The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-17

the best produced throughout the world
The experiments which have been
made with the sowings of beet root and
fax have given wonderful results.
There are in Chile all the necessary
materials for the preparation and tan
ming of skins, and these could be ex-
ported practically ready for subsequent
treatment in The leather factories of
other countries.
With respect to the mineral produc-
ton, as I have already stated, Chile
does not possess the same wealth OF gold
and silver as Peru or Bolivia, but on
the other hand It's deposits OF copper
are more abundant. To-day the ore.
when sufficiently rich, IL shipped as It Is
dug out Of the earth. Under other cir
cumstances It IL sent away in the form
OF ingots and bars.
The former process entails a large ex-
pense for freight, which materially in
creases tho cost OF articles ultimately
manufactured from this metal II would
be quite another matter IL the copper
now exported could first be treated and
beaten into sheets or drawn into wires,
according to the uses for which 1t is des-
tined.
Here, then. is another important in
dustrial field that could be developed in
Chile. and 1t would only be natural that
<huctiChH Capital bnOuu Do invested
such an enterprise. because the United
States Is ono OF the principal consum-
ers OF Chilean copper, and also because
American engineers and American money
have chiefly contributed until now to the
opening of its mines.
Steel Company Busy There.
The Bethlehem Steel Company of the
Mt ~ ha. LOT
tablished in the north of Chile an in
stallation that only began operations in
1918. but has already exported from the
port OF TOTO $4,000 metrical tons Of
iron, which has been carried to Philadel-
phia, some times via the Panama Canal
and sometimes via the Straits Of Magel-
Ian, in twenty-three steamers, specially
built for this service, with a capacity of
$4,000 tons. At the same time tho COM
pany has imported from New York, for
the use OF Its smelters. 24,269 tons of
general cargo. including machinery.
cement. steel. explosives, provisions.
clothes, &c, and large quantity of
wood.
Among the industries which could be
established in Chile to treat the deposits
found in the soil must not be forgotten
that OF cement, for which there Is a
general demand throughout the whole OF
South America, owing 10 the numerous
building operations and construction
works that are always going on for pub
lie purposes, especially in Chile. where
so much rubble work Is required for her
| bridges and ports.
Up to now the greater part OF the
cement used in Chile has come from the
United States. but to-day there is an
active competition, and with improved
means of communication this will be-
come keener.
Sooner or later II Is evident that
American cement ma nufacturers will find
| their market in South America gone be
cause that country will be able to supply
itself. In the year 1914 n factory To-
Gated between Santiago and Valparaiso
| produced cement to the value of more
than $500, 900.
1t Is calculated that Chilean forests
extend over an area OF $4,000 square
miles, that 10 about IS per cent of the
whole country. There are moro than
one hundred kinds Of trees and among
them are found those suitable for build
ing, the manufacture OF furniture and
other industrial and medicinal purposes,
and also for the preparation OF pulp so
largely used In the manufacture OF paper.
! In this latter connection I may mention
that when the Chilean laurel was re-
7 Gently examined in Norway IL was found
to contain a large quantity OF cellulose
| or woody fibre than even the timber OF
| that country.
Those who know the great inroads
made daily IN the worlds forests for
| paper pulp alone and the fear OF a pos
sihle exhaustion of the available timber
| Will easily appreciate the importance OF
our forests.