Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

in power-what Is lost in civil liberty is gained
in material wellbeing. Persons who have re-
turned to Peru after an absence Of the last 10
years say they find an entirely new country.
The towns have been completely transformed,
the whole territory has roads and railways.
agriculture is being promoted education is being
extended and Is even beginning to reach the
indigenous population, until now illiterate and
neglected. AS q result the financial standing
and the prestige Of the country Is constantly
improving.
DERU has an area of 566 91O square miles,
equivalent to that Of France, Spain, POrtu-
gal and Italy combined. The territory is divided
into three distinct SectionS-the coast, the val
leys and the mountains. The coast is nat and
arid, but productive under irrigation. The
valleys are fertile and the mountains rich I'm
minerals. The climate is very dry on the coast,
due to its proximity to the Equator and to the
cold Humboldt current flowing from the Ant
arctic. In Lima, the capital rain IS unknown,
except occasionally in the form of mist. In the
interior there is abundant rain and snow, due
to the condensation Of warm air along the
mountain heights. The rain and snow form
short streams which flow down toward the
seacoast, furnishing the only water for the
plantations Of the western slope.
-Peru's greatest wealth is in its agriculture
and mines. In agriculture the outstanding
product is sugar, cultivated along the coast and
in the lower valleys, although not on 50 large
a scale as in Cuba, Porto Rico or the Philip
pines Cotton Is another important product,
the plantations totaling ct present about 1SO,-
900 acres. Corn and rice, IS well as other
grains, are produced IN considerable quantities.
Tobacco, potatoes, coffee and cocoa are also
produced but In lesser amounts, rather for local
consumption than for export
As for mineral resources. the mountains Of
Peru contain inexhaustible treasure. Copper II
Ina
de Pasco, being one Of the most famous In
the world. Some Of the gold and silver mines
worked IN the time Of the Incas are stin pro-
ductive. Coal Is mined In considerable quantA-
ties. and for some time the petroleum helds OF
the north have been under active exploitation.
Industries In Peru, IS in the majority Of
Latin American countries. are little developed.
The textile industry Is growing, IS IL tanning
and the manufacture Of low-grade shoes. Much
progress has been made in the weaving Of
Panama hats, but 1t Is stiN necessary TO ina
port practically al manufactured products.
United States products hold first place among
the imports of Peru, with O total value last
year Of 81, 900 900. Great Britain was second,
with total Of 81. 10000 In Peruvian ex-
ports the United States and Great Britain also
hold FIRST and second places the former In
1927 having imported products to the total
value Of $50 600, and the latter q total Of
$25,OOO.OOO.
CONSIDERING the area of Peru, her pop
ulation is small being but slightly more
than 100000, about that of Belgium or
Hungary, countries Of much smaller area. Most
of the inhabitants live on the coast and in the
valleys. The population is composed of white
people of Spanish descent, of "mestisos" (mixed
white and indiana, Of Indians who are COM
paratively civilized, and Of the uncivilized In
dams, who live in the far interior down In the
Amazon Valley. There are also some Negroes
and Orientals In the ecoast settlements. The
whites and mestizos dominate the life Of the
nation, the Indians having as yet no particle
patton in the activities Of the country.
An outstanding characteristic Of Peruvian ma
tional life Is the devotion and care with which
the people have preserved their material and
spiritual inheritances from Spain, whose re-
gime ended more than century ago. As IN
no other Of the Latin republics which were once
under Spanish rule, Peru has kept intact the
character and spirit of Spanish life. She care
fully cherishes the traditionl atmosphere and
historical mementos Of the days when the
country was the famous viceroyalty OF Peru,
land Of adventures offering wealth and fame to
the Spanish mobiles seeking their fortunes IN
America As in no other region, the cities OF
Peru still preserve their monuments OF COLONIAL
days, the innumeTable churches built oy sne