Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-02-20
AMERICAN FLEET
ARRIVES At CALLA0
Admiral Thomas
Temporarily in
Command
EVANS STILL QUITE SICK
Peruvians Extend Enthusias-
tic Welcome to Officers
and Men.

Calao, Peru, Feb. 20.--Tre Ameri.
can battleship fleet reached this port
today. Thousands of people from the
interior towns came to the city to
witness the arrival of the fleet. Adml-
raj Evans still remains in poor health
and Rear Admiral Thomas Is tcmpor-
ariiy in charge of the fleet.
CaIao An important Port.
Callao. where the American battle.
ship fleet is now making It fourth
stop in its cruise around South Amcri.
ca, Is one Of the most important ports
On the Pacific side, and IS the great
depot for the commerce of Peru. 1t IS
second only to Valparaiso, Chile. $500
miles to the south. Approximately one
half OF the foreign trade OF Peru,
which amounte last year to more
than $50,00O,O00, passes in and out of
Callao, making it busy, active and
industrious city. Fully 1,C00 vessels
put into the harbor every year, and
20 steamers together with 40 sailing
craft may any day he seen lying at
anchor in the bay.
Callao is one OF the finest and SAT.
est harbors on the Pacific, and the
Peruvian government is showing great
energy not only to make 1t modern,
convenient and secure, but also to
equip the city itself with every neces-
sity for comfortable and hygenic liv-
Ing. There are massive wharves at
the waters edge, protected by pier
800 feet long; this pier Is connected
with the shore by bridge, built on
iron piles, $500 feet long. In the bay
Is a floating dock which will admit
vessels of 81 feet draught and 5000
tons weight. Steamers lie alongside
the wharves, and freight is tran.
shipped Immediately into cars on
tracks within a few feet of the water.
The resemblance to modern port like
Havre or Hook of Holland, Is remark
ably striking. The machinery about
these docks is chiefly electric, the
power being drawn from streams only
a small distance back In the noun
tains
Bay Is Well Protected. =,
A natural protection Of the bay Is
the Island Of San Lorenzo, which shelf
ers the city from southwest storms.
Adjacent to San Lorenzo Is the Pal
omlnos group on which is powerful
light house, the light from which Is
visible for eighteen miles. Just recent.
ly erected Is a tower for wireless tel.
egraphy, and communication by this
means will soon be in operation all
along the coast.
Callao, as a town. is very old, its
foundation dating back to the year
1887. The original site was destroyed
by an earthquake In 1746 and swal.
lowed up by the sea. The present city
yet retains some traces of IT'S earlier
history in the narrow and irregular
streets, but today 1t has grown away
from such conditions, and is modern
In every sense Of the word. The popu-
lation numbers $4,000, although In the
day time It would seem much larger,
because many men come here during
business hours but return In the after.
noon to their homes In Lima.
Lima But 9 Miles Distant.
Lima, the capital Of Peru, Is only
nine miles from Callao and lies 800
feet higher, closer against the foot
hills of the Andes. Two steam and one
electric trolley lines connect the capit.
al with the port, and there is besides
fine avenue for carriages, so that
the traveller can easily and quickly go
from one city to the other at any
time. This is one of the most roman
tic spots Of Spanish America, vieing
with the City Of Mexico In the inter.
ests which show the influences Of
Europe upon the newly discovered
America.