New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-13
THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
CHILL.

.nv the sun, IL we saw him at all, on the Wintr
.ol.s;ee, and still "herce AQuarias stains the
Z. incered year. with us, while you Of the North
ern enlightened regions are rejoicing in the
midst Of the delights Of Summer fruits and in
the prospects Of waving harvests. The Winter,
however, 90 far, has been singularly mild. A
small quantity Of rain has fallen in this country,
except perhaps in the extreme south, where it
always rains more or kss-senerally more-for
twelve months in the year.
The effects Of the season are manifest in the
greatly diminished number Of ships in our har-
Dor, and in the inactivity Of every department
of business. Al she men-ofwar," Of which we
had 50 many in February, are gone north, leaving
&c only men of peace. The English ana reach
vessels are suppose now at Petropavl0fsk, If the
Russian hasn't beaten them of again The Ameri-
cans have gone around the Cape, or to California
and Mexico to look after affairs 10 those betrOubled
regions The Chilians even, believe, are talking
of sending vessel TO foreign parts to look after the
safety perhaps, of the rest of the world, or 10 learn
Aoc, which is the more likely superstition. / sin
cerely hope she hasn't gone as Sardinia has done,
20 offer her pussance at the feet Of the Allies be-
fore SevastOpO
No "nOrthers" of any considerable force have as
yet visited us to test the strength Of the iron pier
which has been extended out into our harbor the
past year, at heavy expense, by Messrs. COnsno
* Garland, who are considered one OF the most
reliable as well as enterprising firms in business
here Every vessel in port is prepared for bad
weather at sight during the Winter, and owing to
the remarkable inclined plane which forms the
bottom Of our barbOr these precautions usually
prove sufficient. The Bay of Valparaiso is in fact
sn open roadstead, ten or fifteen miles wide at its
mouth and about half as deep. The anchor finds
bottom in from 100 fathOms to 10 fathoms or less,
according it is "et CO." at the distance Of few
yards or few miles from shore. The slope is
regular and TO the north. Of course good hold
exists in norther, although vessels have not un-
frequently in former times been driven ashore aud
lOst during the severe stOfmsswhich sometimes
visit US here in Winter.
The Congress of this Republic has now been in
session for month, and will continue in session
I'LL the LIST of September, as is established by law.
am unable TO give you any items OF special IN
ferest which have transpired in this Body. The
word HepxJlic here is used in different sense GER
tainly from what it is with us, although some OF
the forms Of government are evidently copied from
our own. The representatives to Congress are
elected trienniay, in proportion to one Tor every
10000 souls those citizens only being entitled TO be
chosen who have an income to the amount of $500
at least. Senators must have an income OF $1,000
per annum TO be entitled to the sufrages of elect
ors who themselves must also possess certain
amount Of property to be entitled TO vote.
The Senate consists, / believe of but twenty
persons, chosen for nine years each, alternating
triennially The House of Representatives con.
sisted last year Of 50 deputies, elected in 1852 for
three years each. The President now in office, Don
Manuel Montt was elected in 1851 for the usual
term of FIVE years from Independence Day."
Sept I6 of that year. He is, l am inclined to
believe man of ability, and altogether the best
man to whom the Chief Magistracy of this country
has been committed. You will recollect the
very proper and energetic measures he adopted to
put down the show of revolution which was got
up at several places in 1851 TO set aside his
election. This, as well as his manly and straight
forward course on several occasions since, and III
fact his constant devOtedness to the duties of his
Office and the best interests of the people, as he
regards them, have secured for President Montt
the respect and esteem OF the business community
no ese than the cordial regards of the masses of the
people in Chill. Foreigners generally, as well as
The electors believe, will be glad TO see Mr.
Mont chosen for second term at the election to
take place year from this time. lie is enphati-
eally a man OF the people, selfmade, and was
few years ago. humble schoolmaster, having
risen BY his own merits to the proud position he
now occupies, fact which will commend him to
the favorable regards of all citizens of the United
States Would that Chill had thousands of such
schoolmasters now in the field, and elevating, not
only themselves, but their eOuntrymen into the
notice Of the other nations OF the earth
Among the permanent improvements in this
country since my last date, note the project OF
railroad from Santiago to Tala, on the River Maue,
about $50 miles south, over the surface of the val
ley Of the country of which spoke in former
letter This would connect the heart of the rich
est agricultural region on this coast directly with
this port by way of the Valparaiso and Santiago
Railroad now in progress. The scheme appears
to me every way feasible and the cost for such
distance very ineonsiderable no obstacles existing
in the way of era les and but few streams of much
size TO be bridged, 30 that should not be sur
prised if the estimated cost of 81, 100000 would
nearly cover the prime expenses OF the enterprise
OF course should this road be made, not many years
would elapse before the rich valley of the Bobio at
or near Conception, would be reached and the ac-
cessibe and extensive coal-feld beyond would then
find market for their products throughout every
portion Of the interior, and be shipped down the
coast from this port
observe this country papers still discussing
the grave question as to whether Patagonia, Terra
del Fuego and Cape Horn belong to Chill or to
the Argentine Republic, across the Cordlera de
Los Andes Mendoza, with good spank, stoutly
maintains that as she is isolated beyond the noun
taiDs, and connected by the crests of the Sierra
with those Austrd regions of rains and clouds
they of right belong 70 her. And so the CORstita
cionat printed there puts 1t, that they are, and
Of right ought TO be in the good Province of Cuyo
Of which Mendoza is head and front and that
the Emperor, Charles v, of Spain and Neither
lands always 10 understood it. Chill, however,
is in possession, having planted penal colony at
Punta Arenas in lS43, which she has maintained
as is alleged, ever since that time shall not at
tempt to decide at present this question as TO
whom Cape Horn belongs, if the penguins have
relinduished their claims, which am very much
inclined 20 doubt. At any rate, it seems TO me