The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-15
BLAINE'S GREAT SCHEME.
STEPS TOWARD AN INrER-CoNTI-
MENTAL RAILROAD.

The Commissioners Appointed BY the
South aud Central American Gov
ernments and the United states to
Meet in Washington.
From the Commercial Advertiser.
The first steps toward the realization of
Secretary Blsine's plan Of grand trunk
railroad connecting the north with the
southern continent of America, and linking
together the Central American states be-
tween, will be taken in a few days at the
meeting of the inter-continental railway
commission in Washington Delegates from
the South and Central American govern
ments are now on their way to the capital
to meet the commissioners appointed by the
United States government. The repre-
sentatives of the United States are Alfred
j. Cassatt of Pennsylvania, George M. Pull
man of Illinois and Henry G. Davis of West
Virginia. The project has been welcomed
with enthusiasm by the Central and South
American states, and there at present seems
no reason to doubt its practicabihty. The
execution of the plan was. at first, declared
in some quarters, to be beyond the possi-
biliries of engineering skill Now, however.
the difficulties in the way of such work are
stated to be all surmountable.
The project as outlined in the report OF
the committee on railway communication
of the international American conference,
does not propose the construction OF a new
railroad from one end of the proposed sys-
tenn to the other. But the general plan be-
ing to connect the principal cities OF the
several states which it is proposed to ira
verse. it is proposed to make use of the
railroads already constructed, which are so
situated as to be available as links in the
great inter-continental chain. Much of the
work required for the execution of the
plan, its promoters claim, has already been
done for them. The report of the commit
tee of the international conference referred
to contains a description of the possible
routes. showing the extent Of roads already
built of which advantage may be taken.
A glance. il says, at the map of the western
hemisphere will show that in the north the
railways of the United States extend east
and west, north and south. They join those
of Mexico at several points, and extend in
several lines southwark to the City of
Mexico, whence lines have been projected
TO the bou ldary of Central America and
one is under construction. Again, in South
America, railways cover the southern part
in all directions, converge northward and
proceed onward in a single line. The rail
way systems of the United States reach the
frontier at four points, Nogales, Ell Paso,
Eagle Pass and Laredo At Nogales, the
Sonora road extends to Guaymas, from
which point another line Is projected south
ward along the Pacific coast as far as Ma
zatlan, and indeed TO Guerrero, which would
eventually connect 1t with the City of Mex
leo. From Ell Paso, which is 2,456 miles
from New York, and 1,2S6 from
San Francisco. the Mexican Central
railroad goes 1924 miles 10 the City
of Mexico. From Eagle Pass 2.0S3 miles
from New York, and 1919 miles from
San Francisco, the Mexican International
10 Torreon on the Mexican Central, 348
4 Al. Al - l..
all ,09l miles, and from Laredo, 2. 1877 miles
from New York, the Mexican National $50
miles to the City of Mexico. The City Of
Mexico may then be taken as another start
ing point. The Mexican Southern has been
projected from the City of Mexico through
Puebla. Tehuacan, Oaxaca, etc., to Tehuan-
tepec, and hence along the coast to the
frontier of Guatemala. 76S miles. A line is
already in operation 1873 miles south of the
City OF Mexico, and the lac above men
toned is under construction. A great por-
tion is already surveyed, the remainder will
soou be located, and it is believed that the
construction will be completed at no dis
tant day. A branch was projected from
Tonala to San Christobal.
From the City of Mexico there is another
route. The Mexican railway may be taken
TO Vera Cruz, 263 miles, and then the AL
varado road to Alvarado, thirty four miles,
or 297 miles in all This latter road has
concession for an extension to the 1sthmus
of Tehuantepec. The Continental railway,
projected from Matamoras along the gulf
coast, will also follow this route south of
Vera Cruz. None of this latter line has
been surveyed, but for a portion of the
distance there is level strip of land be-
tween the coast and mountains which would
permit of a railway. Yet the mountains
at places approach the coast very closely.
From Alvarado to Minatitian. on the
eth ha al mil lie
point the Tehauntepec railway might be
used to Tehuantepec in a southeastcrly di-
rection, following the cart roads into the
interior to the city of San Christobal, 200
miles further. or GOT miles in all from the
City of Mexico, and from that point the
same general direction to the frontier of
Guatemala. The heights on the isthmus
are moderate. but the country to the east
ward has not been surveyed. AS an alterna-
tive line this would not be any more diff
cult of construction than the Mexican
Southern; that its length is less makes it
worthy of consideration, and being in the
interior, it would have healthier situa-
ton.
After considering further particulars of
the available routes, the report adds: Thus
to carry communication through Central
America from the City of Mexico requires
about 200 miles of railway. of which 293
miles are already constructed and in opera
TlO1, tOU miles are OnQer construction and
survey and 625 remain still to be located.
Calculations based on the known difficulties
to be encountered in construction and the
cost of lines similarly situated, already
built give an estimated cost per mile Of
about $4,000.
In South America, the report continues.
the railways of Chill, Argentine, Uruguay
and Parag lay and Brazil are already SO
united. or soon to be united, as to form
great systems. Lines have also been pro-
jected in Peru and Bolivia, which will even
tually units with those south of them, car
rying real communication as far north as
Cuzco, in Peru, about 2,1S9 miles from
Buenos Ayres. North of this little has
been done that will be of use in the inter-
continental line.
To bridge the gap between the point to
which the northern connections have been
traced in Central America and the southern
ID South America, the northern route must
be projected from Costa RIGA across the
Is hmus Of Panama, of whose Topography
very little is known aside from the surveys
made along the routes of the projected in
teroceanic canals The point in South Ameri-
ca to be reached first is Quibdo, in Column
bia, from which point several routes to the
south are open, the most feasible of which
seems to be that across the central plateau
to Quito. A railroad has been projected to
Quito from Sibambe, $50 miles south, to
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