Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-31
From The Stars Travelling Commissioner.
SANTA Ros. DE CHILE, Oct i. 1Ss

krou Lhe Stars travelling Cofnmlsslon-l-
SANTA Rosa DE CHILE, Oct i. 1871.
~ DING FROM CHILE TO THE ARGEN-
" tine Republic, or to any other point on the
eastern side Of South America. the traveller
NAV choose between several routes He can
sail, or steam. in the wake Of the ancient mari
ners, away around Cape Horn; or take the much
newer, nearer and pleassnter seapath through
Smyth's channel into the Straits of Magellan,
and SO on into the Atlantic, or he may cross
the mighty Andes by the oldest route Of all, by
trails hat were well worn before q white mans
ship had ever rounded the tip Of the hsmis-
phere.
The frs. named route is the least desirable
because Of eeaseless storms, excessive cold and
the length Of time it requires yet the majority
OF globe trotters take it in their comings and
soings between these ports and Europe and
even between New York and the western coast
OF the southern continent The passage
through Smyth's chanael, though one Of the
most picturesque IN the world, is yet compsra-
lively little known. Il is narrow and tor
I1OuS, between innumerable islands each
stand = mountain, that, after many disasters
no vessels now go that way except those built
Tor tne purpose, and but line of
Steamers (German) carry passengers on
regular trips For those who enjoy
mountain scenery and mule back transit the
journey over the CoTdiliera ID q glorious one,
u tASen IN summer time-or rather in the
6ep:is OF winter, ar You reckon the seasons
unfortunately, the passes are closed
S1rIng more thar MALT the year by
tracklsss SHOWS and terrific gales that
neither man nor beast can Withstand. From
about tho 18Th Of November to the lat OF April
one may cross with comparative case barring
the usual danger and difficulties Incident to
penetrating the land Of the sky" but to under
take it one week sooner or later than the dates
mentioned would be extremely hazardous.
THE ROUTE DETERMINED.
We had hoped that the passes might be made
available little earlier than usual this year,
that We might go that way into the Argentine
country, but word comes at the eleventh hour
that recent heavy snowfall has blocked tine
trails worse than ever, and that for ladies TO
attempt 1t for weeks to come would be simple
foolhardiness- Therefore, being long since due
on the other side of the continent we must take
the next soGthward-gUlng steamer through the
channel and straits, consoling ourselves with
the knowledge that the - mpses of Patagonia
and Terra del Fuego = De obtained by the lat
ter coarse will more than make up for what
will be lost in being compelled to give up tie
proposed route Besides, mountain climbing
above certain attitudes Is about the same the
world over. During our years of Zig-zagging
In South America we have crossed the Andes
many times. In many places, and though We may
never traverse in the flesh that
laHONs OspdLidtd pass between santa
Rosa and Mendoza, il requires no
great stretch of imagination to see it clearly in
the minds eye, having scaled several higher
passes a little further northward in the
same magnificent Cordillera- In order to tell
You all can about IL from actual observation
We have made an especial trip to Santa Rosa
the end u the government railway on the Chill
ear side of the Andes. where mule-back transit
Tor the upper heights begins; and later we will
come from Buenos Ayres, on the Atlantic coast
across the bOundless pampas by the new Ar
genuine railroad. to its western terminus, the
old city of Mendoza, which lies close at the foot
OF the mountains.
FROM SANTIAGO TO BUENos AYREs.
The distance across country between Santi-
ago and Buenos Ayres (the capitals of the
Chile and the Argentine republics) is about 1866
miles For many years overland communica-
ton was kept up between the two countries
only by couriers. bred to the business as an ex-
elusive occupation. who frequently made the
entire journey in eleven days, carving the
mails. travelling upon an average ia miles
day Ofeourse this could not be accomplished
on mule back, and all along the route post
houses were established where horses were
Kept IN constant readiness, the supplies being
maintained from countless wild droves that
roam the Argentine and Patagonian pampas
For the ordinary traveller to make the journey
required many weeks, and, as before mem
toned, it could not be made at all except at
certain times Of the year.