The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-06-23
FROM LIMA TO CnIClA.
A RIDE OVER THE oRoYA RAILROAD.

A RIDE OVER THE oRoYA RAILROAD.
This wonderful work, one of the
grandest monuments of American
pluck, perseverance and engineer
ing skill, was begun in 1870, the
contractor being the famous Henry
Meiggs, and the Chief Engineer,
b. f. Cilley.
1t was intended TO 90 across the
Andes, from Lima to Oroya, in the
valley of Xanxa, with o branch to
Cerro de Pasco, where there fare
fine silver mines. Az present, how
ever, (1SS7), it only reaches Chicla,
to which point it was finished in
1877. AT that time two things oc-
cured to prevent further work.
Meiggs died, and the money of the
Peruvian Government gave out. 1t
is sometimes said that Meiggs'
death ended it, but, from CONVERSE
ton with those who know the his
tory of the road, this l think an er-
ror, and it is almost certain that the
road would have been completed
had the money held out.
While no one would detract from
the fame of Meiggs, it must be re-
membered that he was not the en-
gineer of the road, except in a finan-
cial sense. In fact he was the De
Lesseps of the Oroya road, as we
may say De Lesseps was the Meiggs
of the Panama Canal. The real
hero of this work is Mr.. Cilley, the
Chief Engineer. To his indomita-
BILE courage, which trinmphed over
the most disheartening difficulties
is due the Oroya Railroad.
AS finished to Chicla, the road is
S68 miles (1396 kilometers), long
from Callao, and rises to height
at Chicla of u, ,220 feet (3,725 me-
tres), above the sea level. In this
distance there are over 60 tunnels
of different lengths, and at least five
good-sized bridges, one of these
that of Verrugas, being nearly GOO
feet long, and with its center pier
252 feet (76.8 metres) high.
Some of these facts we heard be-
fore our trip; others we learned
during our journey, and still Others
have transpired since.
Owing to the kindness of the
Messrs. Eyre, the managers OF
Grace Brothers & Co., the steam
coupe, La Favorita, was placed al
the disposal of party of officers Of
the U. S. S. Vandalia, for July 18th
This coupe is small locomotive
with q comfortable little cab, which
will hold eight readily, built on tc
the rear.
When we began making up the
party, those who were going were
the recipients OF a great deal Of
good advice from some who had
already made The trip. Warm cloth.
ing and winter overcoats were as
serted to be sine qua non, and
warnings about the danger of vic.
lent exercise at the great attitudes,
were freely given. Descriptions Of
the Sirocc, and hopes that nonc
would sufferfrom it were also heard
Finally the 14th came and while
all the French people in Lima were
getting ready to celebrate the be-
ginning of French liberty by the
taking of the Bastile, we Americans
were taking an early breakfast, and
preparing for climb heavenwards.
Nor did we fail to take along s
good supply of sandwiches to keeI
up strength, nor of that reviver OF
dropping spirits which comes from
the Blue Grass Region. At Callac
we saw old Capt. Plummer, the sta
tion master, yankee who has beer
here many years. He gave us 10
of cards with the names of the sta
tions, and heights above sea level
and wished us pleasant journey.
At Lima, we found waiting "L
Favorita," with Mr.. Schenck til
train dispatcher for Engineer. Her
also we met Mr.. Hubbell, the Gen
eral Superintendent of the road
who was Cilley's right hand man i
the construction period.
Finally, at 7:40 a. M, we wer
safely started, and all prepared t
be duly impressed with the wonder
of the road, and the grand sights {
a climb up the side of the Andes.
, At first, on leaving Lima, we sin
ply saw well cultivated fields, fo
we were not yet at the foothills, br
at Santa Clara, the first station
about 1900 ft. high, we began
: feel that we we're climbing.
All this time too, the sky We
> covered with the clouds which see
to hang over Callao and Lima col
tinuously, but we were looking fc
, relief from these, and when we a
: rived at Chosica, 33 miles Cos KIN.
t from Callao, 2S00 feet $3.50 metres
high, we found that we we're aboy
the low clouds, and had over us
beautiful, blue, sunny sky, wit
+. only a few cumulus clouds scattere
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