The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-11-05

| prepared by the National Geographic So
| ciety. Washington, D. c.
Chile, which has come into the
world news by the unusual procedure
of banishing it's President for six
months, is as interesting geographical
ly as politically. The best way to SCI
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, 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
ture of the country crossed the first
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
workings. Nitrate Of soda, Chile's
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
others 20 to 80 feet below ground.
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 a great red
bloom. At vallenar the railroad en-
tiers wide, irrigated valley, emerald
green with alfalfa, and vines heavy |
with luscious white grapes whose |
equal it is difficult to find in any 9th |
err part of the world.
coqumbo Mining Center.
At the river Elqui the longitudinal
gives a twist seaward to serve
the charmingly situated town of La
Serena and Coquimbo, its port. For
a century and a half Coquimbo has
been famed as mining center. One
If our North American steel compa-
1ies has developed a remarkable iron
in the gigantic Toto mines,
where ore taken from mountain of
ron by steam shovels is conveyed
" 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
neet the lateral railway in the Aeon
aqua valley, connecting the town of
.os Andes, at the foot Of the noun
aims, with Valparaiso.
The Aconcagua valley Is Chile's
EN-, a lovely vale where merry lit
lie river. dashing down from crystal
ne heights. is bordered by velvety
reen hills. This is the rich agricul-
ural region which stretches far south
, the Bio-Bio river. This and adjoin-
IL valleys, the biologists tell US, are
he remains of ancient fjords like {
hose we see in far southern Chile. I
Where the coast range of the Andes
ips it's feet in the sea, Valparaiso.
outh Americas chief port on the Pa /
fic, rises like an amph.theater from l
lie crescent shore. t
This city somehow does not seem
'pically South American or even dis S
nctly Chilean. There are so many I
ritishers and Chileans of British d
God here that the place has much in S
mmon with British colonial ports. Il
Like Hongkong. Valparaiso Is p
rmed of few level streets on land II
part reclaimed from the sea, and o
sidential section ON the hills above. q
evators on inclined planes, known r