Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/438

 430 CHILI Countries. Value. Peru 11,470.000 Countries. Value. Great Britain $12,760,000 Uruguay 80,000 France 6,050,000 Argentine Repub 820,000 Germany 2,690,000 Bolivia 160,000 Belgium 670,000 Bradl 650,000 Various European Central America.. 170,000 States 850,000 United States 1,980,000 Asia 200,000 America.... -ioo.uio Total $28.800,000 In 1871 the total imports from Great Britain amounted to $12,814,900, and the total ex- ports to Great Britain to $18,403,067. The commercial intercourse of Chili with the United States has been very variable. In the earlier years of Californian emigration she sent large quantities of flour, grain, and lumber to that state, and took freely of our goods in return. Since that time her exports to this country have continued in large amount, but she re- ceives little except money in return, the bal- ances being mostly settled in Europe, where she is a debtor. In 1871 the exports to the United States were $1,581,519, and the imports $716,544; in 1872, exports $1,849,880, imports $721,799. The government of Chili is nomi- nally republican, and its offices elective; but practically it has been hitherto little more than a dictatorship, in which, while the forms of the constitution were tolerably preserved, the legislative, executive, and judicial functions were exercised by the party who had succeed- ed in seizing the reins of government. The president is elected for five years, and is eligi- ble for a second term, but not for a third until a period of five years has elapsed. He is chosen by indirect election. The people nominate their delegates by ballot, and the latter appoint the chief of the state. The votes are examined and the declaration of the poll takes place at a meeting of the two houses of the legislature. The president is assisted by a council of state composed of 13 persons, all of his own choosing, and removable at his will, of whom,, however, four must be heads of departments. The legis- lature consists of a senate of 20 members, elect- ed for nine years, one third of whom go out of office every three years, and a house of depu- ties, consisting of one for every 20,000 inhab- itants, elected for three years. Government officers may be members of either branch of the legislature, and still hold their offices. They may also represent more than one constituency. The election of the legislature is usually en- tirely in the hands of government, the mass of voters being the members of the national guard, who are appointees of the president, and the laborers and peons of the plantations and mines, who are entirely under the control of the wealthy proprietors, whose interests are the same as those of the president. For foreigners to obtain citizenship, ten years' resi- dence is required if unmarried ; if married, six years ; if married to Chilenas, three years. The judiciary consists of' primary courts, three courts of appeal, and a supreme court. The judges of the higher courts are appointed for life, or rather during good behavior, and can only be removed by impeachment. There are four cabinet ministers: of foreign and home affairs, of finance, of war and marine, of reli- gion and education. They are responsible for every official act, and cannot leave the country for six months after the expiration of their term of public service. No order or document from the president is legal without the coun- ter-signature of the minister to whose depart- ment it belongs. Slavery is prohibited by law, and every person who treads the soil is declared free. In 1871 the standing army consisted of 2,400 foot, 712 horse, 804 artillery, 6 generals, 38 lieutenant colonels, 54 majors, 141 captains, and 256 lieutenants; total, 8/J16 men and 540 officers, 165 of the latter belonging to the na- tional guard. The latter comprised 30,542 foot, 21,300 horse, 2,445 artillery, and 2,149 offi- cers. The navy consisted of 10 screw steamers, with 39 guns and 121 marines. In 1872 an appropriation of $2,200,000 was made for in- creasing the naval force, and it was decided that one small ship of war and two iron-clads should be purchased. The merchant navy in 1869 comprised 255 vessels, of 58,200 tons, with 2,900 sailors. The ordinary receipts of the government in 1871 were $11,788,500, and the ordinary expenditures $12,542,493, show- ing a deficit of $753,993. The deficit in 1869 was $2,481,448 ; in 1870, $2,464,484. The na- tional debt, Jan. 1, 1871, was as follows: IIOME DEBT. Capital. Interest. Sinking Fund, 1870 Debt at 8 per cent $8,216,200 2.6*5,400 2.985.000 7,945,149 $97,858 216,128 186,700 885,144 $45,550 116.200 110,000 Debt at !S per cent Kallwnv loans at 6 per cent. . . Other debts, from 8 to 6 pr. ct. Total $16,781,749 $1,915.500 6.455.000 5,096,500 9,868,000 5,018,000 $885,024 $58.965 2il4,800 866,590 675,280 258,175 $271,760 $50,000 85,000 140,600 225,000 60,600 FOREIGN DEBT. Loan of 1842, at 8 per cent. Loan of 1848, at IJ per cent Loan of 1866, at 7 per cent. Loan of 1867, at 6 per cent. Loan of 1870, at 5 per cent. Total $27,848,000 $1,548,810 $561,000 Total national debt, Jan. 1, 1871 $44,574.749 $2,888,884 $822,760 Chili was among the earliest of the South American states to encourage the building of railways. At the close of the year 1871 there were 474 m. open for traffic, and 138 more nearly completed. The following shows those in operation : from Santiago to Curico, 116 m. ; Valparaiso to Santiago, 115; Caldera to San Antonio, 93 ; Ovalle to Tongoy, 42 ; Coquimbo to Las Cardas, 40 ; Pabellon to Chafiarcillo, 26 ; Carrizal Alto to Carrizal Bajo, 25 ; Llaillai to San Felipe, 17 ; total in operation, 474 m. The following are in course of construction : From Talcahuano to Chilian, 112 m. ; San Fernando to La Palmilla, 19; San Felipe to Santa Rosa de los Andes, 9; total in construction, 1872, 140 m. Chili intends to cooperate with the Argentine Republic in building a railway across^