Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-11-23
LETTERS OF A TRAVELLER.
NUMBER VI.

LETTERS OF A TRAVELLER.
NUMBER VI.
CALLAo, Sept. 23d, 1872.
Ed. STANDARD: Since the unfortunate
and horrible events which occurred du-
ring the few days of the revolution, of
which gave you a synopsis in my COM
munication of last August, things have
been comparatively quiet. 1t was
thought that on the accession of the
new President, work on the various rail-
roads would cease; but, on the contrary,
they are pushing them ahead now with
greater energy than ever. In all the
tunnels work is going on day and night,
and in many of the camps where the
amount of grading is SO great as to re-
tard the progress of the road i'll other
portions, night grading gangs are also
kept busily employed. The principal
one in construction now is the Callao,
Lima and Oroya Railroad, which leads
from Callao ria Lima, thence up the
waters of the Rimrac, crossing the An
des and terminating on the headwaters
of the Amizon. 1t is said TO be an en-
terprise in railroading second only to
the Mount Cennis Tunnel; and the
stupendous mountains of granite which
have to be torn down or cut through,
and the enormous chasms which must
be filled in or spanned with suspensions
or arches, must only be seen to be pro-
nounced the greatest undertaking now
in existence. At present, trains are
running to point twenty-five miles
east of Callao. This is but little over
one-thild the distance to the eastern
terminus, and on the unfinished portion
is continuous and unbrokcn line of
workmen. Camps containing from 800
to 1900 men, lie along the line at in
tervals of from thlee-tourths of mile
to two. The work forms one continu-
GUS line of clouded dust, and the rum
bling of amillion stones down the noun
tain side, and the roaring of number
less blasts containing from ten to one
thousand barrels of powder, each echo
and re-ccho from mountain TO mountain
and answer back in tones of mighty
thunder from one end OF the line to the
other. Yet the amount of labor to lie
performed is SO great, it is estimated
that it will require seven years to com
plcte the line. In this, the Peruvian
Government is at an enormous expense,
the object of which is to furnish means
of export to numerous large districts
east of the Andes, which now are only
inhabited by the "poor Los" or mourn
ING Incas of South America. The
country at present is comparatively un-
known, and it's interior considered ex-
tremely dangerous for explorers; yet
enough is known to justify the Govern
ment in laying out millions on this
gigantic and wonderful experiment. If
a failure, it will be almost the ruin of
Peru. If a success, it will rebound to
her prosperity and wealth and add lus-
tie and fame to the pages of her history.
The " Exposition Industrial which
has been open since the first of July, l
only had an opportunity of visiting in
the hast few days. Many beautiful and
useful pieces of workmanship were to
be seen, and also many classes and var
ieties of plants and animals; yet the
principal feature of tie arrangement to
attract the eye, seems to be the previous
preparations, such as marble and glass
buildings, marble statues surrounded
by innumerable gaslights, &C., &C., and
not the real productions of the. country.
Among the domestic animals there is
not third part of what can lie seen at
a small county fair at home. The agri-
cultural implements would make poor
show at a county fair, yet after seeing
the manner of farming, we would think
that that department was we'll repre-
sented for Peru. These, and a few
specimens of snowy house furniture
complete the exhibition of private in
dustrv. The remainder has the appear
ance of some grand imperial show, and
exhibits the wantoness of wealth, rather
than the result and promotion OF indus
try. q
a close, or rather foggy season. The
weather is becoming clearer here every
day, while forty miles east, the winter,
or rainy season is just commencing.
How to account for this great difference
of seasons in so small space is a mys-
tery to me. The health of Peru is very
good at present. We hear of no cases
Of fever except in the interior, and the
smallpox (what there is) is of very
mild form.
With this send you a copy of Tie
South Pucifc Times containing partlcu-
lars of the revolution. l will write to
YOU again as events Of Importance oc-
cur. TEhoANNA'
s.-A hunting boat, weighing only
fourteen and half pounds, has been
constructed by a Michisander for his
personal use. 1t is made OF ducklng,
with ribs of ash splints, fitting into loop
soeLets He can fold it up and carry