The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1891-05-28
Chat about Chill.
RAILWAY JAUNT THROUGH THE HEART OF
THE REPU BLIC. WHAT MAY BE SEEN BE
TWEEN VALPARAISO AND TIE CAPITAL.
Special Correspondence of the journal

THE REPU BIIC. WHAT MAY BE SEEN BE
TWEEN VALPARAISO AND TIE CAPITAL.
Special Correspondence of the journal
SANTIAGO DE CHILE, April 1871. One can
hardly imagine a pleaSanter journey than that
between Valparaiso and this city. The distance
is one hundred and fifteen miles, and the time
required by rail is five hours. The road, which
i one Of the oldest in South America. is owned
ana controlled by the Government. Its queer
ly->haped locomotives and small, four-w wheeed
carriages. show plainly that it was built by
English contractors, and Its equipment and
management are entirely on the European
plan The common coaches. which for many
years Were the only ones in use, are as odd
inside a their exterior would indicate, each
having two long seat. running lengthwse from
end to eui, so that the traveller sits with his
back to the window and his feet in the central
aisle, gazing d>contentedly at his companions
in misery instead of at the flying landscape.
The benches are as uncomfortable as pews in a
country church. being upholstered In black
leather cold and slippery a. glass, and 50 wide
that one cannot rest his back and toes at the
same time.
Nowadays, On the trains between the sea port
and Santias1, there is a parlor coach with
li t i ...,
N'''" '''i0 49," " a. ~ 'poo'ei ca'' "
ranse introduced ny gentleman Of that name
At first 1t was difficult to persuade anybody to
pay dollar for the 1r. .ege of riding in a
chair, for habit is strong and these good peo-
p'e were 4ulte satl>hed Win the transit they
hHu peth accustomed TO- But having once tried
the parlor car they were delighted with it, and
hoW nohody VINO can command an extra dollar
y " rue IN any olher' lhe consequence Is that
tht 0PoohtI COach Is always crowded, While
t'ie othtI are nearly empty, and So great is the
demand for chairs that they are engaged several
day in advance. men often deferring their
Jpurhe! untlI the seats they desire can tie Sc
cur'd.
B4 the way, the Chlian Government has
ceiNed lor it railways eight hundred ears and
thirty -eisht locomotives which We're all manu-
Iaiurrl ~ England, but mostly from Ameri-
can models. We are told that the order was
liartu ~ tA-iaud instead Of the nlted States,
>PJoN IN account Of the cheaper rates aud more
rdplh delivery from the former country. In an
lhtcNirW on the subject, President Bamaceda
declared that the government of this Republic
enttrtaln> the most friendly feelings toward
lh@ ti Ter SISTER OF the North, and is so anxious
to c~l 'btl>h direct and regular steamship com
lh'lhcatioh between the ports of the two couu-
TINS That Chll VIII contribute her full pro-
may De necessary to secure such service.
look how 1t Is at present, said Balmaceda
vi me seventy -thrte SHIPS that touch regu-
larry at hlIlan ports, tnlrtN-oue are English
twenty N-three are German, nine are French
seven are thiiian. and three are IlaIian-but
not oLe from the nittd States That is not
~ i should hc, since we are all imCfjcuns on
TINS western hemisphere, whether born on the
northern or southern continent and especially
since We Younger Republics Of the South have
Julit ourselves upon the shining example Of
he stronger Republic Of tne North" The
hattcrin4 remarks above quoted were made,
some months ago. BciH- fully engaged III
lte-aud-death struggle With hi, chaotic coun-
Try man, ne poor PRESIDENT i not particularly
interested, lu>t now, about commercial reia-
lions " lth The nited states or any other coun-
Try beyond smuggling out what arms and
hi auhercnt~ may require and
rrNentin- the rebels from !oing likewise.
ne engineering Problems uf the central
i4ii'an railway do uot appear to have been
great, iii least "a compared with those 50 fire.
IuenlIy encountered in Peru. The rise between
he >raHni ~.tntiago l. about eighteen hundred
Get, but there are no steep grades, nor bridges
Norlh mentioning, and only few short tun-
lci-. Neither il the scenery W grand as that
lIuug the Peruvian lines. but much OF it is
,mincnty picturesque. RInning down through
h4 heart Of Chill in ,outhta,terlv direction,
he Snowy peaks Of tHc Anne, arc constantly
n ~ Va broad, irregular line Of white against
ht hue>t skies | ever saw while snow shroud-
1t Acunragua, the loftie>t mountain of the
hee Americas, is Visible the entire distance.
After leaving the ' aiparai>o station (whose
in buildings would do credit to any city)-
At yer by the remotest chance on schedule time,
ut as likely to be several minutes too early a.
n hour or more too late-the road runs for
a. cra miles along the edge of the BAY, close
o the gray rock, against which the waves are
iaehin@, while guil> and curlcwS circle scream