Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-12-17
HIGHEST OF TOWNS
MINING STATION IN THE ANDES
RUN BY AMERICANS.
cerro de Pasco, at an Elevation Of a.
200 Feet Above the Sea Level
Has 5000 Inhabitants and
All improvements.

Cerro de Pasco is the highest town
in the world. The remarkable broad
gauge railroad by which 1t is reached
passes over a higher altitude-about
that of Mont Blanc-and there are
mining camps and Indian villages at
greater elevations. 1t is also true that
there are higher railroad stations, for
on the Arequipa-Puno line the station
of Crucero Alto attains the stupen-
dous elevation of 1860 feet; but at
14,200 feet above the sea level there
is no other real town of 5000 inhabi-
tants, with a railroad station, tele-
graph, telephones, churches. shops.
clubs, hospitals and vice-consuls. 1t
is wonderful example of American
enterprise.
The section of the railroad which
runs from Oroya to this town belongs
to the Cerro de Pasco Mining Com
pany, and is extremely comfortable.
smooth running and fast, considering
the gradients. 1t passes through fine
grassy valleys grazed by countless
herds of llamas, and the blue sky, the
sparkling streams, the snow peaks,
combine with the green pastures to
give a delightful variety of colors
which afford a striking contrast to the
uniform brown hue of the barren Chill
can Andes.
To get fair view of Cerro de Pas
co it is necessary to go to the top of
high rock near the railroad station.
The town, with its little thatched
houses and narrow streets, lies in a
large undulating basin in which the
chief features are the tall chimneys
and other buildings belonging to the
mines. In the distance a large lake
can be seen, and all around the hori-
zon is studded with snowcapped
heights.
At our feet is a busy scene. The
useful Indian is everywhere-now
driving herds of llamas, the universal
mountain carrier, now riding mules or
driving small carriages over the un'
dulating roads-and all his business is
part of the great work of extracting
copper and silver from the deep
shafts. The rosy cheeks of the In.
dian children, whose healthy color
shines through their brown skin, is an
unusual sight in sallow South Ameri
ca, for the climate is healthy and in
vigorating In the winter there is a
great deal of rain and sleet, but the
summer is bright and crisp, and all
the year round the temperature is
equable, one of moderate cold in
which the thermometer seldom falls
much below freezing point.
Everything at Cerro de Pasco is
run" by the American. There is 6
spacious club where bowls are played
nightly, and in the hollow below there
Is a baseball ground. Both these
games are Enthusiastically Ameri
can, they are played at high pressure
the whole time. The biggest mattel
can be played in about one and a hal
hours, and the players are near enough
to the spectators to hear the com
ments, encouraging or otherwise, tina
are literally bestowed The hospital
ity of the Americans is unbounded anC
the life is one of the utmost good feel
ing and good fellowship. The onl!
drawback to the visitors enjoymen
is the soroche or mountain sickness
which is almost certain to attack ;
newcomer unless he ascends by yer.
gentle stages.