Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-10
safe from the traitor, aud nobody in Chile
would be surprised at any hour to hear Of
Balmaeeda's murder.

would be surprised at any hour to hear o.
Balmaeeda's murder.
Five Dollars for q Chicken.
| At the best Of times food is dear in Chile
because 50 much of the country is not agri-
cultural; and now that supplies can nc
longer be brought in from abroad, prices art
so tremendous that distress prevails. Thinl
of paying IS for small chicken, $40 for .
pound of tough beef, $40 can for condensed
milk, $50 sack for -four, and $500 for q
! half-grown hogl There is no set standard OF
prices, bat they range according to the ne
cessities of the people, and the figures above
quoted have actually been paid in Chile
within the past fortnight
A few evenings ago the good citizens of
| Santiago were treated to little scare.
From private dispatches received by the
government trouble of some sort was ap-
| pretended, but the particulars we're not
| made public. The police force was largely
increased, and everybody sent home from
the clubs, cafes and other resorts at an early
hour. 10 the theatres, the second act was
we'll under way. when it was announced
from the stage that by government order the
people were required to quietly disperse.
But nothing came of it, however-beyond
Il,
BalInaceda."
Now that the Chilean steamers are all
engaged as war vessels, there is only the
English liue to bring mail down from PAN
ANA; hence letters from the United States
come less frequently than before. Ali postal
matter going out of Chile, whether bound
for Europe or the Northern continent, must
be sent over the Andes on mule back and
across the Argentine Republic by rail, to
the other ocean. Since the British s. s,
Company has things all its own way in
these waters. the travellers lot ia not hap
py one.
The Inconyehiences of Travel
tits fact that one may journey from
Valparaiso to Europe, away around through
the Strait Of Magellfi-a voyage of AZ days
for less money thar. it costs to 20 up the
western cost to Panama-a run Of 20 DAYS,
including numerous stops, and which ought
to be made in half that time In other words,
the monopolists charge in the neighborhood
Of 10 cents per mile for transporting you
from Chile TO the United States, either to
California or via the Isthmus to New York;
and only aeon. cents per mile 10 Europe.
Not only that, but the English corpora
ton which controls navigation on the west
ern side of the hemisphere, seems tn have
purposely arranged its time tables so as TO
miss connection with the New York
steamers nt the Isthmus Nine times out
of ten passengers are landed at Panama a
day or two after the Pacific Mail has left
Aspinwall for the north, and are compelled
to endure the danger, annoyance and ex-
pense OF more than a weeks stay on the
feyer-haunted 1sthmus-ghen, at some
seasons of the year, few hours are quite
long enough to give one his everlasting
quietns. Freight and mails are subject to
the same treatment, and it looks as If the
whole thing we're scheme to divert South
America trade from the United States to
Europe.
have recently interviewed some mer-
chants on this subject. and have CLEANED
the following facts: Half century ago
Chile received more goods from the, United
States than from any other County,; but
now we come fourth on the list-Great Brit
ain sending by far the largest quantity. Ger
many second and France third.
What Manufacturers Must Contend with.
The principal reason OF our falling off is
from lack of decent means of communica-
tion. Shipments from the Northern Repub-
lie are generally made at New York or Bos-
ton, although a few articles come from
Philadelphia and others from Baltimore.
They must either 20 away down around
Cape Horn or be landed at Aspinwall, trans
ported by rail across the Isthmus and re-
shipped at Panama. The freight charges
from New York t. Valparaiso via the 18th
mus are more than double that IRON Euro
pean ports to the same destination; and it is
said to be about 80 per cent cheaper to ship |
goods from New York to Europe and thence
to South America than TO send them by
way OF Panama.
So very high are steamer rates Of trans
portation from the United States that most |
goods are sent by sailing vessels around the |
Horn, occupying from four to six months in |
transit. One great reason why the Chilean |
merchant prefers to trade with England, is
because the goods arrive in the same
steamer with the bill OF lading. and 80 /
days Of grace being allowed on the latter,
be has chance 70 realize his profit before |
making payment. If from the United |
States, the bill comes by steamer in about |
80 days, while the Goods require nearly half |
. year to be waited BY sails; and il often