Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-06-07
Peru's Great Railroad Project.

. | EOI'NNs
Peru intends to connect her more
populous area on the Pacific with
her vast eastern territories, now rec
ognized as among the richest parts
J OF South America. This part OF the
, republic embraces about 100000
square miles, and is known as the
Montana, a name that covers not only
the mountainous districts, but also
the widespread alluvlal plain
through which many OF the head
streams of the Amazon make their
way. A large part of II is covered
with tropical timber of the highest
value. DR.. Sievers, the leading Ger
man authority says that rubber trees
are there in enormous quantities and
will be an inexhaustible source of
wealth when the new, rational plan
tatlon system is introduced.
All this rich country was inacces-
sible n quarter of century ago on
account of the hostility of the In
dians, from whom there is nothing
more to fear. They are helping to
cut paths for the rubber collectors.
There are also thousands OF square
miles of grass and arabic lands, a
part of which, about 10000 acres,
the Peruvian corporation is now de-
veloping by opening roads, building
bridges and introducing coloni.ts
who are planting coffee and cacao.
For many years the plan has been
to push three lines across the Cor
dilleras from the Pacific, and these
great projects are now far advanced.
The northern starts from the port OF
Pacasmayo, is now completed for a
, considerable distance beyond Gaia
marca, among the mountains, and
will finally reach the upper Maranon.
The southern, running from Mollen-
do, reached Puma. on Lake Titicaca.
before the disastrous Chilean war,
and has since completed long
northern branch to the famous min
Ing center of Cuzoo, on the inter-
Andean plateau, while southern
branch has rounded the south coast
lof Titicaca and is making for La Paz,
Bolivia. The Central Peruvian rail-
road has been most in the worlds
eve and Is the line that will reach
the upper waters of the Amazon.
This remarkable road starts from
Caliao at sea level and rises to 500.
1900, 2SO0 and 5000 feet at the re-
spective distances OF Z, is, 3S and so |
miles. The steady and rapid ascent
continues till the track crosses the
hahn Andean range at 1865 feet,
about 100 feet lower than the sum
NIT OF Mont Blanc, and there IL de-
seends 100 feet to the mile for 80 |
miles across the mountain plateau
to Oroya. This place is 1876 miles in |
an air line from the coast and 22O
miles by rail.
oroya is also the starting point of
the line to be built through the east
ern ranges OF the Andes and down
the Cordilleran slope. The Cerro de
Pasoo tracks lead through a pass TO
Tarma, which Is separated from
oroya by the second OF the inter
Andean ranges. Here the track
leading down the slope will branch I
TO the east, cross the Chanohamayo
valley, where settlers already supply
the Inhabitants of the plateau with
their contee, sugar and rum, and /
descend TO the Ucayali. on whose
navigable waters passengers and
freight will pass TO and from the J
ocean vessels that ascend the
Amazon, 1000 miles. 10 the river
port of Iquitos. h
At last accounts the survey on y
'ne of the six sections of the line \
has been completed; It Is we'll ad-
'aneed on the others, and building n
operations will begin this year, The \
ngineers says that In crossing the II
astern ranges a very large expendl- lo
ure OF labor and money will be re-
NalraA A..k ~.