The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-07-25
THE INTERN ATIONAL RAILROAD
AND ITS CON NECTIONS

From the Railroad Gazette Of the 18th |
instant, we CLEAN the following interesting
facts in regard to the Mexican lnterua-
tional railroad and its connections. 1t
WIN 10 seen that Cairo is one
OF the most important Northern
termini OF the lines which
the Mexican International Railroad
company, according to u communication
made to the Mexican minister Of public
works by Edward Lee Plumb May II, in
its proposals to and contract with the
Mexican government, is supported by the
following railroad companies, who have
associated together in joint interest The
international Railroad company Of Texas,
the Houston and Great Northern Railroad
company, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
Railway company, the Cairo and Fulton
Railroad company and the st. Louis and
Iron Mountain Railroad company.
These companies have now completed
about 1850 miles OF railroad, which by
the completion Of the Cairo and Fulton
more than l,60o miles These lines have
northern termini ut Cairo ILL.,, st. Louis
and Hannibal, Mo, and junction CITY.
Kan. From st. Louis or Cairo the line
VIII be quite straight nearly, due south.
west to the interior of Mexico Mt Logos
whence turn at nearly right angles will
DE made southeastward To reach the city
oil Mexico. By this route, however, there
will he break Of gauge III the border be-
tween Arkansas and Texas. the st. Louis
and Iron Mountain and tho Cairo and
Fulton having the 5-feet gauge, while all
the other lines have the standard gauge
of Affect s!-inchcs. 1t will be difficult,
for long time at least, to change
this guage, as the connections of
the st. Louis and Iron Mountain east of
the Mississippi and south Of the Ohio are
Of very great Importance and all Of the
fve-feet gauge. The distance by tits
route to the june ion of the International
Of Texas with the Houston and Texas
Central, which will be the point of diver
gence for traffic going over the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas, unless that company
completes an extension from the Red
river southwark which it talks of doing
will be
Hesrne to st. Louis, via International, |
Cairo and Fulton and ST. Louis and Iron
Mountain, 742 mics; Hearne to St Louis
VIA Houston and Texas Central Missouri,
Kansas and Texas, and Atlantic and Pacific,
500 miles Hesrne TO Chicago via Inter
national, Cairo and Fulton, Cairo, Arkan-
sss and TeXa, and Illinois Central, l,Ol2
miles Hearne 10 Chicago via the first
named route TO st. Louis, and thence by
Chicsgo and Alton, 1923 miles; Hearne
to Chicago via Houston aud Texas Cen
tra!, Missouri, Kansas and Texas via Sc
dala and Moberly to IlannibaN, and
Chicago Burlington and Quincy, LOGS
miles. Tho Cairo route will be shorter TO
Indianapolis aud points east Of it by lust
CD miles than the Shortest 81. Louis rouls,
the distance from Indianapolis TO Henrne
being 800 miles.
The distances from Hesrne southwest
ward are estimated, no lucauon having
been made Of any considerable portion of
Tue me and no surveys Of any kind Of
most OF 1t in Mexico. The part 10 be bull,
IN Texas from Hesrue to tho Rio Grapde
will be about 300 miles long the Mexican
company estimates the distance from tho
Bio Grande TO Lagos a, G0i miles. aud
from Lagos to the city Of Mexico \. poo
miles, which will give u distance Of
1876 miles from Hesrne to the city o,
Mexico, TO be added 10 the distance, given
above. But Lagos will probably be the
center Of the Mexican system proposed
by the International company, which vii
have many branches, and a line TO the Pa
cihc.