In 1856, answering to an inquiry on the conditions of production, Bernardo Gutiérrez and Félix García, rural producers from Mercedes, described the procedure to set up an estancia. Oddly enough, the purchase of a piece of land is not mentioned. Either Gutiérrez and García were taking land for granted, or that was not a necessary step. Actual possession was perhaps more urgent than legal ownership, and probably the best way to secure it. Once on the land, a water well was dug, for water was indispensable for building improvements. Three ranchos were then built: one for the owner, one for the peons, and a kitchen. The owner's rancho would be 6 varas long; the peons' and the kitchen, 7 varas long each. Paja (a coarse grass) was used for roofing, and hardwood poles were required for their structure. Nails were used for the doors, and hides for the poles. Three peons would work 45 days to build those ranchos.

A corral for cattle, made of ñandubay poles placed vertically forming a wooden wall (palo a pique), should follow. For 1,500 head of cattle, a corral should be 150 varas on each side, requiring 1,100 poles. Two ditches, zanja and contrazanja, were dug around it. One peon would build the corral and ditches in 12 days.

Finally, a watering place for the livestock (jagiiel) was required: a well, 5 or 6 varas long and 2 varas wide. The jagiiel would be used when neighboring streams or lagoons, if any, dried up. A small dam kept the water surging from the well while it was not demanded by livestock.