The state herald., 1915-05-14

oluss. u. .. a, III tHe fhH-AmerlcaH oHiou
Bu; 1t is impossible. do hear you say? Just
a moment. while quote you few. very few.
factf and figures. The Oroya railway tEl Fer
rocavri Central del Peru is a monument to the
genIs OF Henry Meiggs. an American. or. rather.
| should say. n United-States esofNorthAmerican. Of
for In the southern hemisphere the term "Ameri.
cano' is not very definite. and we usually find
ourselves ndexed under IN" to distinguish us
from the United States OF Colombia United Mex
lean States, etc. Callao. tho Pacific terminus OF
the oroya railway. and one OF the principal ports
OF Peru, is six days by boat south OF Panama.
Lima, the "City OF Kings" Peru's capital, is
six miles from Callao and is located on n broad
tableland about five hundred feet above the sea
The opening OF the Panama canal will undoubt.
edy stimulate travel to South America and of
all parts OF the continent Peru is wonderfully
rich in natural wonders ant historical back.
ground
The Oroya railway begun In 1863 Begin
ming at Callao II climbs steadily TO an elevation
OF 1866 feet above sea level. where the divide
Is crossed through the Galera tunnel. at mile
LOG. The Morococha branch rises to elevation
l5,s65-the highest point reached by any railroad
In the world. Al Oroyn. mile 1873 the road d.
yides. one branch going north TO the famous
Cerro de Pasco copper mines the other SO miles
south TO Huancayo. with projected extension
TO Cuzco the old Inca capital. which has had
rail connection with the sea at Mollendo for sey.
eral years Another branch. about three hundred
miles long. is under construction down the east
ern slope OF the Andes to the head OF navigation
on the ucaya river one OF the important upper
tributaries OF the Amazon.
The Oroyn road Is not onl. the highest In the
world but there is other which lifts its breath
less passengers to any -ucb altitude in such an
appalllngly short distance. To climb the
oroya climbs. Hudson river irnln leaving New
York city would have TO ascend half an hour be.
fore II reached Albany. distance 1000 feet
greater that that from sea level TO the summit
of pixies Peak The daily passenger train leaves
callno In the forenoon and reaches Oroya late In
the afternoon. As there are no night trains
account Of the great danger or rocks falling down
I'm the track. the round trip ordinarily requires
two days Since there Is continuous down.
grade from the Galera tunnel TO the sea. nm op
porunlty il offered for the most unique hand
car ridO In the world
Through thu courtesy Of the general manager
-, the line We were afforded exceptional facilities
for making the trip. His private car was Mt.
tncsed 10 the evening trnr 70. Chorica. n fash
Ionabln resort about thlrtynye miles out OF Lima.
nt nm elevation Of about two thousand eight hun
dred feet For nm hour or 40 we wound through
n wide irrigated valley. fat and prosperous look.
1,, with plantations OF sugar cane and cotton
,oncod I'm by mud walls the roofs Of hacienda
sboVins now and then over the green beyond
,bnt tho bare brown mountnnH-high enough. "
,,emed yet really no more than foothills-Hhut
4, and uhouldcred upward tier on tier behind
aa,h other. yellow and terra Gotta and tnwny
hrovn occasionally flashing through n slit In
,holr hanks tho snowy shoulders OF peaks miles
nnd miles away. to which We were to climb AZ
@hosicn our cur was tdctraeked for the night
dinner was served aboard aud we turned IN To
bo rondy for an early start the next morning.
Abopt 4 a. M We we're awakened by our car
,.t,, plebod ~ By the morning freight. whose
srhcdpio had been advanced several hours for
'.,, srcel,l benefit The real climb now began