The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-03
CIGARETTE PICTURES.
The Immense Business the Scheme Has
Brought 10 Photographers.

New York, Aug. 1.-The Times SAYS:
1.-THE foreigners resident in Peru are
greatly excited and indignant over the
recent high-handed proceeding OF the Pc
ruvian government in Selling the railroads
OF that country, which were built by for
eigners with capital raised abroad, and the
Americans are waiting anxiously to see il
the United States will not take some de-
cided step to vindicatc the rights Of her
citizens which thus far have been denied
them. A letter TO a gentleman OF this city,
written from Arequippa under date Of June
IL, describes the situation in very vigor-
GUS language. 'On the 9th OF May last,
says the writer, the government issued q
decree to take possession for the exclusive
use OF the Stale OF all railroads on Peruvian
territory, and commenced by Selling with
an armed force the southern road, or
what is commonly known rs Arcquippa,
extends from the seacoast for dis
lance OF 407 miles inllnd, and IL
the largest line of road in the
This line, rs well as the other roads, was
built under contract with the Peruvian
government by American citizens, the
capital for the construction having been
raised in England, the result OF the sale OF
bonds Tor that purpose. said bonds having
been sacrcdly guaranteed by the Peruvian
government. Notwithstanding the fact
that the contracts were entered into in
good faith, in u proper and legal manner,
and ratified by legally appointed con-
grcss, under constitutional government.
the conditions have never been lived up to
on the part of the Pcruvians, and now, TO
derive all the benefits from system OF
railroads that never cost them dollar,
they have taken possession OF the same,
together with the material OF all kindsthat
railroads necessarily require, and which
was The private and exclusive property OF
Mr.. John l.. ThorndIko, an American gen.
tlcman, who is the legally appointed SUE
ccSsor Of Mr.. Henry Mciggs, the original
contractor and constructor.
This act of gross injustice and spolia-
ton on the part OF the Peruvian govern.
mcnt has paralyzed the business interests
OF the whole country, and there is not n
foreigner today doing business here who
would not sacrifice his interests at "A great
loss TO DC enabled Ia 20 elsewhere. This
country never expended 81 for all the
miles OF road in existence here, and on
the bonds sold I'm England for tho con-
slruction Of the roads It has never, up 10
the present time. paid one cent OF interest.
Many miles OF the roads were built during
the lifetime Of Mr.. McigS, creating an
Indebtedness Of about Sl2,OO0,OOO. which
exists today against the Peruvian govern
incnt. The private property Of Mr.. Thorn
dyke IL valued 10 about ~ !, 900, 900, aud all
this has been seized, stolen and appro-
priatcd by force VI armed soldiers, with
rifles and bayonets, acting under decree
promulgated by the government itself to
delraud an Amcrlcan citizen Of what
legally belongs 10 him and what has
cost him b. lifetime TO acquire.
This shameless outrage has made the
few OF US that are here boil with
indignation. anl unless the United States
government takes immediate steps 20
force these miserable people to undo the
high-handcd Outrage ON nm American cili.
zcn, they will become ~ cmboldcned that
the lives and property Of no foreigner will
have any guarantee Of safety in Peru"
The writer adds that Mr.. Buck, the
American minister in Lima, has made
strong protest 10 the government about
the proceeding, and that Mr.. Thorndikc
hiss gone 10 Washington, taking with him
all the original documents and papers re-.
lating 10 the seizure ot the railroads.