Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-12-28
A pAN.IMERJCAN RAILROAD

One of the incorporators for West
Virginia Of the Columbia Railway
and Navigation Company, which il
ut the head of the mos, gignnti,
railway scheme in history, and the
details of which have not yet been
published, described the project to
the World correspondent to-day.
Said he:
"rhe plan is nothing less than the
construction OF q railroad from the
shores Of Colombia on the Caribbean
sea down through the heart of South
America to Buenos Ayres or the
Atlantic coas; and to Iquique on the
Pacific coast.
"This movement grows out of the
salre feeling in this country that in
spired and called together at Wash
ington the Pan-American Congress,
and is IN reality part of the pro-
gramme for cementing in close COM
mercial union the States of North
and South America.
THE MAMMOTH UNDERTAKING.
1.-THE details of the great move
ment haye not yet been given to
the public, but they are known to
embrace line of steamships from
the gulf ports of the United States
to the mouth of the Magdalena riv-
er, in South America, in the repub-
lie of Colombia, and the railroads up
that river to the mountain spurs of
the Andes that separate the waters
Of the Magdalena river from those
Of the Amazon, and thence branch
ing down through Brazil, Chill and
Peru to the mouth of the La Planta
in Buenos Ayres.
"This is to be an international
project" said the Worlds infor-
mant, "and is expected to interest
great number OF stockholders in this
country and South America.
ALREADY MANY STOCKHOLDERS.
"The incorporat0rs' are citizens of
Virginia, West Virginia and other
states, principally the southern
states, and the books of subscription
to stock of the company are to be
opened to the people of all countries
embraced by the routes to be in
cluded in the project. The scheme
meets with favor ot the Pan-Ameri-
can delegation and of Secretary
B aine on behalf of the Federal
Government.
Colonel III. Z. Parsons, and init
mate and personal friend of Blaine,
is the leading spirit of the enterprise,
and at his back are some of the lead
ing railways of the country, especi-
ally those who have termini on the
gulf, whose lines will connect with
the proposed steamship lines Mt Key
West, New Orleans and Galveston.
statistics show that such rail
road would traverse large areas of
exceedingly rich country; that its
traffic would simply be enormous.
Passenger travel, which is now large
and growing rapidly, would leave
the sea and seek the railroad, rs the
time between New York and Bue-
nos Ayres or Lima would not ex-
ceed ten days. This would be quick
travel, as compared with the present
tedious sea voyages. The immigra-
ton 10 South America from Europe,
which is now heavy, would also be
al gerted Ia this route.
BLAINE's INTEREST.
"iilaine has long discussed the
possibilities of this new era. lie Is
bending his abilities aud experience
Ia public affair 10 the accomplish
nlent for this country of u complete
commercial supremacy on this cont.
nenl. The South American repub-
lic. will rsiify the charter and sup
plemcnt u by land grants and postal
subsidies. Tho United States Goy-
.rnmeni viii also, Do doubt, make
liberal pf,nial afrangl ilieniH With the