Progress of Chile. 283 



by embankment, as was also done in tlie case of tlio exist- 

 ing Plaza de Atjnas, and the wide and graceful Calle de Plan- 

 chada, both which sites were under water less than twenty 

 years since ! 



The Custom-house buildings, including the vast solid ware- 

 houses, cost the State more than 1,000,000 Spanish piastres 

 (£210,000), but form the* finest and most convenient edifice of 

 the kind throughout South America. An enormous quantity 

 of the most valuable merchandise, which used to be scattered 

 about among private houses or disposed of, are now stored in 

 large, dry, well-lighted apartments, and can without much 

 trouble or delay be got at and taken away. About 200 

 officials are at work in spacious offices registering the trade of 

 the State, which is in a very flourishing state, owing to the 

 immense importation of the most various foreign fabrics, paid 

 for in a not less extensive export of Chilean products, chiefly 

 corn and precious metals. The start taken by the country in 

 commerce and agriculture, as also the development of its 

 natural resources, dates from the period of the discovery of 

 the Californian gold-fields. Chile, so admirably suited for 

 agriculture, very speedily became the granary of the gold- 

 country,, and set aljout making the most of its manifold 

 advantages. Wlieat, barley, beans, increased so much in 

 value, that many fields which, on account of comj)arative 

 poverty, had been suffered to lie fallow hitlierto, now got 

 under cultivation, and the former scanty means of the major- 

 ity of the proprietors of the soil was at once exchanged for 



