There is also operated in conjunction with this school a free class in telegraphy, to enter which it is only necessary for the applicant to be able to read and write correctly.

Although the school has been so recently established, in less than a year it has received 80 pupils and has also a large number oí applications for admission.

NATIONAL SCHOOL OF COMMERCE AT ROSARIO.

Rosario, situated on the river Paraná, 186 miles above Buenos Ayres, ranks in commercial importance as the second city in the Republic, being the center of the greater part of the trade of the provinces lying between the Paraná and the Andes, and also the terminus of the great railroad system which has been constructed toward the north and west.

The rapidly increasing importance of this city induced the Government to establish there a National School of Commerce, which has proved a great boon to the community and is highly appreciated and successful.

An applicant for admission must present a certificate of having passed the fourth grade in the public schools or pass an examination equivalent to the studies therein. Originally the course of studies commenced with a preparatory class, but experience proved that the prescribed studies in that class were too difficult for the scholars at entrance, and a lower preparatory class was added by decree in September, 1896. The commercial course, after leaving the preparatory classes, is completed in two years.

The plan of studies is as follows:

Lower preparatory class: Arithmetic, Spanish, Argentine geography, French, penmanship.

Preparatory class: Spanish, arithmetic, national geography, French, English, drawing, penmanship.

COMMERCIAL COURSE.

First year.-Spanish, mental arithmetic, national history, national geography, French, English, drawing, penmanship, typewriting.

Second year.—Spanish, bookkeeping, general history, general geography, natural sciences, French, English, penmanship.

Students who graduate receive certificates signed by the director of the school and indorsed by the minister of public instruction.

NATIONAL SCHOOL OF COMMERCE, BUENOS AYRES.

The term of study in this institution is three years. The course is as follows:

On the conclusion of the three years' course the minister of public instruction issues diplomas of proficiency in commercial science to those who pass a successful examination in all the studies comprised in the course prescribed.

The director of the school is authorized to admit pupils to a partial course and to give certificates of proficiency in such subjects as they may have followed successfully.

In February, 1897, an industrial department was annexed to this school for the purpose of giving a technical education to youths who wished to adopt an industrial career.

The instruction in this department is both theoretical and practical. The plan of study is as follows:

Industrial technology and manipulation of dairy products, wine making, alimentary pastes, preserves, and starch..

Total...

6

12

36

===

2

4

12

302

6

9

36

Fourth year:

Industrial drawing

Applied physics....

Industrial chemistry.

Visits to industrial establishments.

Work in the shops..

Technology and manipulation of distilling, oil, beer, flour milling, sugar making, tanning, weaving, tobacco manufacturing .... Total.

To be admitted to this school the applicant must be not less than 14 years of age, must have good health and conduct, proved by satisfactory certificates, and must pass a satisfactory examination in reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, history, and geography.

To those who finish the four years' course satisfactorily, the minister of education will grant diplomas of competency and qualification as managers of workshops, industrial overseers, etc., according to the merits of the students.

There are also established scholarships valued at $30 each per month, which are distributed by the minister of education among the most distinguished pupils.

SCHOOL OF PILOTS.

The School of Pilots has for its object the training of young men for the position of officers of the national mercantile marine.

The conditions for entry are as follows:

1. The applicant must be a citizen of the Republic, native or naturalized.

2. He must be not less than 18 years of age nor more than 25.

3. He must present a medical certificate of his fitness for the service.

4. He must be able to read and write correctly.

5. Must pass a successful examination in the following branches: Fundamental rules of arithmetic, general ideas of geography, and the national language.

He must also present to the director of the school his application for admission, accompanied by (1) certificate of baptism, (2) naturalization papers, (3) consent of father or tutor if he is a minor.

The term of study in the school is three years. The course commences March 1 and closes November 15.

The plan of studies is as follows:

First year.-Elementary mathematics, arithmetic, algebra and geometry, rigging, and the national language.

Second year.-Navigation by dead reckoning, rigging, natural geography and history, English, plane and spherical trigonometry.

Third year.-Navigation by astronomy, meteorology, rigging and working ship, universal geography, and English.

On the termination of the annual examinations the pupils make a practice voyage and, if possible, by consent of the minister of marine, make two round trips to the Straits of Magellan, or if that be not possible, the director of the school obtains permission from the minister for them to make a voyage on the national practice vessel. The director, subdirector, or one of the professors accompanies the pupils on the voyage and uses every opportunity of instructing the pupils. On the termination of the voyage the director makes a report to the minister of the time employed in the various exercises and names pupils who are worthy of promotion.

