The National tribune., 1908-02-20

obtained At present this part of the
country is thinly populated, and parts
of it still unexplored. 49, =
The Population.
The population of Peru is about A.
600, 900, of which the Capital Lima,
has 10000. II has about 1900 miles
of public railroads. All foreigners are
welcomed to the country, given all the
privileges which the native enjoys, are
free to take up any business or pro-
fession they choose. and are protected
in every way by the Government. After
a residence of two years they can take
out naturalization papers, and. provid-
ed they have a regular profession or
trade, can belong to ethe municipal
body and other official institutions. They
cannot, however, serve in the Congress,
become Minister of State or President
of the Republic. All foreigners have
the right to buy lands and to work
mines or rubber lands under the most
favorable conditions. Elementary edu-
cation is free, and municipal schools
exist in all the towns and villages OF
| Importance. All foreigners are at lib
erty to avail themselves of the schools,
| and no difference is made between the
native and foreign children.
Peru is not manufacturing country
but she possesses all the natural re-
sources which if properly developed
would put her we'll to the front of the
| industrial countries of the world. She
has lately enjoyed an 18-year period
of peace, and has during these years
made marked progress in industry and
commerce. For the first time since the
independence of Peru its treasury shows
surplus. Her foreign trade is increas-
ing, as is also her trade with us. Re
cent enterprises, some of them repre-
senting American capital look very
promising, and with the opening of the
greatly increased trade relations be-
tween the Republic of Peru and the
United States.
Peru's Representative In America.
Peru is represented in this country
by Senior Pardo, and in the attractive
room of his residence on Connecticut
avenue a member of the staff of The
National Tribune was most cordially
received and given much interesting in
formation concerning his country. The
Minister belongs to one of the most dis
tinguished and ariStocratic families OF
Peru, his father having occupied the
high office of President, and the present
| Executive, DIR. ID. Jose Pardo, being his
| pendent fortune, and has lived life OF
leisure, untrammeled by business cares
and anxieties, has travelled much and
resided in Europe about II years. Senior
Pardo is a gentleman of charming man.
ner, speaking English and French flu
emily, as well as his own beautiful
stately Spanish, and is of pure Andalu-
prominent families of Spain of the
preeepf dav notably tho he OcYnaS He
has never taken an active part in the
politics of his country, and this Is his
first public office. He has been in this
country about two years. The Minister
spoke with much warmth of feeling of
the extremely friendly relations which
have existed between Peru and the
United States all thru the national his
tory of the former, with never anything
to disturb the amicable character OF
the bond. Peru has looked largely to
the United States as a guide since
achieving her independence, and has
had that affection and respect for her
accorded an elder sister. In referring
to our fleet, and the magnificent way
| it has been treated by the South Amer
lean Republics whose ports it has Wis
| tied, Senior Pardo spoke modestly OF
Peru's plans for honoring it when il
should visit Callao, and of the pleasure
it would afford his people to give some
substantial proof of the sincerity OF
their friendly protestations.
Financial Condition Growing Better.
! Altho Peru, once the synonym fol-
fabulous wealth, has suffered much
financially since her war Of independ.
ence, and especially so in her recen
war with Chile, which deprived her o.
her principal source of nationa. wealth
her valuable nitrate fields, yet Senol
| Pardo feels that the present situation /:
| fun of hope. For the past IS year:
| the country has been undisturbed by
wars or revolutions. and for the past II
years marked progress has been made
along many lines.
During this period of order, homes
and intelligent administration, many o
the pernicious traditions have beer
rooted out, and into the lower CLASSES
have been instilled the principles o
i democracy, liberty and the dignity o
labor. The Minister spoke with well
deserved pride and enthusiasm of thu
recent progress made by Peru, ant
answered the many questions put t.
him by The National Tribune represen
tative with evident pleasure and grea
intelligence The first railway built il
Peru, which, if not the first in Soutl
America was certainly the second, wa
/ constructed in 1S4S. There are nov
some 1900 miles of track, most of TIL
roads being owned by the State. Wha
this means to the people can hardl.
be conceived, as the billy character o
the country permitted of few good road
land communication was therefore great
lily restricted. Two important Transan
dine railways have already been con
\ structed, and third, which will opel
up the Amazon region, is under con
sideration. This immense valley o
the Amazon, which still preserves intac
its wonderful natural wealth, and whicl
is almost uninhabited, will thus b.
opened to colonization.
One of these roads now in operation
called the Central. starts from Calla
and runs to Cerro de PascO, $4,000 fee
above sea level in about 10 hours. Thi
rapid change from a low to high alti
tude produces arrangement of tn
heart called "soroche," which is not
however. generally fatal, and is over
come after period of residence. TIL
water that comes out of the engines a
this point is boiling hot If you wisl
to boil an egg it takes about IL minutes
The climate in this part of Peru il
rather trying. being cold at night ant
scorching at noon.
/ This is a great mining district TIL,
rich and abundant copper deposits ar
found here. as well as a peculiar kline
of silver ore. These copper mines arr
being largely worked by an American
syndicate under the name of the "Serr'