New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-10

The mineral resources Of the country
are estimated 70 be Of enormous value.
Experts generally agree that there are
Few undeveloped sections Of the globe
which are likely TO produce greater
wealth than the Chilean Andes when
the mining is properly organized. The
Bethlehem Steel Company is develop
ing iron mines there now, while Ameri-
can Smelling and Refining and Ana
conda also have large copper interests
and are adding TO their holdings.
The development of these properties
has reflected great credit on the United
States and added 10 our prestige in
South America. The skill With which
the work is organized, the character of
the machinery employed and the care
Of employees have all excited most ia
vorable comment on American methods
IN Chile, and Chileans are anxious TO
see greater interest in their country
on the part Of our people. The critical
attitude of the Chileans toward US and
deep-seated suspicion Of our motives
which developed from the strained re-
latlons of twenty years ago have been
almost oDliterated, largely as the re
suit of the ability and skill of Ambas
sador' Henry P. Fletcher, lately sp-
pointed to Mexico.
The southern part Of Chile is devoted
TO cattle raising and farming, but ex-
ports are small because of home de-
mands. The sheep and cattle industries
are developing, however, and are GER
tain to be important factors during the
next ten years.
Coal is found in the south, and is OF
vast Importance 10 Chile, for the fields
are the only ones Of any size yet devel
oped on the west coast and the most
valuable yet known in the whole south
ern continent. Because Of the shutting
of of the supply Of Welsh coal the
price for the Chilean product has adj
vanced enormously, and the demand Is
very large.
The country has developed more in
manufacturing in proportion 10 its size
than any of its neighbors, and is now
turning out textiles, clothing, shoes
and leather in considerable quantities.
The cement industry and paper manu-
featuring offer interesting fields for de-
velopment, in the opinion of the Chill
cans, and they hope for American aid
in manufacturing fields as well as in
mining and grazing.
Chile is discussing government finances
very seriously at present, and seeks 70
place a considerable loan in the United
States. II negotiated it will serve 20
bring the two countries closer together
than ever before.
The fighting power OF Chile is proba-
bly, greater than that OF any Of its Sis
ter republics. For fifteen years MILL
tary training has been compulsory. and
as a result the nation has an army with
a war strength Of 100000 excellent men.
Il maintains a standing army Of 10000,
has several fine military academies.
and the discipline and organization OF
the service always attract the attention
Of strangers. The navy also has been
given attention, but not so much as
the army. The land forces are German
trained and show il clearly. The navy
was developed under British tutelage.
As a result there is an interesting dlvl-
sion OF sympathies between the army
and navy in the European war
With the great canal at Panama
bringing Chile and the United states
nearer together, and with the current
Of trade between the two now flowing
stronger than ever, 1t seems apparent
that we will know more about chile IN
the United States in the next ten years,
and Chile will know and understand US
much better.