Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-16

To Build a Railroad 5000 Miles Long
to the Argentine Republic.-Proposal
to Appoint a Government Commission
to Urge the Scheme in South America.
South American Commission.
Washington, D. c., May 5, 1SS4.-1n
compliance with the order of the house
the committee on foreign affairs, Rep
resentative Stewart, of Texas, chair
man, has prepared a bill providing for
the appointment of three commission
ers to serve two years, to aid in extend
ing American trade and commerce, and
acquiring information looking to rail-
road communications between the
southern countries and the United
States. The bill provides that the COM
mission shall visit Mexico, Guatemala,
Honduras, Salvador, Nicarauga, Costa
RIGA, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador.
Peru, Bolivia, Argentine Republic, Chi
Ii, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. 1t
further provides that it shall also be
the duty Of the commission to ascertain
the feelings and inclinations of the
people of these countries with reference
to railway communication between
their countries and the United States.
and likewise what guarantees, immu-
mites and privileges, if any have al
ready been granted by them, or what
they may be able to grant hereafter,
looking to an increase and quickening
of postal communication, commerce.
trade and travel between their own
countries and the United States. The
secretary of the state is directed to in
struct the United States ministers and
consuls at Mexico and Central and
South American ports to render every
possible assistance to the commission.
in acquiring all essential information
~attainable. The bill appropriates $50:
900 to pay the expenses. of the commits
sion, and their salaries Of 5000 each
annually.
In his report to accompany the bill,
Stewart says: "The idea of building a
railway from the United States to the
Argentine Republic is somewhat start
ling to those who never gave the sub
Ject a thought, but a little reflection
will convince any that no inseperable
obstacle is in the way Of such an enter
prise. A railroad from some point in
Texas or elsewhere il this country.
where connection is formed with the
railroad system of the United States to
the city Of Mexico, and thence through
the republic of Mexico and Central
America, and. along the Isthmus of
Panama, passing east Of the Andez,
through the South American to the Ar
gentine Republic, would meet with but
few national objects in the way of it's
construction, and the distance will not
exceed $500 miles, and it may be short
ened to 5000 miles by commencing it's
construction at the city of Mexico,
where it would connect with the road
already built, and in process Of con-
struction. Distance and natural obsta-
Giles have never thwarted American en-
terprise in the construction of railways.
Already have several lines of railway
been stretched across the continent.
either OF which, from ocean to ocean, is
more than three thousand miles in
length. While it may be true that a
railroad from the United States to the
Argentine Republic is of greater mag
!nitude, yet it is believed that the obsta-
cles to It's completion are no more for
midable than were encountered eigh-
teen or twenty years ago. When such
a railroad is constructed, our commerce
will be enlarged to. such an extent as at
this time to defy anything like a correct
estimate of its value, and then we will
be in position to say to the European
governments in the memorable words
Of President Monroe: "That we should
consider any attempt on their part to
extend their, system to any portion of
this hemisphere as dangerous to our
peace and prosperity" The capital
with which the road is to be built and
operated, must be protected by pledged
faith and proper guarantees Of all the
governments that may be interested in
che building and maintenance Of the
colossal enterprise, and this protection
must be extended at all times, in times
OF war and times of peace. This com
mission will be charged with no more
important duty than to obtain all infor-
anation which may show the feasibility
of constructing such railways with en-
tire safety to those who may invest
sheir capital in building and operating
The same"
! Here is a most splendid recipe for a
arst-class scandal: Take one grain of
talsehood, one handful Of runabout, the
same quantity of nimble-tongue, a sprig
of the herb backbite, a ~teaspoonful of
"don't you tell it," six drops Of malice.
and a few drachms of envy, add a little
dlscontent and jealousy, strain through
~ nor ar s-E