48 POLITICAL DIVISIONS AND 



statistics to show what amounts of agricultural or mineral products are obtained, but it is well 

 known that there is a large surplus of both above the provincial consumption. For the same 

 reason, there are neither means of ascertaining its domestic trade nor its consumption of foreign 

 goods, except of those which pass through the custom-hou.se at Santa Kosa. From its returns, 

 the imports from the Argentine provinces in 1850 amounted to $229,003, of which the sum of 

 $44,453 was in silver pina and bars; .$24,145 in copper; $7,300 in gold dust; $25,166 for 

 (3,353) black cattle, yearlings, &c. ; $16,474 for (2,884) horses, mules, and asses; $38,793 for 

 common soap; $19,592 for tallow; and $13,939 for raisins. Of course, the larger proportion 

 of all these articles were consumed elsewhere. Neither native nor foreign naturalized goods 

 were exported in return. The railroad commenced between Santiago and Valparaiso will, 

 when completed, pass across the southwestern corner of the province, and within about 22 

 miles of San Felipe. If this distance be also laid with iron, the choice of markets and reduced 

 costs of transportation must greatly increase the receipts for Aconcagua products ; and as 

 the engineer found nearly smooth ground on which to build such branch road, the less than 

 a million of dollars it is estimated to cost will readily be subscribed. 



SANTIAGO. The limits of this province are the culminating line of the Andes, which separate 

 it from the Argentine republic, on the east ; to the north, the dividing ridge between the waters 

 which fall into the Mapocho from those whose outlet is the Aconcagua ; to the west, the Zapata 

 chain and ocean; and to the south, the river Cachapual. Thus, it lies between 32 54' and 34 

 26' latitude, and 69 36' and 71 48' west longitude. From Algarroba point to Tupungato, its 

 greatest length is 132 miles, and its breadth, perpendicular to the direction of the line 

 indicated, about 116 miles. Its superficial extent is 14,923 square miles, divided into two 

 natural regions, of which the relative proportions are as 10 to 14. One, and the smaller, gen- 

 erally unsuited for cultivation, is occupied by the Andes ; the other, nearly all of which is 

 arable, is composed of plains and wooded hills, that never attain the region of perpetual snow. 



Its departments are Santiago, Melipilla, Kancagua, and Victoria, divided into 46 sub-delega- 

 tions and 235 districts. Santiago, the metropolitan city, is minutely described in a subsequent 

 chapter; from which a proper estimate may be formed of the mode of laying' out, building, 

 adorning, and government of every town in the republic, one pattern having served for all 

 Chile, if not for all Spanish America. Eancagua is also given account of in another place. 

 Melipilla, a well-built town of some pretensions to wealth and style, is situated near the north 

 bank of the Maypu, 18 leagues W.S.W. from Santiago, and 10 leagues from the sea. Together 

 with the suburbs it contains rather more than 8,000 souls. Much of the produce from Col- 

 chagua and the southern part of Santiago, destined for Valparaiso, passes through this town ; 

 and as it is in the midst of a most fruitful district, enterprise alone is wanting to render it pros- 

 perous. Ponchos, some coarse woollens, and blankets, are manufactured in the town, and 

 pottery ware of a superior kind in the vicinity. San Bernardo, a town of 2,500 people, lies 4 

 leagues (Spanish) S.S.W. from the capital, and on both sides of one of the great high roads. 

 It also is regularly laid out, with its public square, municipal buildings, and alameda; but the 

 citizens, instead of erecting their houses close to each other, or seeking sites on the public 

 square or alameda, have spread their town over the largest space. Many of their dwellings 

 have large ornamental flower-gardens on the road, and some few of them, all the elegance of 

 the best-finished residences at Santiago ; from which place families come in summer, and find 

 here all the "abandon" permissible in country life, whilst they preserve some of the conve- 

 niences of their town homes. Two or three small flour-mills, with machinery driven by water 

 brought in a canal from the Maypu, are the only manufacturing establishments brought to my 

 attention. It has no special facilities for trade or agriculture, and is so near a powerful con- 

 trolling market at Santiago, that it can never be of much greater extent. 



The other towns are Curacavi, between the Zapata and Prado ranges, on the road from 

 Valparaiso ; Polpaico, Lampa, and Renca, on the Quillota road ; Chacabuco and Colina, on the 

 San Felipe road ; Peflaflor, Talagantc, San Francisco del Monte, Paico, and Concumen, on 



