Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-03


The Conservatives are now IN control.
The government receives large reve-
nue., but most Of the money is devoted
to salaries, very little attention being
paid to public works The country is
divided into counties. which have indi-
yidual governments like our States.
A weIl-equipped and efficient army
and navy nre maintained. Much at
tention has been given to this matter
recently, at least 80 German officers
having been employed to instruct the
soldiers and sailors. The warships,
which are of English make, are modern
and formidable. The standing army in
time of peace numbers about 10, 1000,
iu addition to which there is good
militia, and until recently it was OBJ
ligatory upon all young men to serve q
certain period therein some time be-
tween the ages of 18 and 80 years.
Now, however, as there is no inme-
diata danger Of getting into complica-
tions with other countries, this COM
pulsory feature has been temporarily
abandoned.
A very heavy duty is imposed upon
imports Of goods which are manufac-
| tured there. As matter of fact, there
is duty on almost everything, but y
very great discrimination is made in
| the direction of protection. All duties
must be paid in the gold of Chile,
which is at premium ranging from
10 to 13 per cent.
In Santiago. which is the capital Of
| the country, there are some fine build
| ings, among which are the Congress
| Building, which was burned four years
ago and is being rebuilt; the Medical
University, two hospitals, sundry busi-
ness houses a large number OF churches
and some palatial residences. The
churches are unusually numerous. The
people enjoy religious freedom. Gath
olics are.in the majority.
Some of the cities aie important and
compare favorab|y with American
municipalities. Santiago has a popula-
| tion Of about 100000; Conception,
100000: Valparaiso, 10000; Iauique.
| $4,000. Iquique is mining centre and
| chief shipping point for mine products.
In the large cities the main streets are
paved with Belgian and wooden blocks.
The customs in some Of the larger
cities are somewhat similar to those
prevailing in the cities here. Horse
cars arc giving way to trolleys. In
Santiago complete trolley system,
covering the entire city, has just been
completed and will soon be In opera
tion. The company has a capital oil
s5, 900, 600. Women have been serving
as conductors on the horse cars, but |.
is believed it will be necessary to gel
men from other countries to run the
trolley cars. The pay of conductors has
been from s35 to $40 per month in the
paper money Of Chile, which is equiva
lent to from S12 to S15 in American
money. Other working people are paid
in the same proportion. Housemaids
receive what is equivalent to from 81 81
to S4 per month and farm laborers
about 90 cents pot of beans and Q
loaf of bread for a days work.
The Inducements for foreigners to
locate in the country are not very great
Most of thu i retail merchants az,
Italians, except in some Places swhsrt
Eng glishmsn and Germans pretlominate
There are also some Spaniards in bust
ness. Some. American capitalists
might find lit irotitable to go there ane
manufacture and introduce American
goods. The manufacturing industries
at present are not very extensive.
The country discrlmipates very ma
, terially in favor of the. natives, esneci
| ally In enc profesSions' ror instEnce
graduate Of an American dental col
lege is required, before being admitted
| to practice there, to graduate at loca
college, only one year being deducte'
for the full course in the United States
, Some Americans who have located
J there, however, have beer successful
and do not re-; OF the step.
The city has good police arrange
! ments, hut there is such a divisio
among the different classes Of peopl
that policeman shesitates long tim
) before arresting man who is We
dressed or wears high silk hat. TIL
J policemen do not receive very larg
salaries.
I DR. and Mrs. Peters expect to renal
. in the United States for some time
4 probably six months.