The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-20

Callao, where the American battleshlp fleet is now making It's fourth stop in it's cruise round South America, is one of the most important ports on the Pacific side, and Is the great depot for the commerce of Peru. It is second only to Valparaiso. Chile. 1500 miles to the south. Approxi- mately one-half of the foreign trade of Peru. which amounted last year to moro than s5o.o0o,0o0. passes In and out of Cal lao, making it busy, active and indus trious city. Fully 1000 vessels put Into the harbor every year, and 20 steamers. togethet with 40 sailing craft, may any day be- seen lying at anchor in the bay.
 Callao is one of the finest and safest
 harbors on the Pacific, and tine Peruvian government Is showing great energy not only to make 1t modern, convenient and secure, but also to equip the city Itself with every necessity for comfortable and hygenic living. There are massive wharves at the waters edge. protected by a pier 800 feet long this pier Is connected with the shore by bridge. built on iron piles 2So0 feet long. In the bay Is a floating dock which will admit vessels of 21 feet oraught and 5000 tons weight. Steamers lie alongside the wharves and freight is transhipped immediately into cars on tracks within a few feet of the water The resemblance to a modern port like Havre or Hook of Holland Is remarkably striking. The machinery about these docks is chiefly electric, the power being drawn from streams only small dis tance back In the mountains.
 A natural protection of the bay is the Island of San Lorenzo, which shelters the city from southwest storms. Adjacent to San Lorenzo is the Palominos group, on which Is a powerful lighthouse. the lighr from which is visible for IS miles. Just recently erected is a. tower for wireless telegraphy, and communication by this means will soon be in operation all along the coast.
 Callao, as a town, is very old, its foun- dation dating back to the year 16sI. The original site was destroyed by an earth quake in 1746 and swallowed up by the sea. The present city yet retains some traces of it's earlier history, in the mar row and irregular streets, but today 1t has grown away from such conditions, and is modern in every sense of the word. The population numbers 32,0oo. although in tho day time 1t would seem much larger, be- cause many men come here during busi- ness hours but return in the afternoon to their homes in Lima.
 Lima, the capital of Peru, Is only nine miles from Callao. and lies 500 feet higher close against the foothills of the Andes. Two steam and one electric trolley lines connect the capital with the port. and there Is besides a fine avenue for car riages, so that the traveller can easily and quickly go from one city to the other at any time. This is one of the most TO- mantle spots of Spanish America, wing with the City of Mexico in the interests which show the influences of Europe upon the newly discovered America, but Lima is far more than city of churches, plazas, monasteries and houses or grandees of Spain. Nevertheless, the m- press of Pisarro and the viceroys should not be forgotten, for Lima was at one time the center of government Tor all South America. and her authority ex- tended from Panama to Buenos Ayres. It is one of the most beautiful cities of the western world, and enjoys climate which, without exaggeration, can be called perpetual spring.
 Lima also has a new avenue. Colum- bus avenue, nearly half a mile long, at the end of which is the statue of Columbus, reproduced in the statue at the front or the De Lesseps house at Colon. on the isthmus of Panama. This is the fashion able drive and promenade of society Other new streets testify to the rapid ad- vance the city Is making. Electric lights. trolley cars, abundant water and such public utilities, are making this city Of 1D.00o inhabitants fully abreast of the. times. Lima is the seat of the oldest university in America. founded here in 155l Not so very far from Lima, es dis tances go In South America. are the bat tie fields of Junin and Ayacucho, where, in 1924. was fought the final struggle by which Spain lost forever her hold on this part of the world.
 Peru has great advantage over other re- publics of South America. She is trans- country. having coast line on the Pacific of 1600 miles, from which the whole world can be reached, yet one of tic great commercial centers of Peru is Iuuitos, an inland city on the Atlantic water shed From Iauites ocean steamers