The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-14
PAN.AMERICAN
RAILROAD PLANS
Panama Treaty Furnishes Incen-
tive to Work in Central
America.
Commissioner Pepper Reports En-
couragement for Line to
Beunos Aires.


M. Pepper, appointed by President
Roosevelt as commissioner to carry
out the recommendations of the sec
ond international American confer
ence held In Mexico two years ago,
with regard to the Pan-American rail-
way, has submitted his report to the
state department, by which it will be
transmitted to congress.
The report says that the general
project of an intercontinental line,
which ultimately will place New York
and Buenos Aires in thru railway
communication, is receiving much en-
couragement. At the present time
about 4,S00 miles are LACKING and the
estimated cost Of construction is $780,
100000. This is based on an aver
age of SO cents gold as a daily wage
for labor, with an efficiency Of Is per
cent as compared with similar labor
in the United States.
Progress in Mexico. -
Commissioner Pepper discusses the
great progress in Mexico and the actu-
al railway work. that is still going
on. Only 172 miles are lacking to
reach the border of Guatemala. Ref
erence also is made to the interoceanic
lines from the Gulf Of Mexico to the
Pacific, and it is stated that within two
years two thru trunk systems will be
completed. Mexico now has 800
miles Of railways, excluding electrical
traction and similar tramways, as
against 335 miles in 1873.
In Guatemala the extension of the
Central railroad has left only thirty
miles open from the capital to Ayutla,
on the northern border, and this Sec
ton it is expected will be built in the
near future. :a,~r..
ho two mt ID 1HyC How
G. Van Horne and Miner G. Keith for
completing the Northern railroad
from Guatemala City to Ell Rancho,
will insure thoro rail route from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and also will
encourage Panama lines to the border
Of Salvador.
In describing the prospects in Mica
ragua, Commissioner Pepper calls at
tention to the action of the govern
ment in reviving former projects for
rail route thru to the Atlantic as
soon as it was definitely settled that
the canal was to be built across Pan
anna. instead Of thru Nicaragua. Engi-
neers are making the survey for what
is known as the Atlantic route.
In Costa Rica only fifteen miles are
now lacking Of thru route from
the Pacific to the Atlantic. The
United Fruit company, which has rail-
way lines on the Atlantic coast, has
submitted plans for an extension to
Boca del Toro in Panama.
The Argentine republic is extending
It's northern lines, not only to the from
! tier Of Bolivia but beyond as far as
Tupiza. Construction work Is now
| under way on this line from Jujuy
north. go
The Argentine system consists of
II, 1850 miles. The net earnings on the
! total capital, which is $539,000,000,
were 3.71 per cent last year.
80 The Chilean government Is under
taking to secure the construction of a
tunnel thru the Andes, thus complet-
ing the Uspallata pass route from VAL
paraiso to Buenos Aires.
Intercontinental Route.
Much significance Is given by Com
missioner Pepper to Brazil's proposed
links in the intercontinental route
between Tupiza and Uyuni and Oruro
| and La Paz. The report discusses the
mineral resources of Bolivia in their
relation to railway development.
In Peru significance Is given to the
railway movement now in progress
and to the $10,000,000 investment OF
a United States syndicate in the cop
per mines of Cerro de Pasco and in
collateral railway enterprises. Two
general routes are indicated. One is
toward Cuzco and the other toward
the Amazon. The first will insure ul-
innate thru railway travel between
Lima and Buenos Aires, while the
second, in time, will enable the distant
Peruvian port of Iquitos on the Anna
zon to be reached.
/ With reference to Brazil, Commits
sioner Pepper quotes the Acre treaty
under which that republic agrees tc
to build within four years a rail
road from Santo Antonio around the
Madeira falls to the Mamore. The
| length will be about 800 miles. This
railway line. will insure the benefit o,
rail and water communication to {
great region tributary to the Amazon
Road to Reach the Andes.
The report outlines the various pro
jects Of the Brazilian government fol
reaching the slopes of the Andes, ane
for rail communication to the interior
! states: Of Goyaz and Matte Crosse
which are now dependent on the rive
courses via Buenos Aires. Ten thou
and miles Of railroads are now. il
operation.
4 The report refers to the possibilit.
of utilizing the water force in tn,
| Andes for electrical traction and give
the views of Alexandra Bertrand, al
eminent Chilean engineer. A practic
al test may be made in Bolivia ant
also in northern Argentine.
Numerous instances are given o
the ability Of the United States t,
: supply South America and Contra
America with steel rails as we'll as witt
, rolling stock generally. The repor
praises the adaptability Of manufac
turers in the United States in meeting
the special needs of local conditions
In the. rivalry Of Great Britain an
: Germany, the report states that Ger
many has made Roadway but say
there is reaction from German
cheap goods; and the United State
can compete with Germany in supply
ing the better grade for which tn
, demand now exists.