The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-01
lUST HAVE SUBSIDIES.
oyernment Aid Necessary to the
Construction Of the Pan-Amer-
lean Railway.
No Insurmountable Engineering
Difficulties Block the Way .
Of It's Progress.
Political Conditions That Must
Be Provided Against-Double Route
-..+ Beyond the Isthm us.

Tho question ID not whether this rail
Dad is desirable, but whether it is prac-
icRble and what are the possibilities Of it's
being built. The critical point is the pas
age through the Central American repub-
nd many of the conditions of civilization
re wanting. In South America many parts
Il this road already exist. and the Mexican
central and the Mexican Southern make
he journey possible through Mexico to the
P1tent of 1,64 miles. The road Ia much
lsarer being built already than people have
kenerally believed. There are already H.
200 miles Of railroad in Central and South
Amerioa, and new railways are opening up
Utmost every day. II is simply question
bf time when the Pan-Amsrican rail-
Dad will be constructed, Ths
United States cannot afford to
Brship of such a railway, and the increase
bf communication between all the Americas
iaily urges the necessity for such
cation by rail between the two e%xtremities
IF the continent. The Pan-Amerioan con-
ference first brought forward the construc-
ion of this road rs an intern tional affair,
Ind it is evident that il can hardly be at
tempted by independents parties. There
temain about 5000 miles Of railroad to be
constructed before communication be-
tween the United States and practically the
whole of South America can be effected.
Before any work can be undertaken, par
hes will need international pledges OF pro-
~tection, 10 as to secure them against loas
- - -. - Z 4 r,A kh~ak - A1----h H..
will be established.
The difficulties are partly political and
partly material and mechanical. Much
light Is thrown upon them by Mr.. +. w.
Conn, a OWL engineer who ten years ago
made himself familiar with the countries
fn Spanish America through which such a
RAILROAD would have to pass. His testi-
r1ony. which il given in the Engineering
Magazine for August. is of great value. He
has more or less weighed the obstacles
(which are to be met with in locating such a
railroad through the Central American re-
|publics and the northern countries Of South
AmsriGs. H. finds no serious engineering
tion Of the road to be built would be be-,
tween Oaxaca and T~ehuantepsc. Between
T~shuantepsc and tho boundary of GnAte-
mala, across ths state of Chiapas, there are
|fsw people in the country. and il ia en-
tirely undeveloped. Ths worst part
'CL tao WORK OF conBtruct1nR tle road
lin this section would be tho crossing
OF the numerous small streams. Only stone
bridges and ~trestles can DO used. The low
lands of the west coast OF Central America
and Columbia arc we'll watered, heavily
Numbered and fairly populated. Nine
|tenths Of the European freight crossing the
isthmus OF Panama comes up the west
coast. When tho railroad Is completed it
will be unlosded directly from the steamer
TO tho oars and carried to it's destination.
1t Is plain that such \ railroad cannot DO
made TO pay a large dividend until IL il
completed and a through lins IL established,
but MI. Conn Ii hopeful that the interest,"