Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-05-13
SOUTHERNMOST CITY
(CORtinued from Page one.1


gellan, into the South Sea, under com.
mand of Francisco Drac, a native of
Plymouth, q man of low condition, but
skillful seaman and a valiant pirate"
is the way, according to the article,
that the I'D Spanish chronicler put it,
and Wherefore SPAIN in order to pro
tect her rlch ports on the Pacific coast
of South America from the depredations
of this marauding Drac' and similar
practically inclined gentry, determined
to found a settlement which at the same
time would serve as a protecting for
tress, at some convenient point on the
strait. An expedition was fitted out
and under the leadership of the Spanish
navigator, Pedro Sarmiento, the first
colony was established not far from the
present site of Punta Arenas. What
with hostile Indians, cold, and starva-
tion, the little settlement was soon
wiped out of ex stence, and the shores
of the Strait again became uninhabited
by civilized man, and thus remained
for many years. ,"
In 1843 the Republic of Chile estab-
lished a penal colony near the same
site, which, about eight years later was
completely burned down by the prison
ers, who mutinied and killed the COVER.
nor, guards, and many foreigners. This
rebellion was quelled a few months
later and the town rebuilt on its pres
ent site and given the name of Punta
Arenas Spanish ,for,'Amdy Point. 1t
would seem that sheep raising is the
foundation upon which, the little city $
growth and prosperity depends to a
great extent, and in this connection the
writer states:
"The cold climate Of Terra del Fue.
60 and the strait region generally is
peculiarly adapted 20 sheep raising In
order to protect IL en- from the rigors
of the low tempe atsres nature pro.
Yides the sheep Yithpnusually thick
and heavy coats of wool, tho quality
of which is such that it commands good
prices in the markets of Europe. It's
special qualities are that it washes very
white and will take the most delicate
dyes exceptionally well. Thus Punta
Arenas has become one of the great
wool-exporting ports of the world, some.
thing over 20,000000 POUNDS being ship.
ped from there annually 1t is estimat.
ed that there arc now 100000 sheep
in the territory where So years ago
there were but 1855 head all told. At
the time of the writer's visit there was
one company, capitalized at $7,300,00
which owned over 1,S0L 600 acres of
land on which were maintained 1853.
900 sheep, 25,00O head of cattle, and
9,lS3 horses. For one year the produc-
tion of this company amounted to near.
! ly 9,500,000 pounds of wool, shol y from
1,l90,GS3 sheep, thus averagirg 79l
pounds of wool per animal. &
The little city boasts of about $4,000
inhabitants, and their prosperity is indi
Gated when an examination Of the credit
information books OF the banks reveal
the fact that among them there are Is
fortunes that exceed 100000; Ga for
tunes of more than 100000; 81 of more
than 100000; and there are sevcraI
that range from $l,000,000 to $4,000,
600. incidentally the reports of the
banks also show that there are $500 ac
counts in the savings departments that
exceed 5000, remarkable showing fol
a town of $4,000 peOple--a showing that
| perhaps few small cities in the UniteC
States or Europe can equal. But that'i
the kind Of town Punta Arenas is
the "Southernmost City in the World