Population

The census of 1899 showed a population of about 630,000 of whom nearly 100,000 were Indians. The foreign population in 1895 numbered 5000 Argentines, 2500 Italians, 1500 Spaniards, 1250 Germans, 800 French, 600 Brazilians, and 1000 Swiss, Austrians, English, and other nationalities. The Paraguayans are a hospitable, well-meaning people, whose prosperity was long retarded by terrible misrule, but whose position is improving under the present favorable conditions of government.

Immigration Encouraged By The Government

The Government encourages immigration, yet, owing to the troubled history of the country until quite recently and the nearer opportunities presented by Argentina, the incomers from foreign countries have been comparatively few. In 1897 there were seven agricultural colonies, embracing 2148 inhabitants, Italians, Germans, French, Spaniards, Swiss, and English. They cultivated 10,000 acres and possessed 235,246 fruit trees, 62,620 coffee plants, 1444 horses, and 14,615 cattle. a considerable number of foreigners, also, scattered through the towns, are leaders in business affairs and a helpful, progressive element.*(N.I.E.)

We have already seen that the immigration of Paraguay was null until 1870 and later scarce, but is sufficiently active today. The Paraguayan Government has made until recently, excessive sacrifices to attract and help the colonizers. Its liberality, with regard to transportation, brought to the country a portion of elements without value. According to the actual laws of colonization, each colonist or family of colonist, knowledgeable in agriculture, and composed of three adult individuals or of five persons in total, have the right to free passage from any point of Rio de La Plata or of Parana, to the place of destination in Paraguay; provided that they be next to a navigable river or a railway. That they enjoy exemption of the right to admission of their effects, furniture, implements, seeds and a rifle. Free lodging during the first eight days following their arrival to Asuncion and the power of purchasing a lot of 12 hectares (hectare = 2.471 acres), to the price of expropriation , to which one must add the expenses of measurement. However, they cannot alienate their lands, at least one fourth of their property, earlier than two years of possession and continued cultivation. Besides, the immigrant must prove that he possesses a capital of fifty gold pesos and thirty for each male adult, upon its arrival to Paraguay.

The Government can establish agricultural colonies, whither by concession of lands, or by expropriation. In the colonies there is reserved a place for the plaza, the church, the schools, the administration buildings, and the public pastures. The colony is submitted to a superintendent of the government, and when comprised of fifty individuals elects a municipality of five persons
and a Justice of the Peace, whose appointment should be confirmed by the Government. Every colonist is exempt from direct contribution during the term of ten years. At times, the power of creating colonies to a business is granted, with a territory of 22,500 hectares, under certain conditions, among those that generally consider the transport of 140 agriculturist families, to the colony.

In many districts of Paraguay, labor is difficult to find, by which it is not convenient to risk a considerable amount of capital in the agriculture without knowing well the conditions of the country. On the contrary, the raising of cattle, offers an alluring future to the laborious and perseverant immigrant, as scarce as his money may be. The continuous development of this industry , thus like the forestry and the derived industries, gives to the small farmer, above all if he settles in an existing colony, a much greater field of activity, that will assure him in the placement of his products. The one thing, they should keep in mind, is not to leave without sufficient resources. In 1913 the immigrants that received assistance from the Paraguayan Government ascended to 1,512; in 1914, to 1,616; in 1915, to 366, and in 1916 to 298. Already there remains today, a few national property lands, of which the majority has become private. By an approved law of September 27, 1918, the President of the Republic, remained authorized to yield without charge a surface maxima of 10 hectares in the eastern region, or of 20 in the west, to all that requested it, with the obligation of constructing in the concession its house and cultivating it in the indicated area. The land cannot leave the property of the concessionaire, only in the case of death, then passes on to its heirs.

In 1916 there were approximately 60,000 foreigners, of which among those were; 25,000 to 30,000 Argentineans, 10,000 to 15,000 Italians, 7,000 Spaniards, 3,000 Germans, 1,400 Brazilians, 1,000 Uruguayans, 800 to 1,000 French and 400 English.