Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-13
WEDNESDAY. nov. Is, 1850.
Expansive hallway Projects.

IQ6 meIlD6r5 VI buo L du AintflCdu
Congress who hail from Central and
South America appear to be highly de-
lighted at the idea Of a railway which
shall traverse the American continent
throughout its whole length. Many years
ago, in the days when Senator Benton
dreamed Of railway to the Pacific ocean
along the thirty-second parallel of lati-
tude, such scheme would have been
looked upon as chimerical, and its
protector would have been re-
earded as little better than lunatio.
Yet today, instead Of being re-
ceived with shout Of derision, it is
accepted in all seriousness by capitalists
as one of the possibilities of the future.
As respects the United States, line
lengthwise Of this country could be very
readily accomplished by consolidation or
agreement. Towards the south We have
already passed the boundaries Of the
United States, and it would require but
slight extension Of the northern railways
to bring us to the northern line.
If the aspiration for q railway which
would connect the three Americas shall
fail it will not be for want of capital or
through any fear of geographical diff.
sulties, but through lack Of patronage
TO support railway. Even in Mexico,
which is remarkably rich in mines and
latent agricultural resources, the expert
ence of the Mexican Central and other
railways has not been Of a very crafty
ing character. The subventions which
they received from the Mexican govern
ment have been barely sufficient to build
the bridges and other permanent equip.
ments, which the officials of our sister
Republic have insisted should be Of
very durable description. The
traffic has been disappointing in
it's inadequacy to pay even ex-
penses, to say nothing of dividends or
interest on bonds. II road reaching
from the United States to the capital and
hesTs Of Mexico has failed to pay, the
outlook for extending it down through
Central and South America to Patagonia
is not very encouraging. The difficulty
arises from the sparse population and
the extremely frugal habits of the people,
whose wants are few and easily supplied.
The building of such railroads as the
Mexican Central and international and
the Guaymas branch of the Santa Fe can
only be explained by desire TO
enjoy the profits of construction
at the expense of stock and bond
holders. There is little in such
projects to encourage the capitalist
Opulent as these regions are in mines
and tropical products, there Is far more
likelihood that railway will be pushed
north, some day, to the Behriug Sea,
maugre the drawbacks of rigorous
climate, than southwark to the straits of
Magellan.
Still the fact that such an enterprise
should be even discussed is significant of
the tremendous energy in railway build.
ing that has characterized the past two
decades. 1t is only a comparatively
brief time since the Southern Pacific
Railway was halted at the northern line
of Fresno county. Its completion to Los
Angeles in 1875 was followed by its ex-
tension to New Orleans with magic
rapidity. That, in turn, was succeeded
by the building of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe road to Los Angeles, and
the extension of the Union Pacific to
Redondo Beach will, in all likelihood, be
accomplished within two years. 1t is
verify an era of expansive railway pro-
jects, and Los Angeles has been the
beneficiary Of this energy in the past and
bids fair to be much more so in the i'm
mediate future. 1t need surprise Do one
to see the Carson and Colorado railway
extended to deep water at Santa Monica
by the time The Union Pacific reaches
Redondo Beach.