The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-13
THE INCA REPUBLIC,
ABIRD's-EYE VIEW oFPERU AMI
ITS RESOURCES.
Throwing or the Spanish Shack1e4
disastrous War With Chile
The System Of Government -.
Mineral Products.

Brazil and Bolivia on the eastern lrontlerS
1t revolted from Spain in 1921, and ita
first Constitution was adopted in lS283
In 1929 it fought with Colombia. In
1S64-67 there was q desultory effort on
the part of Spain to renew her dominaj
ton, when Chile came vigorously and
heroically to the rescue of Peru. 4
In 1S7S-81, after forming secret ali
lance for the purpose with Bolivia, Peru
fought desperate war with its quondam
friend, Chile, and in consequence lost tha
province of Tarapaca and Professionally
the department Of Tacna.
The area of Peru is about 465, ,741
square miles, and its population approx
mates $500, 900, of whom considerably
more than half are aborignals. 4
The present Constitution of Peru waS
adopted in 1856, and was revised to sond
extent in 1860. Il
There are in Peru, as in most Of tha
other South American Republics, an ex3
ecutive President, Senate and House o.
Representatives; but the conditions OF
Government are not so liberal as in tha
majority Of Republican States. The Presis
dent is assisted by two lce-Presldents3
one senior to the other, with the first
right of succession in case of vacancy. l
These three ofice-holders are elected
every four years. An Executive Couna
Gil of five Ministers, directly responsible
to the President, is nominated by him at
the time of his entering on his term Of
Office; and he, not the Congress, has tho
power of removing them.
The twenty. departments nominate two
members each to the Senate, which also
includes Representatives of Tacna, &
The House of Representatives containa
40 members. returned by indirect clecA
tion-the districts choosing electorsY
= who then meet in the chief towns Of tho
department and select Deputies in ths
ratio of one to every 20, 900 inhabitantsa
The local governmep. of the depart
ments, like the central State Govern5
ment, has been somewhat disorganized
by war and internal dissensions, so that
the Constitution may be said to be in q
large measure dependent upon the popuss
lcr caprice. The established religion d
Roman Catholic. ,i
The finances of Peru are greatly de-
moralized and disorganized, and no reg
cent returns of revenue and expenditure
are either reliable or available. Thd
public debt approximates $3.50, ,000, ,000i
the interest on which is not paid, and u
consequence the expenditures are conf
siderably in excess of the income. M
short, Peru has been practically ruined
by the wild policy which it has adoptea
through the Intervention and influence of
foreign capitalists. "A
Peru is perhaps the best known of alA
South American countries. tits the seal
of the ancient civilization Of the Incas
and contains some of the famous silva
mines worked for so many centuries. y
is divided by its mountains into threa
regions-the coast, the central platea1
and the Amazon region. The coast
line of Peru presents an almost un5
broken front of arid ridges of sand OF
bleak ranges of rock running somes
times to the sea, yet behind those ridg@
and between those bare mountains ara
valleys of unparalleled fertility, through
which wind streams of water fed by tho
unfailing SHOWS of the highest peakss
streams whose volume and force abatS
as they reach the wall of sand toward
the sea and in which they are finally
lost. There are few rivers Of the mulhs
tude along the western slope of the Corr
dilleras that find their way unbarred bI
sand to the ocean. In these valleys the
products of the field are exuberant and
varied, corn, cotton, sugar cane, alfalfa;I
rice, with grapes, apples, pears, peaches
and other fruits, abound. The maturity
of the crops depends upon the time Of
sowing and planting, so that they may
be arranged to mature consecutivelys
thus keeping the mills always at work.
The mineral resources of Peru are very
abundant. Silver is found throughout
her territory, also gold, coal, copper and
many other minerals. I
The plateau is an agricultural country
broken by many rides. In the south is
a portion of the great basin of Lake
Titicaca, the remainder being in Boliviai
the whole is entireasreurrounded by hills.
thus cutting off all escape for its watersl
North of this basin, in the valleys, flow
the tributaries of the Amazon; on the
plateau they flow due north, and them
escaping through tie ridges, pour their
waters into the Ucsyali, the Hullaga and
the Maranon. These again, increased BY
the streams rising upon the eastern slopes
of the Cor1illeras, enter the Amazon. I
The greater portion of the population
live on the central plateau, the province
of Jauja being the most thickly inhab;
tied. =
The Amazon provinces are thickly
covered with vegetation, and are thinly
inhabited. They are traversed IN all
directions by water courses; the climate
is mild, and the soil extremely fertile.
In this country lies the head of naviga:
ton of the Amazon, beyond which the
ways open to traffic are few, consisting
of mule paths almost impossible during
the rainy season. The early Spauiards
built extensive roads through the
plateau, and it is said that the "Royal
Highway" traversed the country from
north to south. Along the coast there
are also good roads, but across the
mountains there are few passages!
Several routes are used from the coast to
navigation upon the Amazon, as previous;
ly mentioned, via the Maranon, Chacha'
aoros o,5 IJuonucn bpsides which there