The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-02
GENE or rEHuANTEpEc RA1LRoAD.

which proposes to expend $l5. 900. 900
in improving the harbors at the two
terminals. and it is believed that after
these harbors have been deepened and
fitted with proper docks and other facil-
tiles for loading and discharging car
goes, the new interoceanic route will be
sought by large portion of the com
merce between Europe and California,
between Atlantic and Pacific ports of
the United States and between most
Atlantic and gulf ports and ports on
the western coast of Mexico. In addi-
ton to this there is every probability
that much of the commerce between
Europe and the far east which now goes
by way of the Suez canal will also be
diverted to this route. and that practi-
cally all European trade with Chile,
Peru and Ecuador will follow along the
same line
It is feared that this will prove Of
serious damage to the Panama railroad
since, although the Panama railroad is
less than one-ffth as long as the Te-
hauntepec line, the use of the latter will
shorten the distance between New Y ork
and San Francisco, for instance, by
about 1000 miles. and between most
important European ports and China by
about 700 miles. While probably it can
not be said that it will shorten the
transportation to most South American
ports, yet the superior depth of the har-
bors at the Tehauntepec terminals, en-
abling ships to unload directly to the
railroad cars and dispensing with light
erage, as already explained, will no
doubt make it a more desirable line of
commerce to the south of the equator.
The territory through which the Te-
hauntepec railroad runs is Of a highly
interesting character. At the southern
| terminus, Salina Cruz, the greatest al
titude is about 700 feet, and the line
reaches north from there, nowhere en-
| counterlng very severe grades, through
natural breaking down of the noun
tains to the waters of the Uspanapa,
which flows into the Coatzacoaltcos.
| The country through which these rivers
| flow is level and low lying, its soil is
exceedingly fertile. and it is covered
| with luxuriance of tropical vegetation
! that is nowhere surpassed. All through
! this territory there are extensive plan
tations of cacao. from which chocolate
is made. and of coffee trees, which are
/
! ored descendants of the Aztecs, whom
! Cortez found in possession when he
landed upon Mexico s shores. Much cap
ital from the United States has already
been invested in the coffee industry,
and upon one plantation. owned by al
American company, over 400 native la
borers work during the entire year. Ths
temperature of the region is singularly
equable and delightful everywhere, savo
close to the shores, the THERMOMETERS
never rising above 90 degrees and never
falling below so.
It requires five years to bring a coffee
plantation into bearing, and after that
the average yield of each tree is between
three and four pounds annually, or from
| 1900 to $500 pounds an acre, since
| from 600 to 500 trees are planted upon
each acre. The wages paid to laborers
are not high, the head of family earn
ing from 90 to $3.50 a month, while
the children work for from 25 to 85
cents day through the picking season
Of December and January
These natives are a remarkably prim-
Tive but not at all savage lot. They
five upon bananas and other native
fruits, and they are satisfied with cloth
ing made of coffee plants. but they are
good natured, obliging. honest and
courteous, and a stranger is invariably
safe in their hands The men are well
built and strong and many of the won
en- are comedy, with features chiseled
after Caucasian types.
It cost about $40, 900. 600 to build the
Tehauntepec railroad and occupied
about Il years, and there is no doubt
that its proprietor, the Mexican govern
ment, will reap profit from its opera
lions, since it must acquire a consider
1ble local traffic as well as the heavy
through freight mentioned at the begin
aiug of this article.