Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-01-31

TRUCKS. A crane projects from the en-
CINE and from-its chains is suspended an
iron trough, like a huge coal hod, with
six gigantic teeth a. the edges. Ry
working one chain this hod is made to
fill itself by digging ieep into the guano.
Then, by connecting another chain, the
crane slowly turns, groanine and cresk-
ing as though afflicted with chronic lum->
bago, and finally dumps the contents of
the trough into a waiting car. About
four loads ill the truck and then the lat
ter glides down the tramwas TO the edge
Of the cliff, where it is dumped in heaps.
to be afterward shoyeled down a canvas
chute.
Negroes are stationed in the hold Of
the waiting vessel 10 trim the cargo
as it comes down, and we notice that
each one of them wears All iron mask
over his face, for the guano is more pene-
tratng than coal dust, steel filings or
volatile salts Their position is by no
means an enviable one but taev4eceive
from the captain of the vessel only x13
for shoveling one hundred tons The
pungcnt ammoniac dust is extremely ir-
ritating to the nostrils, throat and lungs,
rendering the shortest stav here un-
pleasant. Yet there are sevc.al rather
handsome residences on the island, in
Guiding two built entirely ot iron for the
occupancy OF the Peruvian superintend-
ents and English carpenters. Besides
the Chinese and negroes many convicts
were formerly employed here when work
was more brisk A collection of filthy
cane huts. in which the. wcrc auartered,
ncy still be seen. together " ith the rem.
AS everybody knows, guano mixed
with the poorest soil will make plants
grow and thrive, and for that reason it
Is sought by agriculturists in all parts of
the world. The first shipment of the
famous fertilizer was made from this
place in the year 1870. and consisted of
only twenty barrels. This was taken to
Liverpool and tried on a farm near that
city with such surprising results that
| large orders were immediately issued for
, more and soon it became stall the rage"
as farmers both in Europe and America
learned how wonderfully il would in
! crease the producing power of their
| elds. The Peruvians appointed agents
| for its sale III London and New York,
and as long as the business was prosper
Gus good many men grew enormously
| rich out of it. How strange il seems
that the little birds OF the sea should have
been providing, during il long series Of
centuries, in these distant islands of the
Pacific, vast deposit for The renovation
Of the more populous parts Of the globe
OF course guano can exist IN consider
able quantities only where rains never fall
10 dissolve it. The rainfess region Of
Peau, which comprises the desert strip
between the Andes and the sea, about
forty miles wide aud thousand miles
long, including many small islands be.
sides the Chinchas, which for ages have
been the homes of myriads Of water
fowl. Every passing vessel is surrounded
by sea birds, soaring above the masts and
screaming defiance to the invaders Of
their resorts. That portion Of country
where rain seldom or never falls is
called FL Despoblado, "theUninhabited, y
because Of the extreme difficulty Of ex-
isting there. The reason for the astonsh-
ing contrast between the fertile regions
Of the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata
Rivers. on the eastern side OF the Andes,
and these arid deserts on the western
coast IS given As follows The tropical
winds from the South Atlantie are laden
with moisture. Blowing from east TO
west with great regularity, they sweep
over the country drained b. the above
mentioned rivers, falling IN frequent aud
copious rains, varying with the season Of
year, but always sufficient to keep ths
streams well filed. The streams con-
tinuc up to tho foo: Of the Andes and
along their eastern slopes, the mountains
condense the moisture from the WARN
} winds, and up to the very crest Of tho
dividing Ridge there is al abundance Of
. it. But by the time the winds have
crossed that mighty dividing wall aal the
water they carried ms been wr1ng out
of them, and there Is 10 more 70 give
when they reach tie Paei1c slope.
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