6o "' TiMEHRI. 



of the main line is 2,000 miles, one half of which distance 

 will skirt streams, navigable for moderately sized 

 steamers, that are tributary to the great water-ways of 

 the South American Continent. At Cuzco and Cerro de 

 Pasco a junftion will be effe6led with the two Peruvian 

 lines from the seaports of Molendo and Callao, whilst at 

 the former point will be met, the railroad from Buenos 

 Ayres on the Atlantic. 



Vast, and it might almost be said inconceivable, are 

 the commercial and industrial possibilities that will be 

 developed by the constru6lion of the lines mentioned. 

 Lima will be brought within nine days of New York 

 and sixteen of London, and Valparaiso will be in thirty 

 hours distance of Lima. This will of course revolutionise 

 the commercial interests of the South American States, 

 but unquestionably the greater impulse will be given to 

 their industries, that now lie pra6lically dormant. Not 

 to dwell too long upon this aspe£t of the development 

 to be effe6led, let it suffice to state that at Cuzco and 

 Cerro de Pasco the heart of the mineral region will be 

 reached, and that at the latter place there lie uncovered, 

 ridges of silver ore estimated to produce 42,000 tons of 

 pure silver, for which no means of transportation to 

 smelting works are now available ! And this gives us 

 but a passing glimpse of the mineral wealth of the 

 regions that will be opened up. The agricultural possi- 

 bilities of the soil of South America are too well-known 

 to call for comment. 



All this, however, affe6ts the Guianas but remotely. 

 The immediate development of the neighbouring Latin 

 Republics will probably have no more influence on their 

 commerce and industry than the similar development that 



