New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-16

freely with the foreign bankers and merchants OF
Guayaoul and places high value upon their ad-
vice and Judgment. II was their influence whlch
led him TO secure the enactment OF laws estaohsh-
ing gold standard and separating the Church
from the State. He has the earnest and prac-
tically the unanimous support Of the mercantile
classes who believe that he is endeavoring to pro-
mote the welfare and develop the material interests
Of the country but the planter aristocracy Is OPP
posed 10 him chiefly religious grounds. They
are conservative and sympathize with the priests.
Alfaro's most influential friend is an Irish sailor
named Power Between them exists sentimental
affection. Power is plain man, without preten-
sions ambition, and is universally regarded as
honest and dsinterested. He met Alfaro at Pan
anna while the latter was In exile and whlie rover
was employed by one of the steamship companies
about the harbor. They lived at the same Motel.
formed close friendship and gradually acquired
confidential relations. When Alfaro made his last
attack upon the conservative Government Of Ecua-
dor Power accompanied him as captain OF the
schooner that carried the revolutionary party from
Panama. and when that little vessel was attacked
and sunk by a gunboat Power saved Afaro's life
by pushing him ashore astride barrel. Alfaro
cannot swim. but Power is a strong swimmer, and
succeeded in landing his chief In that novel way
They found asylum with friends. and remained
in concealment until they could communicate with
Afaros allies From that time they have been to-
gether and wherever you find Alfaro you generally
find Power The latter Is nominally In command
OF the navy OF Ecuador. which consists Of two
three dimnutve gunboats.
A GOOD MARKET FOR IRON AND STEEL.
Ecuador ought 20 be a good market for construc-
ton iron and steel which would furnish an eco
nomical and convenient substitute for the heavy
timber OF which the frames OF the buildings
now made. The lignum vitae logs and poles
used almost heavy iron; they are worked
with great difficulty and labor are brought on the
backs OF men and mules long distance from the
mountains, crooked and irregular. and II
qures not only great expenditure Of money and
labor but equal amount OF patience and in
genuity to utilize them. il must be said that the
native builders show great skill in this respect and
make the best Of their material but 1t would GER
tainly be economy to bring light pieces Of iron or
steel Of proper lengths to be bolted together In
few moments without spending several DAYS in
trying 10 mortise the end of lignum vitae log
into another. As have stated IN a previous letter
the residences and the stores are simply frames of
those logs covered with bamboo aths and plastered
with mud. Some Of the houses expensive
There several at Guayaquil which cost as high
as 500 900.
The most novel and amusing spectacle in Guaya-
gull is donkeys wearing pantales. This is not due
10 motives OF modesty. such as were attributed TO
the Boston woman who clothed the limbs OF her
piano In similar manner, for most of the children
20 naked and many OF the peon women nearly So
The pantalets. made OF cotton cloth and suspended
are humane invention 10 protect the animals from
the vicious flies which attack them.
PERU RICH IN PETROLEUM
The petroleum interest OF Peru. which is very
large. although still undeveoped, centres at Tum-
bez the northern frontier where Pizarro landed
with his expedition for the conquest OF Peru after
leaving the island OF Puno There was a palace
OF the Incas and there the Spanards first behed
the opuence and civilization OF their empire
Pizarro explored the country without interruption
cultivated the good will Of the natives and attached
10 himself two young men, who were instructed in
Spanish TO interpreters After re-
naming at Tumbez for several months he returned
10 Panama and from there went TO Spain report
and place his plans before the Emperor He asked
for force Of $50 men with arms and ammunition
which he agreed 10 pay for and also promised that
the King should have all the territory he should
conquer and one-ffth OF the treasure he found
II is an interesting historical fact that Cortez who
had recently returned from the conquest OF Mexico
furnished Pizarro the funds TO NJ his expedi-
tion and that fernando de Soto who afterward
discovered the Mississippi River. second in
command.
The spaniards discovered the oil shortly after
their arrival and used II for lubrcating purposes
as the natives had done before them. but at
tempt was made 10 bore wells until about thirty
years ago. when Pennsylvania prospector named
Larkin and his associates came down here and
explored the country. They satisfied themselves OF
the extent and quality Of the deposits and asked
from the Government an exclusive concession for
refining and selling oil in Peru. They demanded
complete monopoly and overreached themselves
The Government willing give them the ex
elusive right to refine for certain term OF years
nd place heavy duty upon imported OIL but would
not prohibit importatons give perpetual
monopoly.
Several attempts were afterward made TO interest
the Standard OIL Company, which sent men from
New-York TO make an investigation. but for some
reason that company did not utilize the oppor-
tunity that offered. and the oil wells idle
until about twelve years ago. when English