Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-20
new CHILEAN RAIL WAY
Proposed Line From the Pa
cific TO BoliVia's Capital.
RESULT OF TREATY
ENORMOUS DEVELOPMENT OF
THE COUNTRY EXPECTED.
Chinese Boys at West Point-Climate
of Western Canada and the
Cost of Living.
RESULT OF TREATY
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
In violation of the rights of Peru, the
government of Chile has recently made a
treaty with the government of Bolivia, I'M
der which it agrees to build a. railroad
from africa, the principal port on the Pa
cific ocean Tin former province of Peru,
which has been occupied by Chile since the
war of 1891 to La Paz, the capital of Bo-
livia. Three branch lines are also to be
built-one to rich sulphur deposits at
place called Tacora; another to the famous
copper mine of Coro-coro; and third to
the river Desaguadero, of the principal
tributaries of the Amazon which Is navi-
gable all the way to the Atlantic This
will give the products of Bolivia an outlet
to the markets of Europe through the Am
azon, instead of compelling them to be
carried, as at present, all the way down
the west coast and through the Straits of
Magellan. 1t is a great enterprise, and
will contribute enormously to the develop
ment of the country and the prosperity of
the people.
The railway system of the Argentine re-
public Is also being gradually extended
northward into Bolivia for the purpose of
giving an outlet from that country through
the Rio de Ia Plata via Buenos Ayres; but
the Amazon route is shorter and more con-
venfent The government of Bolivia has
been offering concessions for several years
to any one who would build a railway down
the eastern slopes of the Andes to the nav
igable waters of the Amazon but, as the
profits are entirely prospective and depend
upon the Introduction of capital and the
development of industries, no private cor
poration has been willing to undertake the
task, ard the government is so poor that
tic ~ ,Syff Two
an internal improvement. 1t is fortunate
for Bolivia. therefore, that its rich neigh
Dor is willing to undertake the contract,
although the consideration, both from
moral and political standpoint, is very large
and involves the national honor.
Seizure Of the Mineral Lands.
Twenty-Five years ago Bolivia owned a
long strip of territory on the Pacific coast
which was being mined for nitrate of soda.
Several Chilean companies and individuals
were engaged in the work. To improve
her revenue Bolivia imposed an insignif-
cant duty upon exports which the Chilean
miners refused to pay. The two countries
went to war over the matter. Bolivia APP
pealed to Peru, and the latter country went
to the assistance of her weaker neighbor.
Chile whipped them both, seized all the
mineral territory along the coast and has
since occupied 1T, imposing an export tax
OF ten times the amount that was the orig
inal cause OF the war. There is humor in
international politics.
Peru is still trying to recover her lost
territory Bolivia, in whose defense she
lost 1t, is now the ally of their victorious
neghbor, and has consented to relinquish
all rights and claims, provided Chile will
give her a seasport on the Pacific and
build q railroad across the mountains. so
that her people may ship their products
and bring in their imports. 1t is Illus
tratien Of the irony of fate, that Chile
should give Bolivia commercial outlet
through the territory that was captured
from Peru, and select a captured Peruvian
city for the Bolivian seaport. Peru has
protested in vain. She has appealed to the
powers, but they cannot very well inter-
fere. She has demanded court of arbitra-
ton; and more humor may be found in the
diplomatic gymnastics of Chile, by which
she also agrees to arbitrate, but raises one
obstcIe after another to prevent it.
Mr.. Calderon, the able and genial PERU
Wan who has been minister at Washington
Cor several years and is so popular here,
has recently been sent to Santiago by his
government, in the hope that he may be
clever enough to corner Chile and bring the
controversy Of twenty-five years to a con-
clusion.
Proposals Invited.
In the meantime the government of Chile
has advertised for bids for the construction
OF the read. They must be filed before 2
O. clock pm. on the I'd day of January next
with the subsecretary of foreign affairs at
Santiago, Chile accompanied by deposit
of s250,OO0 as a guarantee of good faith
The bidder to whom the contract Is award
ed must make an additional deposit of
$3.50, goo when the contract is signed, and
the sum of s50o,000 thus created will be
placed in trust with mortgage bank, to
be forfeited in case of failure to carry out
the stipulations. 1t is to be a narrow
guage road, three feet wide. from africa to
La Paz with branches from La Paz to
Tac0ra to Coro-coro (Boliyia1, and to a
designated port on the river esaguadero.
Bids for the construction of these three
branches must be submitted separately,
and the government reserves the right to
accept or reject any of them, or award
them to separate bidders If it Is consid-
cred expedient. Mr.. Josiah Harding, an
English engineer who has made the pre-
lirninary surveys and located the line, will
give whatever detailed Information Is de-
SIRED to persons who are thinking of bid
ding The work of construction must be
begun before March ], 1906, and mus be
finished within three years.