The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-28

nitrate fields TO the port of Antofa-
Easta At that time La Paz had no
railroads. and the most of Bolivia was
accessible only by muleback' and foot
To-day there are three systems of iron
tracks from the capital to the sea
coast: and within a short time La Pax
Will be within three days by rail of
Euonos Aires. The gap in the rail
roads at Argentina and Bolivia is now
only about 100 miles. and this gap will
ne closed by iron tracks within less
than year from this writing.
The beginning of the railroad era
here was the sale to Brazil of the
Acrc territory, near the headwaters OF
the Amazon. For this the government
was paid over S10,00O.00U and II was
decided to use this sum for new Ipii-
ways. The money was taken to Kew
York. and II was American enterprise
ana American engineers who laid down
the hrst tracks of the system. Other
moneys borrowed and IN to
about IL year ago more than $4,000 O0O
mad been spent. There are now sew
cral lines under construction and the
new roads projected are now more
than 900 miles.
/ can see great changes in La Paz
Tho capital has sprung into new life
and II seems to lie more enterprising
than Lima. although the latter is al
most twice Its size. New buildings are
carpenters are working in every mart
OF the high basin in which the CAN'T |
lies. The streets are full of tranic
AS you go along them YOU are jostlcd
by donkey trains and llama trains. and.
might also say. by trains OF Indians
as Well for much of the goods is car
ricd through the streets on the back s
OF the natives. The city has now AN
electric car line, but the streets are SO
narrow that the ears have to run at
one side. the trolley arms being fast
rned 10 the walls of the houses
When was last here there was not
public cab In the whole city, and
YOU could number the private car
riages on your fingers and toes.
Now there are many four-horse cabs
drawn by mules, and also fine private
turnouts that go gallopinE along up
hili and down. when | came into the
city my trunks were taken from the
depot on the backs of Indian caryu-
dorcs. who charged me about 20 cents
each for carrying 200 pounds a dis
lance OF more than a mile.
WITHIN the past decade LA Paz has
practically doubled In size 1t has er-
tended out over the basin. and is be-
ginning to climb the sides of the hills
The street ear line now runs about
tvs" miles down the valley. through
the crack in the sides OF the hole.
where the city is built. There is one
suburb called Baraccas and another
Mirahores In the latter President
Monies Is said TO own most of the
property. and there Mrs Monies is
building an insane asylum as cha rity
for the capital
The buildings in the heart of La
'az have been greatly improved
Right In the centre of the city Is a
beautiful plaza filled with grass.
MOWERS and trees, and OIL one side Of
;his has been erected the New bolivian
Capitol Building, in which Congress
meets. On another side is the Presi-
dents palace, or the White House Of
the bolivian republic. II was there
that was received by President
Monies. The building is being i'm
proved. and the masons are now work
Ing AZ II. went up a staircase made
OF the purest white alabaster from the
quarries OF the DesaHuadero River,
not far away. and the magnificent
parlor in which ] was received was
decorated with statues and paintings
Just next to this palace building is
the La Paz Cathedral II has been in
course OF construction for two genera
tons and more, and parts of ii have
been torn down again and again. The
walls are now about scVenty-fvc feet
IN helsht' ana there are some signs Of
their approaching completion This
cathedral is being built through tax
upon all the goods that come across
Lake Titicaca. If am rightly I'm
formed. the levy is 10 per cent. and It
is 10 he continued as long as the work
OF building goes on. There are some
unklnd skepics who alleGe that the
building will never be completed. as
the makers a'e DESTROYS OF continuing
the receipts from these imports AS
10 this know not but just now they
are doing some work that seems use
less. and the workmen are not push
ing the job.
The business OF La Paz is far better
IMAM II has been in the past. Many of