Chile is well equipped with railways, a part of which has been built and are operated by the state. The most important line traverses the valley between the Andes and the coast ranges, from Concepcion to Valparaiso. In this region are most of the manufacturing enterprises. The imports are chiefly coal, machinery, textile goods, and sugar. The British control about two-thirds of the foreign trade; the Germans and the French have most of the remainder. The United States supplies the Chileans with a part of the textiles, a considerable quantity of Oregon pine, and practically all the coal-oil used. [Illustration: VALPARASIO] _Valparaiso_ is the chief business centre of the Pacific coast of South America. Most of the forwarding business is carried on by British and German merchants. The transandine railway, now about completed, will make it one of the most important ports of the world. _Santiago_ is the capital. _Concepcion_ and _Talca_ are important centres of trade. _Chillan_ is the principal cattle-market of the Pacific coast of South America. _Copiapo_ is the focal point of the mining interests. _Iquique_ is the port from which about all the nitrates are shipped. _Punta Arenas_, one of the "end towns" of the world, is an ocean post-office for vessels passing through the Straits of Magellan. It is about as far south as Calgary, B.C., is north. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION What will be the probable effect of an interoceanic canal on the commerce of these states? From the Abstract of Statistics make a list of the exports from the United States to these countries. From the statistics of trade in the Statesman's Year-Book compare the trade of the United States with that of other countries in these states. How have race characteristics affected the commerce and development of these states? What is meant by peonage? What cities of the tropical part of these states are in the climate of the temperate zone? FOR COLLATERAL READING AND REFERENCE Carpenter's South America. Vincent's Around and About South America. Fiske's Discovery of America--Chapters IX-X. Procure, if possible, specimens of the following: Cacao and its products, ivory nuts, cinchona bark, crude nitrate, Panama straw, iodine (in a sealed vial), llama wool, alpaca cloth, Peruvian cotton. CHAPTER XXIV SOUTH AMERICA--THE LOWLAND STATES The eastern countries of South America are mainly lowland plains. The llanos of the Orinoco and the pampas of Plate (La Plata) River are grazing lands. The silvas of the Amazon are forest-covered. In tropical regions the coast-plain is usually very unhealthful; the seaports excepted, most of the cities and towns are therefore built on higher land beyond the coast-plain.