Page:A history of Chile.djvu/464

CHAPTER V CITIES AND GOVERNMENT Chile has no single city with the population of Buen- os Ayres or Rio de Janeiro, but she has her urban population scattered through many important centers. Santiago, the capital had, on January ist, 1890, a popu- lation not far from two hundred thousand. Valparaiso had half as many. Talca, Concepcion, Chilian, La Serena and Iquique came next in order in size and population. Then came Ovalle, Melipilla, Tacna, San Felipe, Copiapo, Curico, Los Angeles, Quillota, Lina- res, Cauquenes, Angol and Valdivia. There were seventy-seven cities and towns in Chile with popula- tions above that of villages, all important trade centres. Santiago is the metropolis of Chile, and to it the wealthy and influential persons of the provinces find their way. It is a beautiful city, with its grand plaza, its alameda, its hill of Santa Lucia, its shade trees, its gay political and social life. Valparaiso, perched upon rugged hills overlooking a blue bay of the Pacific, is an important commercial city. The streets are lined with fine shops, offices, banks and warehouses. There is a fine long mole, supplied with cranes, hydraulic machinery and all nec- essary appliances for taking care of the traffic of the port. Back of the mole are rows of customhouses, 418