The times., 1899-02-27
A PLAN TO LINK Two
CONTINENTS BY RAIL
A Trunk Line From New York
TO BuenOs AyreS.
The Commission Reports the Pro-
ject TO Be Feasible.
The Cost Estimated at SI.5.ooo.o0o
After Using All the Available
Existing Railways.

new 10TH. Il eD -p-oNtI Illlt AtdiS tAt'
the IntercontinentaI Railway Commission
was called into existence at Washington
TO study the feasibility of constructing a
trunk line from the United States through
the Republics 10 the south, so that by means
of this line and branches running from it
all the Latin States of the Americas might
have direct land comYunication with this
country. The surveys and other studies
that the Commission undertook were com
pleted in 1888 but il has taken a long time
TO work out the enormous mass of data
collected by the survey parties and the fun
report of the Commission has only just ap-
peared 1t is very voluminous, the text
and tables filling three quarto volumes,
supplemented by three volumes of maps
and profiles. over 300 in number. and an
other volume giving condensed report on
the whole subject. The report contains
l23 fine half-tone illustrations. giving
views Of town and country, natives. and
even interiors OF some of the better class
of homes in the Latin Republics. Though
considerable of the text and not a few OF
the pictures do not seem 10 be entirely
germane to the main topic, all seem 10 fall
Nllllu llt llIUllo VI kLE NtiH NoAA'fA N-'N--
siye instructions given to the Commission
In a word, the report is gotten up in the
sumptuous style which is the delight and
wonder OF all foreign men of science who
regard many of their own government pub
locations as very cheap and mean in com
parison with the products of our Washing
ton Printing Office.
The Commission grew out of the de
liberations of the International American
Conference. which assembled in Washing
ton, by invitation of Congress, on Octo-
Der q 1883. nearly all the Latin Republics
being represented. This conference recon-
mended the appointment Of an interna-
tional commission of engineers, of whom
each nation should appoint three, with
authority to employ as many other engi-
neers and workmen were needed to
study proposed routes for the intercon-
tinental railroad On May u, 1890, Sec
Tetary Blaine submitting the report 10
President Harrison, said that No more
important recommendation has come from
the International American Conference.
and earnestly commend il to your atten-
tion. with full confidence that prompt ac
tion will be taken by Congress to enable
this Government to participate in the pro-
motion of the enterprise" a week later
the President transmitted the report to
Congress, called attention TO the posi-
bility OF travelling by land from Washing
ton to the southernmost capital OF South
America. and added: The work contem-
plated is vast, but entirely practica bic
Congress appropriated So. 600 as the
share of the United States toward the pre-
liminary survey. All the countries inter
ested were expected to contribute 10 the
cost in proportion to their population
The Commissioners appointed by the var
iOus Republics held the first meeting in
Washington on December l. 1880 when
Mr.. 4. J. Cassatt, one of the delegates of
the United States, was elected president.
Three Surveying Parties.
The Commission at once organized three
survey parties. One of them. under com
mand Of Capt E. z. Sleeves, L. S. A.
went TO Central America to survey a line
from Mexico southwark until it met the
second party coming north. The second
party, under the direction of Mr.. William
F. Skunk, went to Quito, Ecuador, TO sur
vey northward unril it met the first party
The third corps. under Mr. j. Imbrie
Miller. was to survey southwark from
Quito through Ecuador and Peru TO Lake
Titacaca. on the border of Bolivia. The oh
iect Of the surveys did not contemplate
the location of railroad or the prepara-
tion Of detailed estimates but simply the
ascertainment of the feasibility of con-
structing the trunk line within the limits
of reasonable cost The character of the
whole work is therefore of the nature Of
preliminary railroad survey with de-
scriptive memoirs and approximate esti-
mates. The surveys resulted however
in good deal of valuable geographical
work The numerous maps and profles.
Tor Instance, are not tracings OF other
maps. but original productions
The survey began at Ayutia, a village on
the southern frontier Of Mexico. because
that point is to be connected with the rail
road system Of the United States by the
extension Of the Mexico City Railroad TO
the south border; and it is proposed as
far as possible to utilize all existing and
projected railroads as links in the coming
trunk line. In brief. the recommendations
OF the Commission. based upon its surveys
may be summed up in the statement that
the proposed intercontinental route will
follow meridianaI valleys or valleys bear
ing approximately north and south among
the Cordilleras. The line is TO be connect
cd with important centres by branch rail
roads, some OF which are already built
though the longer branch lines must be
constructed. The entire main line will fol-
low the axis OF the Cordilieras from the
southern border of Mexico TO Lake Titica-
ca. At that lake the railroad is TO pass
TO the east Of the Andes ranges. utilizing
lines already built or projected 10 carry
the route south as far as Huanchaca Bo-
llvia.
The line passes through every State of
Central America and all the Pacific Coast
States of South America excepting Chile.
whose chief coast town, Antofagasta Val
paraiso, and Valdivia, will be connected
with the trunk line by branch roads al
ready in operation or nearly completed.
Some of the most important trade centres
In every State OF South America will be
Joined by rail TO the main line. One OF
the longest of these branches will be that
between Medellin and Valencia. the cap
ital of Venezuela. The scheme also in
cludes an extension across the fat country
OF eastern Bolivia to Uberaba, the most
northwestern town Of Brazil in railroad
connection with Rio de Janeiro and the
seaport OF Santos. 1t is proposed by an
other branch line from Bolivia FOL oY-
Ing the course of the Pilcamayo and Para
quay Rivers. to reach Asuncion. the capi-
tai of Paraguay, and beyond that point TO
MI the gap in the existing railroads so
as TO give Monteyideo. the capital of
Uruguay. through connection with the
trunk line. The entire Argentine system
OF railroads will be united to the trunk
line by building short line from Huan-
chaca TO Ju1uy. \ part OF this section
may require much engineering skin to
overcome the heavy grade, as the descent
from the high plain OF Bolivia to the
pampas of Argentina involves difference
In Level Of 6,s16 feet in distance of i25
miles.
Over Ten Thousand Miles
The Commission estimates that tho ,o,ol