The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-03-17
POPULAR
IN PERU

!
Motoring over the rough, narrow
roads of the Andes Mountains in
Peru is a severe test for driver
and vehicle, but the use Of cars is
steadily gaining.
In this country little known to
the average person. improved roads
are almost entirely absent. In
their stead there are mostly rocky,
narrow trails. which wind sharply
around the mountains with treach-
erous declivities yawning on all
sides.
II was OF this section that Fran
els r.. Day, OF the Peruvian Autos
Ida. Lima. dealer in Dodge
Brothers vehicles, who recently WIS.,
tied Detroit. told of some of the
hazards with which drivers have 70
contend.
The sturdiness OF Dodge Broth.
ers motor cars and Graham Broth
ars trucks, which is necessary to
negotiate these hazardous trails
has won for them the admiration
of all business men and motorists
of the country, said Mr.. Day.
Mr.. Day told of one road which
rises to an altitude OF $4,000 feet
above sea level and then drops 10
1000 feet in the course OF eighty
miles. Over this road, he said. 30
per cent of the vehicles used are
: lodge Brothers motor cars ana
Graham Brothers trucks.
One asks how the PeruVlans
control travel over these narrow
trails when traffic might wish 10
90 in both directions at the same
time. They have devised quaint
system of rules to prevent col
Iisions. Traffic originating in the
,,nDer reaches of the Andes, say
Lima. is permitted to move down
orIv on Tuesday, Thursday and
SATURDAY. of each week. Trafrlc
from the lower reaches is allowed
to move upward only on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday.
taThe Peruvian government Is
alive TO the need of improved
roads.' said Mr.. Day, but instead
Of sDending vast sums or money IN
Intricate engineering feats to cur
auch roads through and around
the Andes range, the officials nave
Saen content with opening sucn
traiis as will permit easier ana
more frequent motor vehicle traIIlc
GAS an example Of this road, or
trail b,,ilding." Mr.. Day said, at
the head waters OF the Amazon
river high in the Andes range, the
oovernmenf has begun the cutting
- trails from the old town OF
To,,ifos. formerly famed as one OF
ere hir plantation rubber cenlers
~ the country. At this point
u,here the road engineers and ma
lives are at work there is but one
motor vehicle in use in the entire
section and that is a Granaln
Brothers truck.
Tnuitos. related NJ. Day. is now
viIlage OF but 5000 inhabitants.
mt through revival Of the runDer
Industry due to increased seAing
prices. it is becoming factor AGAIN
a the commercial life OF the
4 limitation OF all weight that
nav cross the suspension bridges.
he only type used. is placed on 81
Vehicles. For this reason the Dolce
Brothers vehicles have been .ounu
most suitable for the transportation
"Per,, is rapidly showing the
fleets of increased capital from the
Knitted States. The North Amerl-
ans are exhibiting more energy
han the Europeans who formerly
,ccunied dominant financial control
n peru and other South American
countries. United States products
are s1fpnlanting British made goods
In a large measure" Said Mr.. Day.
limited States capital controls
the largest vanadiun mines in the
world. which are located high In
the Andes range OF Peru. rms
valuable ore enters widely into the
of high grade steel or
which Dodge Brothers, Inc. is q
large consumer. The vanadium is
mined 2O, 900 feet above sea level.
II is brought out of the shafts IN
small bags which are placed on the
hacks of llamas which tread slowly
down the narrow mountain trails
to a lake where the bags are placed
on u barge and ferried across to
the opposite shore. The bags then
are loaded on freight cars of fine
standard gauge railroad which car.
ries ii down to tidewater at Callao.
from whence it is shipped aboard
vessels northward to United States
ports.
Peru has a wide variety OF
climate. In the tropical sections
the finest long staple cotton in the
world is produced. This cotton is
exported to the United States for
the manufacture of fibre cord auto
mobile tires. Other agricultural
products include coffee and sugar
cane. Mining is the principal in
dustry Of the country, gold. silver
and copper being produced in large
Mr. Day. who is an electric engi-
neer, was born in London, England.
Seven years ago he went out to
Peru with his wife and family to
engage at his profession. Two
years ago he saw the increasing
demand for motor vehicles in that
country and obtained a franchise
for handling Dodge Brothers We
hicles. Results to date indicate
the wisdom of his selection, for
there are now in operation hun
dreds of these cars.
Philadelphia bases it's claim to
A. ia I.