The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-05-30

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The president has sent to the sonata and
house . copy Of . letter Of the secretary oe
state, transmitting the proposltion adopted
by the Pan.American congress for An IN.
ter-colonial railway. The letter Of the
secretary ID ~ follows:
DEPARrNENr OF STATE. WARRINGTON, d. c.,
May u, 16a0.-To the President: I have the
honor to submit herewith . plan for . prsltm.
in ,ry survey fog . railway line to connect tho
great commercial cities 0f the American hem.
isphere. No moro important Recommendation
has come from the International American
conference. and I earnestly commend It to
yonr attention With full confidence that prompt
action will be taken by congress- to ennbls this
government to participate In the promotion Of
tile enterprise.
The resolutions Of tho conference are accom-
panied by special reports concerning the trans
portatton facilities that already exist In the
ssverl American republics. These reports conn.,
pri 9 all the informal. on that could be gathered
upon This important subject. and will be found
both interesting aud authentic. Under the
generous aud progressive policy Of President
pis. the railways of Mexico have been extended
s0uthwArd ~ we'll - n0rthward, md toward
the two oceans. The development of the Ar
gtnt.nesystem has been equally rapid. Lines
bow reach from Buenos Ayres to tho northern
etttos of that republic. and nearly to the Eoliv-
ian boundary. Chill has Q profitable system Of
Sutttooub IEOL0 t00 lllOUuG8l06 70 Lu6 E0C1QC
ocean. and the completion OF the nnel that 10
now being pierced through the Cordilloas will
bring Valparaiso within two sys' travel OF Bue-
nos Ayres. In the ether republics similar enter.
prise has been shown. Each has its local
lines OF railways and to connect them all and
furnish the people OF the southern continent
ehe means OF convenient and comfortable inter-
course with their neighbors north of thu 18TH
mus is an undertaking worthy the encourage.
ment n cooperation of this govein ment. In
no other way could the Government aud the
people of the United States contribute 80 much
to the development and prosperity Of our sister
republics, and 1t the same time to the expan
sion OF our own A very important
feature Of the report TO which 1 especially di-
rect your attention, will be found In the inter-
national declaration that the line of the pro-
posed railway shall be forever neutral elritory /;
that tue material necessary for the construc-
zion aud operation Of the road shalt be admit
ted free Of custom dues; aud that 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.
II is proposed that u survey to ascertain the
best and most economical routes be made under
the direction Of an international commission.
and that tbs expense DO shared by tn, several
nations OF the hemisphere In proportion to
their respective populations. The STARE of the
United States is estimated to be S35,0M. and I
would re-; psctfu'ly suggest the propriety Of
securing from congress an appropriation for
that purpose. Three commissioners Will he
required to represent the United States upon
the international board, and authority should
be asked for thu detail of officers of the army
and navy TO serve IS engineers in conducting
this survey. headquarters OF the commits
sion. by u vote OF the international conference,
will b .locatel in Washington. and it Is pro-
prnsed to invite the commissioners to meet
here OH the 1st Of October, or % soon thereafter
as may be practicable, for the purpose OF orgau-
ization and initiating the work Of the survey.
JAS. G. 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
and South America. The creation Of new
and improved steamship lines undoubtedly
the readiest means OF developing
an increased trade with the Latin
American nations, but it should not
be forgotten that 1t is possible to travel
by land from Washington. to tina
capital Of South America and
that the opening of railroad communica.
ton with these friendly states will give
to them and to us facilities for in.
.tercourse aud the exchange Of trade that
are Of special value. The work contem-
plated is vast, but entirely practicable. It
will be interesting to oil. aud perhaps SUR
to most Of us, to notice how much
has already been done in the way Of rail-
'oad construction in Mexico and South
america that can be utilized as part Of an
snter- continental line. do not hesitate
to recommend that congress make the very
moderate appropriation for surveys sug-
gested by the conference and authorize tho
appointment of commissioners and the de.
tail of engineer aficers to direct and con-
duct the necessary preliminary surveys"