Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-05-02
DREAM OF MEXICO
1T MAY BE REALIZED IN THE
TEHuANTEPEc RAILROAD.
DIAZ'S GREATEST AMBITION
Its Importance 10 the Worlds Com
merce and to the Nicaraguan
CanaI-Huntingto Baffled by the
Mexican President.

NOLWlLuSLdUuluB ulS az
years, President Diaz will probably
live to witness the fulflment of one
of his greatest ambitions--a Mexican
transisthmian route practical for the
freight and passenger traffic OF the
world. Early in his presidential career
General Diaz realized the Commercial
and strategic value of commercial
highway from ocean to ocean which
could be controlled by Mexico Al
opportunity for the construction o.
such a highway existed on the 18TH
mus of Tehauntepec, between Coatza
coalcos, on the gulf of Mexico, anc
Selma Cruz, on the Pacific.
BY free use OF the credit of the gov
eminent a railroad was constructed
across this 200 miles, more or less
dividing the two oceans. Thirty-eight
million dollars went into the project,
and a road was actually accomplished.
The manner of its building and the
lack of harbor facilities at either ter
minal rendered 1t practically useless,
however, as a worlds highway, and in
this innocuous condition it has re-
manned until the present time. 1t
has long been the intention of Presi-
dent Diaz to properly rebuild this
road as soon as the financial condi-
ton of Mexico warranted further ex-
penditure. The amount of money re-
CURED was so great, however, that 1t
has been necessary to call in foreign
assistance to carry the enterprise to
its legitimate end.
For many years the late G. p.
Huntington, realizing the threat con-
tanned In this route to Pacific inter-
ests, tried to secure control of the Sc
curities of the Tehuantepec railway,
and thus suppress 1t in the interest of
his other securities. President Diaz,
however, firmly resisted Mr.. Hunting
toms plan, and has now forever pre-
vented the road from becoming other
than the property Of the Mexican gov
eminent by making a remarkable con-
tract with the English firm of which
Sir Weetman Pearson is the head.
Under this contract Pearson & Son
received from the Mexican government
$4,000 900, to be paid in forty monthly
instruments of $1250O0 each. This
contract Is really partnership agree
ment between the Mexican govern
ment and the English builders. In re-
turn for the 100000 to be paid in
less than three and a half years.
Pearson's company undertakes to
so improve the harbor at the eastern
end OF the road as to make it perfect
ly feasible for commerce at all times,
and also to provide an article harbor
on the Pacific end. The railroad itself
is to be put in good physical condi-
ton, and, In short, the entire plant is
to be brought up to such point as to
make II available as a transisthmian
route. The agreement between Pear.
son Il Son and the Mexican govern.
ment runs for fifty years, and at the
end of that time the government be
comes the sole owner and operator OF
the entire plant. During the first
thirty-five years the losses in the oper
alton of the road are to be equally
divided, except that II such losses
shall amount to s4,000,000 Pearson &
Son shall have the option of terminal
ing their agreement with the Mexican
government.
For the first thirty-fve years the
government is to receive 62m pei
cent of the profits; the following five
years sc per cent, the next Ave years
40 per cent, and the last FIVE years q
per cent. The passenger rates for frs
class traffic are to be cents a kilo
meter in Mexican silver; third-clas,
rates are to be cents a kilometer
The rate for first-class freight is I,
be cents per ton per kilometer and
cents ton for sixth-class freight
Mexican silver is now worth abou
half as much as gold; therefore tn,
rates On this road viii be less thar
any road on this continent. a kilomete
being about three.fifths of a mile.
Sir Weetman Pearson has al
enviable reputation for carryin,
through such enterprises as he ma,
undertake. 1t is said that this Tehuan
tepec road is the first speculation Ii
which he has ever engaged, and tina
in the past he has required bond 70
his money before undertaking a con
tract, no matter how large or how
profitable II might promise to be. |
is his firm which has done more thar
s20,00o,000 worth of work for tn,
Mexican government In the harbor o
Vera Cruz. He is familiar with the TIE
huantepec line. for he has also don,
considerable work for the Mexican
government in the harbor at Coatza
coalcos, where a shifting sand bar ha.
baffled commerce for many years.
II is believed that when Corte,
landed in Mexico, five hundred years
ago, this was the point at which ht
commenced operations. The towns
along the Tehuantepec railroad ar,
already hundreds of years old, ant
many of them were larger five cen
turtles age than they are today. This
region is distinctly tropical, and pre-
sents all of the disadvantages pos
sible to enumerate TO the makinr
of happy home for an emigrant from
the temperate zone. Considerable skill
ful writing has been done setting
forth fha a1vapfapae ~ invactp,ani