 400 and parted out 31 novillos & 15 toritos and then had on rodeo Palmar2000 and parted 203 novillos.  Afterwards took them to potrero Palmar & counted the lot 1110 novillos 200 toritos m/om.  Nicolorich left for Calchaqui in trap after seeing Palmar rodeo.  Traded with him (if Castagnino is conforme) for 900 novillos picked.  I to part 1200 to 1250 novillos 3 yrs up including tamberas for him to chose from.-  Richards is better.  Cattle at Palmar rodeo looking well.

— November 29, Sunday —
(Alfred writes)

Hot day NE wind therm 33° Barm 760.
Elias went to Rosario to see about his eye.-
Ramon came back from Calchaqui.  Nicolovich sent word he heard from Castagnino & that he is conforme, on novillado yesterday.-

— 30 —
(Alfred writes)

Hot day 35°   wind slight variable.  Barm 757½.-
Sent gente to gather together the tambera novillos at puestos .. for Palmar potrero.-
Salto surcando for maiz east of batatas.-
Sent 2 carts to Madero for wood.-
A. Writing all day-

December, 1903

[Author: Alfred]

— 1 —

Fine rain this forenoon 31½, ideal growing day.  Barm 756½  N. wind slight, looks like more rain.-
Took the novillos tamberas & cerreros from Lomo Poi 12Tam   3cerrero = 15
Paso Calchaqui 24 tamberos 8 cerreros & Mistolar 29 tamberos 5 cerres 91 total.
Butchered 1 capon.
Pancho Martinez sent word asking for rodeoPalmar for Aleman to part 50 toritos.

— 2 —

Had on rodeo of  Fine growing day E & NE wind barm 757.
Had on rodeo of novillos & toritos in potrero Palmar.  Did not entregar any toritos for Mayenfisce (Aleman) as he only wanted 1½ yrs & there were very few.  Parted 27 toritos (best) and put into camp again.  Camp in Palmar looks beautiful.
Gente left for Lomo Poi for recojido tomorrow.-  Took a capon along.  Also butchered two capones here.-
Sent mail with J. Suarez to Calchaqui.-

— 3 —

Hot day but pleasant about 32°  N.E wind & N Barm 754½
Had on rodeos tapera 2000 & Mistolar 1800 and parted 16 and 13 novillos = 29.  peones sleep at Mistolar for tomorrow.-
Report a tremendous rain having fallen at Lomo Poi (to south of estero nutria and south potrero nearly all “anegada”. (tuesday)
Salto planting the last maiz.-
Fine weather for camp which is improving fast.-
Richards hard at work on canoe (boat.)

— 4 —

Very hot day 35° n wind.  Barm 753½ & looks like a tormento.-
Had on rodeo del Medio about 6000 head and parted 23 novillos & some toritos.  In afternoon had on rodeo Salado about 1500 head and parted 20 novillos.  Butchered a vaquilla.-
Ramon & son bro’t the wool from Maderos 15 lienzos & 4 bags of barriga.-
Mayenfisch sent again wanting to part toritos, smaller ones.

— 5 —

Storm last night with slight rain 4½ m.m. & this forenoon had a fine rain nearly 14 m.m. making 18.3 m,m.  Got fresh afterwards with east wind  Barm 760.
Had on rodeo Estancia in afternoon800 and parted about 10 novillos.
Sent Wenceslao to Calchaqui with horse to bring out Nicolorich.
Comisario CampoEscobar with 2 men passed to bolicho.-
Grand weather for camp.-

— December 6, Sunday —

Hot muggy day thundering but no rain  Barm 760  Wind E.
Had on rodeo Palmar and parted about 8 novillos & put them into Palmar potrero (93.)  Pancho Martinez parted 50 toritos for Aleman @ $35. 00 mostly yearlings. (45 ~  4 B 1 orechano = 50)  Pat Mcarmack & Burns were here for breakfast, showed them Frakes cattle.  he offered $17.Terneros por muertos.  Asked him $20.  Clemente brought mail.-  Had letter from Bances sayin Elias had to go to Hospital about his eye.-

— 7 —

Hot muggy day E wind Barm 760 rained in afternoon 6.9 m.m. and after sun down for an hour had a great down pour 61.7 m.m.  Expect it has filled up all the esteros as the ground was thoroughly soaked before.-
Peones made brush fence on Palmar lake where fence joins the laguna, to keep cattle getting around.-
Ramon began working in maiz with sucoredor and in evening planted out bermuda grass with Salto..-
What a fine time for grass!

