CHILE: AREA, HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, POPULATION, ETC.
The country of Chile, the seventh in size of the South American
Republics, is frequently ranked with the two largest, Brazil and
Argentina, owing to the enterprise of its inhabitants: a natural result
of their location in the temperate zone, from 17° 57′ to 55° 59′ South
Latitude; increased perhaps by their long struggle with the Araucanian
Indians.
AREA, POPULATION, BOUNDARY
=Area.= Chile, with an extent of 290,000 square miles, is ribbon like
in shape, having a length of nearly 2700 miles, a trifle more than
Argentina; in a direct line 2140 miles, with a width of 70-248, miles
averaging about 85.
=Population.= The country with approximately 4,000,000 inhabitants is
fifth in this respect.
=Boundary.= The boundary of Chile is simple. At the north is Peru, on
the east are Bolivia and Argentina, at the south and west the Pacific
Ocean.
HISTORY
The bold Spanish invaders of Peru might reasonably have been contented
for a time with the conquest of that vast territory. But Diego de
Almagro, incited by the grant of 200 leagues south of those bestowed
upon Pizarro, and enticed by the tales of a region richer still in
gold and silver, set forth to gain possession of the allotted lands,
not long after the founding of Lima in 1535. Over the great Bolivian
Plateau and a high mountain pass into Chile, Almagro marched with his
followers, only to return disappointed after enduring untold hardships
and suffering.
A few years later a second expedition was undertaken by Pedro de
Valdivia, this one along the shore. From Arica proceeding by sea,
having landed at the mouth of the Rio Maipo, in February, 1541,
Valdivia founded the city of Santiago. Still unsatisfied he continued
south, in spite of much opposition, making settlements at Concepción,
Imperial, Villa Rica, and Valdivia; but in 1553 he was himself slain
by the warlike Araucanians, who long disputed with the invaders the
occupation of their country. For 250 years the contest continued
intermittently, with some diminution and amalgamation of the Indians,
till the Chilians rose against Spain, when a more friendly feeling was
established.
The Chilians, who convoked a national congress in 1810, regard this
event as the inauguration of their independence; though not until 1818
was it secured with the aid of San Martín and his army from Argentina.
Chile subsequently experienced many internal difficulties, but after
1861 the Government became more liberal, and since that period, except
for the revolution against Balmaceda in 1890, the country has been free
from serious internal strife.
GOVERNMENT
The government is that of a centralized republic with the usual
three branches. The President, elected for a term of five years and
not eligible at once for a second term, appoints the _Intendentes_
and _Gobernadores_ who respectively administer the 23 Provinces,
and their subdivisions, the 82 Departments. There is one Territory,
Magallanes, which includes the southern mainland and the coastal
islands. The police force is national in organization. In the Provinces
no legislative bodies exist save municipal councils with certain local
duties. The franchise is so restricted (the voters must have property
and be able to read and write) that as 25 per cent of the population
is illiterate and most of the laboring class landless, the Government
is said to be practically in the hands of a few leading families.
Senators, 37 in number, must have an income of $2000 and Deputies, 118,
one of $500. The President must not leave the country while in office.
Chile has 23 Provinces, all but five of which border on the Pacific,
and one Territory. Beginning at the north the names of the Provinces
follow with their approximate areas and population, and with the names
and population of their capitals:
-----------+---------+----------+-------------+-----------
PROVINCES | AREA, |POPULATION| CAPITALS |POPULATION
|in square| | |
| miles | | |
-----------+---------+----------+-------------+-----------
Tacna | 9,000 | 40,000 | Tacna | 8,000
Tarapacá | 17,000 | 134,000 | Iquique | 45,000
Antofagasta| 46,500 | 220,000 | Antofagasta | 66,000
Atacama | 31,000 | 67,000 | Copiapó | 13,000
Coquimbo | 14,000 | 191,000 | La Serena | 16,000
Aconcagua | 5,400 | 140,000 | San Felipe | 12,000
Valparaiso | 1,775 | 347,000 | Valparaiso | 212,000
Santiago | 5,900 | 627,000 | Santiago | 450,000
O’Higgins | 2,168 | 125,000 | Rancagua | 13,000
Colchagua | 3,900 | 163,000 | San Fernando| 10,000
Curicó | 3,045 | 115,000 | Curicó | 23,000
Talca | 3,900 | 135,000 | Talca | 42,000
Maule | 2,800 | 125,000 | Cauquenes | 12,000
Linares | 4,000 | 120,000 | Linares | 3,000
Nuble | 3,500 | 199,000 | Chillán | 40,000
Concepción | 3,300 | 271,000 | Concepción | 72,700
Arauco | 2,200 | 74,000 | Arauco | 3,500
Bio-Bio | 5,400 | 106,000 | Los Angeles | 14,000
Malleco | 3,300 | 136,000 | Angol | 10,000
Cautín | 6,400 | 175,000 | Temuco | 31,000
Valdivia | 9,000 | 187,000 | Valdivia | 26,000
Llanquihue | 35,000 | 150,000 | Puerto Montt| 8,000
Chiloé | 7,000 | 100,000 | Ancud | 4,000
| | |
TERRITORY | | |
Magallanes | 65,000 | 32,000 | Punta Arenas| 20,000
-----------+---------+----------+-------------+-----------
POPULATION
The population of Chile is little if any below 4,000,000, which gives
it an average of 12 or more to the square mile, the highest rate of all
the North and West Coast countries. There is considerable variation
in the different Provinces, but less than in the other Republics,
if the Territory is omitted. The most thickly inhabited region is
from Valparaiso south to Valdivia; the Province of Santiago having
the largest population and that of Valparaiso the densest. As to the
character of the population it is estimated that 40 per cent are of
white extraction, with at least 50-60 per cent mestizos; probably
50,000 Indians, including possibly 5000 in the far south, uncivilized
and dying out. The educated class as in other countries forms a small
minority of the inhabitants, but in recent years greater attention has
been paid to the diffusion of knowledge among the common people.
EDUCATION
The middle and upper classes pay much attention to education. In
Santiago there are two universities, the larger the University of
Chile, open also to women, and the Catholic University, each with
various departments; a National Institute or high school, a School
of Mines, a Normal School, a School of Arts and Trades. In La Serena
and Copiapó at the north are other Mining Schools, and in cities at
the south Schools of Agriculture; also Normal Schools. An Industrial
College is to be opened in Valparaiso. All towns have elementary
schools; in all State schools including universities education is free,
and in primary grades from 1921 compulsory. There are various private
schools, in Santiago a large and excellent one for boys (managed
for years by American Methodists), where the sons of many prominent
families have been educated, as in La Paz, Bolivia.
PRESS, RELIGION, ETC.
=Press.= The Press is free, influential, and of high character, the
_Mercurio_ of Valparaiso and Santiago having a world wide reputation,
and ranking with the best of any country. There are about 700
newspapers and journals.
=Religion.= The Roman Catholic religion is recognized as that of the
State, but freedom is permitted to others. The women generally are
very devout, though as in the other countries the men of the governing
classes are inclined to agnosticism.
=Telegraph.= Chile possesses 30,000 miles of telegraph lines and 46,000
of telephone. There are 32 wireless stations at intervals from Arica
down to Punta Arenas, with one on Juan Fernandez Island.
=Money.= A gold peso (there are no such coins) may be regarded as worth
36 cents, but the paper money which is in general use fluctuates in
value, a peso varying from 14 to 25 cents, usually 18-22. There are
silver coins of 10, 20, 40 centavos, and copper of smaller value.
The =Metric System= of weights and measures is obligatory, all others
being excluded by law.