The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-16


TAIcAHyAxo, June IN, 1868.
American ueowSs N Cnile-Msars of C0s~,.,eahou By
Land and Ssa-7he S.edmers Endepesdeace and Poly
sesiaS- Government Encoura0ement-7he Enoiish Maj
&ecmers-7rade Of 1ctcdhuano-Is Resources ard Clpz
bt,itses for Supplying the Whaiers-CY,mae Condition
fhe People The Weo,h,---Apreara1ce Of TslcdhGdno-
frarelling-Cot Of Ltrlno--Custom House Sealing
NeW Cowsut-RscA S'ord1ing Transaaion, dc.
have not written to you for upwards Of mouth Tor the
want Of an opportunity toforward my letters Our hereto
fore constant and reliable Of communication with the
world have been rudsy interrupted by the severity Of the
weather, and until few days since for than
five weeks completely shut on, from the civilized world
or auy world but our own, a. the Laps OF the
North OF Finland We arc distant bot little than two
hundred miles from Valparaiso the great commercial
porum and get but for the services American
steamer the Pcynesan which has been running between
that port and Talcahuano should be quite isolated
and inaccessible arc ths Aforesaid Laps We have
now, however, three steamers the roce-the acquisl
ton Of the little Independence being the most
important She owned by Capt Nye, Of the Collins line
OF steamers and built for the towing business at Val
paradise but thai particular branch failing 70 support her,
she his been put upon this route, and we have now
the doubtful pleasure OF witnessing erce opposition
between Am steamers upon foreign trade md
in foreign country. The people who beneat by this
and who are the only ones deriving a advantage,
chucxiing ut the fun Certain ID that one or tho
other must suocumb.
The English steamer which belongs to the Pacific Mail
Company, OF little account far the public
venieace concerned that attention is paid to her.
She has subsidy from the Chilean government, and ap
paeny seeks desres any other business than the
mere conveyance Of half dozen letters month
from Valparaiso to San Carlos They exorbtan in
their charges, snd Their officers and agents coarse
and unconciaing in their intercourse with travellers.
The American ste amsrs aud their officers are, on
the contrary, popular with the people but the
government, through the influence Of the English,
afford them convenience assistance and ofteuer
reard their progress than aid facilitate their
movements They get nothing for conveying government
mails but forced against their will to peformt times
the duties of the paid company There inland
nicston with Valparaiso SantAgo-no roads through
the country which afford the least intercourse, except
mere mule path rugged and almost impassabe Thus the
communication with the world LET to tho mercy OF To-
resners and tbs very best portion Of the republic of
from market and the only means Of developing it's re-
sources.
The Central government at Santiago seldom evnces any
particular interest In the welfare convenience Of the
distant Departmental and indeed but for the frequent ap
peararce of in veried and pompous officials who
stationed wherever there 10 money 10 be collected from
the poor the existence Of places far removed from
headquarters would appear 70 be utterly ignored.
Talcahusno, however, place Of too much importance
no, TO he invested by officers Of high authority, and
too well known to require description from me- Your
readers, especially those in the region Of Holmes Hole
and Nantucket and those Interested in The price Of bub
Der that is the second maritime port In the
public Of Chile and the resort OF American whaen during
the summer months that II Ii the finest harbor the
Pacific Of America with the exception Of San Fran.
csco, Cal that is secure, well projected, with fne
chrsge that enjoys advantages superior 10 most other
ports the coast that has fine brscing climate and
is surrounded by . most prolific soil. But with al
this kpoxiedge and all these advantages, few are
aware what God forsaken, naked, bali starved popu'
lanon vegeta.e here during the winter months,
cay from May till September. During this period
CT the year the continuous, With here and thcre
srr cr Of sunshine; but throughout these months the
earth remains sof, and saturated and the stmosphere
moist and chiy-a communication with the interior 10
cut od the market drained Of nearly every article Of
fooo greatest suffering exhibited among the poor
Their poorly consiructedh they can a all be
cal ed houses. The word a. applied here mnnomer,
for they are merely miserable hua, and Afford only
sght protection agsnst the severity Of the winter sea
Inc pest Of them are destitute of the comforts and
The most intelligent Chleno about constructing ha-
bta,ion would be much more readily persuaded to put
roof the bottom and the foun taton at the top than
huild hs house above ground, either upon stone
hs fear Of earthquakes or that eau be his only
o.. q
evils arising from low, damp aud moudering atmos-
pierre rather than risk elevation OF nch for he OBJ
slOs'ely and gnorsDty digs hole two or three feet
deep In which he sets bis mansion, and the surface OF
which clearing hole be makes the flooring
Ihs universal custom Chile gives ~ cities and towm
both upconforiabe and unhealthy. There peculiarly
characteristic attached 10 any city town In the
oounry-they ali alike: the houses low, painted
white Of the exact siyie Of architecture and ell bu OF
the same materai-nnud, Dried. The streets all
straight marrow and run At right angles except vslps
head OF open bay You zee ralcu you see Chilean,
and even see every town IN the republic. Talca
dngy dirty looking huts but miniature Of the great
city OF Santiago last mentioned fashionable aud
hollow hearted capital but mere extended copy Of every
racahuanc Is becoming very Unpopular among the
whalcrs s supplies seem TO DO ,aillns and is scihiles
the whaemen who here last year and 90 previous
years will 90 either 70 70 San Carlos In the fu
10 the south Of this advantages OF anchorage and
hafbor superior Valparaiso but does not contain thu
usual business facilities FOR ships This small matter
however which can be The deficiency that
respect supplied by the coming season The
number OF whsies thst have recruited here this year
was eighty Ave. and at san Carlos during the period
any two
The se~or is now over-ihs lea, ship, the General
Scott having len in May lAssnd until the end Of Dccem
Der next, the port will remain 40 IL does now without
American vesseL We have here steamers OF COURSE
rasso the Poyneran our old favorits. is receiving
screw at Valparaiso, and VIII DO out In fes days
s 70 fsom asneo e over aoo
miles staging through the Interior in The same ralo II
much Of country certainly 70 travel over, but ~
small IN (ess than 100 miles wide by about 900
ione) cannot be accomplished fos nothing, without
faisgre and trouble I would Ike 10 have given you a
description Of Taoshuano, and think, upon reflection
viii 90 50 IN my next for there many things here in
tereetipg the morSst and 70 the economist especially
20 the latter Eooncns1 ,qu>,a (ecooomy ricbes)
the motto Inscribed the copper cents In crcula
Ton here and DID beings n hu nan shape with the
natural gasfronomc funccns approsh The o.
living without food the humble class Of Cnenoes 50
far - eating concerned they adhere fsthully 10 the
saxscous preoeps of Their faheriy rulers At san
aso aud for the very best of resonsthey have nothing
eat Every commodity Of life IL ~ far beyond their
reach the poorest production OF their SOIL that
Il matter Of speculation hoe they succeed in keeping
BODY and soul together A example Of the condition
market will give you the prices Of every article OF
food sale here the present moment These are, Of
course the retail prices there Is no such thing whole