Evening star., 1913-12-07
PEPPER WRITES OF LIFE PACIFIC PORTS OF SOUTH AMERICA


larger degree than now. but without
necessarily displacing Chiie's saitpeter
beds as sources of supply. 1t is agreed
adopted in preparing the nitrates for
commerce. The present methods arc
crude, and ii is generally conceded that
the product can be cheapened and thus
he put IN a better position TO compete
with other fertilizers If the present proc
esses are modernized. Some of the pri-
Vate companies are experimenting or
their own account. but the disposition
seems TO be to let the Chilean govern
ment DO most of the experimenting
that all the establishments may get the
beneht without cost to themselves. Yet
the proba ability is that the private con
Germs that go ahead at their own eN-
pense will reap the benefit OF their en-
terprise.
The nitrate propaganda which is an
other name Tor the nitrate trust. although
II is supposed to have to do solely with
the study OF the wor d's markets and
the advertising OF the nitrates, has ad-
journed Its meetings from IouiQue TO Val
paraiSo There are numerous questions
TO be considered, but none OF them ap-
pears 10 look to serious curtailment OF
the present output. The different estab-
lishments, with the Chilean government
in the background, usually manage with
out serious difficulty to agree as 10 the
production. and while il is occasionally
curtailed temporarily, the pressure OF
private interests is sufficient to keep the
world literally supplied at fair prices
somewhat similar practice follows in
connection with iodine. which Is the by
product of the nitrates. A single steam
er few days ago took out several hun
dred barrels OF iodine
=
Iauique is losing some OF its command
ing importance as a nitrate port, although
q will ha H.
shipment.
Farther down the coast is Mejilione..
not a nitrate port. but real commercial
entrepot- The ocean sweeps I'm ana
forms the bay like half-moon Enclosing
big sheet OF smooth waters, vet not
withstanding these natural faciities IL Is
only within few years that the Chilean
government dignified Mejillones as 4
minor port and established a custom
house there.
Many years ago some one started =
port at Antofagasta, where the sea Is
always rough and where lighters with
cargoes of valuable minerals some
times take whfm and sink to the bot
tom. Antofagasta was made the start
Ing point for the railroad into Bolivia.
and the silver and copper ores and the
TIN concentrates were brought down
there. In consequence a city. next in
size 10 lquique, grew up and is 100
big now to be smothered IL is even
to spend a large sum OF money
IN trying to make a harbor. and Anto-
fagasta is included in the Chilean gov
ernments general scheme OF port i'm
provements
Nevertheless, Mejillones continues TO
grow. The Antofagasta railway own
ers In London, against their own wish
es. were forced to build a spur from
the main line to Mejillones. IL is now
the talk that under the new control
Of the Antofagasta line Mejillones viii
be given much larger share OF traffic
The new control of this important rail-
way leading up into Bolivia means the
American, Perciyal Farquhar. and his
syndicate. While the capital remains
in English hands. Farquhar is under
stood to have the intention OF applying
American methods to the railway. revo-
lutionizing a number of things the old
management was unwilling 10 attempt
< <
Bolivia itself hardly comes within the
scope OF a coast letter. because Bolivia
has no seacoast. but between the South
ern railway of Peru. with its terminus
at Mollendo, and the Arica-Ld PaZ line
and the Antofagasta line, the country 8
accessible and is of special interest TO
Americans. There is a prospect that
American influence may again acquire
the position 1t had when the NeS York
banking group, which built some Of the
railroads under agreement with the Bo-
Hvian government. suddenly sold out at
Its own price to the British group in
control of the Antofagasta railway and
abandoned the field IL was 4 profitable
transaction for the New York financial
group. but il showed that patriotism has
apparently no place I'm high finance when
a quick profit is in sight.
ports because il has a very good harbor.
Its chief Importance comes fiom the fact
that the great iron ore depos Is Of oh l.
are close by. The Chilean government
has not made out very well so far with
rying the ore down TO Co-ane an es
tablishiag iron and steel works there. But
the real value of the ,-eposl,s ; a.ne
dimly appreciated when Charles II
Schwab came along with a steel com
pany and acquired the TOTO properties
Mr. Schwab's plans for developing the
properties have gone forward without
much ostentation, but with a precision
that has astonished the chi cans En- hist
and Germans. Ii is possible that the ex-
pectation of taking out million tons ~
ore yearly and transporting il throuea
the canal may not be realized quite
soon as anticipated but very large guam
titles are certain 10 he going forward
within a compa atiVely short time.
CHARLES n. PEPPER.