The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26

of science who regard many oftheir own Gov
eminent publications as very cheap and mean
in comparison with the. products OF our WASH
inGton printing office.
The commission grew out OF the delibera-
lions OF the International American Confer
ence. which assembled in Washington. by in
vitation OF Congress-. on Oct. 2. 1889. nearly all
the Latin republics being represented. This
conference recommended the appointment OF
an international commission OF engineers of
whom each nation should appoint three. with
authority to employ as many other engineers
and workmen as were needed to study pro-
posed routes for the intercontinental railroad.
On May II. 1890. Secretary Blaine. submit
ting the report to President Harrison. said
that mo more important recommendation
has come from the International American
Conference. and / earnestly commend 1t to
your = attention. with full confidence that
prompt action will be taken by Congress to
enable this Government to participate in the
promotion Of the enterprise" A week later
the President transmitted the report to Con-
gress. called attention to the possibility OF
travelling by land from Washington TO the
southernmost capital Of South America. aud
added; "Ihe work = contemplated is vast but
Congress- appropriated $50, 900 as the share
Of the United States toward the preliminary
survey. All the countries interested we're ex-
pected tc contribute to the cost In proportion
to their POPULATION. The Commissioner APP
f 6GsR's %ee RH sn IN % ysasfda topu on Dec o' !. 1850.
when Mr. A. j. Cassatt, one of the delegates
The Commission at once organized three
survey parties, One OF them, under command
q Capt: +: 2; Sleeves, y; :: A; Went to Central snm t
ward until It met the second party coming
north. The second party. under the DIRECTION
dor. to survey northward until i met the first
party. The third corps. under Mr.; J. Imbrie
ihron:b We Esu 20 spT RsS f sSrsh 10 AXE tsq Tits 9 :
surveys did not contemplate the location Of a
mates, but simply the ascertalnment OF the
feasibility OF constructing the trunk, line with
| ter Of the whole work is therefore OF the nature
Of a preliminary railroad survey: with desc Tmo
surveys resslted. however in d. good deal Of
valuable geographical work. The numerous
MAPS and %prohles, for instance, are not trac-
southern frontier Of Mexico, because that
tenn OF the United States by the extension OF
the Mexico City Railroad to the south border !:
az AID eI i Il DFG snS pro 81 3 Ter as raI RGssidS's as e li @IlslI is
the coming trunk line. In brief. tho recon-
mendations Of the commission; based npon its
that the proposed intercontinental route will
, follow meridianal valleys; or valleys bearing
coPPd dGtsns The eH line Is &u to Be e9naeeted with
Important centres by branch railroads.. some
OF which are already built. though the longer
branch lines must DO constructed. The entire
main line will follow the axis Of the Cordil-
leras from the southern border OF Mexico TO
Lake Titicaca. At that lake the railroad is to
pass to the east Of the Andes ranges. utilizing
lines already built or projected to carry the
route south as far as Huanchaca. Bolivia.
This map gives a clear IDEA OF the proposed
main route and the moro important branch
lines. The line passes through every State OF
Central America and all tho Pacific coast States
OF South America excepting Chill. whose chief
coast towns. AntofaRasta. VALPARAISO and VAL
DIVA. will be connected with the trunk line
by branch roads already In operation or nsar-
ly completed. Some of the most important
| trade centres In every State of South America
! will be Joined by rail to the main line. One
tween Medellin and Valencia where IL will unite
with the railroad now operating between the
latter point aud Caracas. the capital OF Ven
ezuela. The scheme also includeA an extern
sion across the fiat country of eastern Bolivia
to UberRba. the most northwestern town Of
Brazil IN railroad connection with Rio do ia
metro aud the seaport of Santos. 1t Is pro-
posed by another branch line from Bolivia: fol-
lowing the course OF the Pilcamayo and Para.
quay rivers. to reach Asuncion.. the capital OF
Paraguay. and beyond that point to fill the
gap In the existing railroads so as 70 give
Monteyideo. the capital Of Uruguay through
Argentine system Of railroads VIII be united TO