The Coolidge examiner., 1931-09-18

ihednI Hucn 10 tne country ecOnOm-
lcally during the last half century.
But the perfection of processes in
Europe to extract nitrogen cleo
trlcally from the air, and the growth
of ammonia products from coal dis
tfllation has greatly reduced the
preferred position that Chile long
held.
First opened up in 1880 when the
region was under Peruvian and BO-
livian ownership, the mining opera
tionS did not reach a great magni-
tude until Chile annexed the terri
tory in $780, After that the worlds
demand for nitrate grew so great
that by 1918 Chile exported between
two and three million tons. The
World war increased the demand,
for nitrate is the chief raw mate
rial for explosives as well, as for
wheat and cotton growing; and
Chile's desert deposits kept the guns
of the allies booming.
If one would get a quick concep-
ton of the Importance, the lovely
surroundings and the climate of
Santiago, Chile's capital, he should
set San Francisco or Los Angeles
down in the most beautiful inland
position of the Valley of California,
give the Sierra Nevadas 1000 feet
more height and pile on them more
generous caps of snow
Santiago with it's nearly three
quarters of a million population, is
fairly comparable in size to Pitts
burgh and Boston Among the Span
ish cities of the world only Madrid
and Barcelona in the Old world, and
Buenos Aires and Mexico City in
the New, exceed it.
But it is not on size that admir-
ers of Santiago base their eulOgies.
The city, like our own capital, has
a subtle charm all its own. Much of
this is due to it's location. Many
travellers agree that it has the most
beautiful and inspiring setting of all
the great inland cities of the world.
1t is situated near the upper end
of a mountain-rimmed valley, 40
miles long by 90 miles wide. Ten
miles to the east the Andes rise to
heights greater than $4,000 feet, pre-
senting a towering wall always
snow-capped. On the west is low
er coast range; and to the south
stretches a level expanse of fertile
farming land divided into large es-
tates.
Park of Santa Lucia.
Santiago is built on the plain, but
within it rises a 400-foot hill COW
ering several hundred acres, which
has been made into one of the
worlds unique parks. Once nearly
bare, the hill of Santa Lucia has
been transformed into an enchant-
ing modern hanging garden of
groves and flower beds, winding
roads and trails, cascades, terraces,
sylvan theaters and observation
kiosks. From it's slopes one may
obtain numerous charming vistas,
and from its top Santiago lies
spread out in all it's lovely details.
It is a city predominately of low,
fat-roofed buildings, for the hand
of Spain lies heavy upon it in all
matters of habit and custom. But
for all that the old Spanish life has
taken on a briskness that must be
bred of the West. There is move
ment and hustle that modifies much
of the influence of Old Spain, and
which at the same time stamps San
tiago Enthusiastically a metropolis.
The axis of life in Santiago is the
beautiful Alameda de las Delicias-
"the tree-lined avenue of the de-
lights" which cleaves the city in
two. It's great breadth of $50 feet
is divided by four rows of stately
trees. Down the center is the
Paseo, a broad promenade, lined
with many flower beds and statue
studded little parks, along which in
Vulnerable nursemaids herd their
romping charges. On either side of
the Paseo are the tracks of the elec
trio street railway, and farther out
side are broad highways. The Ala
media is lined with many of the
finest residences and public build
ings of the capital.
The lover of fresh air comes into
his own in Santiago's delightful eli
mate. Great crowds promenade on
the Paseo and in the plazas each
evening. Most of the dwellings are
of the Spanish type with open courts
in the center, in which most of the
family's time is spent. The street
cars are double-deckers, with the
upper seats open. Those who wish
to climb the steps and enjoy the ali
and the view pay smaller fee than
the passengers who ride on the
lower level.