— 8 —
(Alfred writes)

Fine growing day for camp E wind barm 758.
Had not rained so much towards Mistolar & paso but a lot towards Salado & Palmar.
Wenceslao came back from Calchaqui.  horse sent in for Nicolorich was lost or stolen from Vermuth so sent in Romulo with trap, took mail.
Sent canoa to paso Calchaqui.
Ramon & son planting bermuda grass towards old chacra.
Nicolovichs tropero peones came from Bellville for tropa.-

— 9 —

Fine growing day NE wind warm muggy 32°  Barm 756, drizzled a bit in evening but storm seems to have drawn off.-
Waiting for Nicolorich who has not turned up.-
Butchered cow.-
MaCormack & D. Collins came at noon and stop night.-
Showed the former the tambera toritos.
Nothing going on.

— 10 —

Rained again this morning 12½ m/m, wind changed to south and fresh with damp clouds  Barm 760.-
Planted bermuda grass back of peones quarters.-
MaCormack looked at tamera toritos at Mistolar and paso Calchaqui & left again with Collins for Monte Aguara.
No signs of Nicolovich yet.-
Nothing new in camp & every thing is looking well.-

— 11 —

Fine cool day S wind  Barm 760.-  Splendid day for cattle.-
Butchered cow.-
Trap came from Calchaqui bringing Nicolovich. (mail came.)
Salvatierra had left Calchaqui again.-
Gente left for puesto Palmar to sleep then for recojido tomorrow.

— 12 —

Fine day NE wind slight Barm 759.-
Had on rodeo Palmar (potrero) of novillos & Nicolovich parted tropa 881 novillos & afterwards entregared him here 22 tambera novillos & locked them in corral tonight.  About 324 novillos left in Palmar potrero & seems about 50 had escaped, or might not have come on rodeo.-
M.Fraire here for night.-
Fine weather for camp.-

— December 13, Sunday —

Fine day.  E wind slight.  30° Barm 759.
Started off tropa desechared 3 making 900.  Gave 2 vaquillas for consuma.  No work getting across Salado.  Nicolovich left for Calchaqui in trap about 10 a.m.  Guia was not dispatched(no stamps) so took pasé along, & guia to be sent on to Costagnino.  Gave capon also to troperos.  carneado capon.  Sent 2 peones with tropa as far as Lucero.

— 14 —

Cloudy fine day E wind slight 29°  Bar 760.-
A cut the Johnston grass & looked like too much rain to cut alfa.-
Salto hoeing batatas.
Villafaña recorriendo maiz.-
The ten mensuales came back from tropa as far as Lucero.-
Elias came back from Rosario hospital: his eye not cured yet.-
Juan Andres passed on way to Sanchez to make tropa.-
McCormick & Burns here for night, want to part Frake’s cattle which he has bought @ $19. . terneros por muerto.-

— 15 —

Looked very much like rain with thunder & variable winds, but clear tonight  Barm 760.
Had on rodeo in potrero Salado and delivered Frakes cattle to McCormick 200 marked @ $19, & helped them across Salado.
There were about 14 novillos 4 yr & over.-
Pancho Martinez was here this morning from Alemans with cheque for toritos.
Butchered cow & capon.
Julian Sanchez for night.
Same work as yesterday.-

— 16 —

Fine day warm about 30°, slight S wind Barm 760, fog in morning.-
A. cut alfa in old alfalfar.  (alfa splendid.)
Got in the Johnston grass.-
Salto still hoeing batatas.
Villafaña recorriendo maiz.

— 17 —

Warm muggy day 33°, variable wind slight Barm 760.  Looks rainy.
Montonared alfa & cut in old chacra.-
Same work as yesterday.-

— 18 —

Started to rain at 9 A.M. & continued to 5 P.M. 18.7 m/m. rain  Barm 758  Wind S & W.- & S.  Therm 28°.-
No work going on.
2 capones butchered
A went to Calchaqui in trap morning early

— 19 —

Fine day. S wind, cloudy, warm  Therm 30 Barm 757½.-
Carted hay all day into galpon.-
2 capones butchered

— December 20, Sunday —

Fine warm Therm 35° Barm 760¼.  S wind.
Carted hay.  Butchered 2 capones.
A came back from Calchaqui & Aleman’s.

