The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-29
INDUSTRIES IN CHILE
AN EFFORT TO BUILD Up VARIED
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
Interesting Letter from Robert f.
Mansfield, Consul at Valparaiso
Modern Match Factory.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2S.-Robert E
Mansfield. OF Indiana, United States consul
at Valparaiso. to-day furnishes the State
Department with a very interesting letter
dealing with the development of the in
dustriaI interests in Chile. He has evident
~ given the question great deal Of
thought. which is shown by his letter as
follows:
From the earliest history Of the republic
TO the present time, the energies Of the
Chilean people have been devoted largely
tO-agricultural and horticultural pursuits,
stock raising and mining. The conditions
OF soil and climate and the natural re-
sources Of the country have encouraged
the people to interest themselves in these
lines rather than in industrial occupation
The result is that there are few large
manufactures in the country, the majority
of the manufactured articles required be-
Ing imported
but there is at the present time an
activity in industrial lines that promises
70 work radical change in these condi-
tons, and TO build UP in the near future
numerous and varied manufacturing In
terests. This activity Is due to seVera!
causes. first Of which Is the fact that there
Is a high tariff imposed upon nearly every
manufactured article imported into Chile.
Another reason is that in recent years
large financial interests have been acquired
IN the country by foreigners, and the pros
pectve profits on the products of local IN
dustries is encouraging capital TO seek
Investment in mills and factories
One OF the new concerns and one or the
most important in Chile. is the plant of the
Chilean Mills Company. limited, at Chigu-
yanti. in the province Of Conception, which
began operations on the 1th of the present
month The factory consists OF a bleach
ing and dyeing works and a fabric depart
equipped with the latest processes for
bleaching and dyeing, and the looms and all
other machinery are of the most approved
Il
lures with stone foundations and cover an
area OF five acres. The company now en-
ploys two hundred hands, which number
viii be increased TO six hundred or eight
hundred when the plant is operated to its
1uIl capacity. The first object of the works
is TO bleach and dye, and possibly print i'm
ported cloths. and. secondly, to manufac-
ture gray calico, which will be subsequent
ly treated at the works; also to manufac-
ture oxfOrds, striped drills. etc.
Some of the first products of this mill.
which have examined compare favOrably
with those produced in old established fac
tories. All of the cotton goods hitherto
used IN Chile have been imported, paying
high duty, but the new company can
import drugs and yarns duty free, ready
market should be found for all of it's prod
ucts in the country; and the demand, at
ruling prices. assures the success of the
enterprise. This company is operating un-
der a franchise granted By the Chilean gov
eminent which gives il a monopoly Of the
business in the country for a term Of ten
years. A condition of this franchise is
equipment, within two years from the time
OF granting the monopoly, &125.OOO ($625. OOO)
Skilled WOrkmen and opera tors have
been imported TO superintend the various
branches of the establishment, but it is
the intention of the company TO employ
Chilean WOrkmen in most of the depart
ments and as loom operators, as soon as a
sufficient number be trained to the
work. The enterprise was promoted by Mr..
George Aliardice, OF the firm of Alardice
& Co. of Valparaiso. Santiago and Con-
cepclon, who Is also director In the new
company. The Chilean Mills Company,
limited. is controlled by English capital.
This mill will open up a market in Chile
Tor large supplies OF cotton materials such
as yarns and gray cloths, gray drills sheet
ing cotton hanneIs etc which will he a
matter Of general interest to cotton ex-
porters Of the United States. 1t is not the
intention of the company to spin any yarns
for use in the works.
Another factory OF much Importance,
now In course of construction. which will
be ready for operation about November
next, Is a branch OF the Diamond Match
Company of the United States, located at
Vina del Mar, suburb OF Valparaiso The
factory buildings are the most substantial
structures of the kind I'm Chile; it may be
added also that they were completed within
half the time that it usually takes to erect
similar buildings in this country. The con-
strucuon was superintendent by an Amer
lean. They are on stone foundations, with
basement and brick superstructures one
The main building is 0fx76 feet with three
wings adjoining, each 100x50 feet. All the
buildings except the timbers, which are
Oregon pine) are Of Chilean production.
The factory, which is what is known as a
slow-burning structure is equipped with
facilities for regulating the temperature in
every department with hot and cold air;
1t Is also supplied with electric lighting
plant and with automatic sprinkllng
system for extinguishing fires, with a ca
paeity Of go gallons of water per minute.
The mechanical equipment consists of g
battery or Sterling boilers with a capacity
power each an
CINE OF $50 horse power, one SxI2 straight
line engine for prOpelling the fans and six
wooden match and one book or paper mattel
machines. All the machinery. which comes
from the United States, represents the
latest improvements in this line. The build
1ngs Will accommodate three more ma tel
machines, which viii be added within the
year The aggregate cost Of the plant /:
''Fifty-one per cent. of the stock is owned
by the Diamond Match Company i'm the
United States and the other 40 per cent bN
English residents of Valparaiso and Chill
cans. The president of the local company
Is I. n Mcclellan. OF Valparaiso. The fac.
tory Will have capacity of 5000 gross al
boxes or matches per day and will employ
at the beginning $50 hands. 1t is estimated
that the consumption OF matches i'm Chile
Is $4,000 gross of boxes per year. There i.
duty OF 20 per cent. on all matches i'm.
ported into the country
Ire wood from which the matches are
made will be imported from the United
states The company will operate a nrint
Ing plant in connection with the factory, n
which VIII be prepared all the labels and
advertising matter used in the business
The enterprise Will be under the manage
ment Of local stockholders and the entir,
output OF the factory Will be handled by ;
Valparaiso house -
The Diamond Match Company now ha,
plants, similar 10 the one erected here. II
operation in Callao. Peru. Ruenos 49,
argentine Republic. and Rio de JaneirO
Brazil"
ANOTHER RITSY nav