MAY 20, 1910
3
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The ' Commoner.
three match factories and other manufacturing
plants. But probably the best test of the city's
business stability is to ber found in her three
banks. The Bank of Talca has a paid up capi
tal of $5,000,000 (Chilean dollars), a surplus
of one million, and deposits of more than twelve
million; the dividends amount to some fourteen
per cent annually Chilean dollars are worth
only a little more than 25 cents in our money,
but a bank with a capital of $1,250,000 In
"American money and deposits of over three, mil
lions is cood for a city that has only about
40,000 inhabitants and two other largo banks.
The southern third of Chili is devoted to
grain, cattle and sheep. Grain is abundant
there, and the grasses grow well. The .extreme
south Is Intersected ' by innumerable bays and
sounds, giving to that section scenery which, in
the opinion of Chileans, equals, that furnished
by the fiords of Norway. Punta Arenas, the
principal port of this section and the southern
most city In the world, has a population of ten
thousand, and an export trade of more than four
million (lollars.
As an indication of the Industry of the people
and of the magnitude of the nation's resources,
It may be added that Chili is producing 25,000,
000 bushels of wheat, 66,000,000 gallons of
wine, and has a million and a half of cattle and
nearly two million of sheep, while her deserts
yield over 3,000,000 tons of nitrate, and her
mountains 30,000 tons of copper.
The government has made continuous efforts,
partly successful, to colonize southern -Chili
special attention having been given to the ter
ritory of Magellan. Liberal inducements are
offered and, up to this time,' some 30,000 emi
grants have landed. Southern' Europe has fur
nished the bulk of these; twenty-eight per cent
are from Spain, twenty-one per cent from
France, and twenty per cent from Italy. Ger
many, Switzerland and Great Britain follow with
fourteen, eight and five per cent respectively.
Speaking of Germany's contribution to the
population of Chili it is worthy of notice that
this vigorous and ambitious nation is increasing
her commerce on the western coast. Her mer
chants and manufacturers are sending their
agents into Peru, Bolivia and Chili, and her
eteamships are fighting for a share of the carry
ing trade. In the last named country her in
fluence is seen also in the schools and in the
organization of the army.
Chili has already commenced to turn her at
tention to manufacturing; in fact, it would not
be surprising if she became the manufacturing
center of Souh America. Her people are intel
ligent and quick to learn; her climate is such
that manual labor can be performed without
discomfort; she has both coal and water power
and, besides these advantages, she feels the need
of providing employment for her increasing pop
ulation. Chili also has a considerable fleet of merchant
vessels. The steamers that carry her flag have
an aggregate tonnage of 48,000 and the sailing
.vessels add 22,000 more a total which is grow
ing nearly ten per cent each year. As a ship
is, in effect, an island -upon which many live
and support a still larger number on the land,
Chili is, as it were, extending her boundaries
as she multiplies her vessels.
The railway system of the country is being
'developed in spite of the many difficulties which
have to be overcome. She now has about 3,000
miles of track, half under state ownership and
half owned 'by private corporations. Of the 700
miles now under construction, considerably more
than half is being built by the government. A
longitudinal line is contemplated from the north
ern ports to Puerto Montt, at the head of the
inland water system of the south. A large part
"of this line is in fact already in operation. This
Toad will cross all of the lines running east and
west, and thus give rapid communication be
tween the different parts of the republic. In
fwriting of Bolivia I mentioned the completed
ine running from Antofogasta to La Paz, and
the one under construction from Arlca to La
Paz. Besides these In the north there Is a line
Tln the north running from Valparaiso (and San
tiago) to Buenos Aires, which passes through
fie crest of the Andes at an elevation of about
0,000 feet. The tunnel, less than two miles
long, which will be open for traffic in May,
pierces the mountains at a point where it saves
'a climb of some 2,500 feet. This line will
greatly facilitate commerce between the two
countries, a commerce now impeded by snows
'during the winter months. It will be a great
mistake, however, if tourists use the tunnel,
or the view which one obtains from the top of
.the range should not be missed; neither should
one fail to see the Peace Statue, to which I shall
refer later. The government Is considering a
fourth lino which will run from the coast to
the top of the mountains, and connect there with
a lino which Argentina is projecting from tho
Atlantic. ,
One hears a good deal of talk In South
America of an international line running from
tho United States through Mexico and Central
.America to Colombia, Equador, Peru and
Bolivia, and from Bolivia to Chili on tho west
ern coast, and to Brazil and Argentina on the
east. Argentina already has her part of this
joints road completed; it runs from tho Bo
livian boundary to Buenos Aires. Bolivia has
only 150 miles to build to complete her share;
Chili is closing up the gaps in her section;
Brazil is pushing westward toward tho Bolivian
frontier, and Peru is at work. In a few years it
will be possible to take a train at Lima, or pos
sibly at some point farther north, and go by
rail to Bolivia, Chili, Brazil and Argentina. Tho
northern sections of tho road may bo built
later on.
