Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-02-13

not make railroad pay, especially |
it goes nowhere. The money gave GU
when II reached the town Of Chicla
Nesting In the heart Of the Andes
just 100 miles from its first goal. TX
connect the capital, Lima, with thu
silver mines of Cerro del Pasco, ant
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 its consummation appeared
visionary and impossible. With bis
usual energy however, Meiggs
at once took hold OF the
work, and in 1870 the rail.
road was begun. Commencing at Lima
1t ascends the narrow valley Of the
holy Rimac rivers and rises 5000 feet
in the first As miles to pretty valley
which is now used as summer resort.
Then it follows a giddy, serpentne
pathway along the edge of great preci-
pices and over bridges thai seem to
float in the air, tunnels the Andes at an
altitude Of 10000 feet--thc highest spot
in the world where 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 q series OF
% tunnels, aggregatlng SIX miles in
length. The tunnel of Galera, at the
top OF the Andes, IS 1000 rect long,
ana II Is the highest tunnel upon the
surface OF the earth. AS the canyons
were too narrow foracu 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 galned' 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.
TRADING was done with the Grill and
hundreds OF ponndsoF powder, During
inc SIX years the road was under con
s'ructon, over 1000 lives were lost.
Human life is cheap, however, in Peru.
Mciggs made millions in Peru. Al
one time he had contracts with the gov
eminent in his own name amounting
to Ss0,O00,0O0. lie employed the best
American engineers obtainabIe. and
paid them salaries of 100000 n wear
each, besides large bonuses in addition
When the Areouipa road was com.
lletcd, he chartered two oceon.gojnp
steamers Of the Pacific Steam Nayjrn-
ton company, fitted them with wines
and provisions, and invited the peruyi.
an congress, all the national officials.
and the leading men Of the countr, TO
be his guests at the ccIebmtiop If tbe
opening OF the road 10 relieve tha
nonotony OF the sea voyage, he too,
along an Italian circus company Fo, /
Two weeks the distinguished company
enjoyed themselves In a grand spree. |
In Peru the people follow the Span
ism proyerb: "lle who pays COM
n"'nds'-and Melggs was an un-
king. With the magic wand
Of gold he virtually controlled the Pc
l'ivlan minister OF finance, the su-
preine court justices, and the influen-
llhl members OF congress. He lived in
marble-fronted palace in the arsto-
ara'lc part OF Lima, and kept open
mouse llEe prince. No yiecroy OF
inc golden days OF Spanish rule lived
so royalty Or dispensed faYors vita
~ ''e' =" p'ou'sal haao. i'ls vines Wers
o .,',ar De'' ,,,a nioHes cou', onF' ana ~
r,sha "''''o vsP"e'a''y lor hlm IN
, ra' WIZ VI ,''e sumo brand used ~
.'' N'Po'eo" ~
Me'sgs greatest ability wasasa tnan-
''er' While practically uneducated, he
possessed excellent common sense, and
lc understood human nature as few do,
hen building railroads in Peru, he was
'ald, OF course. in national bonds, and
le personally placed them, in England
md France upon far better terms than
ne ieruvians had ever been able to do.
'ollvia had reputation for never meet
- NC. oo''gu'ions' yet he succeededin
,apo''ns y, noli''ah ponds toeXeellent |
III England but as an Or
"'~s' "nu 'on'rae.or OF great works, {
NJ as 1t 'nanager OF men, Meiggs was
.,s, equ"'eu III SCUM America, and
"le's surpassed anywhere. ]
Artists and writer's never sought his /
sslstance in vain. 1t was Meggs' Gus
ON to educate young girls, claiming {
ne'r la'ors IN early womanhood, aft
'""ro giving a large dowry as an in '
"e'l''en. 10 marry like the count of {
'oa ,.'. I ,,, nc would pour pure gold !
: Wv h',o'u' mo Tue laps OF women !
Nv .'"''u nus aio. LIS wedding pres y
~ 10 inc daughter OF the Peruvian !
'''s VI 'iV ineas-tne Inolos OF l