The prosperity of Chile was to suffer a rude shock. On the 17th of
August 1906 a terrible earthquake visited Valparaiso and the surrounding
district. The town of Valparaiso was almost entirely destroyed, while
Santiago and other towns were severely shaken and suffered much damage.
It was estimated that about 3000 persons were killed, a still larger
number injured, and at least 100,000 rendered homeless. The loss of
property was enormous. The fire which broke out after the earthquake
shock had subsided added to the horror of the catastrophe. Measures
were, however, promptly taken for succouring the people, who had been
driven from their homes, and the task of restoration was vigorously
taken in hand. Before the end of the year the rebuilding of the city was
rapidly progressing.
President Pedro Montt.
In 1906 Senor Pedro Montt was elected president and entered upon his
office on the 17th of September. The personality of the president,
however, had become of much less importance in modern Chile than in
earlier days. Up to 1870 the government was in the hands of a small
oligarchy of Santiago families, but the president enjoyed large powers
of initiative. Nowadays the congress has virtually absorbed the
executive power, with the result that the cabinet is often changed many
times in one year. This prevents indeed any continuity of policy, for
the majority in congress is perpetually fluctuating, and ministerial
crises rapidly follow one another. Chile, however, except in the
Balmacedist civil war, is happily distinguished by its freedom from
revolution and serious political unrest. Its history in this respect is
in marked contrast to that of the neighbouring South American states.
The completion of the Trans-Andean railway between Valparaiso and Buenos
Aires was bound to be of immense commercial and industrial value; and
eventually the making of a longitudinal railway route uniting the
nitrate province of the north with Santiago, and Santiago with Puerto
Montt in the distant south, opened up further important prospects. Such
a line of through communication, binding together the different
provinces forming the long narrow strip of territory stretching along
more than 2000 m. of the Pacific littoral, could only be looked forward
to, both politically and economically, as an inestimable benefit to the
country.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.--_General History_.--The most valuable authority is D.
Barros Arana's _Historia jeneral de Chile_ (15 vols., Santiago, 1884),
from the earliest days up to 1830. Smaller handbooks covering the
whole period are: A.U. Hancock, a _History of Chile_ (Chicago, 1893),
the only general history in English, and containing a bibliography;
Gaspar Toro, _Compendio de la historia de Chile_ (Santiago, 1879), a
good clear abstract of Chilean history; and F. Valdes Vergara,
_Historia de Chile_ (Valparaiso, 1898), written primarily for schools,
but containing useful sketches of leading figures in Chilean history.
_Works on Special Periods_.--Colonial Period: M.L. Amunatequi,
_Descubri miento y conquista de Chile_ (Santiago, 1885), a valuable
detailed account of the Spanish conquest; by same author, _Los
Precursores de la independencia de Chile_ (Santiago, 1870), a clear
useful description of the evils of the Spanish colonial system;
Horacio Lara, _Cronica de la Araucania_ (Santiago, 1889), a history of
the Araucanian Indians right up to recent dates; Abbe Eyzaguirre,
_Histoire du Chili_ (Lille, 1855), mainly dealing with the position of
the Church during the colonial period. Perez Garcia's _Historia del
reino de Chile_ (Santiago, 1900), an old history by a Spanish officer
written about 1780, and Molina's _History of Chili_ in the English
translation (London, 1809), will also be found useful. Useful material
for research exists in J.T. Medina's _Coleccion de documentos para la
historia de Chile_ (Santiago, 1888), a collection of despatches and
official documents; his _Cosas de la colonia_ (Santiago, 1889), an
accumulation of undigested information about life in the colonial
period; and _Historiadores de Chile_ (21 vols., Santiago, 1861), a
collection of ancient chronicles and official documents up to the
early part of the 17th century.
_Revolutionary Period_.--A. Roldan, _Las Primeras Asambleas
nacionales_ (Santiago, 1890), an account of the struggles in the first
national assemblies; A. Valdes, _Revolucion Chilena y campanas de la
independencia_ (Santiago, 1888), an account of the early fighting and
rivalry of the revolutionary leaders; W. Pilling, _Emancipation of
South America_ (London, 1893), a translation of B. Mitre's life of San
Martin, describing the fighting in the wars of independence; Lord
Cochrane, _Narrative of Services in Chile, Peru and Brazil_ (London,
1859), an autobiography describing the naval exploits that helped to
secure the expulsion of the Spaniards; B. Vicuna Machenna, _Vida de
O'Higgins_ (Santiago, 1882), giving a useful account of the
revolutionary struggle and the main actors; and the same author's
_Historia jeneral de la republica de Chile_, a collection of essays on
the early republican history by various writers.
_Later History_.--R. Sotomayor Valdes, _Historia de Chili,
1831-1871_, a detailed account of the period (Santiago, 1875); the
same author's _Campana del ejercito Chileno en 1837_ (Santiago, 1896),
describing the fighting of the first Peruvian War; B. Vicuna Machenna,
_D. Diego Portales_ (Valparaiso, 1863), a good account of the life and
time of Portales, the famous minister of the Conservative party; P.B.
Fiqueroa, _Historia de la revolution constituyente 1858-59_ (Santiago,
1889), an account of the revolution at the end of Montt's presidency;
F. Fonch, _Chile in der Gegenwart_ (Berlin, 1870), a description of
Chile at the time; _Statement on Behalf of Chile_ (in the
Chilean-Argentine Boundary Arbitration) (6 vols., London, 1901-1902);
Sir Thomas Holdich, _Countries of the King's Award_ (1904); Beltran y
Rospido, _Los Pueblos hispano-americanos en el siglo XX._ (Madrid,
1904); P.F. Martin, _Through Five Republics of South America_ (London,
1906); Wright, _The Republic of Chile_ (London, 1905); G.F. Scott
Elliot, _Chile_ (London, 1907); Sir W.M. Conway, _Aconcagua and
Tierra del Fuego_ (London, 1902); "Chile-Argentine Arbitration" in the
_Geog. Journal_ (January 1903); C.M. Pepper, _Panama to Patagonia_
(London, 1907); C.E. Akers, _History of South America, 1854-1904_
(London, 1904); M. Hume, _Lecture on the Republic of Chile_ (London,
1902). (E. G. J. M.; C. E. A.; G. E.)