One is Impressed with the stature, strength
and energy of tho Chileans. In appearance and
movement they give evidence of virility. This
is explained in various ways. One official says
that the early settlers catne from the north of
Spain; another Chilean emphasizes the effect of
climate and points out the advantages of the
temperate zone; and still a third gives the In
dians, credit for adding physical fibre InHho mix
ture that has been going on for nearly four
centuries. But explain It as one may, the, peo
ple of Chill are strong, industrious, hotfeful and
patriotic. It is the boast of Chileans that they
are as one man in all that effects their country's
interest, and tho boast seems to be supported
by the facts. This national pride has not, how
ever, be it said to her credit, kept her from bor
rowing largely from Europe and the United
States. A number of her officials have English
names, and her monuments proof that she fs gen
erous in recognizing the merits of those who
have come to her from other lands. O'Hlggins,
whose name indicates his ancestry, has a beauti
ful statue erected to his memory, and a province
named after him. William Wheelright, an
American who gave the first Impetus to railroad
building, is also kept In mind by a statue.
Henry Meiggs, another American, left Ills Im
press on Chili as a railroad builder, 'as he did
to a still greater extent on Peru.
"Valparaiso and Vina del Mar have many
houses which, in their construction and furnish
ing, give evidence of taste and refinement as
well as of wealth. Minister Edwards, who is
also the leading journalist of Chill, has at the
latter place a summer home of unusual beauty,
to which he has given the euphonious and rest
inviting name of Villa Serena.
Santiago has not only palatial residences, but
splendid public buildings as well, the most hand
some of which is the one occupied by the na
tional congress.
The visitor from North America Is gratified
to learn that Chili abolished the lottery and the
bull fight as soon as she secured her indepen
dence, and the good results which have followed
this step are easily apparent.
Chili was Sno of the first of the South Ameri
can republics to awaken to the Importance of
popular education. She claims that 38 per cent
of her people can read and write, and that tho
proportion has increased 9 per cent since 1885.
Of her population of 3,500,000, 160,000 attend
the public schools and there is, In addition, a
considerable attendance at private schools. Ed
ucation is compulsory between the ages of six
and fourteen. The annual appropriation for edu
cation in Chill amounts to more than a dollar
and a half per capita in our money. There
are several American schools in the republic, one
of which the American Institute, of which Dr.
Browning Is the head have been established
more than- a quarter century ago. This school
is located at Santiago, and is for boys only. Dr.
Rice has a school for girls In the same city.
Our country has not, however, exerted the In
fluence over Chili that she has over some of the
other South American republics, partly because
Chili is farther from us by the ocean route,
partly because of the large number of settlers
from Great Britain and Germany, and partly
because we have been drawn Into diplomatic
controversies with the government of Chili. Tho
Baltimore affair of eighteen years ago strained
relations for awhile, and the Alsop matter has
more recently caused some friction. Whatever
the merits of the latter case may be, it has
temporarily embarrassed the Americans who are
doing business in Chili. I did not find, how
ever, any unfriendliness among tho officials; on .
tho contrary they could not have been mora
hospitable or shown greater courtesy. Those
Chileans who havo visited our country are en-
thuslasttc in Us praise, and others speak of
visits in contemplation. Prcsidont Montt, the
third of that namo to occupy tho offico of chiof
executive, onco represented Chill In Washington
and is, therefore, acquainted with our nation's
policy and with its pacific intentions.
