The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-14


pclled up the stream, and float down with the cur
rent. When the wind is favorable, they hoist
large squaresail; and at times dozen of these
sails may be seen dotting reach of the broad and
shallow stream. The breadth of the river at Con-
cepcion in winter is fully mile and half, and in
summer dwindles down to about half that width.
As the passage here leads to the coal mines of Coro
mel and Lota, it is proposed to construct bridge at
this point; but as this would interfere with the fu
ture navigation Of the river by steam question if
the government win give its consent. In the mean
time there is miserable ferry, furnished with three
clumsy boats. This ferry was rented the other day
by the government, for eighteen months, for the
sum Of $3.50. The same ferry was rented in 1916
for $3.50 per annum.
The Bay Of Coronel, near thirty miles south Of
Talcahuana, has assumed An important position on
the commercial map of Chilli, from the existence Of
the valuable coal mines on its shores. These mines
were first discovered in 1852, and in the first six
months of 1853 there were exported seven hundred
and ty-sx tons. In 1854, from LIST January to 2lst
May, twsnty-nine vessels loaded at the Coronel
mines, 1851 tons, and about twenty loaded At the
Lota mines about 5000 tons. The latter mines are
much smaller than the former, but are worked by
wealthy capitalists, who also purchase large guam
titles of coal from the Coronel mines, to enable
them to fulfil contracts with steamers, &c. This
branch or Chilian trade will soon assume gigan-
tic figure in the progressive commerce of this coun-
ny.
Talcahuana the port Of Conception, Is situated
at the southern corner of the bay of the same
name, which is about nine miles in diameter, aud
sheltered by the island of Quiriquina in the en-.
trance. On the shores surrounding tae bay are
several small towns. one Of which, Pence, was in
fo mer days the principal place in Southern Chill.
was destroyed by an earthquake in 1850, and the
capital was removed to the Biobio, where La Con-
cepcion stands. This town was also partially de.
strOyed in 1885, and the ruins Of the large govern
nent buildings and churches are not yet cleared
away. The place has been rebuilt in a very regu-
lar and substantial manner, the streets broad, and
alright angles with each other.
1t Is On the shores of the bay Of Talcuahana that
are situated the principal Touring mills of the
country In the vicinity Of the bay there are thir
teen mills, with the aggregate capacity Of turning
out ,l40 quiutals daily. On the Biobio there are
ave, with the capacity Of $50 daily and one large
mill at Cocun, on the bay Of Coronel, which can
turn out 400 quintals in the twenty fours. Among
all these there is but one mill driven by steam.
Tacahuana is the great resort Of the whalers as
many as thirty being sometimes In the port togeth-
er. The government has placed bonded warehouses
at this point (and they have been tardy enough
about il, too) and the whalers are allowed to store
their oil without charges.
The port OF TalcahuaDa is the outlet for the prin-
cpal agricultural products Of Chill; asthe province
of Conception is the agricultural, Valparaiso is
the commercial and Copiapo the mining section of
the country Yet an American will scarcely believe
that between Valparaiso, the great commercial EN-.
porium, and Conception, the centre of the landed
600 inhabitants, the means Of communication are
limited to one uncomfortable steamer plying once
. month, and taxing the people $34 so, for the dis
lance Of $50 miles or thereabouts and coal to be had
oil along the coast at five or six dollars per ton. The
communication between these two most important
points Ia so wretched, so expensive and so annoy
ing, controlled by company with ideas belonging
to the scventceth century, that few but those who
are forced by unavoidable circumstances dream OF
passing between these two towns; and yet the boat
is crowded every trip such is the pressure of RI
sing commerce. There is at this moment ample
business for weekly line Of boats between yalpa-
raiso and Conception, and handsome profits made
with charges two thirds less than those Of the Eng
Itch company, and this without the bonus of $50 900
they get from the government for doing the people
the favor Of giving them 'scanty means Of COM
munication al exorbitant profits 1t is gratifying,
however, to know that the government is becoming
little wiser, and is awakening to sense OF its
true interests.
The steamer have alluded to belongs to the
En- slish Steam Navigation Company Of the Pacific,
company which is mainly indebted to the enter.
prise Of Mr.. Wheelwlight, an American, for its
establishment. Whatever good II may have d Jnc in
the early stage Of its existence, there is no doubt
that for years past, this company has been an
incubus upon the rising growth and prosperity Of the
country. 1t is conducted by people residing in Eng
ard no ignorant and careless of the Interests
Of tic people here. II has monopoly of the mails
and bonus besides. Its charges are exorbtant,
without the slightest effort to prove itself grateful
contrary Is VIGOROUSLY the case, for the government
and the people are treated with like con-
tempt by it. BY the wealth and influence OF
the members Of this company, they have here
tofofe been enabled TO brighten away foreign
competition and st1e any feeble attempt to
establish national lire The people Of the country
are generally ignorant Of the uses OF steam, and
afraid 10 venture into any unfamiliar path OF BUSH
ness and the English are cunning and crafty enough
to do all in their power to keep the community thus
ignorant and blind TO their interests-intcrcsts
which must, of course, conflict disadyantagcousIy
with their own. The unfortunate character of the
CHILEAN people aids them in this interested mode of
con0uct. This character Is an exceeding slowncss
ia the road Of Improvement, an attachment to an
cient end row useless customs, a total repupnance
to loo king TO the future to refund with profit pres
ent expenditure natural incidence which incapaci-
tates tbem from taking advantage Of the great re-
sources OF The country ard confirmed impression
mat IN any offered transaction with foreigner, the
latter is seeking TO swnds hm-the last. OF course,
proceeding from conscious Ignorance, and the con-
uction Of superior intelligence in the stranger.
In corrob0i alton OF the latter clause, viii men,
ton noto ious fact. In all parts Of Chill there are
people holding property, Of various descriptions,
that yields them absolutely nothing, from whi.h
their fathers received nothing, and from which ene
present possess0 never expects 70 realise doiar.
foreigner comes, and finds that he wants
a few ceres Of land perhaps for cattle pen. per
kps for potato patch, perhaps TO build him
shsnty, perhaps for some trivial purpose and ior