240 



VALPARAISO. 

 Table showing the principal Imports consumed, dr. Continued. 



Every article is embraced in the preceding table whose value in any one of the years amounted 

 to $10,000. 



Possessing, as has been shown, nearly all the foreign trade of the country, its narrow streets 

 present more of bustle and activity than any other city of Chile ; indeed, its transient population 

 have brought with them the habits and industry of the northern hemisphere, and there is 

 scarcely a remnant of native customs among the better classes. 



Being the seat of government of the province, Valparaiso is immediately under the control of 

 an Intendente, who exercises the functions of military and naval as well as of civil governor. Its 

 municipal affairs are in charge of the Cabildo, which is composed of seven members elected by 

 the people, but over whose acts the Intendente has a controlling vote ; neither of them, however, 

 having the power to enact any law without the sanction of one of the Ministers of State, whose 

 duty it may be to take cognizance of the subject to which such enactment pertains. The revenues 

 collected under taxes imposed by them during the last ten years have been as follows : 



In 1843 $55,081 



1844 72,703 



1845 78,793 



1846 80,118 



1847 89,684 



In 1848 ...... $92,586 



1849 ...... 93,570 



1850 ...... 99,447 



1851 ...... 125,591 



1852 ...... 128,650 



The whole of which, except $12,000 in 1847, and $4,000 in 1843, was expended for local pur- 

 poses. Such prosperity can scarcely be wondered at after the facts stated. 



But it is scarcely probable that Valparaiso can much longer continue in such a prosperous 

 career. Hitherto it has not only engrossed all the trade, but tolls have been paid to it for supplies 

 by nearly every ship that doubled Cape Horn, and thus many hundred thousand dollars have 

 annually been contributed for native commodities forced there from the coast. This continued 

 with the fleets of vessels from the United States during the Californian fever in 1849-'50, and 

 partially in 1851, when the construction of clippers commenced a change, and now the voyage 

 direct to San Francisco is made in less average time than was formerly occupied in that to 

 Valparaiso.- It has already become as rare for ships to call, as it previously was for them to pass 

 by. Moreover, the transit of the Isthmus of Panama is made with such celerity and facility 

 that light, valuable goods, which first found storage in Chile and subsequent distribution along 

 the western coast, have begun to take that route direct to their ultimate markets ; and the 

 quantity will undoubtedly increase as soon as the railroad or canal is completed, and reasonable 

 rates of freight are established. Nor can the southern provinces much longer defer demanding 



