El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-11-14
Gateway For Transportation of American Goods 5
Growing;

~ONCEPCION. Chile, Nov. 14.-Owing
to the war and the increased de-
~ mands for United States goods, the
port Of Conception will soon be as well
known to our business men as Valpa-
raiso is now. Conception is the me-
tropolis Of southern Chile and the out
let to the best farming part Of the
country. 1t has railroads going north
and south through the great central
valley, and extensions are proposed
which will cross the Andes and Argen-
tino to BuenOs Aires.
It already takes a large part Of our
American exports and farm machinery
and tools Of all kinds from the United
States are for sale IN its stores. Not
Tar from Il are the great coal mines
Of Dota, and within a short street car
ride is TalcahuanO, the chief naval sta
ton OF the republic.
Is Third Largest City.
Conception is the third largest city
Of Chile. It is surpassed only by Val
paraisO and Santiago and it is rapidly
growing. The town lies on the BiobiO
river. not far from the sea. A low
range OF hills separates it from the
when it was first founded It lay
right on the beach. Then came an
earthquake that swallowed the city as
the whale swallowed Jonah. COncep-
cion disappeared into the nav Of the
Pacific II was wiped out like Port
ROYAL Jamaica, and there Is now only
q bathing resort on that spot. In re-
building, the people chose the present
site, where the hills keep out the waves,
50 that in spite Of the earthquakes, the
city still stands.
there are so many that the land moves
to and fro as though IL had the ague.
The quakes are almost as common as
those of Japan. We had one last night
that swayed the walls OF my motel room
and set the electric lights swinging.
The first shock awakened me. 1t was
about IL D. m. The experience made
me think / was in a storm out at sea:
Ny bed rose and fell and bottle OF
ammonia on the edge OF my washstand
dropped to the floor with a crash. At
the same time its pungent scent 1llled
the room. I looked at my watch. II
was 10 minutes after II p. m AS the
second hand measured out minute
rose and went into the hall The walls
were still trembling and as 1 entered
the portico looking down on the patio
q smokestack fell down and the guests
Of the hotel came running out in their
night clothes for fear that the heavy
tiled roof of the building might fall.
Some Of them stayed cut doors all
Earthquakes Frequent.
There are regions where they have
some kind Of a shock every day; but
even there the natives are afraid OF
them. and it is only the ignorant globe
trotting tenderfoot who says he is not.
The most severe earthquake I ever ex-
perienced was in 1894 in the capital OF
Japan At that time a great number
Of buildings were destroyed, the high
chimney Of the parliament house
crashed through the roof, and the
American legation building was almost
split in twain
Al the time this earthquake occurred
] was in the household department Of
the Mikado. having an interview with
the high court chamberlain concerning
the Empress, about whom I was to
write a magazine article. The building
was modern. and after the style of the
public buildings of our country. Had
81 been Japanese it would probably
have stood, but as it was the earth
quake threw half of it to the ground.
We saw the walls moving and felt the
floor rising and falling, when the high
Japanese official said: There is an
earthquake and I think we had better
get out At the same time the halls
were filled with flying clerks. We /
rushed out and had barely got clear
HAh0NTAwFinDI