New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-24
ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA.
VII.
THE APPROACHES TO CHILL.

OF 1MMIGRANTs-A HOMOGENEOUS PcPU-
LATIoN-CHURCH AND STATE-OO'-
ERyMEvT BY BRASS BAND.
IRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF ThE TRIBUNE
Santa Rosa de Los Andes, FEBRUARY a.
One Of the earliest indications of the passage
of the mountain frontier toward the close OF INV
mule Journey last week the Chlllan nag hoa'-
inr from n high staff, where IL could DC seen
miles away from the valleys below. AS We oon-
tinued the descent Of the Andean slopes lne saine
foo was secn many times above signal stations
and surveyors landmarks. The display OF Inc
National colors at the earliest practicable points
on the road from the Argentine was characteristic
of the patriotism of the CHILEAN people. vi All
the nations in South America. this IS the one 'h"o
has the deepest affection and the noblest cnthls-
assn for its flag The Chians may have Their
fouts but they have the rcdeeming virtue OF IN
tense love Of country. They are proud not ONLY
of the material progress of the nation, put also
of its maritime supremacy, and of the achieve
uents of its fighting services on land and sea.
The victorious war with Peru and BOLIVIA Is a
heroic period which ministers alike to an exalted
loyalty and to an ovcrweenng vanity. Monu-
ments to admirals and generals are seen in the
plazas of tho cities. There is hardly village
where prints and photographs of the naval fight
et Inuioue cannot he found in the shOp-WndoWs.
The facility with which two powerful States were
overpowered and deprived of large territories has
undoubtedly foStcred an elastic confidence In the
superiority of the nation as Spansh-Amerlcan
fighting power and a feeling of contempt for the
military claims of rival nations Sclfestcem has
been developed TO degree almost valngiorouS;
but there is withal sterling patriotism of true
and honest ring.
In passing from the PERCEPTIONS walls Of the
no % lave thence
bllos. the Juncal Plateau and the Colorado VAL
lev one sees q gradual DEVELOPMENT Of shrubs and
fora from those of sub-arctc climate TO those
of the Southern temperate zone. With every adj
Gitional thousand feet Of descent there are char
acteristic changes Of vegetation in process OF
orderly development. Stunted plants growing be-
tween rock crevices clcse TO the limits OF snow
are gradually replaced with evcrgTccns rising TO
the stature of trees. and with spreading bcechcs.
and the warmer exposure of the lower hills biistle
with tall species of cactus and shrubs Of a semi
tropical habit. Long before we reached the Color
ado at (1uardia farm-houses with stony pastures
and cattc-shcds had appeared, and there were
evidences of thrift and homely comfort in these
remote dwellings on the mountain side which |
had not been able 70 observe in the cabins o.
the Argentine immigrants. The development
of agriculture was as clearly defined as the prog
ress of vegetable life from the higher 10 the
lower levels. On the mountan-sides the pasture
grass was burned by the summer sun 10 uniform
brown and the maize fields small in extent
irregular in shape, and parched with drouth
In the lower lands enciroling Santa Rosa. where
irrigation practicable. there were green mead
ows. broad areas of successful cultivation. ana
tidy bomesteads with capacious barns. In Central
Chilli irrigation is essential 10 prosperous farm
ing Rains are confined mainly to three months
no al nd yyi4 RI
water from the mountain streams agricultural
orcrations are impracticable For this reason the
main areas Of cultivation the valleys where
irrigation trenches can be easily multiplied and
distributed, and between these green GASES are
arid belts which in midsummer are burned bare
The best farms in the South. where rains are
more frequent. In Northern Chilli begins that
vast ranlesS zone of the Pacific. stretching 1000
miles 70 the Gulf of Guayaqui The North is
entirely dependent upon the South for its food
suppcs Although agriculture is generally de-
scribcd by foreigners 10 be in a backward state
and the indictments IN use clumsy and antlquated
wheat is one Of the leading EXPORTS and grapes
are raised on a large scale for wine-maiing-one
of the most profitable industries. In Central
Chilli it is proof of the indomitable energy OF
the people that farming should be carried on at
all under conditions unpropitious.
In approaching Chill from Cspallata | noticed
signs of an exodus Of immigrants For three
days on the mountain roads caravans Of Italians
and Spanarls. who had recently arrived on the
coast passed in the direction Of the Argentine.
They had apparently become dissatisfied with the
country on landing and were journeying across
the mountains in the hope OF lettering their
fortunes This movement surprised me, because
! was aware Of the extraordinary inducements
offered by the Gillian Government TO immigrants
who will consent to settle in the Southern lands
once occupied by Indians. The earliest Ccrman
colonies founded nearly forty years ago IN
Vadivia. and Llanquihue, and were remarkably
prosperous. Immigration measure, were then sus-
pended until the success Of the Argentine Gov
crnment in starting stampede of agricultural
workers from the Mediterranean seemed to compel
imitation Of its policy Within ton years a large
number of Basqucs. Italians. Swiss and Germans
have been induced to settle in the Auracanian
lands and in Patagonia. The Government has
rot modified its policy. but continues 20 nav the
passage-monev Of immigrants and 10 provide them
with land and capital required for making start
in their new homes. Every adult European who
will consent 10 come 10 Chilli can have his trans
portation paid and De placed in possession Of seven
ty-five acres of land yoke OF oxen, COW. enough
seed for the first sowing. boards and nails
with which to build cabin and $3.50 cash in
hand for the first year. with the understanding
that all the advances snail De returned IN install
nents during five years and the land he paid for
in fifty years These are terms more liberal
than any that have been advertised by Argentine
immigration agents yet the current continues to
set strongly toward the Plate. and hundreds Of
European aborers arriving in Gillian ports
swarm across the mountains.
The population of Chill is far more homogeneous
than that of Argentine. In the main it is either
Spanish-C hilono Indian-C hilenO, the aboriginal
strain, according TO the most intelligent staisti-
clans, running in scven-tcnths Of the population.
The number of foreigners Of unmlAcd blood Is
very small in comparison with the native Chilcno
stock ! noticed the contrast between ltalianzed
Argentina and the maritime State in my first study
of faces during a long stroll in Santa Rosa
familiary known here as Los Andes There was a