Diario las Américas., 1958-01-03

Neighbot
By ANTONIO RUIZ

cepcion, with a population OF 45O.-
is one of the most important in
the country, both because OF its
agricultural production and the in
dustries it has developed. The coal
mines, the great production of
portant factors in regional as
wool materials and the modern
steel works of Huachipato are i'm
we'll as national economy Because
it has great natural beauty, the
province is a very interesting
tourist center.
The city of Conception, capital
of the Province, is rated third in
Importance in the Republic, and is
located on the banks of the Bio
Bio River, the widest river in
Chile. 1t was founded on October
5, 1850 by Pedro de Valdivia, IN
der the name of Conception del
Nuevo Extreme in a nearby site
which today is the resort of Pen
CO, but it was destroyed several
times by attacks from the Indians,
by tidal waves and several earth
quakes, the last one in ISL, which
caused the moving of the city to
its present site. In 1884 Concep-
cion was granted the title Of city.
Since its foundation, Conception
has constantly developed and, spe-
cially during the last few years,
it has acquired all the character
istics of a modern city; wide ave-
nues, beautiful parks, elegant and
comfortable theatres and we'll
organized publics services. New
constructions, such as the State
Railroad Station, the Cathedral,
the Court of Justice building and
the Conception Club, show the
great progress achieved by the city.
To the marked importance the
city has as an industrial and COM
mercial center, must be added the
fact that it is the seat of a very
important university, which has
students from all the southern
provinces, as well as from other
countries of the Americas. 1t was
created by private initiative, has
faculties of Medicine, Law, En-
cheering, Philosophy, Chemistry,
Dentistry, and others, and has a
Museum of Natural History and
another one of Ethnography, both
very valuable. The buildings are
at University City, located in the
outskirts of the city, in a place
named LA Toma".
One of the best excursions in
the city is to "Caracol Hill', about
$50 feet above the level of the city
and about 400 feet above sea level.
The climb is made on beautiful
and we'll paved roads. At the top,
there are charming pine and eu-
caliptus groves. and the view of
the whole city is delightful, with
a panorama which includes several
lakes and the Bio Bio and Anda-
lien rivers. Ais, seen from there
during clear days are the bays of
Talcanuano and San Vicente, as
well as Santa Maria Island. At
the foot of Caracol Hill is Ecuador
Park, which enjoys great popular
ity, has a swimming pool, tennis
courts, and children's playground.
Other interesting PAGES are the
Plaza de Armas which has a beau
tiful and monumental fountain;
the Municipal Sports Field, the
10 Mendez Lake which offers ex-
cellent swimming, the Manuel Ig.
nacio Collao Avenue, which is the
beginning of a paved road to Chi.
Han, and many others.
Of particular interest is the In.
dian Museum, which has many re.
lies of both native and foreign
Indians, which is located in the
township of Hualpen, only a few
miles from Conception. The ar.
ticles exhibited there were collec.
ted by philantropist Pedro del Rio
Zafartu during his trips to many
parts Of the world, who donated
both museum and the site of the
township to the municipalities Of
Conception and Talcahuara.
, Spanish Version Page 3.