The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-21

scCtions-the narrow barren coast,
averaging about twenty-five miles in
width, which contains the most impor-
tant cities; the great p.ateau In the
Andes region, and the rich forest lands
to the east. containing the sources of
the Amazon. wei watered but sparseiy
Inhabited and little developed. This
region contains hot springs and many
lakes, the largest of which. on the line
between Peru and Bolivia, is Lake
Titicaca. This is about the size of our
Lake Ontario and is the highest lake
in the world on which there is steam
navigation, being IL, 1000 feet above sea
level.
Peru has a President, two Vice
Presidents. a senate n House of
Representatives supposed to be elected
10y direct popular vote for a term of
six years a judicial department.
Every citizen over Fl years of age
who can read and write II entitled by
law to vote, but friends h have lived
many years in Peru tell me that they
have vet to find one whose vote Ia
counted unless ne In a member OF the
army or an employee of the Govern
| ment
The Government owns and operates
tho postal and telegraph lines In Peru,
excepting the railway telegraphs.
There are about III 900 miles Of tclc-
phone wire and a we'll equipped wire
less telegraph system.
Lima was formerly a walled city.
with heavy stone walls along the
banks of the river and on the three
other sides. Ruins OF these still exist.
The streets are from twenty to thirty
feet in width n at right angles
Most Of them are paved with cobble-
stones The houses are for the most
part only one story in height. though
the stores facing the Grand Plaza are
Of two stories. the second projecting
so as TO form an arcade around two
sides of the square.
Some OF the houses are built OF
bricks. hut most OF them throughout
tho city are plastered. One traveller
said that a burglar needs only a wet
sponge and n knife 20 enter any
house In Lima. This. however. is al
eNaggeratiun. when one takes into
consideration the surprising thickness
of the walls. They are from two to SIX
feet through. Very few windows oper
on the street. the rooms being lighted
from an interior court, while the Q
tire front OF the stores opens as q
door.
The prevalence OF earthquakes ac-
counts FOR this style OF building. a,
Peru has suffered considerably from
This cause. Most OF the houses. there
fore, are modern and ordinary. but q
few OF those which have withstooC
the earthquakes. notably n church
have beautiful carvings or the bal
comics. The Government buildings
consist of Pizarro's Cd palace. which
occupies an entire square near TN
railway station. and certain new
structures located in other parts OF thu
city.
Tho mean annual temperature II
Lima Is % degrees Fahrenheit. 81
may well he considered a mean tenn
perature.' said the United State
Minister to me, for II Is colo
enough to ave d fire although r
June to September il Ia usually col,
enough to make o wish for one
II never rains. but during these fou
months II IL continuously cloudy AM
often fogGy. There are no chimney.
IN the small houses, cooking belni
done by charcoal fires.
Lima mas electric light. generated h.
water power, and there Is a system o
water works. Education - provide
for 10y elementary and higher schools
and there ar" many monaSterie'
Manufactures of many necessary Ar
:. lucl,S are carried on IN Lima, bu