New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-18

Charles NJ Pepper. tho commissioner sent 10
Central and South American countries 70 report
OF the feasibility of the Pan-AmeriCan railway
project has Just submitted some interesting con
illusions 10 the State Department The com
pletion OF an intercontncntal line joining New
York with Buenos Ayres is doubtless still 10
be considered dream OF the future; but in Mr..
Peppers judgment that future is beginning 10
be roughly measurable. Fifteen years ago. at
the ime OF the first Pan-American Conference,
through railroad transit from Canada 10 Pata-
Ronia seemed a nebuious and visionary fancy
To-day however. the undertaking IS descend
ing n little from the clouds and nearing the
level OF other vast accomplished or practicable
railroad projects.
Mr.. Pepper declares that no .nsupcrabie Diff
cultes. material or financial. block the con
gtruc1on OF q through intercontnental rail
road. The breaks 20 be flied i'm existing lines
OF communication aggregate only 400 miles.
and f150.O00.O00 Is given rs the probable
cost OF laying the links TO toin the North
American and South American systems But
the Encouraging feature OF the situation is
that the work still 20 be done fails in regions
where the local need OF railroads is least press
3ng and where the capital invested would be
sunk with little or no hope OF return within the
century. At the two ends ~ the chain progress
tn railroad building Is active and healthful; but
81 the mountain wastes OF Colombia. Ecuador.
Peru and Bolivia construction waits on the
slow development Of population. civil order and
material resources.
IN Mexico and Guatemala, Mr.. Pepper reports
she mileage Of existing railroads is being rapid
~ increased. Mexico hos now 400 miles 81
track. against only 335 miles ia 1873. Til,
Mexican system reaches 20 within L. miles oi
she Guatensalan border. From Guatemala City
line north is completed 10 within thirty miles
~ the Mexican border. and new lines iust bro
:ected will give al east and west extension
from thc capital almost 70 the borders Of Sal
vsdor. In the other Central American state,
tie railroads run from tho coasts inward. But
the building OF tho Panama Canal is counte,
on 20 stimulate the desire for direct land con
nection with Che Panama frce zone, and Mr.
Pepper thinks that Costa Rican line now end
ing 50 BOc0s del loro. may soon loo extended OF
down the coast 10 Colon. Below Panama. how
erc-, all activity in railroad construction ceases
untl Peru is reached: and she prospect OF am
serious railroad exploitation OF Colombia Ecua
aor and The northern half o. Peru Is certainl,
Tar distant.
Az the Other end OF the line. in the Argentine
Republic and Chill. the situation IS more prom
Using. The Argentine system embraces II. 80
miles of road. Under n recent treaty with 30
. lvia one OF the Argentine state owned limos 4
70 be extended across the Bolivian frontier
Buenos Ayres and Santiago arc also soon 20 q.
JOINED by through trnnscoutinental line an,
chill is undertaking 10 push a line north as IA
IS lquiQue- which may IN the end BE extende,
into Peru. Peru is preparing 10 build n lin
toward the Bolivian frontier. IN the hope o
ilnhliy joining the Argentine system and secur
ing through transit 20 Buenos Avree In IN
southern hair OF the South American coutinou
rHilroao projects are receiving active popala
sno national support: but in The poo~ am
sparse!y populated northern countries. Rrnzi
erccpted, neither money nor energy is availahl
TOY fail-osd construction. The building Of =,
Fhnnma Canal viii give powerful impetus /,