The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-24
Chilfan Commerce.

Although American commerce in the Pacific is
making gratifying headway, it is matter Of regret
that so lite. comparatively, Of the foreign COM
merce Of Chill falls to the lot Of our countrymen.
The stability of the government Of Chill; the even
and reliable character of the populations; the
natural resources Of he country and the ready in
dustry OF its contented inhabitants have COM
bined to give it's foreign trade steady and very
profitable growth. such as the leading commercial
nations of tho world would feel inclined to compete
for as valuable ally in the development of their
own wealth and power. Its trade with England is
estimated at e. 000 600 annually, and with France
commerce is growing with rapidity which these
nations do not fail to mark.
The roal commercial wealth Of Chill is in its Sill
yer and copper mines, its trade in hides, timber,
breadstutfS and wool. The products Of the mines
are estimated at some 83 100000 per anrum.
Upon it's coal deposits, too, foreign steamers de.
pend for their supplies as required Its general
foreign trade is set down Mt about fS, 100000, in
addition to the brisk coasting trade it maintains
with Poru, Bolivia, Ecuador and California. It
holds the twenty-second place among the ffty-nine
States and Colonies set down on the French table
of commerce. Considering all the disabilities un-
der which she has laborcd the progress which
GJana mule during tne fI5t nnlr.- century @
remarkable. In 1870 when she was
under the rule of Spain, the population was only
about 600, 600 souls.
Santiago, the present capital, had population
of less than $4,000, and that Of Valparaiso was IN
der 60O0. The customs duties did not amount to
$50, 900, and the exports had never risen to $780,
900. But, after fifteen years OF war with Spain,
and several years OF domestic conflict, her popula
ton during the last thirty years Of pence has risen
to nearly 2,00O00O. Santiago has o population Of
12O, 900, and Valparaiso has population well on
towards 100000. The customs revenue previous
to the present hostilities with Spain amounted to
upward of stOOO,OOO the imports to upwsrd Of
siO OO0, 900, and the exports to moro than s27 O00
and her Colonies standing at the
head of the LISTS of both buyers and sellers. Du-
ring that period $50 miles Of railway have been
opened, and about as many more were lately in
progress. There are also more than 600 miles Of
Geographic communication in the territory.
These results Of industry, commercial prosperi-
ty and social progress, command the respect and
admiration of all other nations but Spain, which
has not only ruthlessly violated Chihan property,
but destroyed and lmpedod the commerce Of other
nations, which may yet cost her dearly Tho COM
mer ,e Of the whole west coast Of South America,
in fact, is OF vast Importance to u.s. 1t lies nearer
to our Pacific possessions than to any other COM
mercial people, and with the Inauguration OF steam
communication, at IN early day, there is no reason
why large share of that trade, which is ut present
by Great Britain and France, should
not be diverted in the direction Of our Pacific pos
sessions. shipping List.