The pupils of the second year must always keep the dead reckoning of the ship, and those of the third year take astronomical observations to determine the vessel's position. Both the second and third year pupils must take meteorological observations and learn while on board the principles of meteorology and the use of the signals of the international code.

Although this school was founded only in 1895, it has made satisfactory progress and has already matriculated fifty pupils, of whom the first class will graduate before the close of the present year, 1898.

NATIONAL SCHOOL OF MINES.

The National School of Mines, which is located at San Juan, is an important institution. It was completely reorganized and its course of studies enlarged and improved in April, 1897, elevating it to a higher standard and largely increasing its reputation and usefulness, with the result of a considerable increase in the number of students.

For admission as a pupil the applicant must present a certificate of having passed a satisfactory examination in the complete course of studies in a national college, unless he asks for admission to the course for assayers only, in which case he can be admitted on presentation of a certificate of having passed satisfactorily the fourth-year studies of a national college, or if he can pass a matriculation examination in the elements of mathematics, geography, history, and the national language.

There are three courses of study, that for the degree of mining assayer being completed in three years, land surveyor in three years, and mining engineer four years; but the diploma of mining engineer authorizes the holder to exercise also the functions of surveyor and assayer.

The plan of studies is as follows:

FOR ASSAYER.

First year.-Algebra, geometry, physics, chemistry, linear and free-hand drawing. Second year.-Mineralogy, theoretical and practical; analytic chemistry, qualitative and quantitative; laboratory work.

Third year.-Geology; paleontology, theoretical and practical; assaying, laboratory work.

FOR SURVEYOR.

First year.-Algebra; geometry and trigonometry, rectilinear and spherical; physics, chemistry, linear and free-hand drawing.

Second year.-Higher algebra; geometry, analytic, projective, and descriptive; mineralogy, construction of roads, water-color drawing of plans.

Third year.-Infinitesimal calculus, topography, land surveying, geology, topographic drawing, legal surveying.

FOR MINING ENGINEER.

First year.-Algebra; geometry and trigonometry, plane and spherical; physics, chemistry, linear and free-hand drawing.

Second year.--Higher algebra; analytic, projective, and descriptive geometry; mineralogy, theoretic and practical; analytic chemistry, qualitative and quantitative; water-color drawing of plans, laboratory work.

Third year.-Infinitesimal calculus, theoretical mechanics, topography, land surveying; geology and paleontology, theoretical and practical; assaying, topographical drawing, laboratory work, statics, and resistance of materials.

Fourth year.-Constructions relating to the development of mines. roads, and railroads, applied mechanics and electrical appliances, metallurgy, mining development, mensuration, legislation, graphic and laboratory work.

Excursions are made by the students for the purpose of giving them practical lessons in geology, surveying, topography, and the mensuration of mines. Visits are also made by them to mines, metallurgic works, public works, manufactories and industrial establishments, for observation and instruction.

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS.

There is an important agricultural school at San Juan and several others in various parts of the Republic. A school of viticulture was also established in the Province of Mendoza in August, 1897, with a two years' term of study. It has already 41 pupils, and promises to be a permanent success.

MILITARY ACADEMY.

A law passed by the national congress in October, 1859, authorized the establishment of a military school. This was carried into effect in June, 1870, by the establishment of the school and the appointment of Col. Don Juan F. Czetz as director.

A committee composed of four persons was appointed to act with the director to frame the regulations for the school. They promptly completed their work, and although some few changes have from time to time been made, the academy is still conducted substantially on the basis then established.

In the admission of pupils the preference is given to the sons of soldiers who have been killed in the service of the Republic and to orphans of employees of the Government in general.

Applicants for admission must be not less than 12, nor more than 14 years of age, and must be able to read and write and have a knowledge of elementary arithmetic.

The course of study is completed in five years and is as follows:

First year.-Catechism, Spanish grammar, geography, arithmetic, algebra, French, Argentine history, penmanship, linear and topographic drawing, infantry drill and tactics, riding, gymnastics, swimming, and fencing.

Second year.-Catechism, theory of war, infantry tactics, cavalry exercises, fencing, and sword exercise.

Third year.—Christian doctrine, analytic geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, physics, telegraphy, perspective drawing, cavalry tactics, artillery drill, rifle practice, fortification, land surveying, general history.

Fourth year.-Morality, fortification, coast defense, science of projectiles, principles of military strategy, making plans and maps, artillery target practice, military accounts, English.

Fifth year.—Fortification, bridge building; combined tactics of infantry, cavalry, and artillery; application of tactics to a brigade of 4,000 men; frontier defense, skirmishing, pyrotechnics; historical description of modern wars.