PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF ORTON AND PERU. 221 
principle on a large scale was such a natural one that it is necessary to go back to 
a somewhat early date in the records of the Patent Office to find the first patent. 
for an electrical railway. So long as the motive power was dependent upon gal- 
vanic batteries but little success could be obtained, but the introduction of dynamo: 
machines altered the question entirely and brought the idea within the range of 
economical possibility. 
For underground railways the system is specially suitable, and those who. 
travel on the Metropolitan railway during the dog days must often devoutly hope 
that some change in this direction will be made at no distant date. Already it is 
contemplated to work the traffic through the new St. Gothard tunnel by electric- 
ity, and plans and designs for the purpose have been in hand. 
Railways worked by electricity will, however, have to compete with a for- 
midable rival in the shape of railways worked by compressed air locomotives. 
This latter means of producing locomotion appears to have waked up again and 
is likely to nave considerable employment. 
For very short distances, where the traffic is heavy and irregular, as for in- 
stance, on the small branch lines used so frequently in mining districts, the elec- 
trical railway could be used with great advantage, especially if natural sources of 
power were available.— Zélegraphic Journal. 
GHOGhAr Ta 
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF ORTON AND PERU. 
BY DR. I. D. HEATH, WYANDOTT, KANSAS. 
(Concluded. ) 
The mosquitoes are excessively numerous and annoying. Sleep is absolutely 
impossible without netting. Each Indian and traveler carries with him a toldeta 
or small cotton tent, three feet high, three feet wide and seven feet long which 
he sets up by means of small sticks. The Indians brought to us gums, resins, 
dye woods, medicines, barks and herbs and textile plants. 
Trinidad, a place of 5,000 ina beautiful grove of tamarind trees, is the cap- 
ital of the Department of the Beni, and a place of considerable trade and busi- » 
ness. It is on the margin of the immense grassy pampas of South America 
where graze countless herds of fat cattle. Imports consist of every class of man- 
ufactured American and English goods. All goods into Peru and Bolivia by way 
of the Amazon enter duty free. Exports are hides, coffee, chocolate, beans, 
tobacco and, from down the Yacuma river,rubber and Peruvian bark. Rice, corn, 
