Observations and Reflections 355 



that petroleum and natural gas exist, but the localities 

 where these occur are as yet difficult of access, and no 

 development of consequence has taken place. Coal is 

 conspicuous by its absence from most of the geological 

 formations of South America, and, where it does occur, 

 it is of inferior quality. It must, however, be remarked 

 that there are great areas in which no thorough^exami- 

 nation has as yet been made to ascertain whether coal 

 is present or not. The tropical sun atones for the lack 

 of coal over the greater part of the region, so far as 

 the need of securing warmth for human habitations is 

 concerned, and the abundance of available water- 

 power compensates in part for the lack of mineral fuel 

 as a source of motive power. Along the Andes, in 

 eastern Brazil, and in southern Argentina there are 

 rapids and falls enough to drive all the engines now at 

 work in the world. 



The greater part of the continent lies within the 

 tropics, and therefore the climatic conditions are not 

 generally regarded as favorable to the Caucasian. 

 There are, however, parts of the continent w T hich are 

 extremely favorable to this race. Uruguay, Argentina, 

 Chili, and the highlands, both of the east and the west, 

 reveal conditions which are quite equal to those which 

 are found in Europe and North America where the 

 Caucasian has been evolved at his best. The hot 

 lands of Brazil, the Guianas, Venezuela, and Colombia 

 are enervating. The diseases, which have hitherto 

 made life in tropical countries dangerous, bid fair with 

 the advance of knowledge to be brought under control. 

 Even in the low-lying river-valleys, with the draining 

 of the swamps and the extermination of insect plagues, 

 the conditions of life will become more favorable. 

 Many of the valleys of our own western States at the 



