Arizona republican., 1920-12-29
GIVES ACCOUNT
 IF HIS TRIP II
 SOUTH AMERICA
Dr. R. B. Von KleinSmid Is
 Interesting Speaker At KiWanis Lunch e on Found Nations Backward

An interesting and informative ac- count of transportation methods in South America with here and there a spice of humor was the contribution of Dr. R. B. von KleinSmid, president of the University of Arizona, at the Xii wanis club luncheon yesterday. His talk concerned a trip made to the southern continent in October, with observations not only on the commer- cial life of South America, but upon their customs and habits of living and thinking. The luncheon was we'll at tended, and Dr. von KleinSmid's ad- dress was well received. He spoke in part as follows:
 "The thing that interests perhaps more than any other in South America IS the newness of the country despite It's age, and this fact, which is inn pressed upon the visitor at every turn. IS particularly apparent, I think, to the American. Through all the years of my life, like most of us, have had a desire to visit the southern continent, and so it was most natural to avail myself of the opportunity when it pre- sented itself and sail southwark
 'If the trip is made from New York, the best of service and accommoda- tions may be obtained, but if you leave from New Orleans there is little chance for either. A great number of the boats going to South and Central America from this port, are owned by the United Fruit company, the busi- ness of which is to make dividends, and he who goes by this line really goes as freight. This company made dividend last year of 100 per cent, and now I know how they did it.
 Fine Vacation Trip
 'The trip to South America and back again, taking in the canal zone parts of Central America and Havana, is a very delightful two weeks vacation trip, and thousands of Americans make it yearly. The best time in which to make the trip is in June. At this time. which is summer time below the equator, 1t is almost unbearably hot. The warmest weather I believe I ever experienced was in Panama.
 "The United States government has performed miracle in the canal zone. as may be gauged from the one state ment that at Christobal are the only docks on the west coast of South America. At no port on the west coast can one dock. The traveller buys a ticket to Valparaiso, for instance, and the steamer puts you down in the har- Dor somewhere, and you get ashore as pest you can. I can advise anyone talk ing the trip to bargain with the boat men before leaving the ship.
 Valparaiso is said to have the finest harbor on the western coast of the Americas with the one exception of San Francisco, and when it is under stood that even in this barbor there are no docks one can know the back wardness of the continent.
 tfF'rorn R11haa u-a toaIy . T1n-,,x-;-, .. boat, and entered immediately into South America, at least as far as ap- pearances went. The sailors were Peruvian, the methods of navigation were Peruvian, everything, in short was as far away from what we had ex- perienced previously as if we were in another world. We arrived first as Guayaquil, Ecuador, situated in the heart of the jungle. The only two ex- ports of Ecuador are cacao and ivory nuts, which are used in American man ufacture.
 Railroad Joke
 "Quito the capital of Ecuador is reached by rail from Guayaquil. The railroad between the two cities is one Of the jokes of the universe. It is a 30-inch road with light rails, and the train makes 300 miles in two days, stopping tor meals and to give the  passengers chance to sleep. There is Plenty of tropical fruit sold along the route, but after experiencing the ioys of concentrated stmoach ache we be- came chary of indulging too freely in this.
 Another city was Riobamba, and in going to Quito from this city we went from sea level to mountain chains. From Quito it is possible to see seven peaks more than 10000 feet high. This city, which is almost on the equator. is perhaps the most interesting town in South America. Riobamba is an old Inca city. It is a great Indian market place, where hundreds of the natives. dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. congregate to sell produce It is. how ever, of no commercial importance. which may also be said of all the other cities of Ecuador. The government is backward, the exporting of sugar and cacao Is held back, the banks are clos ling and exchange was never so low"