Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-03-23
Commissioner Pepper Considers the
Pan-Ameriean Railroad Project
Entirely Feasible.
WOULD COST MANY MILLIONS
Il Would be Necessary to Build 1890
Miles to Complete the Line
From End 10 End.

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 confer
nee created a permanent committee
with headquarters in Washington.
the members being ex-senator II. G.
Davis, chairman; Andrew Carnegie,
the ambassador from Mexico and the
ministers from Peru and Guatemala.
Commissioner Pepper spent a year
in visiting the various countries, and
his inquiries covered the general sub
ject of trade opportunities that would
result from railroad building as well
as actual railway construction.
Lacks 4,soo Miles.
The report says the general pro-
ject of an international line which
ultimately will place New York and
Buenos Ayres in through railway
communication is receiving much en-.
enlargement. About 1890 miles are
lacking, and the estimated cost of
construction is placed at $3.50, 000, 900.
This is based on an average of so
cents gold as a daily wage for labor,
with an efficiency of IS per cen as
compared with similar labor in the
United States.
Commissioner Pepper discusses the
great progress in Mexico, wheree on
ly 172 miles are lacking to reach the
border of Guatemala, and within two
years two through trunk systems
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pa
ciic will be completed. Mexico now
has 800 miles of railways, excluding
electrical traction and similar tram
ways, as against 1886 miles in 1873.
Regarding the Central American re-
publics. the commissioner says that
most of them have national policies
for building in~ter-oceanic lines to
bring their Atlantic and Pacific ports
into communication. and these will
serve as feeders for the Pan-Ameri-
can route. He says the demand for
supplies which will result from the
Panama Canal construction will en-
courage railroad enterprises through
out Central America, and suggests
the probability of further facilities
for meeting the needs of information
al traffic.
In Central America.
In Guatemala the extension of the
Central railroad in November. 1903,
has left Only 30 miles open from the
capital Il Ayutla. on the northern
border, and this section, ii Is expect
ed. will be built within the neal fu-
ture. Importance is given the con-
tract completed by Sir William C.
Van Horne and Miner C.. Keith with
the government last January for COM
pleting the northern railroad from
Guatemala City to FL Rancho. This
will insure a through rail route from
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
In Nicaragua. Commissioner Pep
per calls attention to the action of
the government in %reviving former
projects for a rail route through to
the Atlantic as 500 as II was def
nitely settled that the canal was to
be built across the Panama instead
of through Nicaragua. In Costa Ri
ca only fifteen miles are now lack
ing of a through route from the Pa
cific to the Atlantic. A variation is
suggested of the intercontinental To-
cation from the Pacific to the Allan
tic slope.
South America.
In Ga.th nnrtnn Top,r.t1.ta.a.
Pepper gives significance to the
treaty under which the Argentine Re.
public is extending its northern lines,
not only to the frontier of Bolivia,
but beyond as far as Tupiza. This
treaty, he suggests. may be a prece-
dent for other international agree
ments. Construction work is now un-
der way on this line from Jujuy north.
The Argentine system consists of H.
$50 miles and the net earnings on the
total capital of $3.50. 600, 900 we're 81
per cent last year. With reference to
Chile. particulars are given of the 5
per cent guaranty on $500, 900 for
twenty years under which the Chilean
government Is undertaking to secure
the construction of a tunnel through
the Andes, thus completing the U.s.
pallata route from Valparaiso to Bue-
nos Ayres. The executive recently
submitted to the Chilean congress es-
Inmates for appropriations of 500. 000.-
900 gold for public works during the
next fifteen years. One-half of this
amount is to be spent on railways.
the greater proportion for the longi-
tudinal lines. which will place Santa
go In through communication with
the nitrate port OF Iqique and the
northern provinces.
$1o,000,o00 Available.
Much significance is placed by Com
missioner Pepper on the $40, 200. 900
which Bolivia receives from Brazil as
an indemnity for the Acre tract and
which is to be applied to railroad con.
struction. In Peru significance is CIV
en- to the railway movement o in
progress and to the SIC, 900. 900 invest
ment of a United States syndicate in
the copper mines of Cerro de Pasco
and in collateral railway enterprises.
The tobacco tax guaranty law is
summarized and the two general
routes are indicated. One will insure
through railway travel etween Lima
and Buenos Ayres, while the second.
in time, will reach the distant Pc
ruvian port of Iqitos On the Amazon.
The report Of the Peruvian corpora.
ton. the London company which as.
sumed the foreign debt of Peru and
took over the state railways under
a lease for sixty-five years. shows net
receipts in 1903 OF $1,000. 900.
BraziI's Big Plans.