The New York herald., 1870-01-27
PERU.
The Ina nc urafiOn OF Esailwnys-An Important
Enierprisc--l'ho Andes to bo Tunneled-
Peace with Spain.

The Ina ag urafiOn o. Iailwnys-An Important
Enierprisc--Ihe Andes to bo Tunnellcd-
Peace with Spain.
LIMA, Dec. 28, 1909.
On the 22d inst the government OF Peru decreed
the important public work that has yet been
inaugurated In South America and which, in point
of future benefits, ranks only second to the Pacific
Railroad and the Suez Canal. On this day the two
great roads between Lima and the Peruvian head
waters OF the Amazon, and from the city OF Are
quipa 100 miles in the interior, through the pOpu-
lous and fertile Indian Department or Puno to the
celebrated loke OF Ttlcaca, were contracted for by
our enterDrslng countryman. Mr.. Henry Melgg5.
The natural dinicultles attendant upon the con-
structon OF these railways 9th OF them passing
the Andes range OF mountains. and the large sums
OF money necessary for their completion have. OF
course been serious obstacles in the achievement Of
an end that has been the av0wed object Of Colone
Balia's government ever since Its accession to
supreme power in the republic. But, thanks to the
indefatgable energy Of Mr.. Meiggs to the firm viii
OF President Balta and the stores OF guano provi-
dentlaly given TO Peru, these obstacles have been
surmounted and by the time this communication Is
published the works will bo In progress. The line
from Lima TO the mountain pass OF the Ur0ya. .
narrow gap the chain OF the C0rdieras far In
the INTERIOR Is that which has attracted the greater
OF public attention, from the interest attached
to It's success owing TO the very peculiar creum-
stances Of the undertaking. The road after leaving
Lima passes through the fertile valleys OF the neigh
boring interior unt II reaches the foot OF the first
line OF mountains, about forty miles from the
capital, and from thence TO the terminus
has to surmount dirilcutes pronounced by the sur
vcyng engineer to be uneqnalled In tue history OF
railroad enterprise. At an elevation OF more than
sixteen thousand feet the level OF the
nes ha We to be constructed varying from mile and
Longest trayerses. at the enormous height men
toned, the very summit Of the Andes. Passing this
point The line continues over ground more or less
difficult until the terminus IA reached, after having
surmounted the Uordlllera and the last station IS
to be erected on the river Chanchamayo. at dis
| steamer navigation aud 142 from Lima. This river
| flows into the Apurlmac, which, navgable Tor
| steamers considerable drauQht emptics into the
| Ucayali and tnls into the Amazon ITSELF and thus
| the connection between ocean and ocean IS made
complete From Tins station OF the Oroya Gap, now
ever three distinct branches OF the road radiate to
the important towns OF Tarna, Cerro de Pasco, the
| Potosi OF Peru and Cnancnamayo, which last Is at
! the head OF the navigation already referred to.
| The United states made proposition to Peru, IN
1865 that the existing difficulties between tile allied
settled by Congress OF plenipotentiaries, to be
! appointed by the Interested governments, ana ~
washington OWING to the disinclination OF Cnilc TO
accept this offer the matter was allowed to rest unt
1868 when the proposal was ney.s renewed. as Tae
| displayed the greatest zeal and activity N
supporting the wishes or his government and
| succeeded In persuading the diplomatic agents ol
the allied republics IN Lama, VINO were specially au
ihorized for the purpose together win the Peruvian
Minister for Foreign Affairs, TO sign protocol con
sentlnr to the arrangement. The reasons and argu-
ments used by Mr. Seward were relative to the
injury that was being suffered BY neutral commerce
from the anomalous state OF affairs between spain
and the allies, and the lnefcacy OF continuing
situation which only could be termed tecnnica
war. Peru, having satisfied her honor III the battit
OF the "a OF May was willing enter into tho views
OF the United states were likewise BOLIVIA aiit
Ecuador; but Guile, smartng under the bomDard
menJ OF Valparaiso was induced with dlnlculty u
accept the proposed plan. Alter the signing OF tnt
protocol nothing further was heard OF the confer
ence until lew weeks since when the American
. Legation IN this city, acung under lnstruc
tions from the Department. Of state made
direct proposal TO the Foreign ONCE here tina
on TIE 10Th OF January the Congress should as
sembe In Washington. The same action being taker
uy the Legations OF the United states IN Chii0, DO
liyia and Ecuador, Peru has signined her Intention
, OF sending by TINS steamer full power and instruc
lions 70 the Peruvian Minister In tho United States
10 represent her IN the conference and Or. Galvoz
the recently appointed Envoy OF Peru to Franc
| and England. VIII also appeer ct the meetings, ~