Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1877-07-24
HARRY MEIGGs' WORK.
Running a Tunnel through Mountain
Silver in Peru.
rNew YORK commercial Advertiser.l

speak OF the progress MAKING ny nai
ry Meiggs, formerly of the United
States, in his great contract with that
government for the completion OF GER
tain lines Of railway, one of which IS
to penetrate the once enormously pro-
dnctive but now partially abandoned
silver mines Cicero del CPasco noun
tain. The undertaking involves feats
in engineering such as have never be-
fore been attempted, but the prize
sought for is magnificent, if accounts
are entitled to belief, far beyond the
powers of description. We have Ia
ken pains to confer with w. w. Ev-
ans, the eminent engineer OF this CITY,,
who is familiar with the railroad PROF
ects Of that entire region, md is atull
believer in the existence of mineral
treasure of incalculable extent at the
points indicated beyond the Cordille-
ras range on the eastern slope. The
mines were discovered by Spaniards
300 years ago Between $500, 900, 900
and $500, OOO,00 in silver were extract
ed. after which the mines became
flooded, and were regarded as hope
lessly lost. Work was resumed at
later period with moderate success,
but the ore is found 1900 feet above
the level of the sea, and upwards OF
200 miles northeasterly from Lima,
from whence it can be transported
with only the greatest difficulty. The
original idea of the Peruvians in pro-
posing the new railroad was to reach
a branch of the Amazon where there
are fertile tracts adapted to grain, OF
which the country, is generally desti-
tute. The mineral wealth developed
diverted attention from that object.
1t was ascertained, however, that to
recover the mines powerful pumping
machinery was required, too ponder
Gus to be carried on the backs of
mules. The perplexities of the situa-
ton are we'll illustrated by Mr.. Evans,
/ who relates that in one instance, while
the several parts of q locomotive were
being conveyed oyera pass, a mule,
with its burden, fell 200 feet down a
precipice, delaying the work until the
lost piece Of machinery could be re-
placed from England. & Alt gether
there remains about $50 miles of the
road to be built, also twenty-four out
of sixty.one tunnels On the line from
the sea to the summit, which has an
altitude of l6,l45 feet, almost equal
to that of Mount Blanc. In the an.
nails of engineering there>is no record
/ of locomotive, reaching such an ex-
IRENE elevation. d 1t is believed that
the pumping machinery will soon
bring to light mass of silver ore of
an estimated value exceeding $780,
100000 Mr.. Evans, Judging from
personal observations, would not be
surprised if it proved equal to the
great Bonanza of Nevada. There is a
vast quantity of silver all through
that region, but thus far it has been
the curse of the country. In general
characteristics it resembles the center
of the world, (?) which is jealousy
guarded by hostile Indians, and is
known to have been the objective
point of the illstarred Herndon expe-
dton. The new contract stipulates
that the railway connectionwith Cerro
del Pasco shall be completed in four
years and the great tunnel two years
later, Mr.. Meiggs providing $4,000
900 of capital, under guarantees from
the government, which will take pos
session of the road only when the
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