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 THE RE VOL UTIONAR Y PERIOD 1 99 marched his troops toward Santiago and issued a pro- clamation, disavowing all intentions of placing him- self at the head of the government and pointing out what patriotic measures, in his opinion, should be adopted. He was as modest as he was ambitious; he encamped with his army at Maypo and kept himself out of the city; he refused and even fled when congress sent a messenger offering him the office of supreme- director; but a more urgent request had the desired - effect. He was as coy as a maiden wishing to be wooed. He became supreme-director. The prosecution of the war had not prevented O'Hig- gins attending to other interests of the young republic. He restored the public library in Santiago and the national university which had been suppressed by the royalists; he created a military academy, prohibited the unhealthy practice of burying the dead in the churches, founded the first cemeteries, constructed markets and boulevards (J>aseos), particularly the paseos in the ca- nada of Santiago, which until then were filled with rub- bish. He gave freedom of commerce which led to a new impetus in trade, protected foreigners and pro- moted agricultural interests. The ancient Maypo canal was completed, and the water obtained from this for irrigating purposes made green fields of the sterile plains. Don Domingo Eyzaguirre engaged actively in promoting the completion of this work and after- ward founded a town upon the plain which he called Bernardo in honor of O'Higgins. O'Higgins managed fairly well the slender means at his disposal, for the revenues of the state were small and inadequate. In the last year of his administration- it was found necessary to negotiate a loan in London of $5,000,000 and Don Antonio Jos6 de Irizarri was sent there for that purpose. He obtained the money