Page:1902 Encyclopædia Britannica - Volume 27 - CHI-ELD.pdf/34

 CHILE

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The coast of Chile, especially towards the south, is broken by islands. Opposite the province of Atacama is Easter or Pascua Island; facing the coast of Concepcion is the small island of Quirquina; farther south are Santa Maria and Mocha; more important are the Chiloe archipelago, consisting of about 96 islands, the Chonos archipelago with over 1000 islands, and, in the extreme south, the archipelago of which the most important islands are Tierra del Fuego, Desolation, Santa Ines, Clarence, Dawson, and Diego Pamirez islands. The island of Juan Fernandez is 390 miles west of Valparaiso. Population. — The population of Chile, according to census enumerations from 1875 to 1895, is given as follows :— Year. Population. Increase. 1875 . . . 2,075,971 256,748 1885 . . . 2,527,320 451,349 1895 . . . 2,712,145 184,825' For the purpose of comparison these figures are of little value. Prior to 1885 the provinces of Antofagasta, Tarapaca, and Tacna were not included, and the returns for 1885 are imperfect. The area of the provinces and their population, according to the census of 1885 and of 1895, with the population per square mile in 1895, are given as follows :— Pop. per Area, Population, Population, Sq. Mile, Provinces. 1895. 1885. Sq. Miles. 1895. Magallanes Territory Chiloe Llanquihue Valdivia. Cautin Malleco. Bio-Bio. Arauco. Concepcion Xuble Maule Linares. Talca Curico Colchagua O’Higgins Santiago. Valparaiso Aconcagua Coquimbo Atacama. Antofagasta Tarapaca. Tacna Total.

75,270 4,008 7,820 8,313 3,127 2,856 4,157 4,246 3,534 3,555 2,930 3,488 3,677 2,912 3,794 2,523 5,221 1,659 6,225 12,869 28,371 47,918 19,300 8,685 266,458

5,170 77.750 78,315 60,687 78,221 98,032 88,749 59,237 188,190 152,935 119,791 101,858 128,961 103,242 157,566 85,277 415,636 220,756 113,165 160,898 59,713 44,085 89.751 24,160

0-06 19-40 10-01 7-30 25-01 3421-35 13-95 53-25 43-02 4029-20 3535-45 4133-80 79-60 13-30 18-18 12-50 2-10 0-92 4-65 2-78

2,527,320 2,712,145

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2,085 73,420 62,809 50,938 33,291 59,492 101,768 73,658 182,459 149,871 124,145 110,652 133,472 100,002 155,687 87,641 329,753 203,320 144,125 176,344 76,566 21,213 45,086 29,523

It is estimated that in the enumeration of 1895, 10 per cent, of the population, or about 271,214, were omitted. The total population at the date of the census would therefore be 2,983,359. The population on 31st December 1898 was officially estimated at 3,082,178. The foreign population of Chile in 1885 was returned at 65,000 ; in 1895 at 72,812. Of the number in 1895, 42,105 were European, 29,687 were American, 1020 were from Asiatic and other countries. Of the Europeans 8269 were Spanish, 7809 were French, 7587 Italian, 7049 German, 6241 British, 1570 Swiss, 1490 Austro-Hungarian. The marriages, births, and deaths registered in the 277 registration circumscriptions in 1897 and 1898 were :— 1897. 1898. Marriages . . 13,454 13,921 Births. . . 109,057 104,536 Deaths. . . 88,456 83,919 The civil marriage law of 10th January 1884 and the civil registration law of 17th July 1884 came into force on 1st January 1885. The cost of registration is borne by the State. The registration of deaths is required before burial, so that it is fairly trustworthy; but the registration both of marriages and births is stated to be frequently eluded. The death-rate is high. In the cities of Santiago and Valparaiso it is stated to be little under 60 per 1000, the mortality among children being very great. With a view to remedy this evil an Act was passed in February 1896 making drainage compulsory in the centres of population. _ Immigration goes on under the care of colonization agencies, which in 1896 introduced 988 agricultural and 1114 industrial immigrants from Europe. In 1897 the total number introduced was 807. In 1898 the Govern-

[statistics

ment voted the sum of £46,300 to the assistance of immigration, and in 1899 £38,680 to the same purpose. The result, however, proved so unsatisfactory that the Government have discontinued their direct subsidies for the encouragement of immigration. The agricultural portion of Chile is in the south, where rain is almost incessant, the forest growth dense, and the labour of clearing a few acres out of all proportion to the profits. Moreover, roads are wanting, and there is no adequate protection lor life and property against outlaws and other dangerous characters. The Government has therefore turned its attention to the improvement of existing settlements, and for this purpose a sum of money is provided m the budget of 1900. The enumerated population in 1895 consisted of 1,240,353 inhabitants of towns and 1,471,792 of rural districts. The principal cities and towns, with the census population of 1895 and the estimated population on 31st December 1898, are :— 1898. 1895. 311,704 256,413 Santiago. 140,262 122,447 V alparaiso 51,781 39,837 Concepcion 40,237 33,232 Talca 32,769 28,738 Chilian. 30,000 33,031 Iquique. 16,795 13,530 Antofagasta 14,325 12,669 Curico 14,284 10,431 Talcahuano The political constitution of 1833 is, with some amendments, in force. The principal amendments were made by laws of 9th August 1888, 11th August 1890, 20th August 1890, 22nd December 1891, 7th July 1892. The Chamber of Deputies consists of members elected for three years directly by the registered electors of each department—one deputy for 30,000 inhabitants. The republic is divided into electoral districts and subdivided into sections of 150 inscriptions, the registers of which are kept by the municipal authorities. On the basis of the census returns of 1885, the number of deputies was fixed at ninety-four. Senators are similarly elected, but for six years, and they are chosen, not in departments, but in the provinces—one senator for every three deputies. For the Chamber of Deputies and for the Senate there are triennial elections, the Chamber being renewed entirely and the Senate to the extent of one-half every three years. For the Chamber and for the Senate the system of voting is cumulative. Senators and deputies are unpaid. At the head of the executive power is the President of the Republic, chosen for five years indirectly by the nation, the electors being specially chosen by the provinces—three electors for each deputy. The election of the president takes place on 25th June of the last year of the presidential term, and the new president is inaugurated on 18th September following. Local Government.—The Republic is divided into provinces, departments, and 282 municipal districts. Each municipal district has, by law of 22nd December 1891, a municipality or council of at least nine members chosen by popular election. At the sessions of the municipalities or councils the intendentcs, governors, or sub-governors of the national government preside. In the municipal districts assemblies of electors are held under the presidency of the first mayor for the election of councillors, the sanctioning of the local budget or of local loans (which are limited in amount), and for other business. The total municipal revenues in 1896 amounted to 8,767,780 pesos, and the expenditure to 9,010,730 pesos. If the peso is taken at Is. 6d., the revenues were equivalent to £657,580 and the expenditure to £675,800 sterling. The principal police force, the fiscal police, is maintained and commanded by the national government, but the municipal force is still under the control of the municipalities. In Tacna municipal administration is carried on conjointly by the political heads of the departments and by councils (juntas) of three members appointed for three years by the president of the republic. There is a similar system in the territory of Magallanes. Education.—Public education is free (at the cost of the State), but not compulsory. It is directed by a council, at the head of which is the minister of public instruction. Higher and secondary education are given in the university and the national institute at . Santiago, and in the provincial colleges or liceos. In 1899 there w-ere 573 university degrees and diplomas conferred. Besides tho State university, there is a Catholic university giving instruction

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