New-York tribune., 1868-07-06
MEXICO.
RAILROAD PROJECTS-COMPARATIYE COSTS OF
ROADS IN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES
-MEXICANIZED sT0CK-FOREIGN CAPITAL.

RAILROAD PRoJECTS-COMPARATIvE COSTS OF
ROADS IN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES
-MEXICANIZED sToCK-FOREIGN CAPITAL.
i''- N1 MExICo, June 1859.
The failure of railroad projects for the present is
in part the failure of Congress. The Vera Cruz Rail-
road concession is adjourned three months hence,
which IS equivalent to putting off the most import
ant railroad enterprise in Mexico for year. This is
the result Of sad bungling all round, and special
want of vigor on the part of the Company itself
added to the consideration that large quantities of
Mexican money have been spent upon the road
already Congress is not primarily at fault, yet it is
quite plain that the road ought to be built, and that
delays thereof are dangerous to peace and INDUS
try. The Mexico and United States Railroad project
has been rejected on account of being too violently
engineered if not becaiise we hear rum0red, that
Gen Fremont had something to do with II. The
Mexico and Tuzpan Railroad was lately reported as
being under way, but nothing more IS heard OF IT.
The project of line from Ell Paso to the Pacific coast
in which the rich McManus brothers Of Chihuahua
and distinguished parties in the United States were
believed to possess interests is postponed for further
hearing. Some English capitalists, who have their
agent here, propose 10 run line from one OF the
largest of the interior towns TO Guamos on the Pa
cic connecting with whatever line is TO come from
Texas through Mexico. An additional scheme is
offered by a member of the Mexican Congress
whose capitalists ask a line from Mexico to
the Pacific running by the largest towns. There
is another plan to run from the middle Of the Rio
Grande boundary through the republic to the Pa
cc, passing the large centers: At the tail OF this
project is a scheme to pOpuarZe and, III fact, MeXi
canize the stock of railroads national militia is
to be organized for the security of every State and
its enterprises against pronounced bandits, and no
voter is TO be exempt from duty unless he OWNS a
certain amount of railroad stock This Is the sub
stance of the plan the details of which leave to
the IMAGINATION. Strange as it may appear. where
roads and stocks so plenty, and doubtful as may
be its entertainment any plan that can put stock
and enterprise in the hands Ofthe Mexican people
and save them from the fear of foreign enterprise
ought TO be highly welcome to them. ZangrOniZs
track partly for mule and partly for locomotive, is
the only enterprise thus far conceded by the present
Congress as It appears by an exceeding ing
pottage. Mr.. Lesare has been here awaiting dspO-
siton to reasonably modify the somewhat stringent
New Orleans capitalists. The Committee of Con-
Vress have reported in favor Of the line. BY very
necessity next session must bring forth better results
Every day without railroad is day OF penance
None ought to know this better than the Mexicans
themselves.
The Vera Cruz road has long been the topic of a
very close arithmetical debate. Somebody states
that enough money has been spent on the little
patch of road between here and Apizaco TO have laid
the road in silver Mr.. Payne. ex-SecTetary of the
less, have come ont of the Mexican pockets
10 make this road happy, but 1T Is
still unbuilt. The railrOaders aSseverate
honestly that the was not spent on Its present
OWNERS; that Mexico owes it a debt of sSOOO0OO,
bonds purchased by its former owner Escsndon
Consequently "a concession TO them must seem to be
more liberal than it really is. Lately discussion
has sprung up regarding the cost of the road per
mile Mr. Gorsuch, lately engineer of the railroad
and ex-resident of New-York, contendng on the one
hand and Mr.. g. B. Crawey, the general agent Of
the road. on the other Mr.. Crawley gives the fol-
lowing as the comparative cost of railroad building
in Europe and America:
In England 1t s................. $4,000 per mile.
In France ........-........-. l250OO
In Germany " ....-.............. 5000
The Mexican railroad. ............ $1,000
But Mir. Gorsuch shows that there are costs in Eng
lisb and Continental railroad building. which can
never be fairly reokoned in comparison with that of
Mexico There are land damages, at $4,000 per
mile; the necessity for erecting costly structures for
road crossings together with extensive and hand
some buildings besides general fullness and munif
cence of construction of which Mexico has no need
Mt present Every railroad in England has 10 be
substantially ncl0sed throughout its entire lepgth