Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-04
EQUADOR's ADVANCEMENT.
Minister Carlo Says 1t Means Much
for the United States.

for the United States.
Mr. Den Luis Felipe Carlo, envoy ex-
traordinary and minister plenipotentiary
from Ecuador, expressed himself to Star
reporter yesterday as being wonderfully
elated over the prospects of the further de-
velopment Of his country during the present
year by the construction of a railroad from
Guayaquil to Quito, the capital.
From Guayaqul, which is our chief sea-
port, to Quito is about 800 miles," said Mr.
Carlo. 1.-The railroad is to be completed by
the close of the year. Construction will be
begun by the LIST Of March at the latest.
The road will be very much like the one
from Vera Cruz to the City Of Mexico.
Quito is 10000 feet above the level of the
sea.
THE government Of Ecuador has en-
tered into 4 contract with a big New York
syndicate and has guaranteed bonds for
seventy-five years. In other words, ii the
business Of the road is not sufficient for
paying per cent on the investment the
government of Ecuador will make up the
deficiency to per cent, and an additional
l per cent to be used as a sinking fund.
These bonds will mature in thirty-tive
years. The syndicate will operate the road
for seventy-five years, when it win become
the property of the government.
"All the material and machinery to be
used in the construction Of the road will
come from the United States. 1t will be the
first big railroad to traverse our country.
The largest railroad in the country at pres
emf Is the one from Guayaquil to Chimbo
which is about ninety miles in length. That
was built about fifteen years ago. The gov
eminent paid for its construction, which
was done under the immediate direction of
Mr.. Mcclellan, an American engineer. 1t
has always done a good business, and it
was the means of developing a part of the
country that today would be much inferior
but for the road.
great convenience to the people of Equa-
dor, cannot help being prosperous finan-
cial venture. Ecuador has a population of
about 100000 of people, one-fourth of
which are Indians. One-half of the Indians
In the country are civilized. 1t is estimated
that 100000 persons go from the seashore
TO the capital every year. This in itself
would mean big sum for the road. when
the distance is considered And this does
not include the traffic that there would be
necessarily on shorter hauls.
AT present 1t requires four days to go
from Guayaquil to Outcome day on the
railroad that runs to Chimbo, two days Oh
horseback and one by carriage. The new
railroad will traverse a country that is
rich with cocoa, sugar, India rubber and
ivory nuts 1t is also an exceedingly pros
porous agricultural country. The completion
of the road is matter that interests the
people of the United States more than OF
any other country, inasmuch as the United
States is the principal market Of the world
for india rubber.
Rubber and other products can be trans
ported quicker and cheaper from the in
terror to Guayaquil for shipment to this
country than by pack mules, as at present,
and this means a saving to the purchaser.
Another thing, the people of Ecuador buy
many articles in the American market, and
cheaper shipping rates mean an equal saw
ing to them.
Every year there is an increased number
of Americans visiting Ecuador. and many
men of money are beginning TO appreciate
the advantages Of investing there. OF
course, ours is a Catholic republic, but the
new government is more liberal than any
previous government. Quite number of
Protestant ministers have gone there with
letters of introduction from me, and are
pursuing their religious work without
molestatior. Heretofore everything was
under the rules Of the Catholic church. But
the new government has given religious
liberties.
The United States and Ecuador are al
lied in many ways and the alliance will be
stronger each year. am straining every
effort to strengthen the commercial rela-
lions between us, which means the building
up and development of our country"