Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-06

steam--and ends Mt Oroya, 12,17o feet
above the sea. Between The coast and
the summit there is not an inch ~ down
grade, and the track nus been forced
through the mountains BY series of az
tunnels, whose aggregate length Is 2t,0OV
feet. The great tunnel OF Galcra, by
which the pinnacle Of the Andes is pierced,
viii he, when completed, 1850 fcct long,
and VIII be the highest elevation on The
earth's surface where any such work mas
been undertaken. Besi3cs boring the
mountains OF granite aud blasting cleits
along their sides % rest the truck upon,
steep cuttings, and superb bridges. the
systCm of reverse tangents mad ~
be adopted in cHu0ns that were
too narrow for "a curve, So toe
track zi2Iags up the mountain
side, ON the switch and backup pinc-
pie the trains taking One leap for
ward, and after being switched on 20 an
other track another leap backward, until
the summitis won, go that often there are
four and five lines ot track, parallel 20
each other, one above another on th"
mountain side. Almost the eutile length
OF the road was made boy blasting. There
De- no earth lu sight except what was
cartcd up for use in ballastinR, and To
Work Of grading was done, not by the pich
ana shovel, but Win Tie drill ana nun
drods of thousands Of pounds Of powder.
u is cs. iMated That roe construction Of
this road cost Peru 1000 lives from pesti-
leuce and accident. iaudsldns, falling
hJGlders. premature eApioaiou8, sOrrtohe
% disease which attacks bose who are
not accustomed 90 the raw air % the nigh
attitudes levers caused 10y deposits Ot
rotten granite, and Othe. CAUSES resulted
10 20 trighUul mortality during t'e seven
years the i0ad was under construction,
bat the project Wus pu- bed un untli inc
funds gave uut. The cost iu human NE
was no obstacle. AT several points it
WAS necessary 20 lower men by ropes over
tine edge OF precipicc5 20 drill holes IN
rocks and put 10 charges OF blast
Ing powder, and this reckless style OF
construction was attended by frequent
fatalities. curious accident occurred
at one point on the line where plumber
WAS soldering leak iu "a WaieIpipe. a
train of mules wa. hDlug driven up the
trail. louded with Guns Of powder. one
81 them rubbed against the plumber VINO
struck at the animal with his TcQ-n0t
soldering IRON, which iu some way came
m contact with tine powder, ind cdused
an explosion which blow the whole tram
of mules, The gang of WOrhman, the
plumber. and everybody who was by over
The precipice. whose sides aud bottom
were strcwn with fragments OF men ana
mules for aulIc.
The scenic grandeur Of the Andes is pre-
scented nowhere more inpres5iyey than
along tbe canon of the Rim8c river, which
this railroad follows. The mountains are
entirely bareO Of vegetation, and are simply
mCustrous masses OF rock, torn and
twisted, rent add shattered, by the ire
meudous volcanic upheayHls which often
occur here. AT the bottom Of the canon,
and where il occasionally spreads out
into valley Of minute dimensions, are
the remains OF towns and cities whose
origin is hidden IN tae ln.sts of Fable
aud whose history is unknown. Here ~
a region which bears no resemblance 10
any other picture Of nature, lited above
the rest OF The world as COldly aud calmly
silent, as impeuetrable as the arctic stars,
Here was developed % civilization which
left memorials Of its advancement, genius
and industry carved IN massive STONE,
and written upon the everlasting hills III
symbOlsWh even the earthquakes have
been unable 60 erase.