Coal—Huamalies, Dos de Mayo, Yauyos, Huarochiri, Canta, Tarma, Huaylas, Cerro de Pasco, Caylloma, Puno, Recuay.
Petroleum—Tumbez, Lambayeque, Piura, Puno.
Lead—Yauli, Huarochiri, Pallasca, Huari, Chilete (Ancachs).
8 The mineral output for a recent year when there was little activity was placed at the following figures:
| Kilograms | Value in pounds sterling | |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1,078 | 145,205 |
| Silver | 170,804 | 580,000 |
| Copper | 9,496,583 | 477,000 |
| Lead, chiefly in argentiferous minerals | 1,302,365 | 5,141 |
The production of borax was 2,466 tons; crude petroleum, 25,440 tons, and its by-products 11,639 tons.
The Peruvian mining-code and the corps of engineers which is maintained under it are of very great value. The annual tax on pertenencias, or mine claims, is 15 soles ($7.50), but in the administration of the law frequent complaint is made of the encouragement given to claim-jumpers. Unlike most other countries of South America, Peru lays no export tax on minerals except gold. The future of the mining industry depends so largely on cheapening and increasing the facilities of transportation, that it will be better understood in connection with the explanation of the Peruvian railway system and the plans of the government for further railroad development.
Live-stock or grazing may be said to be one of the industries of the Sierra, but in relation to the foreign commerce of the country it does not promise to be an appreciable source of national gain. Sheep-raising—alpacas, vicuñas—is of the high plains. With the increase in the population at these altitudes through mining settlements, the flocks are not likely to grow extensively. The vicuña, not being domesticated, is more apt to recede before the advance of civilization. Such growth as the live-stock industry may have in the Cordillera region may be looked upon chiefly as a means of supplying local consumption. The exports of hides and wool, while not necessarily stationary, do not indicate a heavy increase. The exports of hides are $750,000 per annum, and of wools, chiefly alpacas, $2,000,000.
The world does not yet fully grasp the possibilities and limitations of the Amazon rubber production, but the Peruvian government has a proper conception of it and has enacted legislation both to secure the development of the gum forests and to preserve them from heedless destruction. The rubber region within Peruvian territory has its main extension in the Department of Loreto and in the provinces of that interior country, but the area reaches almost to Cuzco and Lake Titicaca. All of it is within the Montaña, or forest region. In the Loreto district the population does not exceed 100,000 inhabitants, if it reaches that number. The productive forests lie along the banks of the rivers. The crude rubber that is of the best quality is known as jebe. The coarser article is called caucho. The jebe is obtained from the incisions made in the tree, while the caucho is the sap that is had from cutting down the tree which produces it and then extracting the milk. It is claimed also that the rubber tree can be sown and cultivated, but for many years, or until the supply grows scarcer, this effort is not likely to be made.
It is the aim of the authorities to prevent wanton waste and to preserve the trees. These are not allowed to be cut down. Two forms of contract are adopted. Under the first form the government leases to the grantees a certain number of acres for the term of ten years on condition of receiving a royalty approximately of 1 cent per pound in addition to the export duty. Under the second form it leases the rubber walks (estradas) of groups of 150 trees at an annual rate of about 10 cents plus another 10 cents for each 2½ acres (1 hectare) on which they are situated. A decree was issued in 1900, in pursuance of the law passed two years previously, fixing the manner in which the estradas, or rubber groves, could be located. Land in the forest region can be bought outright, can be located under rental, or acquired under contract of colonization.