In the department of Ancachs & other papers

Edward Tracy Scovill was an engineer for the Union Pacific Railway, largely responsible for the location of track across some of the most challenging terrain in America. After successfully locating the UP in Wyoming and Utah, he went down to Peru to do similar work for 'the Department of Ancachs' (pronounced 'An-cash'), surveying and locating track over the most challenging terrain on earth. His book is just a simple reminiscing of people and events there. The 'other papers' are two: Japan before its war with China (he visited Japan in 1892), and the customs of the Chinese (based largely on his experience with the coolies in his camps).