Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20
TALK ABOUT soUrH AMERICA.
Address Of President Hubbard Of tho M
ti0nal Geographical Society.

nuoress OF freSloent HuDDard OF the Ma
tional Geographical Society.
The close of the third year of the existence of
the National Geographic Society was marked
last evening by o meeting in the hall of the
Columbia University building. There was
good attendance Of the members, who for the
most part were accompanied by ladies. Secre-
tary Window and others prominent in social
and scientific circles were in the audience
Seated on the platform were Prof. Langley,
Prof. ]. w. Powell. Lester Ward, Capt. Dalton,
DR.. Fletcher, Senator Hoar and Herbert g.
Ogden. The latter in few Introductory re-
marks welcomed those present in the name Of
the society. He said that while 1t had been in
existence only three years, yet they had already
equipped one expedition for the field, namely,
that to Alaska during the past season. It was
not expected that the society, with it's limited
financial resources, would be able to send out
an expedition each year. He then said that the
annual address would be delivered by the pres
ident OF the society, Mr.. Gardiner G. Hubbard
who had selected as his theme South Amer
ica."
TIMELY TOPIC.
The topic was timely one, as toward that
country a more general interest had been di-
rected, owing to the meeting of the Pan-Amer-
lean congress and the discussion that had been
going on in reference to establishing more in
innate commercial relations between this coun-
try and the South American republics.
Mr.. Hubbard then came forward and was
greeted with applause. He delivered an exceed
ingly interesting address upon South America
its characteristics Of SOIL climate and popula-
ton and its resources and future development
After brief description Of the mountains Of
South America, which was followed by the
audience with the aid Of large map. he spoke
Of the river system as the richest and greatest
In the world and then gave general descrip-
ton OF the country. The Pacific slope from
Ecuador to Patagonia was dry and sterile He
described the great plain extending from the
Caribbean sea to Cape Horn. He spoke of the
aborigines with over zoo dialects. Ten million
Indians have greater number Of dialects than
the SOO,OOO,0O0 inhabitants Of Europe and
Asia.
HISTORICAL REVIEW.
The lecturer gave a short history Of the civil
ization, palaces, conquests and roads of the
Incas of Puru. He gave an account Of the dis
coVery OF the Amazon in the middle Of the six
teenth century, by Orellano and his voyage down
that river, a voyage, the lecturer said. which
was approached but not equaled by that Of
Stanley down the Congo. The controlling
power on the South American continent, the
lecturer said was held by the Latin races He
gave vivid acc cunt Of the pampas of the Ar
genuine Republic, over which great herds
wander, cared for by the cowboys Of that coun-
try, called gauchos. He said that the emigra-
ton from Europe to that republic during the
past fifteen years had amounted to TOO 900, an
increase in the population which was greater
in proportion than that Of the United States
during the PAST decade.
GREAT RAILROAD ENTERPRIsEs.
The great railroad enterprises projected in
the Argentine Republic were described, and to
| these he attributed the financial crisis. The
only hope for the future lay in bankruptcy.
An interesting part Of the address was devoted
to the railroad system of South America the
lines on the Pacific coast running east up the
valleys to the gold and silver mines in the
mountains, and the railroads Of Argentine and
Brazil running west toward the Andes. Then
he spoke Of the proposed Psn-American rail-
road, running south from Cartagena and con-
Meeting all these roads and turning trade to-
ward the United States. He said that Il was
not claimed that the road would pay compel
ing as it would with the water route to the
Atlantic by the Amazon and its tributaries
But it was urged that the road would develop
the country, especially it's mines, and that its
operating expenses, borne by the several.gov-
ernments, would be q slight burden.
Transfers Of Real Estate.