The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-18
s.u.no-Tnc Newly 0sseovssea % :
poslts os T,cru.

-----.-----=----.---
a.unno-Tnc Newly 0sse ' 49, s
= poslts os Ttoru.
>.,rs,n EXTENT, VALUE, AND sit'SrsicAsoh--ho
rHYY WE'RE FoRxsD-- DISAPPEARANCE: OF Th Tue
BIRDS. ,,
c..I,o. Pssu, Tuesday, July 81, 1917.
TIM revenue and the combined sale ~
unsno aud bonds failing TO meet the asu snna
al the nation, things looked datk mua ~
and TO counteract The deciihe OF 'nT IN .
the national securities auo pace .n .a anonar
bstter footing the Government ns "a. Nv uo S da.
spnrized or the discovery Oh .ne nv ae,,n;s.
lie oS g,,ano ,ban it dispatched cnmisAs-
la IF whieh N. Henri Tnierry, French
s siv;, engineer OF 9nowu ability, was cher, 10
s,,r,,er them and report on their extent ana
s.,'a,,,y This suryey was followed by another,
,,aaa he Commander w. e. Cookson. X. N,
nor,,oa16ipy Her Britannia Majesty's gum
hI,as Petrol, and this last survey confirmed
the repott made by NJ. Tbierry OF the great
value Of the deposits, though differing slightly
from that genliemln's statements. From
these surveys it appears that three great de-
nos;,s exist on the mainland OF the coast
of Peru, south Of Csllao, at places
named HuauiIlos, Punta de Lobos, and Pa
bellon de pica. The first named, is the most
northe,ly. aud Captain Cookson estimates
that ii contsins 900, 600 tons Of gnano, this
calculation being based on the supposition
that one square metre Of guano is equai 10
one and third tons, the amount allowed by
AZ. Thierry. Captain Cookson seems 10
think this too mucG, and says that not less
than thir,y.e eight or forty cubic ieet shou'd
be allowed to the ton when estimating Tue
value Of a mass in order 10 avoid the RISK
of making the quantity larger tnah IL
actually j., but adds that where Inc
suano is much compressed oy the super
incumbent mass, it may possibly yieid over
y tou to the cubic metre. There IS great
d;Aicul,y in making correct estimate OF the
amouD, In the different deposits, from The
fact that they are principally in ravines, the
entire cleft in the rock being filled up with
puano level with The surface. These raylnes
are Of a nc ost irregular formation, the sides
being often 70, med ct several ledges OF rocks,
the ravines themselves narrowing and
widening toa great extent in length OF 900
or 400 wards. Then the surface OF the bot
tom is generally very uneven, I'D many
places being br oken by great masses OF rocks,
some of which attain height OF 10O feet or
more. 1t will thus be seen that TO gain any
fling like an accurate knowledge OF the
depth of guano in deposit it would be
necessary TO divide the surface into minute
SQUARES, and sound each -squaresby boring,
which would be work Of great labor, occu-
owing considerable time, and even then
there would be liabilities to error.
Captain Cookson does not differ from d.
Tbierry in giving the amount OF the Huani-
los s.o1c, pllcipg it al 900, 900 tons. Pupta
de Lohos is estimated by both Captain Cook
son and d. Thierry L contain 1000, 600 tons
OF guano, the deposit being similar to that
OF HuaniioS. At both Of these deposits the
greater part of the guano is covered by q
peculiar crust, varying in thickness from one
to several feet. This crust is OF two kinds,
one having the appearance OF petrihed guano
and still retaining strong smell of ammo
mic, and being OF texture almost as close
rs granite and equally hard in substance;
the other is also very hard to work. but
is of looser grain, and appears to be
formed of mud aud salt mixed to-
gether and sun.bardened readily dissolving
in water. The deposit of Pabeon de Plea
is the greatest of any in extent. n. Thierry
places the amount OF gllanO In it at the enOr-
NOUS figure of 100000 tons, but Captain
CoOkson considers tniS On overestimate, and
thinks that it should be reduced ,000, 900. or
even 100000 tons. III. Tbierry bases bis
calculation on the estimate of one and one
third tons to the cubic metre; and Captain
CookSon otjects to this because the deposits
are largely mixed with stone. The deposits
of Patellon de Plea are principally covered
with sand and earth debris, varying greatly
in thickness, and to remove tbs will require
an outlay OF considerable time and money;
but the great amount of material to be ex-
humed will amply repay for all expenditures
and leave an enormous profit; for, taking
the lowest estimate, there will be 400, 900
tons of gllano for export. This guauo is eX.
ported for the nations benefit, and its value
TO the Government can be readily estimated
when the fact is known that the clear profit
on every ton exported is thirty-SeVen dollars.
Thus Peru has a national treasure of S273,-
100000 to draw on-a treasure that causes
no burden TO the people, and that should fill
the land with grand aud useful improve
ments. These deposits are not the only ones
that exist, for indications pointing to others
have been found.
There are many interesting facts concern
ing guano which are not generally known.
The supposition that it had taken ages to
form the deposits has, through the aid of sci
ence, lost d great deal of its force. Still the
time of their gathering must have extended
over great number of years, even though
the greater plumber Of birds and other pro-
ducing sources at former periods point to a
rapid increase of the store. These have,
from different causes, vastly decreased. A
resident of Pabellon de Plea told Captain
Cookson that W hen be first came to the place |
the cliffs were continually covered by vast
docks Of birds, but that about twenty.sx !
years ago plague visited them, and they |
literally died by millions. They would fly |
about Il league seward, and then fall into |
the water, the shore for miles being covered |
with their dead bodies. Since that time
they have almost deserted the locality, and
now but very few birds are to be seen there.
The birds frequen'iug the place were pelican,
gauneu, and species Of terra. Each had |
different breeding place, but all were attack
ed by the disease. Though the greater part |
OF these deposits were formed by birds, there |
is no doubt but that sea-loDs aud seals have |
largely contributed to form some OF them, as |
in working the guano great quantities Of the
bones OF these animals are found; but white !
guano, the best material, has been formed |
solely by birds. The deposits covered by |
heavy crusts must have been formed long
ago, and remained exposed for years to the
action Of tEe'sea. spray and sast-laden atmes. |
phere; and .paL new deposits will be formed /
is highly improbable, for the rapid disappear
ance of the birds from the coast is the sub |
ject OF common remark. /
The EFFICACY OF PKAYER.-Eor more
than two months this section of country has i
been suffering from most terrible drought. 4
CorDfieids that early in the season promised /
TO the husbandman rich reward for his caseH