The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-03
PUNTA ARENAS PORT
SOMETHING or CITY WHERE FLEET
 sT0Ps.
It Is the sOuthernznost CoEnmunify of the worId and is aSPIace of More Than 15,0OO
 RAonTe.

sn-As
 It Ia the southernzmost COInmunify of
 the World and is aSPIace of
 More Than 15,OOO
 People.
 Washington, Feb. 2.--(Special)--ln view of popular interest in the pros rress of the American battleship heet around South America and its presence at Punta Arenas in the Straits of Ma gellan, about which very little is gem crafty known in tho United states, the Director of the International Bureau of American Republics. John Barrett. who has visited this portion of South America while United States Minister to Argentina, has prepared the follow ing statement:
 "Punta Arenas, where the Amsrican battleship fleet is now making it's third stop in its cruise around South Amer tea, is both a unique and important port. It is the southernmost city in the world. Although located In sec tion which upon old maps appeared to be a part of Patagonia and close to Tierra del Fuego, the supposed home of wild men and cannibals, it Is a growing, progressive and up-to-date town with a population of 1b,0OO. It has wide streets, some of which are we'll 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.
 "Purta Arenas has the distinction of being the capital of the Chilean terri tory of Magellanes. It is a free port of entry for all vessels and it is not an uncommon sight to see score or more of merchant steamers and ships at an. chor in its harbor, It Is an important coaIins port for all boats passing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It has an increasing export trade in wooL hides and tallow.
 "In 1905 these products to the value of ss.00o.000 were exported, In the same year over 75,000 carcases of frog en meat were shipped to England. The country of Chile and Argentina in the vicinity of Punta Arenas. it's coflmer- cial entrepot. has had development in sheep and cattle raising not unlike that of the western section of the United States. Where a few years aiSO the maps represented the territory as be- ing wild and unexplored. there are DOW great sheep and cattle ranges owned by Britishers and Germans.
 Tho pasturage to the northeast of Punta Arenas is remarkably fine, and because of the cool climate, the neigh borhood seems best adapted to the pro- duction of heavy wool. Great comfa- nies have been started to develop the grazing IaclIltleS ana some are yielding a yearly yroht of 80 per cent. Others have been purely speculative and have brought disaster to those investing in them.
 In the one hundred miles reach Of country from Punta Arenas to the Ar genuine frontier there are probably about 2,00O. .000 sheep and 10000 head Of cattle.
 ''Tha Straits of Magellan reach prac- ffeait,y 2ts rniiAa from fha Atianftc sn the Pacihc, divided into two parts with the eastern somewhat longer than the western. At Cape Froward, the divid- Ing point, a turn at almost right angles is made The widest portion is nearly thirty miles, while the narrowest is barely one mile.
 since the boundary settlement be-