Evening journal., 1890-05-20
ALL ABOARD FOR CHILL.
A Pan-American Project Sub.
mitted to Congress.
AN INTERCONTINENTAL RAILWAY

The President and Secretary OF State Roc
ommend That Surveys BE Made for
Railroad to Connect the Great CONNER
cial Cities of the American Hemisphere,
WASHINGTON, May 2O.--The president
hns sent to the senate and house a copy oi
a letter Of the secretary Of state transmit
ting the proposition adopted by the Pan.
American congress for an intercontinental
railway The letter Of the secretary is al
follows:
Secretary Blaine's Letter.
ITO THE PRESIDENT have the honor t.
submit herewith plan for preliminary
survey for a railway line to connect the
great commercial cities of the American
hemisphere No more important recon.
mendation has come from the international
American conference, and earnestly com.
mend it to your attention, with full con.
fidenee that prompt action will be taken
by congress TO enable this government &c
participate in the promotion Of the enter
prise. The resolutions Of the conference
are accompanied by special reports con.
cerning the transportation facilities that
| already exist in the several American re
| publies. These reports comprise all the in.
| formation that could be gathered upon
this important subject, and viii be found
both interesting and authentic.
Central and South American Lines.
"Under the vigorous and progressive
| policy of President Diaz, the railways OF
Mexico have been extended southwark as
| well as norHaward, and toward the two
oceans. The development of the Argentine
| system has been equally rapid. Lines OF
track now reach from Buenos Ayres TO the
northern cities OF that republic and nearly
to the Bolivian boundary. Chill has O
| profitable system of railroads from the
| mountains to the Pacific ocean, and the
completion Of the tunnel that is now being
pierced through the Cordilleras will bring
Valparaiso within two days travel OF
Buenos Ayres. In the other republics
similar enterprise has been shown. Each
has its local lines Of railway, and to con.
meet them ALL and furnish the people OF
the southern continent the means of con
venient and comfortable intercourse with
their neighbors north Of the isthmus Is an
undertaking worthy the encouragement
and cooperation OF this government. In
no other way could the government and
the people Of the United States contribute
so much 70 the development and prosper
ity of our sister republics, and at the same
time TO the expansion Of our own com
meree.
Important Features Of the Report.
{ "a very important feature Of the report
TO which ! especially direct your attention
, will be found in the international declara
( tion that the line Of the proposed railwa,
! shall be forever neutral territory; that th
1 material necessary for the construction anC
operation of the road shall be admitted
{ free of customs duties, and that its prop
erty and revenue shall be always exemp
e from all forms Of taxation. This guaran
4 tee, having all the force Of a treaty, viii
e stimulate private and public confidence
b and then lead to the investment of capita
e that might otherwise be reluctant and dis
5 trustful.
4 The Small Appropriation Asked.
c ut is proposed that a survey TO ascertain
S the best and most economical routes b,
d made under the direction Of an information
y al commission, and that that the expens
be shared by the several nations OF tn
n hemisphere in proportion to their respect
!, i've populations The share Of the Unite,
/ States is estimated TO be S65,000 and
/ would respectfully suggest the prophet.
!. Of securing from congress an appropriation
e for that purpose
y "Three commissioners will be required Il
j represent the United States upon the in
n ternational board, and authority should b
!. asked for the detail Of the officers Of tn
e army and navy to serve as engineers b
conduct the survey. The headquarters 0
the commission by a vote Of the inter
national conference will be located a
: Washington, and it is proposed to invit
the commissioners to meet here on the is
q of October next, or as soon thereafter a
! may be practicable for the purpose of on
. ganization and initiating the survey. RI
! spectfully submitted,
JAMES g. BLAINE.
! Secretary Of State.
The Presidents Views.
]. In hts letter Of transmittal the presiden
says: "Public attention has been chief
r attracted to the subject of improved waite
! communication between the ports Of tn
d United States and Central and Sout
America The creation Of new and i'm
d proved steamship lines undoubtedly fun
e nish the readiest means of developing a