The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-05-30
LETTER FROM BLAINE.
SETTING Forth THE NEEDS OF AN
lNTER-COLONrAL RAILWAY.

He Recommends that Congress Make the
Necessary Appropriation and Appoint
CohMlnissi0ncrs-The National Treasurer
of the A. u. H. Disappears will, Funds Of
the Order.
The president has sent to the senate and
house a copy of a letter of the secretary Of
state, transmitting the proposition adopted
by the Pan.American congress for an IN
ter.colonial railway. The letter Of the
secretary is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WASHINGTON. d. c.,
May II, 1ssO.-To the President: I have the
honor to submit herewith q plan for . pfelim.
in ny survey for q railway line to connect tho
great commercial cities Of the American ieM-
ispl.ere. No more important recommendation
has come from the international American
confereAce. and ! earnestly commend 1t to
Your attention with full confdence that prompt
action will be taken 10y congress- to enable this
government to l anticipate In the promotion Of
the enterprise.
The resolutions of tho conference are accom-
panied by special reports concerning the trans
portatton facilities that already exist in the
severl American republics. These reports CON-
phi = all the informant On that could be gathered
itOn his important subject, and will lie found
bo.h interesting aud authentic. Under the
generous and progressive policy of President
liza. tile ut Mexico lluve been extended
southwark US we'll as n0rthward, aud toward
the two oceans. The development of tho Ar
=. nt.n system has been equally rapid. Lines
bow reach from Buenos Ayrcs to the northern
cities of tina. republic. AMI nearly to the Eoliv-
ian boundary. Chilli has u profitable system Of
railroads from the mountains TO the Pacific
ocean,. and the completion of the tunnel that 10
now being pierced through the Cordilioas will
bring Valparaiso within two days travel OF Buo-
nos Ayres. In tho ether republics siMtlnr enter
nrlA8 hHR hpHrl shawn Euc1, 1oo IT. 1nrp1
lines of railways and to connect them al aud
Furnish the people OF the southern continent
the means OF convenient and comfortable inter-
course with their neighbors north of tina 18TH
mus is an Undertaking worthy the encourage
ment and cooperation of this Cover nment. In
no other way could tho government aud the
people of the United States contribute 80 much
to tho development and prosperity of our sister
republics, and at the same time to the expan-
sion OF our own commerce. A very important
feature OF the report to which l especially ii-
rect your attention, will be found In tho inter
national declaration that the line OF the pro-
posed railway shall be forever neutral teir F:
that the material necessary for the construc-
ion anu operation of the road shall be aumit-
ted free OF custom dues; and tlut its prop
erty and revenue shall DO always exempt
from all forms of taxation. This guarantee
having all the force Of Q treaty, will
stimulate private and public confidence. and
then lead to the Investment of capital that
might otherwise he reluctant and distrustful.
~ is proposed that u survey to ascertain the
best and most economical routes be- made under
the direction Of on international commission.
and that tn, expense be shared; bs til, several
nations of the hemisphere in proportion to
their respective populations. The 81 are of the
United States ia estimated to he Si5,OD. and /
would re. psctfully suggest the propriety Of
securing from congress All appropriation for
That purpose. Three commissioners will he
required to represent the United States upon
the international board, and AUTHORITY should
be asked for tn detail of officers of the ARMY
and navy 10 serve as engineers i'll conducting
the survey. The headquarters OF the commits
sioa, by u vote Of the international confa, encc,
will b, located in Washington, and it IL pro-
pressed to invite the commissioners to mce!
here OIL the 1st of October, or as soon thereafter
as may be practicable, for the purpose of organ
ization and initiatin. the work of the survey.
Respectfully submitted.
JAS. q. BLAINE. Secretary of State.
In his letter of transmissal, the presl.
dent says: "Public attention has been
chiefly attracted to the subject of improved
water communication between the ports of
the United States and those of Central
aId South America. The creation Of new
and improved steamship lines undoubtedly
furnish the readiest means OF developing
0a AuSAOoSVA SlNNS WIFI lAS LHtlUs
American nations. but it should not
be forgotten that it is possible to travel
by land from Washington to tho
sonthermost capital Of South America and
that the opening of railroad communities
ton with these friendly states will give
to them and to US facilities for in.
tercourse aud tho exchange of trade that
IRE of special value. The work contem-
plated is vast, but entirely practicable. 1t
will be interesting to all. aud perhaps sur
prising to most of us, to notice how much
has already been done in the way of rail.
'oad construction in Mexico und South
america that can be utilized as part of an
inter- continental line. 1 do not hesitate
10 recommend that congress make the very
moderate appropriation for surveys sug-
gested by the conference and authorize the
appointment of commissioners and the de-
tall of engineer atlicers to direct and con-
duct the necessary preliminary surveys"