The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-12-31

prepared by the National Geographic So
| ciety. Washington, D. c.
Chile, which has come into the
world news by the unusual procedure
Of banishing its President for six
months, is as interesting geographical
| ly as politically. The best way to SEA
this shoe-string of a country is to trav-
ell on the longitudinal railway, from
its beginning in the dreary desert to
its dropping-off place on the wooded
shore Of the Gulf of Ancud. Few,
save the Chileans themselves, make
this comprehensive journey, from the
rainless region Of the north to the
rich agricultural heart of the coun-
try, and on through the magnificent
forest and river lands, long held by
the valiant Araucanian Indians, to
that enchanting mountain and lake re-
gion unrivaled in beauty the world
over.
The 'longitudinal's" beginning is at
Pisagua, a port north of Antofagasta.
africa, still farther north in disputed
territory, is not yet connected with
the Chilean railroad system, being be-
yond the nitrate zone
1t takes a drab pencil to draw a pic
two days out from Antofagasta. One
looks in vain on the monotonous, tree
less plain for so much as a cactus
plant, and the line is too far inland
for one to glimpse the restless, blue
Pacific, whose tempestuous surf enliv-
ems even the most colorless of the des-
ert ports. To the east bleak gray
hills shut off the snow-crowned Andes.
Near the railroad the traveller sees
deeply furrowed patches of white
earth resembling old salt deposits.
These mark the sites of former nitrate
chief source of revenue, Of which the
country has virtually a world mo-
nopoly, is obtained from the rough
rock known locally as caliche. 1t is
dug or blasted from the earth, in
some places lying near the surface, in
The nitrate deposits lie from 10 to 80
miles inland from the coast, at an al
titude varying from a little over g.
900 to 1900 feet.
As one continues south from Co
piapo, little by little the desert flora
grows from tufts of grass and stunt |
ed bush to tall algarobas and cacti of |
many varieties, one with great red |
bloom. At" Vallenar the railroad en-
.ers wide, irrigated valley, emerald
green with alfalfa, and vines heavy |
With luscious white grapes whose
equal 1t is difficult to find in any 9th
IT part of the world.
Coquimbo Mining Center.
At the river Elqui the longitudinal
'ailway gives twist seward to serve
he charmingly situated town of La
Serena and Coquimbo, its port. For
century and a half Coquimbo has
een famed as mining center. One
f our North American steel compa-
lies has developed remarkable iron
in the gigantic TOTO mines,
vhere ore taken from mountain of
ron by steam shovels is conveyed
y an electrically operated railroad to
he pier and loaded directly, through
hutes, into specially constructed
teamers.
1t takes six days of daylight travel
rom Antofagasta to Calera. Here we
leet the lateral railway in the Aeon
aqua valley, connecting the town of
os Andes, at the foot Of the noun
lins, with Valparaiso.
The Aconcagua valley Is Chile's '
EN-, a lovely vale where merry lit
e river, dashing down from crystal I
ne heights, Is bordered by velvety
-een hills. This is the rich agricul-
lral region which stretches far south t
the Bio-Bio river. This and adjoin- t
z valleys, the biologists tell US, are l
lie remains of ancient fjords like o
lose we see in far southern Chile. 4
Where the coast range of the Andes
DIS its feet in the sea, Valparaiso, t
,uth Americas chief port on the Pa il
flc, rises like an amph.theater from u
e crescent shore. &
This city somehow does not seem g
pically South American or even dis s.
lctly Chilean. There are so many Il
.itishers and Chileans of British q
pod here that the place has much in 81
mmon with British colonial ports. 1t
Like Hongkong. Valparaiso Is p
rmed of a few level streets on land Is
part reclaimed from the sea, and a OF
,idential section ON the hills above. II
svators on inclined planes, known re