226 



THE rOPULAR SCIEXCE MOSTHLY 





The plaza of Antofagasta, with the barren Coast Mountains in the distance. The clock 

 tower was the gift of English residents on the centenary of Chilean independence. 



employees, the pampa looks like a good place to save monev, since food 

 is about the only thing he cares to buy in the local stores. Some of the 

 larger coast towns have fairly good stores, but Valparaiso is the nearest 

 real " spending place," and to get there takes four days to a week. The 

 mail-order business, however, is said to thrive here mainly because of 

 these very conditions, with disastrous results to the saving habit. 



Large oficinas, with their many hands and the families, may make 

 communities of 2,000 to 3,000 persons. Schools are provided by the 

 government, the teachers getting 150 pesos to 200 pesos per month, to 

 which some companies add 100 pesos or more, in addition to the cus- 

 tomary free quarters, heat and water. Priests and physicians make 

 regular visits. Musical and social clubs are organized; bands give 

 open-air concerts two or three times a week, and worse music may be 

 heard in many more favored parts of the world. Football is a favorite 

 sport and there is keen rivalry between teams representing neighboring 

 oficinas. There is the inevitable biograph, a dance hall, annual visits by 

 a circus, a saloon and even a gambling house, for since the men will 

 gamble anyway, it is deemed best to have it done where some control 

 may be exerted over it. Little trouble ever arises, for the resident man- 

 ager is in some ways a local czar, with the very efficient mounted police 

 of the pampa to assist in keeping order. 



It is sometimes claimed that the laborers are exploited outrageously 

 by the companies; that two prices are the rule in the company stores, 

 the higher price always being for the laborers; that buying outside is 

 almost or quite impossible; that thoy are assessed for medical service 

 which they never need, and so on. It is also pointed out that although 

 provided with houses, the living conditions among the laborers are 



