The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-01
Railroad to
Cross the Andes

Special to The Globe.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 2S.-Finding
that there is little prospect Of inducing
the United States government to vote
an appropriation for it's purposes the
international continuing committee, of
the Pan-American railway project, Will
itself pay the expenses of competent
persons to Central and South America
to report on the resources Of the coun-
try to be traVersed, the location and
condition of existing railway lines that
may be used as part of the through
line or as feeders for it, the amount
of traffic carried by existing lines and
it's character; the amount of local and
through traffic of all kinds that could
probably be expected by an interconti-
mental line, and the character of tho
concessions and the amount Of assist
ance that would be given by the varf-
Gus countries to be traVersed.
During the last session Of the United
States congress, President Roosevelt,
on the recommendation OF Secretary
Hay, asked for an appropriation by
congress to allow of this report be-
ing made.
When the international American
conference met in this city last winter
resolutions were passed favoring the
construction of an international rail
way, connecting the systems Of the
United States and Mexico on the north
with Chilli, Paraguay, Uruguay and the
Argentine Republic on the south. ira
versing all of the Central American re-
publics and all of those in South Amer
lea which touch the Pacific ocean,
with lines into Venezuela and Brazil.
The international railway commits
sion has already sent surveying parties
into the field, and a survey of the en-
tire proposed line has been made from
the northern border of Guatemala to
the northern terminus OF the Argentine
| system. These surveys showed that
| the entire distance from Buenos Ayres
| to New York by the route proposed
| to be followed was 1929 miles, of
which there has been constructed at
| the time, principally in the United
States, Mexico and the Argentine Re-
public, 4,771 miles Of railway that
would be available, leaving little more
| than half the total length to be built.
There has been since that time con-
! siderable construction south of the Rio
/ Grande, in Mexico and the Argentine
Republic, and some short pieces of
| road in other countries that might be
utilized, and it is now estimated that
| less than 5000 miles of railway would
| protect the line. An estimate was
made by the engineers of the inter
| continental railway commission Of the
| average cost Of construction for the
| entire distance then remaining to be
Dullt, at SoZ,Oe0 per mile, or total or
STA, 290,271 in all. The report of the
| Pan-American railway committee in
! the Mexican conference raised this es-
| timate to a maximum of $4,000 per
mile, or $200,o00,000 for a maximum
| construction of 5000 miles. Should the
| proposed commercial report be favor
| able the next work of the internatien-
| 81 continuing committee will be to ar
range means for beginning the actual
| construction of the line. When it Is
| commenced the first work undertaken
! will probably be at the northern end.
| The Mexican system now extends
| practically to the borders of Guatemala
and the boundary between these two
countries would appropriately mark
| the beginning of the work There is
| an immense amount of interest being
| displayed in the Central American
| countries in having the road carried
| through their territory with as little
| delay as possible, even should it have
| to stop for awhile at the Panama ca
/ nal. Since they have lost all hope Of
having the trans-isthmian canal built
| by the Nicaragua route, Costa RIGA
| and Nicaragua are taking q special
| interest in the matter.
| 1t is probable that efforts will be
| made to have the road completed at
| least as far as the line of the Panama
canal in time to be OF some service In
connection with the completion OF the
| Waxk.