The St. Johns herald., 1891-09-17
The Pan-American Railroad.


 is practicable and what are the pos abilities of it's being built. Tn critical point is the passage througf the Central Ana erican republics where the governments are unstable and many of the conditions of civ ilization are wanting. In Soutl America many parts of this road al ready exist, and the Mexican Cen tral and the Mexican Southern make the journey possible through Mexico to the extent of 1,674 miles The road is much nearer being built already than people have generally believed. There are already IT ,00O miles of railroad in Central and South America, and new railways are opening up almost every day. It is simply question of time when the Pan American railroad will be constructed. The United States can not afford to allow any foreign in reference in the ownership of such a railway, and the increase of com munication by rail between all the Americas daily urges the necessity for such communication by rail be- tween the two extremities of the continent. The Pan American con- ference first brought forward the construction of this road as an in- ternationaI affair, and it is evident that it can hardly be attempted by independent parties. There remain about 5000 miles of railroad to be constructed before communication between the United States and prac- tically the whole of South America can be effected. Before any work can be undertaken, parties will need international pledges of protection, so as to secure them against loss, and to make itcertain that through line will be established. The diff culties are partly political and part ly material and mechanical. Much light is thrown upon them by MT. F. w. Conn, a civil engineer who ten years ago made himself familiar with the countries in Spanish Amer ica through which such railroad would have tG pass. His testimony which is given in the Engineering Magazine for August, is of great value. He has more or less weigh ed the obstacles which are to be met with in locating such railroad the Central American republics and the northern countries ot South America. He finds no serious en- gineering difficulties anywhere. The toughest portion of the road to be built would be between Oaxaca and Tehuantepec. Between Tehuante- pee and the boundary of Guatemala across the state of ChiaDas. there are few people in the country, and it is entirely undeveloped. The worst part of constructing the road in this section would be the cross ing of the numerous small streams. Only stone bridges and trestles can be used. The lowlands of the west coast of Central America and Co. lombia are well-watered, heavily timbered and fairly we'll populated. Nine-tenths of the European freight crossing the Isthmus of Panama comes up the west coast. When the railroad is completed, it will be un- loaded directly from the steamers to the cars and carried to its desti- nation. It is plain that such rail way cannot be made to pay a large dividend until it is completed and a through line is established, but MT. Conn is hopeful that the inter- est in this project will be such that it will be greatly forwarded by sub- sidies and land grants from the gov ernments of Spanish America. He is confident that in every country through which it passes industries can be utilized which will soon con- tribute to its support, and that min- ing and cattle raising and the fruit