Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-01-28

Bolivia and Chill, however, Meiggs' 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 1t 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 1t reached the town of Chicla,
nesting in the heart of the Andes,
lust 100 miles from it's 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, and 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 o giddy, serpentine
pathway along the edge of great preci-
pices 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 piston rod is pro-
PEELED by steam-and reaches the town
of Oroyo, $4,000 feet above the level of
the sea. The track has been forced
| through the mountains by q series of
65 tunnels, aggregating six miles in
length. The tunnel of Galera, at the
top of the Andes, is 1000 feet long,
and it is the highest tunnel upon the
surface of the earth. AS tho canyons
were too narrow for 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-
BILE 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.
MeigSs made millions In Peru. At
one time he had contracts with the gov
eminent in his own name amounting
to $s0,o0o,0o0. He employed the best
American engineers obtainable, and
paid them salaries of $4,000 u year
each, besides large bonuses in addition.
When the Arequipa road was COM
lleted, he chartered two ocean-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
raonotony 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
n,Ands"-and Meiggs was an I'M
crowned king. With the magic wand
Of gold he virtually controlled the Pc
l1Ivian minister of finance, the su-
prene court Justices, and the infuen-
tihl members of congress. He lived in
q 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
such prodigal hand. His wines were
the best money could buy, and his
cigars, made especially for him in
Cuba, were of the same brand used by
Emperor Napoleon III. Z. 81
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
| paul. Oh course, IN naUlOnal DOnuS, ana
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 manager of men, Meiggs was
never equaled in South America, and
rarely. surpassed anywhere.
i Artists and writer's 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
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