The sun., 1895-01-20
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S.~sSC|A FIo2sSA
GRAVEYARD. PORT DESIRE.

feet wide and three feet deep in the dryest of
seasons. The current Is fair, and although there
are three fording places along its route, large
steamers drawing 219 feet of water could nayi-
gate IL to the forks the year round. But that
steamers will ever be found there is a matter OF
doubt, although the country Is rapidly filling up
with settlers. There are several reasons for this
All branches of the stream rise within a few
miles OF the Pacific Ocean, the south heads being
almost within sight of Skyring Water, or Bay
Just northwest from Punta Arenas, while be-
tween the, north and the south forks there is a
complete and awide break in tho Andes through
which one may drive wagon as easily as one can
drive over the mesa OF Patagonia anywhere. BY
cutting n road five mikes long through belt OF
timber a highway TO the bays of Chill will be
formed. and so the traffic OF at least half the
length of the Gallegos River will 20 to the Yves;
instead of down stream to the Argentine town
OF Gallegos. say at least half, but II is not
likely that more than half will go west for the
reason that the entire population OF the territory
south OF the Gallegos, and about all between Rio
Gallegos and Rio Santa Cruz have strong feel
ing OF friendship for Chilli
"In Chilli II you have right you can get justice
every time" said a Frenchman owning 0,O00
sheep on the border line between argentine and
Chill. In the Argentine you must have the
Judge Tor your friend or you Will be beaten,
right or wrong" .,,. ,,, a., ..,,.-
hnds lava beds and pasture lands alternating,
but the pasture has the greater area, and II Is
sre H anS Sw %hen tGs
Andes snow melts, the river becoming so mighty
stream that only, the best OF the river boats
could navigate 10, but there Is plenty OF good
upland pasture. Nearly all the land south OF IL
is now taken up by shepherds, while the north
side is being rapidly absorbed, the chief obsta-
Gle TO rapid settlement being the lack ot fuel.
IL Is almost a bushless region. About the head
waters one finds plenty OF timber, but the set
ons for conveying supplies, and tnd "A distance
oftwenty miles a long road when after fuel.
most Interesting feature OF the pass through
the CordillerRs at the head OF the Gallegos River
Is a pair OF volcanic peaks. On the top OF the
higher Is found an lndia grave made OF rocks.
II Is as much asa white man can do TO get up
there unimpeded. How the Indians get their
corpses up there is question; The prospect
from this lava butte. with the broad Pacific in
the th vest, the Andesn peaks north and south;
around, and the broad pampas In tho east, is
one of the most beautiful Ia Patagonia.
Some years ago the Chilli Government estab-
lshed a horse and cattle ranch ON Skyring
Water. AS result the animals went wild, and
now thousands of horses are 10 be found ON the
pastures OF the upper GallegOs, while the woods
and copses arc thickly populated with horned
cattle. The wild bulls are the nercest beasts OF
south America not excepting tho laguar' There
thousands OF HuRnaco on the open lands, Tho
full-grown deer equal In size those of the United
States, Naturally the panther Is found here In
the greatest numbers also The ostrich, how
ever, Is becoming very scarce owing TO the per-
seoption OF indians and hunting ganehos, who
make merchandise OF the feathers.
On the whole. the town OF GallegOs has a very
good cattle country back OF H. Along the sea-
coast 10 the south II has some placer gold mines.
The layer Of black sand carrying gold found at
Gallegos River, IL crops out richer In some
places than others, and there are places where
possible, but quite a number of men-perhaps
hfty-can be found working the beach for gold
between Gallegos and Cape Virgins As rule,
these men go TO PuntA Arenas for supplies, but
they could be drawn to the nearer settlement OF
GaHegos. But do not expect this 10 happen,
nor do ! look Tor Galleg9s 20 compete In any
way with Punta Arenas. The town on the strait
has steamer almost every day, and no other
Patagonia settlement can compete with such