The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-09-22
MEXICAN eAu wAy EXTENSIONS.

CITY OF MEXICO, Sept. 21.-Another
important railway extension IS now IN
course of construction from Torreon TO
the City of Durango The International
is standard road, running from Eagle
Pass on the Rio Grande, to Torreon, and
from there it connects with the Mexican
! Central This is known as the limiting
ton system and is operated in connection
with the Sout hern Pacific. The present
line is 6l6l5 kilometeTs long and the new
| extension will be 251 kilometers more.
| The new work is to be done under the
| former concession of June 1891, and the
amendment. There is no subvention, and
| the company has no way of making Its IN
vestment a profitable one save only by the
! operation of its line. This is an important
! fact showing a new era IN railroad Invest
ments In Mexico. As all travellers in this
| country know. the roadbed Of the Inter
national is superior 20 any in the country
! except that of the Mexican Central rail-
way, which, on account of the great ex-
pense of construction and the engineering
difficulties encountered, is a marvel Of per-
fection in railway building
A great trade has been built up at
Sabinas for coal and coke, which is daily
extending The present output scarcely
meets the demand made upon the mines
and coke ovens, and the capacity of both
Will have to be Increased. some very adj
vantageous contracts have been made with
the smelters at Monterey ami Fuun for the
further development of the lead smelling
and with the erection of iron furnaces on
this line the coal traffic is sure to reach
immense proportions. There are already
considerable crops of cereals and fbers
raised IN the territory tributary 70 the ln-
ternational, and this traffic is bound to in
crease. The hauling of ore from the Santa
Rosa district and from Monclova has
always been an important source of reve-
nue. TO the company. These were shipped
to the United States but siace the change |
IN the ore business, due to the famous |
treasury rulings, the course of ore ship |
ments has changed to Monterey. A guam |
tity OF silver ores from farther south also |
pass over the International via Nenadito |
and the Monterey and Gulf road to the |
smelters at Monterey Stock raising is /
also an important Industry along the In /
ternationHl, and is sure to be a great |
source of revenue in the future. In addi-
ton t. these the cotton fields OF Laguna
and the wine industries of Parras and
Cuttro Chenegas furnish directly and in
directly considerable trade
This section is using an increasing |
quantity OF imported goods, including
agricultural mining and manufacturing
machinery and supplies from the United
States, and there is the regular through
freight and passenger traffic, which natur
ally comes to the International by reason
OF its connection with the Central, the
shortest standard gauge route from the
eastern part of the United States to the
City of Mexico From Eagle Pass to Tor
reon there were no great engineering diff
culties, nor will any be encountered on the
extension to Durango. The heaviest grade
on the present road does not exceed l per
cent, and on the extension - per cent.
There will be no tunnels the extended
line viii run through pleasant country
with plenty of water and tim Der for operat-
ing and constructing purposes and a
country where the health of those build
ing and operating the road will not be in
the least danger from climatic causes.
The extension will pass through a very
rich mining and agricultural region,
which will furnish market for all kinds
Of imported wares. and especially agri-
CULTURAL and mining machinery. The
mines will be easily supplied with feed
and other neceSSariss.
One of the greatest objects in the exten-
sion of the road is to secure the traffic of
5he Sierra Mercada. one of the most Won
ieTful iron deposits in the world The ore
S magnetic, and is said to be absolutely
1Tee from phosphorus and especially adapt
ID to the manufacture of steel BY the
Mexican tariff the duty on pig iron is
-aised to 8 scents a kilogram, and as soon as
his extension is under construction blast
furnaces will be built at some point be-
,ween Sabinas and Durango for the pro- {
iuction of iron and steel. These ores can I
also be exported TO Germany and used in '
with ores there for the pro-
iuction of certain grades of iron and
steel. Durango is the center of very
busy population, and the place where a +
great deal of important business is
lone. With the facilities offered by !
he new line, Durango Will increase {
n commercial Importance Immense
racts of the finest timber land in
he republic extend to the north and west 7
If the city, and the trade in lumber is sure '
% reach large proportions. A great deal I
If profitable business that now goes to the
Pacific coast will be diverted eastward to '
ne city of Durango, and find its outlet by t
he international, instead of going by wa
er to San Francisco or to England. A v
,reat impulse has been given TO the enter G
rise by reason of the duties on iron. and C
within the year 1892 the action of con- t
truction will be completed or far ad- q
anced and Mexico will be in a fair way i
o extend her tariff laws in such way as V
o bring to her borders manufactures and q
workers in iron and steel, and produce o
within her own territory very large pro- a
ortion of the machinery and other manu- I
actured articles necessary TO industrial I
evelopment.