The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-25

s3T,VTO.U0O

II will BE- seen from these figures thatthc ma
tnnal taxation Is very small, aud aside from tho
nitrate duties, which paid by shippers directly
10 the Government and hardly affect The majority
81 the population in any degree, the total emo,in,
OF revenue collected amounts 10 only S2O 900 600
or about So 20 per head Of population. Some
small direct taxes ore levied real estate by tho
but the amounts are light and rarcly exceed one
half OF per cent on the annual rental OF prop
critics The estimated revenue for 1900 Is placed
Et the equivalent OF $40 900 600 United States
currency. and the expenditure at sac 600 CO.,
thus leaving a substantial surplus available for
the extension Of public works II tho moneys re-
ceiyed be properly applied aud the expenses sane
toned by Congress not exceeded or frittered away
by the voting Of extraordinary credits for what
Il Is This power ~ the Congress 20 vote these ex
uaoFdnary credits that reduces almost nvaria bly,
an apparent surplus 10 practical deficit in the
national eNchequcr and this tendency 10 squander
the revenues OF the republic Is now becoming more
marked than was ever previously the case
The public debt Of Chill is not excessive. The
external obligations now sum up 10 the total. re.
duced TO United States money, Of SSs coo 600:
the internal, national and municipal debt is only
Which me pstsn is response sS SpelSG% f .o5
pesos This brings the public debt 10 the amount
Of about sioe 600 600 in round figures, requiring
Indebtedness Is the value Of available national
property rcalIzable at short notice, and consisting
Of $50 miles Of State railways, asserted 10 be
worth fli,OOO OOO sterling OF. say, $40 600 600,
national lands valued al SIS 600 coo; nitrate prop.
critics calculated AT $50 900 COO guhno deposits
hSSrSheu a opvVoOO, ana OlhcT nquld hSeetS eatl.
mated at 500 OU0. q total OF Sl5e. 700 600 A,
any time therefore, under existing conditions
the Gillian Government, could pay off al par all
obligations and remain with substantial sur.
plus in hand II the readable assets Of the nation
were disposed Of under fairly advantageous condi.
tons Moreover, the marketable value Of The
national property enumerated is not overraied
an u II would probably bring larger sum al public
auction lhan the figures quoted. The value Of
urban property IN Chill il now assessed al The
equivalent in United States currency u $3.50.
co.. 90 and Of rural a,c nj $40 600 600 total
salablc value Ui $500 go 600 These figures DO
not show any great wealth but they indicate
fairly sound condition al bottom II the necessary
amount Of energy and push we're present 10 insure
the steady development Of the natural Resources
OF the country In the future
Tie currency question in Chill has heen q con.
sta nj source 81 anxiety and worry 10 uhe Govern
"n'ior he past twenty years At The time Of he
war WIN Peru notes were issued. nominelly on u
SILVER basis; nut they were not convertible for
silver or any uihcr metal. A conversion fund
Was subsequent accumulated. and had r-a, he'd
considerable Dimensions WHEN the revolution Of
1891 broke ont President Balmnceda sbring in
pressing med Of funds 70 purchase war ma