236 



VALPARAISO. 



the best qualities of cotton in North America, and the amount shipped is very trifling in value. 

 Want of enterprise and confidence in each other prevent the establishment of manufactories, 

 and the country spends $850,000 annually for woollen goods which could be made quite as 

 well at home from their own sacrificed material. 



Wheat, flour, biscuit, barley, beans, cattle, and wool, form an aggregate value of $2,963,296, 

 leaving $7,791,080 to be obtained from other sources. Fortunately, nature has (or is creating, 

 as mineralogists may decide) a treasure within the earth apparently sufficient to liquidate the defi- 

 ciency arising from the indisposition or indifference of its lords to profit by the advantages its 

 surface offers ; the silver mines of Atacama, and the copper deposits of Coquimbo and Acon- 

 cagua, being treasuries almost rivalling Californian productiveness and abundance. The values 

 of the metals exported from these districts in 1850 were : 



Forming an aggregate of $7,093,868, which very nearly equals the deficiency. To these must 

 be added $733,165 of coined gold and silver. But, during the same period there was imported 

 $1,777,634 in gold and silver, either in bars or coined ; leaving an excess of introduction equal 

 to $1,044,469 clear gain, in addition to its export of minor produce. This year, however 

 (1850), seems to be the only one in which the balance of trade has been in favor of Chile. 



The yield of the mines constituting so important an item in payment for importations, it is 

 clearly proper that their products should be exhibited for the same years as are embraced in 

 the commercial tables. 



Metals exported. 



* Relaves. This is the residuum after amalgamation, which often contains a large per-centage of sliver not extractable with mercury. 

 t Old copper. 



The table does not embrace the gold sent to the mint to be coined ; which was 



In 1844 $155,370 



1845 401,908 



1846 517,882 



1847 736,359 



InlS48 $478,877 



18-19 300,426 



1850 697,556 



1851 239,602 



Making an aggregate of $3,527,980. 



