The sun., 1919-06-30
CHIEEANS PIONEERS
IN MINING INDUSTRY
Production of Silver and Tin
Notable Contributions in
Recent Years.
Specially ,oritten for the Ldtin-Amerf-
can Section Of THE SUN.

Specially ,oritten for the Ldtin-Ameri-
can Section Of THE Sun.
In claiming the title Of industrial
pioneers of South America, Chileans
certainly have made a good showing in
what they have done, first for their
own nitrate industry and later for the
mining industries Of Bolivia. Here
are located some Of the richest
silver deposits OF the world, the fa-
nous mines of Potosl and Oruro that
provided for the Kings treasury when
Spanish galleons were tempting the Eng
lish and Dutch 6libusters of the six
teenth century.
But after the Spanish lord was de-
MED the right to the riches of America.
and at the same time the compulsory
work OF the Indian was abolished, the
old mines laid waste for year after
year, since the severeness OF the climate,
due to the rarified atmosphere and the
intense cold of the tableland $4,000 feet
above sea level, does not permit the
work OF but the strongest people.
Then Chileans came as explorers and
promoters of mining enterprises and
took the work Just where the Spaniard
had left II when many veins of silver
grew scarcer: and the less valuable
metal, the copper. the tin and the lead
We're worked in its place. And follow
Chilean capital went to supply the neces.
sary means for the exploitation of new
sources Of wealth. Some OF these mines.
as Llallagua, Oruro and Pulcaye, have
their board of directors in Chile. and
deals in the mining stock of these and
other companies are generally made in
Santiago and Valparaiso The value OF
the Huanchaca mines IL estimated to
be in the neighborhood OF $4,000. 900
in gold.
OF all its products. tin Is the mineral
that leads in the production of Bolivia
as one of the Industrial factors OF the
world AS a tin producer Bolivia ranks
only second to the Straits, and Chileans
are responsible for the largest portion
OF the production. $4,000 metric tons
| (2,205 pounds to the ton) in 1915.
In order to give life to the mining in
dustry in Bolivia, a railroad was con-
structed from the port of Antofagasta
TO the Sierras over four hundred miles
| of desert This line, first completed to
| Oruro. now reaches La Paz, while an
other more direct line built by the Chill
can Government runs from Africa to the
Bolivian capital. crossing the Andes at
height OF 10000 feet.
Hard as Is the exploitation OF mines
tin Bolivia by reason of its altitude. the
lack OF fuel and scarcity OF water COUP
|
| make greater the difficulties the won
derful mineral resources of Bolivia have
found in the way of their development
In this sense Bolivia Is very much in
debted to Chilean energy and enterprise
which are responsible for the organiEa-
ton of the vast businesses which have
called the attention OF the world mar
ket to the possibilities of modern exploit
tation OF the resources of the far table,
land.
Other tin mines of a great prospective
value have been located in Inquisivi
by Chileans who have the firm purpose
not TO lose hold of tho position they
have taken in the development OF Bo-
lovia's main source OF wealth. These
new mines are said to be the richest IN
the whole country. some OF them hav-
ing thirteen meters OF mineral in their
veins. Water is plentiful in the vicin-
ity, both for drinking and for motive
power. II Is expected that these mines
will add enormously to the output OF
the tin EXPECTATIONS OF Bolivia.
The Chilean and Bolivian work well
together especially with the more en-
lightened classes who can appreciate
better the common benefit of this al
lance OF enterprise and labor, OF in,
ittattye and endurance.