Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-27

For the Proposed IntercOnti-
mental Railroad
Which is to Connect Us With
South America.

Commission as to What Has Been Done
gentine Refuse to Contribute Toward
the Expenses of n Survey.
WASHINGTON, May &7,-Commissioner
Cassatt and Davis, of the interconti-
mental railway commission, have sub
mitted to Secretary Blaine in advance
of fuller report of the proceedings of
the commission, brief resume of the
work done up to this time, for the secre-
tary's information.
The report states that after gathering
all obtainable information as to whether
practicable line of railroad at a reason
| able cost could connect the railway sys-
| tens Of the United States and Mexico
with the existing railways in South
America, the commission determined
upon route which the report gives in
detail.
Insufficient Funds.
The only funds at the disposal of the
commission, the report says, consists of
$65 900, appropriated by the government
of the United States for the year ending
June 30, 1890, and the same amount for
the following year, $13O,000 in all. No
money has rs yet been paid by any other
country except Chill, which has remitted
81, 900 by draft on London, but the pro-
ceeds have not yet been paid over to the
state department. Mexico, Uruguay
and Argentine have, though their repre-
sentatives on the commission, declined
to contribute. The other countries rep
resented are understood to have prom
ised to pay their quota, but have not as
yet done SO.
1t was not thought wise to count upon
any funds beyond the amount actually
i'll hand. nor to send more parties into
the field than these funds would provide
for, for period of time sufficient to en-
able them to complete the work allotted
to them.
A carefully considered calculation
seemed to show that, after providing for
the necessary Office expenses in Wash
ington, the funds available would not
permit of the sending of more that three
parties into the field, and, as the object
of the surveys was to determine whether
line of railroad could be CON
structed mt practicable cost to
connect the railway systems Of the
United States and Mexico with the vari~
GUS countries of South America, it
seemed clear that the first thing to be
done was to ascertain whether such
line could be constructed through Cen
trail America and the isthmus. and
whether it could be carried on through
Colombia and Ecuador.
Hence the first party was assigned to
the survey through Central America.
This party, consisting of officers detailed
by the United States war department.
with Lieut.. M. NJ. Macomb i'll charge,
sailed for its field of operation with di-
rectiOns to commence work at Ayutla
and go on southwark as far as the north
ern end of the isthmus. On account of
the extreme unhealthiness of the isthmus
at this season of the year, no attempt
will be made to survey this part of the
line at present. The question as to the
best way to attack this very difficult
section was left for future consideration.
Two other parties were organized for
the work in Colombia and Ecuador, and
they sailed ON April 10 for Guayaquil, |
whence they will proceed to Quito to
complete their outfit. These parties
consist entirely of civilians, with the ex-
ception of one surgeon detailed by the
United States navy department for each |
party.
The two parties will commence their |
work together, under Mr.. Skunk, in the |
location of a line across the mountains
from Popayan to Paste. The determin-
alton of a line through this district,
known as the "knOt of the Andes" is
perhaps the most difficult problem which
the engineers will have to solve Hav-
ing settled this question, the parties will
separate and thereafter will work indie
of each other, the chiefs of
each party reporting directly to the COM
mission at Washington.
The party under Mr.. Skunk will work
northward to and down the valley of |
the Cauca, and as they proceed will try
the different passes into the Magdalena
valley They will carry the line into
the valley of the AtratO and to the
southern end of the isthmus.
The other party, under Mr.. Miller,
will work southwark through Ecuador
into Peru, following out the general
line laid down as far southwark as they
can.
If sufficient additional sums are re-
ceived from the South and Central
American countries to permit of the
sending of fourth party into the field,
it will probably be sent to HuanchaCa to
work northward to meet Mr.. Miller's
party.
Character of the Survey.