Industrial and commercial South America

More than a century ago, the distinguished scientist, Alexander von Humboldt, declared that the country of Peru would one day become the centre of the World’s colonization. It has been called the richest in natural resources of any country upon the globe, containing within its borders every variety of climate and of natural or possible production, together with wonderful fertility of soil and marvelous wealth in minerals. Other countries make a similar claim. To decide the question is impossible. Without intimate acquaintance with all, even to express an opinion would seem an impertinence.

Area, Population, Boundary

Area. Pending the decision of certain boundary disputes, the area of this Republic can hardly be stated with even approximate accuracy, for figures given vary over 200,000 square miles. The territory claimed by the Government, including Tacna and Arica, with a vast domain over which Ecuador and Colombia have asserted a right, covers 700,000 square miles. Had all claims been decided against her, Peru would have fifth place in area among the South American Republics; but as the arbitrators of her boundaries with Brazil and Bolivia gave judgment largely in her favor, she is likely to remain fourth with at least 540,000 square miles. With this figure Peru is ten times the size of New York State, and approximates the area of the entire Atlantic slope of the United States.

Population. As no census of Peru has been taken for many years the population is merely estimated and a variety of figures is given. The estimate of 5,800,000 appears probable; this number would place Peru in the third or fourth rank according to the figures assigned to Colombia.

Boundary. The boundary of the country may be slightly affected by the decision of arbitrators; as usually given, Peru has Ecuador and a little of Colombia on the north, Brazil and Bolivia east, Chile south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.

History

The name of Peru is always a reminder of the Incas, and all but the utterly ignorant have heard the amazing tale of the conquest of Peru by Pizarro. A few dates may here be recalled. As early as 1527, Francisco Pizarro, incited by rumors of prodigious wealth of gold in a country south of Panamá, made a voyage of exploration in which he landed at Tumbes and proceeded as far as Trujillo. Satisfied with his discoveries he returned to Spain, to procure a royal warrant for an invasion. In 1531, with Diego de Almagro, Hernando de Luque, a priest, and subordinates, he set out on his career of conquest. With 180 men, 67 of whom were cavalry, in 1532 he crossed the desert and the first mountain range, then descending to Cajamarca. How he treacherously seized and later slew the Inca Prince, Atahuallpa, in spite of the enormous gold ransom which had been furnished, afterwards captured Cuzco, the Inca capital, and in 1535 founded Lima on the banks of the Rimac is a Twice Told Tale.

Quarrels developed soon after the conquest. Subsequently to his return from Chile the nobler Almagro was executed by order of his associate, Pizarro, who himself was assassinated in 1541 by former adherents of Almagro. For centuries Lima was the seat of Spanish government in South America and the residence of the Viceroy. Great wealth of gold and silver had been extorted from the Incas in addition to the ransom paid for Atahuallpa, and further riches were later obtained from mines by forced labor of the Indians. Severe exactions and cruelties excited one or two insurrections, but in spite of vicissitudes of various kinds the city of Lima was the continental centre of wealth and culture for generations.

When in 1810 the spirit of independence began to manifest itself in the colonies, it had less opportunity for development in Peru. Not until San Martín came with an army from Chile in 1820 did revolutionary activity become general. Received with great enthusiasm, he was proclaimed Protector of Peru. Her independence was declared July 28, 1821, which is the day they celebrate. General Bolívar, coming from the north with an army, was met by San Martín. A disagreement evidently occurred, which caused San Martín to retire to Argentina; subsequently he withdrew to Europe. A hero of the highest patriotism, courage, skill, unselfish devotion, and sterling character, the name of San Martín should be honored among us as is that of Washington in South America. The year following Bolívar’s arrival in Lima in 1823, a battle between royalists and patriots occurred on the plateau of Junín, altitude 13,000 feet, when the patriots gained a complete victory. In December of the same year, 1824, General Sucre gained the hard-fought battle of Apurimac, which ended Spanish dominion in South America.

More or less troublous times with brief intervals of harmony followed the securing of independence, until the War of the Pacific broke out in 1879. In accordance with a secret treaty, Peru went to the assistance of Bolivia after the Chilians had seized Antofagasta on account of a quarrel over a nitrate tax. Following some successes, the Peruvian fleet was destroyed; the coast was exposed to the enemy. In 1881 Lima was captured, and held until the signing of the treaty of Ancón in 1883. In accordance with this treaty the Province of Tarapacá was ceded to Chile. Tacna and Arica were yielded for ten years, at the end of which time the residents were to vote whether they desired to remain with Chile or return to their former allegiance. The fact that no vote has yet been taken, while Chile retains possession, has for years caused much ill feeling and friction between the two countries, which several times have been on the verge of war.