— 21 —

Warm day 34° NE wind slight.-  Barm 758.-
Cutting new alfa and hauling to stack.- Butchered 2 capones.-
Nothing especial otherwise new.  Glorious weather for camp.-

— 22 —

Warm day (hot)  East wind Therm 34°  Barm 758.-
Same work as yesterday.  Alfa is splendid & in fine condition for stacking.-
Salado quite high again.-

— 23 —

Hot day 34° E wind  Barm 757½
Horse cart went to Calchaqui Zenobio also chacrero (Salto)
Salado running in ditches, but as water is salt covered the ditches.
Finished cutting alfa and hard at work stacking.-
Butchered vaquilla.-
A goes to San Cristobal tomorrow with tropilla for Xmas
Richards to Calchaqui  " " [for Xmas]

— 24 —

Very hot day 39°  N.E. wind.
A went to San Cristobal with tropilla for Xmas.-
Richards [went to] Calchaqui [for Xmas]
Juntaring alfa in stack.-

— 25 —

Rained in morning 3 a.m. to 12 a.m.  21½ m/m S wind.

— 26 —

Finished alfa stack.-

— December 27, Sunday —

Fresh weather SE wind.
Cart came last night,- from Calchaqui with stores etc
D. Collins who came yesterday left today.-

— 28 —

Fresh day slight drizzle in afternoon.  1410 m.m.
Bro’t wood from Palmar.-
A. came back from San Cristobal.-
J Sanchez here on way to Calch.

— 29 —

Fine day.  Wind variable, cloudy.  29°  Barm 761.-
Had on rodeo Palmar about 1500.  Disembechared a lot of calves, capared some toritos, and parted out 23 bulls & juntared them in rodeo del Medio with some cattle in afternoon.-  Cattle looking well, especially calves.-
Richards came back from Calchaqui reports having had good time.-
Every thing looking well.
Butchered a vaquilla.

— 30 —

Fine day NE wind, about 30°  Barm 760½.-
Had on north side of Rodeo del Medio, about 2000, & disembech a few calves & capared a few toritos.  In afternoon had on rodeo Salado, about same size & did same work.-
Cattle looking very well.-
Salto still working at batatas.-

— 31 —

N.E. wind pretty strong 35° Barm 759.–
Had on rodeoito Estancia about 60 head & disembechado and capared some toritos.-
Nothing going on.
A & Richards went over to Hartenecks but no one at home.-

1904

January, 1904

[Author: Alfred]

— 1 —

New Year.  Very hot 37° strong n wind.  Barm 757.
Holiday, & nothing going on.  Most of the puesteros here today.

— 2 —

Very hot day 37½° strong n wind & at night had a dry storms. Barm 759.
Butchered cow.-
Fixed up the wool in lienzas & bro’t up the wool from Mistolar (4¼ lienzas)
Dionisio Collins is here on way from Micheluds.-
Sent Wenceslao to Calchaqui with mail.-

— January 3, Sunday —

Rained last night and this morning 25.3 m/m.  Fine cool day just the thing for the camp.  SE wind Barm 762°
Nothing going on.  Gente went to sleep at Palmar puesto for recojido tomorrow.

— 4 —

Fine day warm NE wind 28° Barm 760½
Had on rodeo potrero Palmar.  Counted the novillos over 3 yrs 337.  besides the toritos, & 2 bullocks, & 5 cows.  - 2 ajeno novillos S
Mail came last night.-  Salto & Villafaña carpiando in chacra.  Reculuteros of Estancias Unidas passed on way out.-

— 5 —

Fine day SE wind  Barm 763.-  Therm 30°.-
Had on rodeo in south potrero in morning.  Took out nearly all of yearling calves from plantel.  In afternoon had rodeo de la Loma about 800 head, put 6 cows for plantel & 4 black& bayo novillos in south potrero for consuma.  Cattle looking very well down there.  Killed 2 sheep from Mistolar at Estancia.  J. Fillon passed on way out.

Rainfall, 1903

Rainfall:

Month m.m.
Jan. 168
Feb. 191
Mar.  64¾
Apr. 105
May 123½
Jun.  37½
Jul.  18.8
Aug.  11
Sep.  27
Oct.  22¼
Nov. 114¼
Dec. 172.8
1903:1055.6

Frosts:
 1902 = 41
 1903 = 16


© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)