The New York herald., 1871-01-11
PERu.

Congressional Affairs - Rniways- Chnncay
and Lina-.Tacna und Bo.ivia-Arequipa-
Bolivian News-Tae Revolution.
LIMA, Dec. 20, 1870.
Owing principally to the fact that Congress, the
great centre OF political interest and attraction Is
still busily occupied In settling the sums to be ex
pended by the nation during the next two years,
the wirepuers and would-be statesmen OF the re-
public have had rather lazy time for the last two
weeks. No opportunity has been given for the exer-
else OF their dangerous talents and tastes, and the
people regard the situation with the greatest
compacency anu content. AS Peruvian
dgnitary remarked few days since, 1t
appears that the country has been aroused
from Its long period OF quietsm and decadence by
the whistle OF the locomotive and tnat revolution
ary weapons and ideas have been entirely
ecpsed by the new features OF theodolites, levels
and lOgarlthms And this seems to be true con-
cusion. The policy OF President Balta has been so
marked from the date Of his accession to power, his
known determination 10 crush revolution at any
sacrifice, his firm wil and his power 10 carry out
his design have not failed TO produce the desired
effect. II the country can manage to secure two
mere years Of peace and tranquility and such good
fortune does not appear improbable, Peru will be
second to no country in South America In material
progress and Improvement. Opening the interior
the ignorance Of the Indian population, can be
remedled, and this large portion Of Peru brought TO
the same degree Of perfection and intelligence as
may he now found in the coast towns. Such has
been the prevailing idea of this administration, and
those Who do not now acknowledge the merits and
benefits OF such plan soon viii be forced TO CON.
fess their error.
On the 18th Inst the formal Inauguration Of the
Lima and Huache Railway, as far as the town OF
Chancay, forty-eght miles from Lima, took
place. Huacho, a beautiful village on the coast
about one hundred miles distant, has been for
long time the market garden OF the capital and In
the cenTe Of very fertile and extensively cuiti
vated district or the republic. some of the largest
Gotten and sugar estates in Peru situated there,
profits from the transportation Of these products,
The carriage by sea to Caao being very expensive
locomotives and trains uf the company by tile Bishop
c Jauia, the President his Ministers, the diplomatic
Chancay. For the first twenty miles the road offers
nothing OF particular interest," but passing that dis
tance, Is safe to say tnat this railway Is probably
the most unique IN the world.
For twelve miles the road proceeds along the sea-
shore, on the side or huge sand mountain, III
some places 800 feet from the water with distance
of from twelve inches to three feet from the edge OF
the precpice. The mountain or shifting sand rises
above the track for another 800 feet the train pass
Ing along its side Ike ny crawling over pane OF
glass inc rails IN many places have to be based
bags Tiled with earth. ns the foundation OF sand IS
road TO he sale, and the rolling stock has been eX
prcssly constructed for the wonderful curves,
OF even nineteen In twenty-five, that
abound along the line. large force
OF iaborcrs IS constantly employed In keeping the
track clear rom sand and in repairing the assures
made by the wind ia the sand mountain above and
below the line. Such was the lear experienced that
several persons endeavored 10 nnd other means Of
returning to this city, No accident has as yet how
ever occurred the portion OF the road described.
Some time since several influential French houses,
ameDg them Messrs. Erlanger Co., OF Paris, seiIt
agents TO Peru and Bolivia to survey and report
ucon y proposed line or railway lrQw IacnS