The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09

are now under consideration will have a
greater or more wfde-reaching effect for
good. Years have elapsed since il has been
demonstrated that the continent of Africa
IS not only an inhabitable. hut a desirable
land In which I" live. but. in spite of this.
ously interfered with the settlement of the
| country
Jean BcrIincr's Project.
Although a separate enterprise. the project
| to tunnel the Mediterranean is so thorough
| ly a part of this Twentieth Century scheme
l of an all-rail route around the world that II
. IS impossible To think "r ON. without con-
sidsrinE the practicability of the other, for
with sch a tunnel under the Straits of
Gibraltar. 81 would he possible to whisk
the trains from the African TO tho Euro
pean rails without loss OF time or change
OF cars. while the Importance OF the project
. rs the connecting link between the con-
Europe and Asia makes IT one Of the most
consequential of all the modern undertake
inss.
neering is NJ. Jean Berlincr. His position
AZ one Of the most eminent Of European
civil engineers. and Chevalier OF the Legion
of Honor. first commanded for his project
the attention n; the financial world. but his
plans appear TO have been so well devised
that he has found no difficulty in e~nlis,inC
all the capital necessary to enable him to
undertake his work. Already he has OBJ
tained the required concessions from Spain.
All that Is lacking is the permission from
sac ava " A'N' EaT Ills iii
will soon he granted also seems probable.
80 ii may he considered as safe 10 predict
that this Mediterranean tunnel scheme will
he completed by Jhe time the last rail has
been laid in the Cape to Cairo Railroad.
! Road 10 south America.
Among all these great engineering pro-
jscts. however. not one represents a great
ct or more important undertaking than the
intercontinertal railroad which it is Intend
ed shall run from the United States. through
central America to the end OF South Amer
nended by the members of the recent Pan
American Congress. Although by no means
completely laid out the surveys that have
already been made by the Congressional
Commission provide for a road that will be
more than 1000 miles long and that cannot
be completed at a cost OF less than $aa. CO.,
OS. The estimate will be considerably in
creased when the Government survey has
extended through Patagonia almost TO the
extremity of Cape Horn. From the existing
surveys. however. the United States Gov
eminent has proved conclusiveiy that such
a route as that which has been laid out
would be a practicable one. while the de-
mands of trade are daily increasing SO rap
idly that IL is not improbable that its early
construction will be decided upon as an i'm
perattve necessity.
At the present time there is no continent
which possesses created undeveloped re-
sources than South America Rich in prac-
tically untouched mineral wealth. and with
agricultural possibilities that are boundless.
the one requirement which must be fulfilled
# it Is TO keep pace with the progressive
spirit OF INC resi- q ne WCFu u ne COT
struction CT a railroad system which will
bring its products within the reach Of those
who are most eager 10 SECURE them. Such a
road would be one OF the greatest feats OF
engineering. for none OF the obstacles that
were overcome in the building OF the great
Transsiherian system can compare TO sew
eral difficulties which will confront those
who are called upon to construct the Pan
American Railway
When It is completed. however. the last
link will have been forged in the great
scheme of int%ercontinerAsl transportation.
II will then be within the realm OF posi-
b,Iitv for the Traveller who secures his berth
in the sleeper At Cape Horn to ride to the
Cape of Good Hope. passing. in the mean
time, through the five great continents, or
from one end of the earth TO the other.