The sun., 1903-08-24
THE FAVORITE PROJECT or
PRESIDENT DEAZ.

1
comparing the peaceful and progressive
Mexico of to-day with the turbulent, SEMI
barbaric Mexico Of half century ago that
one obtains fair comprehension OF those
achievements of Porflrio Diaz which mark
him as one of the really great men OF our
day. Mexico's development has not been
spectacular in it's processes. 1t has gone on
quietly though steadily, so quietly. In fact,
that few outside Of those specially inter
ested have given it either thought or atten-
| ton, although many have been vaguely
| conscious that our southwestern neighbor
was taking on a new and larger political
| and industrial life.
! In no other department of his adminis-
tration of Mexican affairs has President
Diaz felt so deep an interest or shown
purpose so broadly constructive in nature
and character as in that Of railway extern
sion. This may almost be said to have been
a hobby with him. il such term is properly
| applicable to measure Of such Importance.
The most striking result Of this, result OF
immeasurable Importance, has been the
naturalization of Mexico. Railway con-
struction In the United States has been car
ried on largely for the purpose OF opening
new areas for settlement, for the making OF
new homes for millions OF people, the crea
ton oH new towns and new cities. The i'm
mediate object in Mexico has been the es-
tablishment of more ready means of COM
munication between points which were al
ready populous. The Mexico of fifty years
ago was socially and politically incoherent.
Widely scattered throughout its area were
cities of important size and note. Its cap-
tai was isolated in the interior, little more
accessible than it was when Cortez occupied
Tenochttlan, by which name the city of
Mexico was then known. The earliest rail-
way line to the city of Mexico was opened
only three years before Diaz first became
President. Before that time. bride paths
and roughly constructed and ill-kept roads
were the only means of communication
between Mexican cities.
All that has now been changed, and while
Mcxico's railway system is still inadequate
there have been developed fair system OF
communication and also national policy.
In the development OF the system, foreign
capital, largely American, has been an i'm
portant factor, perhaps the most important
Without it Mexico would have a much
smaller railway mileage than she has to-
day. On the other hand, il is more than
probable that private capital without the
assistance which has been given by the
Federal. the State and the municipal gov
ernments would have been equally hesitant
in its activities. The sums contributed by
the various States and municipalities can
not be stated, from lack of reliable data.
The total assistance given by the Federal
Government up TO the present time ap-
proxmates $l50,0OO. 900
This sum has been distributed among
more than forty different railway lines and
railway enterprises. With the knowledge
that out Of it all about one-third has gone TO
the Tehuantepec line, there comes a clue to
the favorite project, the special hobby, of
Porfirio Diaz. The ship railway project
of Mr.. James B. Eads is dead enterprise,
but the utilization of the isthmus of Tehuan-
tepec as link in transportation between
Atlantic and Pacific ports, between the
eastern United States and the west coast of
South America, lives as an active principle
in the mind of Gen. Diaz, persistently abid-
ing purpose. Diaz, perhaps with sound
judgment. sees no reason why the Tehuan-
tepec railway should not compete success
that the Tehuantepec rail route for inter-
oceanic shipment should also compete Sue
cessfully with any canal which may be built
at either Panama or Nicaragua. While
one may not accept either his convictions
or his conclusions, it is foolish TO reject or
to condemn them without fair considera-
ton of their possibilities,
The Government owned line from Coatza-
coalcos, on the Gulf of Campeachy, to Salina |
Cruz, on the Gulf of Tehuantepec. is being
with view 10 making il |
focal point of interoceanic and interconti- |
mental traffic. The distance across the |
isthmus is, approximately, 200 miles. Gen. |
Diaz would make Salina Cruz an entrepot |
and shipping port for the trade of the |
west coast of South America, for Australia |
and Australasia. and for such Far East |
trade as it might be possible to secure. His
project involves line of first class steam
ers between Salina Cruz and the South
American ports, with other lines, should |
trade warrant their operation, to other
points in or upon the borders of the Pacific.
The southwest traffic centring at Salina
Cruz is expected to flow in through various
and the Government interest in
some of Mexico's leading railway lines has
much TO do with the Diaz project
The Mexican Government now controls
the National Railroad Company Of Mexico,
operating line between the city Of Mexico
and Laredo, on the American border, where
it makes through connection with United
States lines TO the north and east 1t ad-
vertises this route as POS miles the short
est" between the city of Mexico and the
principal points in the United States 1t also
controls the Mexican Railway, which runs
from the city OF Mexico to the gulf port OF
Vera Cruz. A projected line will connect
with the Vera Cruz route at Cordoba and
run southeastward TO Santa Lucrecia, where
It will join the Tehuantepec line. With the
completion of this system, practically con-
.rolcd by tho Government, there will be
established a fairly direct all-rail route
from all parts of the eastern half of the
United States TO the port of Salina Cruz.
The distance from New Orleans to Salina
'ruz by that route would be a little more
han ? 1000 miles, about 800 miles of it being
n Mexican territory.
From New Orleans to the gulf terminus
II the Tehuantepec line, at Coatzacoalcos.
he water route would he very much shorter
han the run to the Isthmus of Panama. and
here would even be a small advantage in
hipments from points on our eastern coast
~ compared with the Panama route Tho |