Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-01

~ IL connected with the Atchison. Topeka and
santa Fe railway. and is one of the great trunk
lines OF the world. 1t taps a population Of
about four million people, and there are
twenty cities along its route, the in
habitants Of which would aggregate
million. Cutting across the great desert OF
Chihuahua 1t strikes into the garden Of Mex
leo at Aguas Calientes, and from there on the
ride for hundreds of miles to Mexico is through
perpetual green Some of the grades Of the
route are very steep. but it has not the pict-
uresqueness of the Vera Cruz line which is one of
the most picturesque railways in the world
This Vera Cruz line has some grades so steep
that a sort of Slamese-twin engine has been
constructed to mount them. and this engine
has two heads and two boilers in the center.
with two sets of driving machinery to make it
CO. With it the train climbs $500 feet upward
in twelve miles and over 1000 feet in twenty
five miles, and you go from the tropics to the
temperate zone in the ascent.
The branches of the Mexican Central promise
TO be very profitable. The scenery of the new
Tampico branch surpasses in wildness and pic-
turesqueness that Of the Denver and Rio
Grande, and it is said there is no road on the
American continent that will compare with it,
1t will be the same with the road running from
Irapuato to the Pacific. some of the gorges Of
which are said to be 5000 feet deep, and the
walls of these gorges are perpendicular A
short strip of the Tampico road cost $40. 900 900
for construction, and the Pacific branch prom
ises to be equally expensive.
MEXICAN COAL ROADS.
So far Mexico has been greatly retarded BY
the lack of coal. The country has had to i'm
port all the coal used in manufacturing, and
coal has ranged in price from S13 to s26 ton.
great deal Of that now used comes from In
dian Territory, but the international road,
which runs from Eagle Pass on the Texan from
tier to Torreon, where it connects with the
Mexican Central. opens up quite an extensive
coal field, and am told that large coal fields
have been discovered near the Iampico land
The Mexican Southern will open up both coal
and iron mines, and there are bright prospects
that Mexico will soon be able to do great part
OF her own manufacturing. The immense area
OF new country and new resources opened up
by these roads cannot be appreciated. The
Mexican Southern will tap some of the
richest mining regions Of the country and it
will pass through agricultural lands which are
now worth but few cents An acre, but which
will soon be extremely valuable. The same is
true with this Mormon road, which, though
not under the Mormon church, is operated and
being built by capitalists who are Mormons.
and At the head of whom is Mr.. Young. the son
OF the prophet, Brigham Young. This road
VIII go through the Sierra Madre mountains
and will tap some Of the richest mining coun-
tries Of the world. 1t will open up rich val
icy ,ey' a.. and viii probably be populated
II is said that the Mormon colonies
now in Mexico can afford to carry
their products, in the shape of butter
and potatoes, for 200 miles in wagons and sell
them In competition with the butter and pota-
toes shipped from the United States by rail.
when this road gives them better facilities
tney may be supplying the greater part of
Mexico with their products. As it is now, there
Is big margin for the sale Of all kinds of agri-
cultural products in Mexico, and this il especi-
ally SO OF dairy products American butter
brings seventy-fve cents and q dollar . pound
here, and cheese Is proportionately high.
OUR NARROW GUAaE THROUGH LINE
The Mexican National road is the name of the
narrow guage line which runs from Mexico
City to Lorsdo, Tex. This is also owned by the
United States, and 1t Is the shortest line from
New York to Mexico. You can get into the
cars in Mexico City on Monday and SATURDAY.
morning you will find yourself in New York