The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-01-16

| BOLIVIA and chill, however, Me1SpS en-
terprises eventually extended, afford
ing the mines in the mountains, the es
tates and sugar haciendas in the val
| leys, and the nitrate-beds in the Prov
ince of Iquiqui easy egress to the mar
kets of the world.
The most notable contract secured
| by Meiggs was the Oroyo road, which
is classed as the eighth wonder of the
world; there is nothing in America or
in Europe that compares with it in
scenic grandeur or as an example of
engineering science. But beautiful
scenery or engineering skill alone can
not make a railroad pay, especially if
it goes nowhere. The money gave out
when it reached the town of Chicla,
nesting in the heart of the Andes,
| just 100 miles from its first goal. To
connect the capital, Lima, with the
silver mines of Cerro del Pasco, and
thence to the head of the Amazon
river navigation, ard so on TO the At
lantic, had long been the dream of
Peruvian statesmen. The idea was as
grand as it's contamination appeared
visionary and impossible. With his
usual energy, however, Meiggs
at once took hold of the
work, and in 1870 the rail
road was begun. Commencing at Lima,
it ascends the narrow valley of the
holy Rimac river, and rises 5000 feet
in the first As miles to pretty valley
| which is now used as a summer resort.
Then it follows giddy, serpentine
! pathway along the edge of great preci-
pieces and over bridges that seem to
float in the air, tunnels the Andes at an
altitude of 10000 feet-the highest spot
in the world where a piston rod is pro-
PEELED by steam-and reaches the town
of Oroyo, 10000 feet above The level Of
the sea. The track has been forced
through the mountains by u series of
| 65 tunnels, aggregating six miles in
| length. The tunnel of Galera, at the
top of the Andes, is 1900 feet long,
and it is the highest tunnel upon the
| surface of the earth. AS the canyons
were too narrow for q curve, the system
of reverse tangents had to be adopted,
and the track zig-zags up the mountain
sides on the switch and back-up princi-
pie, until the summit is gained; hence,
there are often five or six lines of track
parallel to each other, one above an
other on the mountain side. Nearly
the whole length of the road was made
by blasting, and there is no earth visi-
| bic except what was carried there.
Grading was done with the drill and
hundreds of pounds OF powder. During
the six years the road was under con-
| struction, over 1000 lives were lost.
Human life is cheap, however, in Peru.
Meiggs made millions in Peru. At
| one time he had contracts with the gov
eminent in his own name amounting
to $S0,000,000. He employed the best
American engineers obtainable, and
! paid them salaries of $4,000 a year
each, besides large bonuses in addition.
When the Arequipa road was com
| l,ieted, he chartered two ccean-going
steamers of the Pacific Steam Naviga-
ton company, fitted them with wines
and provisions, and invited the Peruvi-
an congress, all the national officials,
and the leading men of the country to
| be his guests at the celebration of the
| opening of the road. To relieve the
r1onotony of the sea voyage, he took
along an italian circus company. For
two weeks the distinguished company
| enjoyed themselves in a grand spree.
In Peru the people follow the Span
ish proverb: 'He who pays COM
nninds"-and Meiggs was an I'M
crowned king. With the magic wand
of gold he virtually controlled the Pc
ruvian minister of finance, the su-
| preme court justices, and the influen-
tihl members of congress. He lived in
a marble-fronted palace in the aristo-
cratic part Of Lima, and kept open
house like a prince. No viceroy of
the golden days of Spanish rule lived
so royalty or dispensed favors with
snch prodigal hand. His wines were
the best money could buy, and his
cigars, made especially for him in
Emperor Napoleon III.
| Meiggs' greatest ability was as finan-
cier. While practically uneducated, he
possessed excellent common sense, and
he understood human nature as few do.
| When building railroads in Peru, he was
paid, of course, in national bonds, and
he personally placed them, in England
and France, upon far better terms than
the Peruvians had ever been able to do.
Bolivia had reputation for never meet
ing her obligations. yet he succeeded in
disposing of Bolivian bonds to excellent
advantage in England. But as an Or
ganizer and contractor of great works,
and as a manager of men, Meiggs was
never equaled in South America, and
rarely surpassed anywhere.
| Artists and writers never sought his
assistance in vain. 1t was Meiggs' Gus
tom to educate young girls, claiming
their favors in early womanhood, aft
erward giving large dowry as an in
ducement to marry. Like the count of
Monte Cristo, he would pour pure gold
by the handful into the laps of women
who craved his aid. His wedding pres
ent to the daughter of the Peruvian
president was diamond necklace that
cost $125,000. He was the personifica-
ton of lavish liberality, and the de-
1 L