VOYAGE COASTWISE NORTHWARD-CONSTITUCION-COPPER PRODUCT OF CHILE-SAILING
VESSEL TO CALLAO NOT AS RELIABLE AS STEAMER TO PAITA-GULF OF GUAYAQUIL
TO TUMBES.

ABOARD of the staunch American steamer "Biobio "-Commander George N. Rogers-we stood through the principal entrance of the bay to the north-northwest, between Quiriquina Island and Loberia Head, and shortly after changed our course due north, and passed Cullin Point and Coliumo Head, the coast trending first a short distance east, then south, and then returning on itself to form the small Bay of Coliumo, which affords secure shelter for coasters in heavy southwesters. It is back of this bay that the coal strata of Chile are first seen, which stretch to the south as far as the Island of Chiloe, upwards of three hundred miles.

From Coliumo Bay, for fifty-six miles north to Cape Carranza, and even to the mouth of the Itata River, the shore line is high and partially wooded. Off Cape Carranza the rock is found, about three-fourths of a mile from shore, on which the Chilean war-steamer was wrecked in 1856 with a loss of four hundred lives. Seventeen miles further north, in latitude 35° 20', close in shore is a rock of imposing size, from its Gothic appearance known as La Iglesia-the church-an opening like a doorway of corresponding architecture, contributing to the resemblance. And from half to one mile beyond are two pyramidal rocky masses, the one named Las Ventanas, from its window-like openings, the other Piedra Lobos-being the resort of seals; they mark the mouth of the River Maulé. The Cerro Mutün on the south bank of the river recedes in such a manner near its mouth, as to enclose a semicircular plain on which stands the town of Constitucion, often provincially called Maulé,

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from the river. Constitucion has three thousand inhabitants, a dirty plaza, unfinished cathedral, indifferent one-story houses, bodegas, and ordinary corporate buildings. It enjoys the trade of the largest portion of the Provinces of Talca and Maulé; but until greater enterprise, industry, skill, and capital are brought to the development of these fine portions of the republic; until the natives seek to put to better account the long neglected gifts of nature, and Government renders more accessible and safe this harbor, Constitucion cannot reap the great advantages its relative position as a natural entrepot would give it. From Constitucion north the boldness of the coast diminishes until near Algaroba Point, when it becomes cliffy with high land in the neighborhood. About Curauma Head are high cliffs also, and beyond it the land rises steeply to the ranges of that name; in the distance, if the weather be clear, the Campana (bell) de Quillota, six thousand two hundred feet, being seen; and even the far-off Andes may sometimes be discerned, with the majestic Aconcagua in surpassing altitude. A few miles past the heights of Curauma is Curaumilla Point, and seven miles further Valparaiso Point bounds the bay of that name, two hundred and fifty miles from Talcahuano, making an aggregate of three thousand miles of the Pacific shore of South America from Panama to the Bay of Arauco; all of which, and even further south, is traversed by a continuous line of British steamers. The only opposition is on the short route from Valparaiso to Arauco Bay, by the North American steamer Biobio, Capt. Rogers, a thorough seaman and familiar with the navigation and interests of this coast. What will be the result of individual competition on a partial route with a wealthy corporation that aims at monopoly, and a connected line to support it, must depend on the disposition of those interested in trade to maintain it at remunerative rates of passage and freight, rather than patronize one which, whatever liberality it may show when constrained by opposition, is sure to recognize in them only contributors to its oppressive exactions whenever it shall be in position to exercise exclusive control.

One of the most valuable products of Chile is copper. It may be useful to give the substance of information derived from one thoroughly conversant with the subject, in reference to the

extraordinary richness of Chile in this metal. The following table will show the exports in a given period of the various forms of bars, regulus, and ore :

STATEMENT (in copper and contents) of the Exports of Copper Bars, Regulus, and Ores, from Chile, from 1848 to 1857, inclusive.

6225 9984 5729 2938 6016 13498

N. B.-In the above statement bars are considered as fine copper, regulus as half copper, and ores as such, of unspecified richness.

COPPER PRODUCT OF CHILE.

341

The exports from Chile for 1858, and the first nine months of 1859, collected from authentic sources, were, to wit:

Of the whole imports of copper into England in 1858, it is satisfactorily ascertained from Parliamentary returns of that year, that Chile supplied 56 per cent.

In estimating the effect of the copper production of this part of the world upon the copper interests of commerce at large, it must be stated that Bolivia, adjoining Chile, exports copper largely, which for all business purposes is the same as if it was sent from Chile, for it is chiefly produced by Chile enterprise; that is, by labor and capital of people living in Chile, either natives or foreigners. Hence the importance of considering Chile as a copper producing country, in all interested calculations relative to this article. If all the exports of Bolivia and Chile were sent to England, which is admittedly the great copper market of the world, they would compose 70 per cent. of her entire imports; and including her own production and that of Ireland, with that of the rest of the world, the importation from Chile and Bolivia would amount to one-half of all, both imported and produced. The truth is that, with copper riches perfectly fabulous, Chile has been too much overlooked by commercial statisticians. There is one mine alone in the Province of Coquimbo (Tamayo), belonging to a private individual, which produces annually more than six times the entire imports of copper into England from Spain; and nearly as much as the imports into England from Australia and Cuba put together. Yet this mine has not been publicly noticed; nor has that either in the north of Atacama recently discovered, and

belonging to another private individual, which yields as much copper annually (7,000 tons) as is imported into England from Spain and all other countries, except Australia and Cuba. These two Chile mines together produce as much copper as is imported into England from every other country in the world, except Chile herself!

But in estimating the importance of the Chile supply, it must be remembered that she exports largely to other countries as well as England, which influences the English market in two ways: first, by finding its way into England indirectly, but being credited to the country whence it last came; and secondly, England, being the great copper market, whatever supplies Chile sends direct to other countries diminishes by so much the demand of those countries in England.

The exact exports of copper produced by Chile and Bolivia in 1858, were :

In other words, of all the copper product exported by Chile and Bolivia to all parts of the world in 1858, there was sent to England, in the shape of

Leaving 36 per cent., or 10,894 tons of pure copper for other countries. These statements would seem to indicate that the production of Chile must rule the copper market, and point out the importance of its consideration by all engaged in the trade.