Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-23

according to this view, some such source
OF wealth as the nitrates or the guano is
necessary in order to furnish the country
with capital. The copper mines. the pes
simists say are doing very well. but there
Is always the danger of curtailed produce
ton through low prices.
Il
If these pessimists are pressed for de-
tails they will admit that IL an irriga-
ton policy such as that adopted by the
United States could be carried out there
would be an enormous agricultural de-
velopment. But they add that Peru, in
the opinion of it's present administration.
at least. Is too poor for such a policy. AS
to railway communication with the ANA
ION, there is the same Objectionable lack
of financial resources. AS for the great
increase in the country's trade which is
expected to follow the canals opening,
they ask where are the people who are to
supply ii. since the present population is
not going to be materially increased in
this generation.
The optimist sees the future through
rose-colored glasses. especially the Peru
Wan optimist He talks of the boundless
mineral wealth of the country without a
thought of the heavy expenditures for
railway construction which must be made
before there will be very notable in
crease in the output of the mines. His
eyes glisten as he tells of the miraculous
effect of drop Of water on Peruvian soil
and the vegetation which will spread over
the present dry areas when irrigation is
expanded beyond its present limitations
He also sees clearly the advantageous
geographical position of Peru In the west
coast commerce Of the canal
Not to dampen great expectations, but
to render them more reasonable, it might
be well for the present to give some con-
sideration to the views of the pessimists.
But 1t would not be we'll to attach more
than a passing significance to them. Peru
will get railway communication through
the Andes to the Amazon, and will open
up the forest and the river regions in the
present generation. She will also adopt
irrigation on a Large scale, and the ex-
pensye railroads will be built which are
essential to further mineral development
But all this Is not going to come within
the first twelve months after the canal
is opened
The commerce which has to be accom-
modated will center largely in the port
of Callao, for this port is the key to the
bulk of the interior traffic 1t is an In
teresting geographical fact that when. by
the opening of the canal, the Atlantic
coast line is continued along western
South America. Callao by the water route
is the city of Mexico by rail communi-
cation. 1t is necessary to have this in.
mind when discussing the commercial
conditions and the trade prospects
The trade of the port today is world
wide one. There Australian ships at
anchor, with their cargoes of coal and
wheat: Japanese steamer dropping
oriental merchandise. rice and silks; the
big English steamer, which goes through
the straits to Liverpool the German
steamer. which traverses the Pacific coast
from Vancouver down; the passenger and
cargo steamer of the Chilean line; one
Of the Peruvian steamers which crafty
the national aspirations to see the flag
flying above native merchant marine.
There are also American steamers from
New York flying the British flag Out
in the harbOr are some lumber schoOners
from Puget sound which fly the Ameri-
can flag 1t is known that within a few
months Italian steamers also will be in
Callao harbor. The tramp vessels which
enter so largely into the ocean carrying
trade, and Of which SO little is heard In
comparison with the regular lines, are
represented by the flags OF several
nations
This is the picture of Callao harbor
almost any day in the year. 1t shows
the commerce that centers here. The
picture would not be complete. however,
unless 1t were possible to show the
crowded condition Of the wharves and
docks and the inadequate facilities for
handling the shipping. The present docks
are q quarter Of a century old. The
dursena or dock IL controlled by a single
company under government monopoly,
which. for various reasons has not made
adequate improvements.
Labor conditions are also alleged to be
responsible for much of the inconyeni-
ence suffered by shipping.
While little temporary relief Is
promised, there is a prospect that
permanent Improvement will be had.
President Biiiinghurst has policy Of
Caliao port improvements, which. II car