The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-03-19
PEPPERS REPORT
pAN.AMERICAN RAILWAY COM
MISSIONER TELLS OF WORK.
General Project of lnter-COntinent-
nj Line Which Will Connect
North and South American Cit
los Receiving Much Encourage
nent.-Links Being Constructed.

Banner. appointed by President Roose-
Welt az commissioner to carry out the
recommendations of the second inter-
rational American conference held in
Mexico two years ago with regard to
rho Pan American railway, has SUBJ
mitted his report to the state depart
ment. by which it will be submitted
To congress. The second conference
created a permanent commission, with
headquarters at Washington, of which
u D. Davis is chairman and Andrew
Carnegie is member. The other men,
hers are the ambassador from Mexico
and the ministers from Peru and Guat-
emala.
Commissioner Pepper spent year in
visiting various countries and was aid
I'd in his work by the United States
ministers His inquiries covered the
general subject of trade opportunities
that would result from railroad build
ing.
The report says that the general pro-
iect of an intercontinental line which
ultimately will place New York and
Buenos Ayres in communication, is re-
ceiving much encouragement At the
present time about 4,8OO miles are
lacking, and the estimated cost of con-
struction is placed at $3.50, 100000
Progress of Work.
Commissioner Pepper cites specific
causes which have contributed to ad-
vance the intercontinental project.
These include the progress at both
ends, as shown in simultaneous action
bv Mexico ON the north and the Argen-
tine Republic ON the south to extend
their railway lines; the settlement of
disputed boundaries and other ques-
lions which have heretofore caused the
countries to be Indifferent to railways
among themselves; the law passed by
the Chilean congress for the tunnel
through the Andes, which will enable
the long deferred railway connection
between Buenos Ayres and Valparaiso
to be made; legislation by several of
the republics with view of Offering
inducements for foreign capital to en-
gage in railway construction, and the
definite determination of the Panama
canal question, which is expected to
be beneficial both i'll the stability
which will result from the influence
of the United States on the isthmus
and from the overflow of private CAPT
tai into railway enterprises.
In reviewing in detail the republics,
Commissioner Pepper discusses the
great progress in Mexico and the &C.
tual railway work that is still going
on. Only 172 miles are lacking to
reach the border of Guatemala. Ref
erence is also made to the intercom-
MERGE line from the gulf of Mexico to
the Pacific, and it is tsated that with
in two years two through trunk line
systems will have been completed.
President Diaz is praised for the results
which have been had from his railway
policy.
Regarding the Central American re-
publics, the commissioner says that
most of them have now policies for
building lines to bring their Atlantic
and Pacific ports into communication,
and these as feeders for the Pan Amer
lean route, He states that the demand
for supplies which will result from the
Panama canal construction will en-
courage railroad enterprises through
Central America, and he suggests the
probability of further facilities for
meeting the needs of international
traffic.
The completion of the Guatemala
extension of the Central railroad in
November, 1908, has left only thirty
miles open from the capital to the
northern border, and this section, il is
believed, will be built within the near
future
In describing the prospects of Mica
ragua, Commissioner Pepper calls at
tention to the action of the govern
ment III reviving former projects for
rall route to the Atlantic as soon as 1t
was definitely settled that the canal
was to be built across Panama instead
OF through Nicaragua. Engineers are
making the survey for what is known
as the Atlantic route. The government
Is negotiating with New York and Lon
oon capitalists for the esta blishment
Oh national bank. II this is done
railway enterprises will be aided.
Much significance is placed by Com
missioner Pepper on the payment OF
10000, 900 which Bolivia receives as
Indemnity from Brazil for the Acre
tract, and which is to be applied to
railway construction. The report in
discussing the mineral resources of Bo-
nVia, makes special mention of the
iact that Bolivia is the only country
On the continent which has tin deposits
In Peru significance is given to the
railway movement now in progress,