Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-02-04
Southernmost City in the World.

|
| Punta Arenas, where the American
battleship fleet is now making its third
stop In its cruise around South Ameri-
ca, is both unique and important
port. 1t is the southenmost city In
the world. Although located in a sec
ton which upon old maps appeared to
be a part of Patagonia and close to
TERRA del Fuego. the supposed home
| of wild men and cannibals. 1t is a
lgrowing, progressive and up-to-date
town with a population of $4,000. It
i has wide streets, some of which are
well paved, several imposing public
buildings, a number of fine residences,
an opera house, clubs, good system
| of electric lighting and water supply,
and other modern characteristics.
Punta Arenas has the distinction of
being the capital of the Chilean terri.
tory Of Magellanes. 1t is a free port
of entry for all vessels and 1t Is not
an uncommon sight to see a score or
more of merchant steamers and ships
at anchor in its harbor. 1t is an i'm.
Iportant coaling point for all boaty
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Sheep Raising Chief industry.
1t has an increasing export trade in
wool, hides and talow. In 1905 these
products to the value of 100000
were exported In the same year over
$4,000 carcasses of frozen meat were
|shipped to England The country of
Chile and Argentina in the vicinity
of Punta Arenas, its commercial entire
pot, has had development in sheep
and cattle raising not unlike that of
the western section OF the United
States. Where few years ago the
maps represented the territory as be-
ling wild and unexplored. there are
now great sheep and cattle ranges
|owned by Britishers and Germans
The pasturage to the northeast of
Punta Arenas is remarkably flne and
because Of the cool climate, the neigh
borhood seems best adapted to the
production of heavy wool. Great COM
Ianies have been started to develop
the grazing facilities and some are
yielding a yearly profit Of three hun
Idred per cent. Others have been pure
Ily speculative and have brought dis
aster to those investing in them. In
the one hundred miles reach Of coun-
TRY from Punta Arenas to the Argen-
tine frontier there are probably about
100000 sheep and 10000 head of cat
tile.
Straits 315 Miles in Length.
The Straits of Magellan reach prac-
tically 315 miles from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, divided into two parts
with the eastern somewhat longer
than the western. At Cape Froward.
the dividing point, turn at almost
right angles is made. The widest por-
tion is nearly thirty miles, while the
narrowest is barely one mile. Since the
boundary settlement between Chile
and Argentina of 1881 the Straits Of
Magellan have belonged to the former
country, but the waterway Is not to be
fortified and is always to be open to
international navigation.
"The climate Is cold and bracing and
it Is the only place in South America
where skating and sleighing can be
engaged in for considerable portion
of the winter The feet, however, will
be there at the end of the summer, In
asmuch as the seasons south Of the
equator are just the reverse Of those
to the north. In other words autumn
Is just starting in Puntas Arenas.
While stopping there the American
sailors will have a chance to breathe
bracing air full of ozone, and not only
recuperate from the long trip down
the tropics but prepare themselves for
the equally long journey north across
the equator before they reach Cali
fornia.