Within the last ten years there have been several internal disturbances in Peru and one revolution; these, however, are short lived and do not affect the people generally or interfere with business for more than a day or two; nor do the revolutions derange concessions or the investments of foreign capital.

Government

The government is a centralized republic, based on the constitution of 1860, revised in 1920. The President is now elected for five years; he is ineligible for immediate reëlection. The other two branches of government are of the usual form. Congress has two Chambers, a Senate of 35 members and Deputies 110, both elected by direct vote. Alternates are chosen to assume office in case of vacancy. There are also three local legislatures. The President appoints the Prefects of Departments and the Sub-prefects of Provinces; the Prefects name the Gobernadores of the Districts. The President controls the police of the country; the supervision of education is centralized. The Judiciary has a Supreme Court at Lima, nine Superior Courts in the chief cities, and Lower Courts in smaller places.

Peruvian male citizens over 21 may vote, if a master employer, a real estate owner, a tax payer, or able to read and write.

Peru has 22 separate divisions aside from Tacna, of which three are littoral Provinces and the rest Departments; the latter are divided into 118 Provinces, and these into 800 or more Districts. The Departments and unattached Provinces, with approximate area and population, their capitals, population, and altitude are as follows:

Population

As previously stated, the population is largely an estimate, but probably approaches 6,000,000. From the above approximate figures it is evident that it is very unevenly distributed, as it is in fact in all of the Republics. There are three principal classes aside from the wild or uncivilized Indians of the montaña: the whites, the real governing class, chiefly of Spanish origin, some with a slight admixture of Indian blood; the mestizos, more nearly half and half, white and Indian, largely the artisan and tradesman class; the Indians, most numerous in the sierra, much as in Inca days, but probably poorer in mental and physical condition and in creature comforts than in the earlier period. The population of the montaña in the lower forest section beyond the mountains is wild Indian except for a very small percentage of white and Indian gold diggers or rubber gatherers. Even now, in spite of exploration for several centuries, there are probably thousands who have never seen a white man. The entire number of montaña Indians is estimated (it can only be a guess) at perhaps 300,000. Of the rest the proportion is very uncertain, but one writer gives it as Indians 50 per cent, mestizos 35, whites 11 per cent, the rest negroes, zambos, and Asiatics.

Education

The opportunities for higher education are relatively superior to those for primary, though this by law is free and compulsory. But as no schools have been provided in many Districts, not half of the children have been able to attend, and the percentage of illiteracy is large. At the moment, however, 1921, plans have been inaugurated to remedy this state of affairs, and teachers have sailed from the United States to aid in the further development of educational facilities. There are four universities in Peru, that of San Marcos in Lima, the oldest on this hemisphere; others of lesser scope and merit in Arequipa, Cuzco, and Trujillo. Lima has also a School of Mines; one of Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, and Architectural; one of Arts and Trades; a Normal School, a Naval School at Callao, and a Military Academy at Chorillos, a suburb of Lima. There are secondary schools called colegios in the principal cities, and private schools of high grade.

Press, Religion, Etc.

Press. Aside from official publications, the Press includes newspapers and periodicals of considerable variety. Lima has several good newspapers which have a wide circulation, owing to the fact that they are carried free of charge inside the Republic, as are literary and scientific journals also. Some of the smaller towns have their own newspapers.

Religion. The religion of the country is Roman Catholic, but other forms of worship are permitted. Provision is made for the civil marriage of foreigners.

Postal and Telegraph Service. Foreign letters and parcels for most of the montaña region enter by way of the Amazon River and Iquitos.

Telegraph service is much employed locally, as the cost is only 40 centavos, 20 cents, for ten words to any part of the country. The address and signature are counted, as in all of the Republics. Additional words are at the same rate. There are about 8000 miles of wire. The United States has cable connection with Peru by three lines. Lima has wireless connection with Iquitos, a distance of 650 miles in a straight line, over a mountain wall more than three miles high. Other wireless stations are at Callao, Pisco, Chala, Ilo, Leticia, El Canto, Orellana.

There are many telephone systems with nearly 200,000 miles of wire.

Money is of gold, silver, and copper. The gold Peruvian libra is the equivalent of the English sovereign, and in general they circulate interchangeably. The libra is divided into ten soles; a sol, about 50 cents (48.6), into 100 centavos.

The Metric System, legal for weights and measures, must be employed in the Custom Houses and in other Government offices. Old Spanish standards are also used in Lima and quite generally in the country: the vara, 33¹⁄₃ inches, the libra, a trifle over a pound, arroba, 25 libras, quintal, 100 libras, fanegada, a little over 7 acres, etc.