The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-11-06
CHAT ABOUT Chilli.
A RAILROAD JAUNT THROUGH
THE HEART
OF the RepubIie-WhRt May be Seen
Between Valparaiso aud the Capital
Quaint HamieGs-AgrIcuItur

Quaint Hamiets-AgFicuIture
Especial Correspondence of the Journal
and Courier.)
Santiago de Chill, Oct. 1, 1903
One can hardly imagine a pleasanter
journey than that between Valparaiso
and this city. The distance is one hun
bred and fifteen miles, and the time re-
quired by rail is five hours. The road,
which is one of the oldest in South
America, is owned and controlled by
the government. Its queerly-shaped 10
comotives and small, four-wheeled car
riages eshow plainly that it was built by
English contractors, and until recently
its equipment and management were en-
tirely on the European plan. During
the time of the late President Balma-
ceda, (who killed himself to save his
friends with whom he was hiding after
the revolution had turned against him.
the CHILEAN government received eight
hundred cars and thirty-eight locomo-
tives, which were manufactured in Eng
land after American models. The order
was placed in England, instead of in the
United States, solely on account of the
cheaper rate and more rapid delivery
from the former country. OF the sew
enty-three ships that now touch regu-
larly at Gillian ports, thirty one are
English, twenty-three are German, nine
are French, seven are Chilian and three
are Italfan-but not one from the Uni
ted States. That is not as 1t should be,
since we are all Americans on this
I'VE avn 6n7Yn cHIan
the northern or the southern continent;
and especially as the younger republics
of the south have built themselves upon
the shining example of the older sister
of the north. That the government of
Chill entertains the most friendly feel
ings toward the United States, and is
so anxious to establish direct and regu-
lar steamship communication between
the ports of the two countries, and will
contribute her full proportion toward
any reasonable subsidy that may be me-
cessary to secure such service. The
proudest boast of these progressive peo-
pie is that they are called the Yankees
of the south.
Nowadays, on trains between the sea-
port and Santiago there is parlor
coach, with chairs, here known as "the
Spooner car" because introduced by q
gentleman of that name. At first it
was difficult to persuade anybody to pay
a dollar for the privilege OF riding in a
chair, for habit is strong and these good
people were quite satisfied with the
transit they had been accustomed to.
But having once tried the parlor car,
they were delighted with it, and now
anybody who can command an extra
dollar will not ride in any other. The
consequence is that the Spooner coach
/ is always crowded, while the others are
nearly empty, and so great is the de-
mand for chairs that they are engaged
several days in, advance, men often de-
ferring their journey until the seats
they desire can be secured The 'eom-
mon coaches, which for many years
we're the only ones in use are as odd i'm
side as their exterior would indicate,
each having two long seats running
lengthwise from end to end, so that the
traveller sits with his back to the win
dow and his feet In the central aisle,
gazing discontentedly at his companions
in misery instead of at the flying land
scape. The benches are as uncomforta-
| BILE as pews in q coufltry church, being
upholstered in black leather cold and
slippery as glass, and so wide that one
cannot rest his back and his toes at the
same time. .E3.
The engineering problems Of this Cen
trail Gillian railway do not appear to
have been great. at least as compared
with those so frequently encountered in
Peru. The rise between the sea and
Santiago is less than two thousand feet,
and there are no steep grades, nor
bridges worth mentioning, and only a
few short tunnels. Neither is the scene
ry so grand as that along the Peruvian
| lines, but much of this is eminently pic