The San Francisco call., 1896-03-19

pedient at this time to make public the
names of any of the parties interested, but
1T is known that they are thoroughly re.
liable, are fully in earnest, are capable OF
carrying out the scheme and are pressing
the matter with all possible vigor.
Although the Tehuantepec Railroad,
owned by the Mexican Government, and
which extends from Salinas Cruz, on the
Gulf of Tehuantepec, to Coatzacoalcos,
on the Gulf of Mexico, distance OF about
120 miles, has been practically completed
for some time, it is not, however, in shape
to be operated to advantage. The bridges
and culverts are but temporary affairs,
and the road requires to be ballasted
throughout its length. In order to make
it of the greatest utility it will also be
necessary to construct a long and costly
iron pier at each of the terminal ports, SO
as to obviate the necessity of lightering, as
harbor is shallow. All this will require an
outlay of about 100000. and the Next
can Government is not to-day in posi-
tion to meet this expenditure.
In consequence it is disposed to grant
concessions of liberal character to any
company that will complete the work and
make the required improvements. Over
lures to this end have been made to an
influential resident in the City of Mexico,
and 1t is with this gentleman that negotia-
tions are being carried on from this City.
1t is proposed to put the Tenuantepec
Railroad in thorough repair, to construct
the piers and arrange for lines of steamers
that shall operate between this City and
New York, between this City and Liver
pool and other European ports via the
Tehuantepec Railroad. and also between
this City and Central and South American
ports.
1t is a well-known fact that the Pacific
Mail is unable to handle all the Central
American traffic or the through business
for New York, and this inability on its
part has tended to retard the growth OF
the Central American trade with San
Francisco, which received its great i'm
petus when the North American Naviga-
tion Company entered the field as a COM
petitor of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company.
1t is claimed that by the Tehuantepec
route the time from San Francisco to New
York will be reduced TO twenty days. and
that IT will be possible to land goods in
Liverpool twenty-nine days after they
have left this port. The distance to New
York is shortened 1000 miles as compared
with the Panama route. 1t is therefore
claimed that not only will this route have
the advantage of time, but that of low
rates also, due to the reduced cost of oper-
ating steamers.
With possibility of making the trip
between this City and Liverpool inside of
thirty days will come among other things
the opportunity of shipping green fruits,
or, at least, apples and pears, direct to
England at low rates and with good pros
poets of big profits to the shipper.
Although it is known that the Mexican
Government refused to enter into negotia-
tions with c. P. Huntington for the sale of
the road to him, it is not averse to having
American capita! and enterprise interested
in the road, but only on condition that it
is operated as an independent and COM
peting route, and that its usefulness is de-
veloped to the highest possible degree.
Under such conditions it has signifed it's
willingness to make long lease on very
reasonable terms.