New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-13
AN INVITING COUNTRY.
THE NEW CENTRAL AMERICAN Ell DORADO.

voRcIBLE ARGUMENT IN BEHALF on Thk ihAN'
IsTnMIAN RAILWAY
w.suyGroS Feb 12-The United States Con-
an, n. San Salvador has male a report IN the De-
oartnent OF State in regard to the railway system
Of CantrL America President Barrios. OF Guate-
v,ala vro,eeted the construction OF railway from
the Bay of San Tomas. on the Caribbean Sea, 70
Guatemaia City distance III 100 miles, where u
~ 70 coupect with the existing narrow gauge Of
th. Guatemala Central seventy five miles in gth
terminating on tho Pacific ut the open road
stead of San jose. FoIty miles Of this transcont-
mental road from Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City
were half finished at the time of Barrioss death
His successor, President Barllos pursues the same
policy. favoring the construction Of the transisth
man and other railways projected in Guatemala.
particularly the one designed to connect the capt.
tals of Guatemala aud Mexico.
After referring 10 the unhealthful climate OF
Central America at the level, the Consul says:
The Nicaragua Canal and the Ship Railway and
De Lessepss canal each aud all are at the sea level
No soft cooling wind from the Pacific may md It's
Vay into either canal or follow gigantic ioeomo.
tives tugglDg at ships crossing lehdantepec. ana
the acclImated alone NAV cross the continent IN
safety at the level: bnt there IL perfect immu-
nifty from climatic diseases he instant the Traveller
resches an elevation of 900 feet above the sea-
Commerce therefore, will traverse the ship railway
and the canal; men and women Will prefer tn,S
trspsist hmian railway. having perfectly Ishd-
locked harbor at each terminus and an eievation ~
point after leaving the coast OF less than Zooo
feet above the plane Of the two oceans.
After describing tho wonders of the interior
country. such as fathomlcss lakes. extinct and
active volcanoes and relics Of antiquity, the Consul
continues:
The railway crosses the State Of Santa Ana,
district of Salvador fifty miles square. producing;
il Is stated, more coffee than any eaual area OF
lans in the world. In TRUTH every acre OF the mesa
OF Salvador is cultivated each producing IRON two
20 f0nr crops annually The railway peuetrates
frem La Union TO Puerto BarrOs or to Port lzebal,
whichever harbor may be its northern terminus,
a very paradise The average density OF popula-
zion along the whole route exceeds 100 for each
square mile. Here villages ahd towns are an almost
cent and Spanish per cent-ton most industrl.
oRsly. Labor costs 20 to 25 cents, and food 10
Ccrts per diem.
There is not stove or fire place In any house in
the Republic; none are needed where the Their
nsuncter never falls below 70o or ri eS above 30.
So great IL the annual production of fruits as we'll
~ indigo, tobacco sugar and coffee, and so short
the distance from Port Barrios to Mobile that II is
believed that most delicate nd delicious tropicai
frHiis in the UnlLed States, will be dis
fributcd every where from Mobile and so redun.
dant are crops of Salvador and OF the district OF
Guatemala penetrated bv this railway that 1t mast
hsve two traeks-one for immense local, the other
fur iDterocean,c freighrs and travel
But the great good to be achieved BY this trans
isu rthian road consists not 80 much IN the TACT
that 1t will enable travelling multitude. to cross
the continent where narrowest without possible
dsDger from deadly fevers and plaques lncrent 10
Aesention at the level, but with its branches,
bsding together these five Central American States
In perfect political aud social UNITY 1t aocompshes
their perfect commercial annexation TO the United
States
Puerto Barrios Is within fifty hours or less OF
Mobile and only sixty hours would be required to
trans fer traveller or bale of goods from Mobl
70 the Pacific coast harbor OF La Union. United
States and other steamers now pay from $ZO TO
$40 a ton at La Union for English or Australian
coal. 1t NAV be delivered there from Alabama
over the transismIth,an rail way for from SIS to ~
q ton. Therefore tho Government of the United
States as we'll as the people must confess keen
interest in this short, easilvbui lt railway, which
eureIy must accomplish most bcnefcent political
and commercial results.
lfthe transismithian railway be speedily nshed
the iron and coal and steel of England and
Anstr lila NAV be supplanted everywhere on the
Pacific by that produced i'll the United States