The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-08-24
I[X|CO'S NEW RAILWAY.
Nil Open up an Important Ex-
porting District for Fruit
COMMERCIAL SHORT CUT
nnoe IVA Many Unsuccessful At
tsmpts Were Made to Construct a
Canal or Railway - Completion
Due to Efforts of President Diaz-
Chances for Sugar Growing.

All Mexico is rejoicing over the
ompletion of the Tehuantepec Ma
ional Railway across the isthmus,
nd the announcement that the har-
or terminals are to be finished for
be big steamships of the Pacific and
ttlantic lines carrying Hawaiian
agar from Honolulu with returned
nrgoes of American merchandise.
The Mexicans are rejoicing be-
ause President Diaz has accom-
llshed this great enterprise. giving
fsxico and the world a line across
~ isthmus, which will develop an
normous business in commerce and
rafic pending the completion Of the
Hnama Canal. So that by the time
.merica's stupendous enterprise shall
ave been opened to the world 18TH
rus routes will become popular and
he great gulf streams OF business
vii tend that way from all parts of
b globe.
DcAz, like his friend and prede-
essor Juarez, is a half-breed. Both
aan were unable to speak the Span
ID language, both arose from sheep
srding to become lawyers, judges,
anerals, patriots and statesmen,
nd both solved the problem of self
yovernment in Mexico.
He will be remembered as the man
eho achieved the mpossible--built a
nAnsl through the mountains, drain
~ the city Of Mexico Of its pestilen-
sal waters and reducing the death
ate from seventy-two per thousand
o something like a civilized record
nder his wise rule two hundred
ax1hons Of American capital have
nan invested in Mexico.
It Is surprising how many at
smpts have been made to construct
canal or a railroad across the 18TH
aus of Tehuantepec. In 1898 the
government entered into a partner
hip contract with Pearson e Sons, Of
sondon, and the name National
sHilroad Company of Tehuantepec"
sas given to the company. With a
working capital of s5,000,000 work
1as begun In earnest, employing the
1ost up to date machinery and meth
As. Rapid progress was made and
yscently the railway was completed.
The great problem was to secure
srmanent depth of harbor on the
ulf side of the isthmus, where the
toatzacoalcos River enters the ocean.
I was found that after dredging out
he harbor to the depth Of thirty feet
u few tropical storms filled the basin
18th silt and alluvial deposit washed
own from mountains, reducing the
!epth to only twelve feet
Then It was decided to follow the
2ads system, 80 successful at New
Jrleans, and build jetties, all Of
which would cost millions of dollars.
1ut the work has been pushed and
9ill soon be completed and ready
tor large ships of deep draught with
rom thirty to thirty-two feet of wa
sr on the bar. The railroad termi-
sa1B OF Coatzacoalcos are q mile
nng, with three tracks stretching up
md down the water front. About
prty millions In gold has been spent
a terminals alone.
On the Pacific side of the isthmus
hs depth Of water is unlimited.
mere Is no natural harbor, simply a
Mrvature of the coast DIT the town Of
alma Cruz, near the old city of Te-
mantepec. To protect the harbor
rom the tremendous ocean storms
hA
Aores, immense breakwaters of
tone and masonry have been built
4 the cost OF millions, but the work
ms been SO well done and con-
fructed on true scientific lines that
hfpping will be amply protected, and
he largest vessels enabled to load
nd unload cargoes in severest
seather.
The latest news in regard to the
nterprise is that the Americana Ha-
taiian Steamship Company has
aosed a contract with the railroad
ompany through Pearson & Sons
or the transportation of all the busi-
Aess of the steamship company be-
ween Atlantic and Pacific ports over
he railroad.
Here is what Sir Weetman Pear
4on said of the Tehuantepec Railway
on his return to England recently
when interviewed by the London
Chronicle:
I'VE hope that trade by the Te-
auantepec route will commence in
July of next year. The railway is
completed, and the harbor works
are pushed forward. We shall inaug-
arate steamship connection in July
by arrangement with a powerful
steamship company, which will run
eleven boats, averaging ten thousand
tons. The boats on the Atlantic side
Will be run from Coatzacoalcos to
New York, and on the Pacific from
Salina Cruz to San Francisco, calling
at the Hawaiian Islands.
This is going to 10 one of the
great routes Of the world. II will
divert traffic that now goes around
Cape Horn and by the Suez Canal.
1t will compete. too, with the Ameri-
can transcontinental railways, for we
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