The Iron Horse in Chile. 309 



with the very productive district of Talca, a distance of 180 

 miles, and is destined to exercise a most beneficial influence 

 in improving the position of the peasantry. 



The drive through the valley of Santiago is exceedingly 

 interesting, as the line keeps close beneath the Cordillera 

 through nearly its entire length, thus revealing to the gaze 

 of the astonished traveller a succession of Alpine landscapes, 

 such as one might behold in crossing the Semmering Alp. 

 The ordinary rate of travelling in Chile is 25 miles an hour, 

 but the expresses occasionally run at the rate of 60 miles per 

 hour. As the splendid pastures on either side are grazed by 

 innumerable herds, some of which were constantly straying 

 upon the line, the item for injury done to cattle used to 

 assume serious proportions, owing to the negligence of the 

 drivers, till the directors, under the advice of Mr. Evans, 

 offered a premium of 30 dollars a quarter to any engine driver 

 who should during that space avoid killing any of the cattle : 

 a singular regulation, but which put a stop to the evil. The 

 line is solidly constructed, but very simply equipped, the wait- 

 ing-rooms at the different stations being entirely deficient in 

 that luxury which the traveller is accustomed to on first-rate 

 European lines. But it tells in favour of the dividend.* 



* The lines of road already in operation or projected throughout Chile are as fol- 

 lows : — 



a. From Valparaiso to Santiago, 110 miles, constructed at the expense of the 

 State, and estimated to cost $7,150,000 (£2,860,000). This had been opened 

 when we were there, as far as Guillota, 30 miles, but the whole was to be fin- 

 ished by 1862. 

 I. From Valparaiso to Talca (180 miles), and 



