Peru

3686

Peru

 

ing in the vicinity of Cerro de Pasco> Casa-
palca, and Morochocha. Considering the pos-
libilities of regions still undeveloped, Peru is
likely to become an important factor among
the world's copper producers. Silver, together
with lead, is abundant on the eastern slopes
of the Andes. Before the development of
copper mining this was the most important
metal mined. Over 50,000 tons of pure sil-
ver are said to have been taken from the
Cerro de Paco region since 1630. Mercury
was the first metal to be exploited in Peru.
It was formerly in great demand for the
treatment of silver ores, and was produced in
large amounts. Peru is undoubtedly rich in
both anthracite and bituminous coal, if the
limited explorations made arc a just indica-
tion. The oil fields of Peru are a source of
considerable wealth, and their development
is constantly increasing so that petroleum is
Peru's most important mineral. There are
four leading fields. The wells along the coast
run from out in the sea many miles inland,
and vary in depth from 250 to ,^,048 ft.
Among non-metallic minerals, the guano
deposits on the islands of the coast are of
great value. Nitrates are also found in large
quantities.
The most important agricultural product
is sugar cane. It thrives best along the river
valleys and in the La Libertad and Lima
districts. Cotton is also an important pro-
duct, and much coffee is grown. The culti-
vation of coca, from which medicinal co-
caine is obtained, is an important industry in
some parts of Peru. Grapes, tropical fruits,
and all kinds of vegetables are raised in large
quantities. Cassava is cultivated up to an
altitude of 6,000 ft.; maize is grown in all
parts of the country, up to 15,000 ft., and
wheat is raised in the valleys of Central
Peru. Raising of live stock is an important
industry, the best known cattle and sheep
raising districts being on the table lands.
Peruvian cattle are medium-sized, and rather
inferior for food and dairy purposes, but are
commercially valuable for their hides. The
sheep, llama, alpaca, and vicuna are bred for
their wool, over 15,000,000 pounds of this
product being obtained yearly. Goats are con-
sidered valuable for their skins, which are of
unusually fine texture, soft, and easily
handled. The leading industries of Peru are
agriculture and mining; but there is every
reason to believe that it will one day be-
come an important manufacturing country,
because of its possibilities of developing im-

mense water power and its abundance of raw
materials. The Peruvian government gives
active assistance in the matter of increasing
the trade of Peru and fostering the knowl-
edge of its growth in other countries.
There are in Peru 2,725 miles of railroads,
about 70 per cent, owned by the government
and operated by the Peruvian Corporation.
Roads in the interior arc^1 well-developed.
There arc in all 13,000 m ot improved high-
ways. Much progress is being made in road
construction upon which 25,000,000 soles
was spent and 20,000 men employed in 1938
Peru has well established air transport serv-
ice, both internally and to other countries.
Telegraph, telephone, post and wireless serv-
ice arc in the hands of the Marconi Com-
pany under a contract running from iQ2i to
1946. There is direct cable communication
between Peruvian and other ports on the
west coast of South America, with good
service to all parts of the world. Steamship
communication is maintained with other
South American countries and with the ports
of the United States, Europe and Asia.
The (estimated) population of Peru is
6,673,000. Lima, the capital, has a population
of 450,000. Callao, the port of Lima, has
a population of 80,000; Arcquipa, of 75,000;
Cuzco, the ancient seat of the Inca empire,
of 40,000. The state religion is Roman Cath-
olic, with complete religious liberty. The
churches and monasteries are state property;
about $150,000 is voted annually for public
worship. Education is free and compulsory
from 7 years to 14. There are good higher
schools; secondary vocational schools; and
for higher education there are normal schools
and universities. The Universidad de San
Marcos, the oldest university in America
(1551), is situated at Lima, and there are
also universities at Arcquipa, Cuzco, and
Tripiilo. In 1921 the University of Tech-
nical Schools comprising advanced schools of
engineering, commerce, pedagogy, and agri-
culture was established.
The republic of Peru, with a constitution
modelled upon that of the United States, is
politically divided into twenty departments
and three separate provinces.
History.—From ancient times there were
communities in Peru. Eventually all united un-
der one empire, and the Incas, in the course
of some five centuries, had reached an ad-
vanced stage of civilization, previous to the
Spanish invasion under Pizarro in 1531. Peru
was made a viceroyalty of Spain in 1544;