Tho Pananta canal. will help Chili, although,
because of her proximity to Capo Horn and her
railway connection with Argentina, it will holp
her less than tho countries farther north. But
tho United States and Chill will bocomo closer
neighbors when ships can come directly from
tho north, and tho increasing commerce which
will follow will cement the relations between
tho tw6 nations, and lessen tho possibilities of
misunderstanding.
Tho Chiloans are a military pooplo; you no
tice this as soon as you enter tho country. Tho
officers havo a soldiorly boaring, and tho on
listed mon go through tho drill as if they roally
enjoyed it. Both tho army and tho navy aro
largo in proportion to population, and yet Chili
and Argentina have recently joined in erecting
tho most beautiful peace statue In all tho world.
It Is a bronzo figure of Christ, tho Prince of
Peace, and stands at tho summit of the Burmojo
Pass, on tho boundary lino between tho two
nations. Ono hand holds tho cross, and tho other
Is raised as if to pronounce a blessing. Tho erec
tion of the monument at this place was sug
gested by Senora Angola Do Olivoira Cesar do
Costa, of Buenos' Aires, now president of tho
Argentine branch of tho International Peace
Society. It was unveiled with impressive cere
monies in 1904. On the base aro appropriate in
scriptions, pledging perpetual peaco between tho
two countries may the pact never bo broken
and tho sentiment to which it" gives expression
make speedy conquest of all tho nations of tho
earth.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
Copyright, Now York World.
The Revolt in Iowa
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Des Moirtes, la., May 10. (Associated Press
report.) Ringing denunciations of the tariff
bill and the men who passed it, characterized
the speeches of Senators Jonathan P. Dolllver
and Albert B. Cummins, who opened tho pro
gressive campaign in Iowa tonight at tho
coliseum. Over 10,000 progressives attended
tho meeting.
Tho meeting tonight followed tho district
conferences throughout tho day, at which steps,
were taken to reconstruct tho old Cummins
organization and to organize the state by coun
ties and precincts.
Even President Taft did not escape tho sar
castic shafts of tho two Iowa solons, while Sen
ator Aldrich was named as tho leader of cor
porate greed and avarice. Senator Dolllver re
ferred to the president as the "titular leader,"
of the republican party, which meant, ho said,
"a good man surrounded by people who know
exactly what they wanted."
Aldrich With Guggcnhcims
Both senators declared that if tho republican
party continued the policy advocated by tho re
actionary leaders it would spell ruin to tho
party.
Among these leaders, Senator Aldrich 'was
frequently mentioned as the man "allied with
the Guggenheims ' and the Ryans and Paul
Morton In a mammoth trust' Incorporated as a
rubber company, which Is allowed by the ar
ticles of incorporation - to participate In any
kind of business, anywhere on the face of tho
earth, and which is one of the holding compa
nies in the Guggenheim syndicate for the con
trol of the wealth of Alaska."
"These are the men who are responsible for
the tariff bill during the extraordinary session,"
declared Senator Dolllver.
."The bill is only a scheme to rob the people
and to increase the holdings of such gigantic
syndicates as I have mentioned.
Cause of tho Discord
"The troubles in the republican party have
come .not because of what has been said, but
of what has been done. It has been said that
tho tariff bill Is a good law. 'in fact wo have it
on high authority that it is the best tariff bill
ever passed. But not only do 1 denounce such
tariff legislation, but I am not particularly en
amoured of those who passed it.
"If a man protests against such a bill and is
derided and ridiculed what can be the moral
status of such pirates who threaten congress,
and who have become a nucleus around which
the republican party is supposed to rally to
preserve its solidarity.
'Tho fight against such unfaithful leadership
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