The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-15
BY FRANK G. CARPENTER

and England. The state railways now
use 100000 tons per annum and prac-
tically all of the smelling coal comes
from Australia l understand there are
other extensive deposits in the province
of Arauco. south of Conception. and
they have recently discovered coal near
Punta Arenas. at the Strait of Magel-
Ian. Petroleum and natural gas are
known to exist 500 miles south of Val
paraiso and that in a region not far
from the steel works at Corral BY
means of the canal our coal from the
gulf and south Atlantic states ought
to have a great market here and coal
might form the return freight for the
nitrates and other minerals that form
now on viii be shipped north through
the canal to our country.
1t was these Lota moines that
formed the foundation of the great
Coushmo fortune. still one of the larg-
est of Chile. For several generations it
had been know that coal existed not
far from Conception. and it was at the
time that Madison was President that
an American named Wheelwright, who
put the first steamers on the southern
Pacific, tried to utilize these deposits
for his ships 1t was not until 1855.
however. that they proved to be of
any value when they were bought by
Don Matias Cousino.
The coal is not very good steani-
ing coal, but it does well for smelling.
Cousno established smelling works near
the mines and began to develop the coal
properties. He did so well that in one
year his net receipts We're more than
Sl,2Oo0O0, and in time he built up a big
business. He established the town of
Lota, which has 10000 people. including
the most of the COCO men who are en-
ployed in the mines. The town has good
hohies' church, a hospital, free doe
tors and plaza for recreations.
When Don Cousino died his widow was
said to be the richest woman in the
world and her income was over 81 .0oO. 600
year. She had not only the coal mines
out silver mines and copper mines, bonds
and stocks galore. She had also n larg
hacienda near Santiago and u fine home
IN that city. She gave to the public the
Cousino park, which is the chief plea snra
ground of tn Chilean capital. and she
ihdue herself famous also for her palace
ana park at Iota, not far from he,.
mnes | have visited both places They
are wonders of lanscape gardening. thai
at Lota having many picturesque effects
of both land and sea.
The canal should also give an outIat
TO the lumber of our southern states INFO
all the Pacific coast countries Chile
mas large forest region, but the woods
do not compare with ours and the eoun-
try Is now importing about S00O00O0 feet
OF lumber per annum. The most of this
comes from California, Oregon and Wash
ington. and it has to 10 long voV
farther to reach the canal than would the
lumber of our gulf states In6eed. the
increased distance woulu probab ly mora
than offset the tolls charged to the cuff
state lumber for passing through the
canal.
Moreover the outlook is that there will
be an increased demand for lumber in
Ecuador. Peru and Chile All of the
ports and the most of the cities will grow
and they will need building materials
This will be especially so I'm Chile, where
the government is undertaking public
building operations which are to run
through a period of 10 years and cost
many millions of dollars The buildings
TO be put up include administration Of
ices at the state capitals number of
pen1tentiaries and customs houses and
many public school buildings A new
presidents palace is. also to be erected
at Santiago and the government will. re-
model the repair shops on the state rail
ways and spend some millions on the
harbor at Valparaiso
Indeed, the opportunities for the intro
ouction of all kinds of American goods
are now at their height. Our trade has
been steadily gaining over that of Eng