The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-08-23

the metropolis of Bolivia
stands amid great and males
tic mountains and in a region
| of the earth over which some Of the
earliest people trod. Only SO miles
from the country's capital of today lie
the ruins of Tiahuanacu, universally
conceded to be among mans most an
cient habitations. The whole region
surrounding Bolivia's unique capital is
so hoary with age that mans imagi-
native brain is puzzled in attempting
to conjecture the era of prehistoric
construction, says William A. Reid in
the Bulletin of the Pan American
Union.
Scientists further tell us that once
upon time the Andean plateau was
scarcely more than half as elevated
as today, and that in lands where Bo-
livia's present gold and silver lie Sc
Guided the prehistoric inhabitant titled
his fields of grain. Gradually rising
higher and higher with the passing of
geological ages, we find the Bolivian
plateau at too great an elevation to-
day for the majority of agricultural
crops. but region of the earth law
ishly endowed by nature with almost
every variety Of mineral. 1t is near
what might be termed the heart of
this mineral plateau, an area of $4,000
square miles, that BOlivia's modern
capital has grown to be fourishing
city Of $1,000 people.
La Paz de Ayacucho, to use the full
name adopted after the country at
tanned it's independence proclaimed
Aug. 6, 1925, is not only unique in it's
ancient surroundings, but the city lies
SO completely hidden in an enormous
canyon or vent in the plateau that In
journeying thither we come very sud-
denly to the great abyss and are held
breathleSs for the moment-until ones
senses are collected and the beauty of
the panorama takes the place Of awe
and surprise. This great canyon Is
about ten miles long, three miles wide,
1900 feet deep, and in form somewhat
like that Of an exaggerated letter o,
opening southwark. Some scientists
believe that in past ages it was the
outlet of Lake Titicaca, when possibly
that body of water was connected
with the upper Amazon river. APP
preaching La Paz by any of the three
railways leading thither the sides Of
the canyon appear to be almost per-
pendicular; yet engineering skill has
marvelously wound two railroads down
these precipitous sides, presenting at
every turn gorgeous panorama. The
clear, crisp air, the mineral colorings
Of the mountain sides, the red tile
roofs and the bright shades of the
houses in the distance, the green
patches of trees here and there, the
flowing rivulets and larger streams,
the snow-covered peaks, together with
the gay colors always worn by the
humber natives, combine to form a
pleasing and lasting picture.
Ell Alto, a term used to designate
the little railroad station near the
edge Of the canyon, stands as already
noted about 1900 feet above the city,
while the latter is 12,7OO feet higher
than the sea. La Paz being only 300
miles from the Pacific, we can form
an idea Of the steep climb made by
the railways In order to reach this in
land country.
SuppIanted Suere as Capital.
We speak of La Paz as being the
capital of Bolivia and thereby confuse
the minds of those not fully acquaint-
ed with the facts. Sucre, formerly
called Charcas, is the legal capital of
the republic, but largely on account of
accessibility and growing commercial
Importance La Paz became the actual
seat of government more than 20 years
ago. In the latter city the president
and his official advisers reside, the ma
TONS congress meets there, and 1t Is
the residence of the foreign diplomats
accredited to Bolivia but the supreme
court Of the country still holds its ses-
sions at Sucre. The distance between
the two cities is about 300 miles; but
the more rapid growth of La Paz, es-
pecially since the completion Of the
three rail routes to the Pacific, seems
to accentuate the desipability Of La
Paz over Sucre as the capital Of the
nation.