The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-11

the SITUATION critically anu pIoi""''' "'''
n view TO obtaining contract To coihplc'c
the road. From Llailai to Santiago, II us
lance OF irty-threc miles, the engineering
difficulties were stupcndous. There was a
rise of 800 feet, huge masses oi rock seemed
piled TO the clouds, and wide ana deep
abysscs yawncd along the way Every en-
ginecr that figured ON that thirty-thrcc
miles estimated that 1t would cost over
s27,000OOO, and that it would take from
six 20 eight years to complete it--if, in
deed, it could be built at all. After
thorough analysis of the work, MEIGGs
offered TO build the road from Llailai TO San
tago for Sl2OO 900, and to complete it in
four years. TocoRNAL, the Secretary OF
State for Chill and the richest man in that
republic, who had become an ardent adj
mircr and warm friend of ME1GGs, secured
the contract for him, went security ON his
bond, and got him an advance of II million
Of dollars from the Government
And now began most wonderful
piece Of work. Hitherto contractors had
brought their laborcrs from Europe.
MrlGGs had studied the Chilcnos, won their
confidence. and now, with the aid of able
American ovcrsocrs brought from the
States. he transformed them into an army
OF skilled wogkmcn, at cost to him OF only
thirteen cents a day per man. MEiGGs's
way Of dispo-ing Of distractions to his prog
rc-s astoundcd the Chilcnus To- such u de-
grcc that they talk about it 10 this day He
tunncllcd into the mountains, filed the tun-
mel with explosives discharged them with
patent fuse, and sent the whole supcrinoum-
bent mass roaring into the air. As he APP
I ,t1,utI.I CuffttfrY thp terrible pNrlpSipns
shook the city like earthquakes. Tho ladies
aud gentlemen Of Santiago used to come out
by thousands TO witness the stupcndous OPP
crations. The enthusiasm foT MuGGs was
unparalleled Everybody was eager to help
/ him. lie was looked upon as demigod.
/ lie completed the road in two years instead
OF four, and cleared sl,52O,0OO ON his con-
tract.
On the 18th OF July, 1860, the first train Of
ears ran over the road from Valparaiso TO
Santiago PFRrz, the President of Chilli
with his Cabinet, the Archbishop, and other
eminent citizens, stood ON the locomotive
with MrtGGs and received the ovations of
the people along the route. temporary
track was laid along the Alameda, and the
ears were run over it clear to the upper end
~ Santiago 4 large painting OF the scene,
with the locomotive and the clustering
magnates thereon in the foreground was
executed and placed in the Capitol in
Santiago. The whole country rcJuccd.
MEIuGs was solicited to become n natural
lied citizen Of Chill. and was offered any sta
ton in the republic except that of Prcsi-
dent, which no foreigner can hold. But he
respectfully repealed all temptations To sur
render his American citizenship, although
he never hoped to see his native
land again. He took up his residence nj
Santiago, where he lived on a scale of prince
~ profusion and splcndor until 1867, when
he accepted overturc- from the Government
Of Peru to develop Il railroad system in that
country.
His first contract with the Peruvian Gov
eminent was to build railroad from Mol
lcndo, on the coast, to Arcquipa, ninety miles
inland in the mountains, for Sl200o0o1
. As soon as 1t became known in Chill tina
MLIGGs had begun work on Il railroad II
Peru. great excitement arose among hi
old Gillian mborcrs. Hundreds OF them a
( once started for Peru, and thousands o
/ others began to prepare to GO Finally TIA
1 Chilian Government issued decree inter
! dieting this emigration, which throatcne'
to expand to such proportions as would 50
riously cmbarrass the labor and defence q
I the country. MEIGGs was allowed TO take
, number Of the most skilful of the Chilcho
d with him to act a. chiefs Of sections an
thoy instructed the Peruvian peasants /
1 the use Of the pick shovel, and crowbar, an
= in other mysteries Of railroad making.
The Arequipa road was completed earl
l. in january, 1874. The most formidable draw
- lack to his enterprise which MEIGGs cncoui
II tered was the great earthquake which q
- Aug - aud IL, ls6S shook up all South Ame
r lea. 1t was especially severe in Peru, an
n overthrow vast deal OF good work whic
D. had been done on the road. But MEIGGs In
v mcdiatcly rallied, and, Notwithstanding n
IF own vast losses, headed n subscription f.
l. the sufferers with 100000 and then WEI
i ahead with his work, which he pushed f.
e ward with prodigious visor to complctio
q To commemorate this event, he had $1,000
= worth Of gold medals and sjjO,000 worth
II silver medals struck of, which he distribute
y among his friends. lie also gave II nasni
N cent entertainment at Mollcndo and graz
ii iete at Arcquipa in honor of the complete
a of the road. lie invited 600 guests from Lin
in the capital OF Peru, including the Prcsiden
a iitn. DALIA, ana INC tilt' "a 1 " w Il
Of society. Tobring the 500 guests from Gala
r. the seaport of Lima, MEIGGs chartered q
IL Panama one of the British South PaciI
to Mail Steamship Company steamers. Pres
in dent BALTA was accompanied bya regime
in OF regular troops one thousand strong.
took three Peruvian war steamers To car
1s the Government party, the President ~
,i- Cabinet going in one, and the soldiers in I
AL other two. At Molendo the Archbishop
n, Arequipa publicly blessed the twelve loo
H. motives which were 10 draw the eXcursic
O. ISIS lO7 miles up an incline Of 5000 fc
o. The ftte at Arequipa was magnificent
I'm yond description. Everybody was fill
H. with delight and qualification. The wh'
Tn affair cost MEIGGs $4,000 IN gold. lie cot
On we'll afford the outlay, however, as he ma
N within trlle of Si,OOO0OO on his contract
oh MI MErGGs continued to reside in Lin
Int where he fully sustained his reputation
ne magnilicence and hospitality His hou
m two stories in height has over sever