The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-27
MOUNTAINS OF PERU
Interesting Account Of Vacation
Spent by Vermont Boy

!
The following interesting descrip-
ton Of a vacation spent amid the An
dean mountains of the South Ameri-
can Republic of Peru Is written by
John II. Torrens, young man, a ma
tive of Sandgate and well known here.
He Is a brother of Mrs Charles r.
Austin of this village.
The young man is employed as act
ing chief electrician for the Cerro De
Pasco Mining company OF La Fundic
ion. He was formerly employed
with the General Electric company of
Schenectady, who gave him the OPP
portunity to go to Peru to superin-
tend its machinery there. He was
rapidly advanced to his present pos
ition.
A Vacation In Peru
Believing that this subject viii be
interesting to many of my friends
and in a general way to all, submit
the following account of recent trip
| into the interior of Peru.
All Americans coming to Peru
leave behind, practically all traces Of
vegetation, after leaving the coast OF
Ecuador, the western sides OF the
Andes being a rainless, barren
stretch of mountains. Travelling
from Lima up to the famous Cerro de
Pasco regions, one sees little in the
line Of vegetation except a few fruit
chacras at Matucana and San Bar
talome, supported by irrigation after
reaching the Junior plateau at an al
titude of 1900 to 10000 IT, there is
an abundance of rain during the wet
season but, being as it is, just below
the snow line of the giant cordilleras
and because Of the scarcity Of oxygen
in the atmosphere, the vegetation is
limited-to a short, coarse pampas
grass. Therefore the more interest
ing Is this trip into a land of exuber-
ant, tropical vegetation, reached by a
horse back ride of about 100 miles
Few Americans realize the conditions
and possibilities OF many OF the
S nth American Republics
Peru has extensive resources of
every kind and is as yet practically
undeveloped. She has every variety
Of climate imaginable, from the bal
my tropics to the Frigid Zone the
latter found 2400 feet above sea level
in perpetual snow
After living a year at La Fundicion
where the Cerro de Paso Mining Cos.
smelter is located, Mr.. Tait(mechan-
ical engineer for the company and
decided TO visit the interior by the
Chanchamayor Valley, on a IA days
vacation and we were not disappoint-
ed in our anticipations Of an inter
esting trip. To convey an adequate
impression Of the territory would re-
quire volumes which neither space
nor the patience Of my readers will
permit.
Leaving ne Shelter, May 18th
1910 on regular morning train, We
went about so miles to Tillarneoc, a
small station near Oroya where the
Cerro de Plsso Railroad connects
with the Peruvian Central Railroad
which zig-zags down the mountain to
Lima. Here / found my pony Dick,
sent down previously. while Mr. TAFT
found a chalo with his horse sent up
from Tarma.
After fording the Rio Mantaro, We
set out over rounded limestone hills
and began TO descend after a few
miles. we soon came to small cha
cras OF barley potatoes. alfalfa, etc,
and a little later to small trees and
bushes. passing through the small,
but pretty village OF Chancha.. AS
We afterwards learned our Cholo
guide was leading us by a circuitous
route; perhaps to allow us all to get
better acquainted and view the coun
try. think the real reason was
that he wished to stay as long as
possible by Mr. TAFT. the flavor OF
whose cigarettes he seemed TO enjoy
AZ any rate. he disclosed strange
propensity 10 forget 10 return a pack
age after helping himself.
TAFT. not being an expert horsemar
and thoroughly convinced that h,
must eat all his meals. In the nea
future from a mantel-piece, said moth
ing kind about this individual whei
he later learned that we had been Lee
around about four miles farther thar
necessary
We reached Tarma about $3.50 =
m. very hungry, as our lunch o
sandwiches and hard boiled egg
were left on the train. We stayed a
the Hotel Umberto. which we foun
quite comfortable. We stayed 4
Tarma the next day. Il is an oil
town prettlly situated among tn
hills with about 1000 inhabitants
has fine laza, clean streets and |
lighted by electricity. also a good sil
ed market for tropical fruits goin
to the coast and mountain districts.
Our friend. Sr. Otero kindly show
ed us about the place while We too
pictures. We visited the gun clut
hospital and several municipal built
ings. After q first class dinner an
game OF billiards we retired.
Next day at $3.50 a. m, Sr. Oter
took us 10 his large hacienda abou
three miles out OF Tarma and we
named Ia Florida" lie has her
many acres OF fertile land plante
with barley, corn. potatoes, alfalf'
etc. Near the house Is a fne OLE
fashioned garden surrounded with
box hedge and containing almos
every kind OF fruit tree and fowel
even TO the sweet scented violet, 8
familiar In the New England statei
The entire farm Is laid OF In un
form lots by straight white walls {