Show high railways in peru one of the most interesting trips afforded by the present transports tran alon facilities of peru is that over the aroyo railroad which now runs from callao to the gold fields of cerro de pasco it is considered one of the wonders of the peruvian world and the original contract was taken by mr meiggs at 27 in bonds at 79 it is certainly the greatest feat of railroad engineering in either hein and as a specimen of ameri can enterprise and workmanship it suffers nothing by comparison it was begun in 1870 and finished in 1876 and additional work has since been done on it commencing in cal lao it ascends the narrow valley of the rising nearly 5 feet in the first forty six miles thence it goes through the intricate gorges of the sierras till it tunnels the andes at an altitude of 15 feet the highest point in the world where a piston rod Is moved by steam the wonder Is doubled on remembering that the elevation Is reached in enty eight miles one of the most remarkable things in connection with this road Is that between the coast and summit there Is not an inch of down grade the difficulties encountered in its con st ruction were extreme landslides falling boulders bowl ders or the biffi culty of breathing in high altitudes and verrugas verr a disease known only along the line of this road character iced by a species of warts breaking out all over the body and bleeding about S workmen were engaged at one time and between 7 and 8 persons died or were killed in the construction of the road |