Sept 9, 1907 and Sept 14, 1908, and responses
4948
(1franc of the time is worth 20 francs in 1995)
transcript of 9 July 1907
"60 rue de Londres Paris, July 9, 07
Dear Mr. Hausermann
I take advantage of the current situation of the work to tell you that we are putting at your disposal the sum of 100,000F on account of your participation for Rosario.
To make our situation a little better, we should try to speed up the regulation of dredging in the course of the talks.
Your lovingly devoted good
G.Hersent
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Handwritten note from Daddy concerning the use of these 100,000F:
"Answer ( à ) my letter of 14 August 1907
50,000 to take in Rosario
50,000 to be used in securities to deposit at Crédit Lyonnais in Paris: if possible 20,000F oblig. Rosario and the rest in Chinese, Japanese or other debt securities.
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Letter from Nacqueville (Hersent in summer residence in their castle of Nacqueville, Manche) 9 Sept. 1907
You can take half of what we have agreed to make available to you on the cash register.
For the rest, we will use it here as you ask.
For Rosario bonds, it may be worth waiting for a few months for the new show, so we'll make you enjoy more advantageous courses."
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Transcript of 14 Sept. 1908
"60 rue de Londres Paris on 14 7bre 1908
Dear Mr. Hausermann
I present you with a duplicate of the deposit receipt to your account of the Crédit Lyonnais of the 56 bonds of the Société du Port du Rosario representing at 460F 25,760Francs that you had asked us to use in this value during the original issue.
Given the progress of the work and the important effort you have just made to complete the downstream section we authorize you to draw up a sum of 100,000Francs to be paid on your share either in Rosario or here according to what will suit you best.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of Mrs Hausermann's memory.
Well, cordially to you.
G.Hersent
Would you like to know about the current plans of the Port of Buenos Aires, which are already being borrowed here in Paris (135 million).
I would also like to know if, if we were interested in this matter with Le Creusot, you would be willing to take care of it on the spot, but then we could look for a way to let you take some leave in Europe."
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Daddy's reply of 15 October 1908:
" Rosario 15 October 1908
Dear Mr. Hersent
I have received your letter of 14 Sept. and the receipt of deposit to Crédit Lyonnais of 56 bonds.. . . . representing .... 25.760F. I am grateful for the authorization you give me to draw 100,000F from my share of the profits.
The program you have drawn up for me has been completed on a timely basis: the downstream section is currently fully completed with the exception of those roads for which we are awaiting a decision by the Department and water flows that can only be temporary.
The Corporation now has all its export assets that are much more powerful than those originally planned, especially in the case of railways that are almost double the size of the first project, and this situation has allowed it to wait for the hour of discussion to calm; although nothing is yet stopped, it is hoped that it will win and that this assault will be the last.
Yesterday we had the visit of the Minister of Public Works, accompanied by Mr. Darquis who temporarily replaced Mr. Lange. The Minister has shown himself to be no longer friendly and I believe that this visit is likely to activate the solution of the pending questions. It has an immediate result for us, because in the afternoon in my office the Minister told Mr. Darquis that the Government accepted the principle of new prices contrary to the opinion of the Directorate of Hydraulic Works and the Inspectorate. He also asked me to order the rails and track equipment in line with the new project by telegram, as Mr.Darquis and the Inspectorate believed that the prices offered by the Company were perfectly justified.
This is therefore an acquired point and it is important; the amount of increase for rails and track equipment is 412,000 pesos.
We then talked about the port's expansion project. The Minister realized that the coal, wood and flammable areas we have projected downstream of the harbour should be executed urgently, and he promised to make a favourable decision soon.
We also drew his attention to...Three lines past...He gave orders to Mr. Darquis to have this case examined without delay... No doubt this will be resolved soon.
Yesterday was a good day for the company and I think it will be the same for the company because the grainists on which the question of tariffs now depends are ready to accept the proposals made to them.
The public authorities fully acquired from the English, and this openly, fought until the end and yesterday we had the proof that they sought all possible means to reach the termination of the contract of the Society. Numerous consultations were asked the Attorney of the Nation who declared himself clearly in favour of the Society - and ended up talking about resentment and bias - so it is now more than likely that the cause is heard and yesterday's visit can only confirm this opinion.
I spoke to the Minister about the increase in the port of Buenos Aires; he said that he intended to
very soon This case in the form of a competition for the total prize of 135 Million francs.23 lines and a sketch ......... There is nothing left of the Pagnard project that Mr.Flondrois sent to Paris by a final letter.
The Minister told me that the government would only provide a general program that would allow competitors to make the changes they would have to make, but that in any case the location of the new work was irrevocable.
You're asking me if I'm willing to deal with this big case with Le Creusot. I'm embarrassed enough to answer you in a precise way, because I was counting on returning to France permanently, at least in the vicinity. My wife's health is still precarious and I keep the hope that the French air would be favorable; then I can't think of making my children Argentines; Jean's education is beginning to worry me.
The work in Buenos Aires will be long, at least six years. If I cannot commit myself now for such a long time, I can at least promise you to put the case on track and stay at your disposal as much as you think it is useful.
Your lovingly devoted good
E.Hausermann