In recent years more attention has been paid to manufacturing. In 1909
there were 5,000 manufacturing establishments, large and small, with a
capital of $45,000,000, and an aggregate output valued at $64,000,000.
There are 960 establishments in the shoe and leather industry, 870 in
food supplies, 670 in metal industries, 555 in the manufacture of
garments, 440 wood working industries, 210 in paper and printing and
200 in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages.
The value of imports into Chile in 1909 was approximately $95,000,000
and the export values for the same year $110,000,000. Of the total
imports Great Britain supplied 32 per cent., Germany 22 per cent.,
and the United States 10 per cent. Of the total exports, amounting to
$110,000,000, Great Britain purchased 45 per cent., Germany 24 per
cent., and the United States 20 per cent. Europe and the United States
bought over 90 per cent. of the exports, and furnished 80 per cent. of
the imports.
Nitrate of soda constitutes about 75 per cent. of the total exports
from Chile, and copper, 5 per cent. The four articles of import showing
the largest values are, steel and manufactures of, coal, cotton goods
and industrial machinery. Eighty-five per cent. of the imports consist
of manufactured articles.
POPULATION AND COLONIZATION
Pedro Valdivia, in a letter to Carlos V. of Spain, dated at La Sarena,
September 5, 1545, described the beautiful climate of Chile as one
where man could work under the summer sun without inconvenience, and
expressed the belief that there could be developed and maintained a
strong, virile, superior race of people that would be an honor to, and
the pride of the mother country. He also expressed the belief that
in the conquest of Chile he would secure territory where he and his
companions might leave a lineage that would honor their memories.
In some respects this seems to have been a prophetic view of the
situation. The mixing of the blood of those bold, intelligent, but
cruel and unscrupulous “conquistadores,” with the strong, courageous
qualities of the Araucanian Indians, has left in Chile a distinct
type, a characteristic race of people. They possess the romantic
tendencies and diplomatic qualities of the Spaniards, combined with the
independent natures of the Araucanians.
They are a hospitable people, but are clannish, and have a strong
prejudice against all foreigners. This prejudice, apparently
inherent, and deep rooted in the minds of the people, while it has
contributed materially to the maintenance of racial characteristics,
has also discouraged and restricted immigration. As a result of this
antagonistic feeling against foreigners coming to the country, the
increase in population has been small, and the progress of commercial
and industrial development correspondingly slow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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