New-York tribune., 1901-05-19
REACHING OUT FOR ORIENT
WHAT PURCHASE OF MEXICAN CEN
TRIAL RAILROAD MEANS
ROUTE BY MANZANILLO TO THE FAR EAST
TWELVE HUNDRED MILES SHORTER
THAN BY SAN FRANCISCO.
rBr TELEGRAPH To THE rRrBrxE.l

THAN BY SAN FRANCISCO.
IBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEI
Chicago May lS.-Back of the recent purchase
of the Mexican Central Railroad by the syndi-
cate headed by H. Clay Pierce of St Louis is
one of the biggest steamship and railroad trans
portation schemes that has matured in recent
years.
The acquisition Of the road was the first movs
in campaign which the syndicate is to carry
on for the export and import trade between the
United States and the Orient by way of a new
Pacific Coast port. TO be esta ablished at Mama
milo. on the southern coast of Mexico. The pos
sibilities Of the new plan realized when it is
stated that the Oriental route which the
syndicate is establishing will be twelve hun
! dred miles shorter from New-York than the San
Francisco route
Millions Of dollars are to be expended by the
syndicate-in which the Seligmans of New York
and ST. Louis capitalists are interested-in MAX
ing the route the most desirable from ship
ping standpoint. Details have all been arranged
and work on several of the connecting lines
and extensions and on the new harbor has al
ready been started.
The establishment Of the new Oriental route
was admitted to-day by John ]. Mitchell, who
was recently elected to a position on the direc-
tory of the Mexican Central. Mr.. Mitchell. how
ever, declined to enter into details. and was con-
tent with remarking that the who guide
the transportation agencies of this country are
just beginning to awaken to the possibilities OF
the Oriental trade of the future.
THREE-CORNERED WAR
From another source. however. II was learned
that the syndcate's plans likely to precipi-
tate a vigorous three-cornered war for the lions
share of the business between the new syndi-
cate the interests represented by James ]. Hill
and the Santa Fe.
The Mexican plan accounts. it is said. for the
| eagerness of the Santa Fe to complete arrange
| ments with the Hamburg American people.
whereby the latter will establish Oriental
steamship service out of San Francisco. With
the existing arrangements which the Santa Fe
| has for handling its Oriental business by the
way of San Francisco, it is not in the most ad-
| vanta geous position to meet the competition Of
| the syndicate.
James J. Hills haste to complete the four
! large steamships which he is having built for
! his Oriental trade by the way Of his Northern
lines and Seattle, and the vigorous pushing OK
! the plans for big transfer docks at West Su-
perior and elevator facilities at Duluth. are
due in a measure to the advent Of a new com
pettor In the field
The port of Manzanillo is about two hundred
miles south of Banderas Bay, and about seventy
! s 1929 sirrctIv vest Of Col;ma Mexico, which
IL me western terminus of the Mexican Cen
trat II Is a natural landlocked harbor. well
adapted for the entry of the largest seagoing
vessels.
Several million dollars will be expended upon
it Ia make it one Of the finest ports of entry
| on the Pacific Coast At present it is visited by
a few tramp steamers and by small vessels
engaged in coast trade. The new syndicate
already has contracted for the building Of four
| freight steamers which Will he as large as II
not larger than the ones Mr.. Hill is having
built for his Northern route. This order is
said to be only a beginning, as passenger steam
ers NAV be ordered and the trade grows
additional freghters will be added to the fleet
The final link in the chain of railroads from
Coma the coast is under consideration by
the Mexican Central, and will be completed in a
few months.
FROM COAST TO COAST.
Although ii was not positively stated 10 he the
fact II is understood that close traffic rela-
tions will he entered into between the Frisco"
people and the Pennsylvania which will give
them through connections from coast to coast
by the way of St. Louis. II is also within the
possibilities that friendly relations will be estab
Ished with the Baltimore and Ohio and the
Big Four. which would not be difficult. in view
OF the Pennsylvania's controlling interest in
both From St. Louis the route to Manzanillo
will he as follows: The Frisco line. by the
way of Monet. Sapula and Densou 10 Sher
man, Tex From Sherman a line will be built
southwest to Fort Worth. thence southwest to
Brownwood. thence southwest To Spofford
where a connection will be made with the Mexi-
can International Railway, crossing the Rio
Grande at Eagle Pass. and continuing south
and west to a connection with the Mexican Cen
tral at Torreon. The purchase by the Frisco
of the Kansas City. Fort Scott and Memphis
road gives a short connection from Kansas
City straight south to Miami, from which point
a connection will be built to Wyandotte. on the
main line of the Frisco about seventy miles
southwest of Monett.
From the latter place the Frisco" also has
a line southwest to Paris about fifty miles east
of Sherman, with which il is connected by the
Texas and Pacific. The Paris line is now used
in connection with the Gulf Colorado and Santa
Fe and the Internal tional and Great Northern
into San Antonio. By using the Southern Pa
cfc from Fort Worth the Frisco also has
nectons with the Mexican Central at FL Paso,
for which place the Rock Island is headed.