The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1891-05-28
than northern barley and clover and the sky is

than northern barley and clover and The sky is
bluer and the sunshine brighter.
The land is generally owned in immense es-
tates, and irrigation Is necessary in nearly all
the coast districts. Yet there il no lack Of
rivers In Chias many as seventy eight of
them being deep enough to float craft of Yar-
ons kinds, with a total naHigable length of
2,S00 miles; not to mention multitude of
smaller streams, numerous lakes and the long
line of sea-coast. Farther in the interior the
climate is more equabe than so near the
Paciric, and the soil is prodigiously fertile.
Notwithstanding the rude methods of agricul-
ture yet In vogue, the wheat crop is enormous:
and there is a remarkable yield of other pro-
ducts-notably potatoes considering the linn
ited area devoted to farming. Of course we
are speaking of peaceful times. There will he
almost no crops of any kind this year, because
the laborers have all gone of to fight one an
other, on the side of the Government or Of the
Opposition.
Mining is reckoned As Chli's most important
industry, and agriculture next. Among the
articles OF export, wheat and flour tigure prom
inentty; also barley, potatoes, corn, wool,
hides, dried and sated beef, honey. bees-wax,
beans, hay, butter and cheese. Most of these,
however, 90 no farther than Bolivia and Peru,
the countries Immediately to the northWard.
Chilian wines are also highly esteemed, and
have not only very large consumption at
home, but millions Of gallons are annually eX-
ported. In South America, as in Europe,
tNel NDOul uIlHhs wine, ana water on IIle tilD-
nertabie would be considered such a mark of
barbarism that even a TERRA del Fucgoan
would not indulge in it if he became sufficient
y civilized to own table. Yet there il little
drunkenness here, and what there is mostly
among foreigners who have learned whisky
guzziing at home, and los pObreS who are OBJ
liged to contine themselves to chcha. The
latter beverage in Chill is not at all like the
corn-chcha of the northern countries, this be-
Ing sort Of raw cider distilled from the grape.
let the Gillian farmer, As a rule, still piUWs
with sharp-pointed piece of wood, sometimes
shod with iron, sometimes not, and has never
known any better harrow than i bundle of
brush; while all the threshing OF his enormous
crop is done by the primitive method Of driV-
ing horses to and fro over the grain.
Speaking of railways. Chill has at the pre-
sent time about 100 miles OF them III opera
ton. and surveys have been made for the con
structon OF As much more. OF the completed
railroads. the State owns 800 miles, and private
individuals and corporations the remainder.
This road from alparaso to Santiago. inrul-
tn9 its branches TO Las Vegas, Santa Rosa and
the Andes is about $50 miles long. From the
Capital it runs almost due SOUTH to Angel, So
miles more; besides branch to Palmilia.
From the present terminus it is to be extended
away down 10 NaldiyA, ali important Ger
man settlement on might. river of the same
name that is, if the country ever receivers
from this cauSeIes> war The road would then
traverse the comparatN ely unknown territory
OF Araucania, and would doubtless do more
toward ciNillzlng those hitherto unconguerabie |
Indians than the presence OF a standing army. |
thlanS claim the honor of constructing the |
first railway in South America, On lN10l-- that |
between tadera and Copiapu. which the in |
>urgtnts recently DESTROYED.
| Lave seen an ullicial statement to the effect /!
that last Year the total number Of passengers |
carried by all the Chilian railways was So, |
9N9; the amount Of cargo 559,;i>d tons ana the
receipts S2.l42 .iSJ. These figures do not in |