The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-19
ROAD WILL PROVE
RIVAL FOR CANAL
w. 9. Corbett Says Tehauntepec
Route Is Equipped to Gobble
Isthmian Traffic.

Have England and Mexico the drop
on the United States in the matter OF
cornering the interoceanic trade which
at present is handled by the Panama
railroad or rounds Cape Horn, and for
which the American government is now
building the Panama canals
This is question which has been re-
Gently brought to. the front by the re-
port OF Commissioner Bristow, who
calls attention to the Tehuantepec
route as a competitor. 2.
1t has long been claimed that canal
across Panama would be guaranteed
commercial success from the start, allow
ing, as it would, the passage from
ocean to ocean Of large freight vessels,
thus doing away with the long jour
ney around the Horn or the present
terminals Of the isthmian railway,
where the facilities for such work are
wholly inadequate.
w. C. Corbett of Minneapolis, who
has visited the isthmus Of Tehuantepec
In the last year, offers some interesting
information on the Tehuantepec situa-
tion. In the first place. said he
today, oTehuantepec is l,200 miles
north of Panama and but 800 miles
the distance across the isthmus is 124
miles, but as 1t is necessary to deyiate
/ in building the railroad, the distance
from the Atlantic to the Pacific is a.
little over 100 miles. The maximum
| elevation of the roadway is 730 feet,
and at no other point along the Mexi-
can coast is it possible to cross with
SO slight grade.
Rebuilding Done Quietly.
esThis road was first opened about
fifteen years ago, but the work was
done in so slipshod a manner that it
has been found necessary practically to
reconstruct the entire road. This i'm
provement was begun in 1902. Very
! Quietly the work has proceeded under
the care and direction of the Mexican
government and the English syndicate
Of Pearson & Sons, which, it is claimed
is really representative Of the Eng.
lish government. By the end Of the
tion. The entire line has been rock.
!, ballasted in the most improved man
ner and equipped with eighty pound
steel. The equipment is thoroly mod.
ern.
'tIn addition to this, harbor facili
ties have been acquired at the ocean
terminals, Coatzacoalcos on the Allan.
elaborate dockage system has been pro-
vided whereby steamers can discharge
their eargoes directly into cars on the
railroad wharves. At the other termi
nal the same operation may be reversed
in reloading to steamers. Contracts are
already let for a large fleet of ocea1
steamers to secure and handle the trade
Of both oceans. The engineers il
charge have estimated the actual car
rying cost Of freight over the line, in
Guiding loading and unloading at the
: terminal, at 60 cents ton. Agains
this is the proposed Panama toll of S.
ton, which Is the same as the Sue'
toll.
More Work to Be Done.
"The English and Mexican govern
ments are not to stop with the presen
Improvement. The next move will b,
for complete four-track system owe
the same route, all thorly up to stand
ard. The steamship facilities at eithe
end can easily be Increased to keep vi
the demands of the trade.
"England is determined to handica]
and disturb the United States in it
;: Mexico was true. The English an
Mexican interests, which are really tn
! respective governments, believe tina
English and German freight will g
! over this route in preference to tn
!: Panama canal, and are working to tina
|: end In addition to this the trade con
!: ditions and the sentiment Of Mexic
are such that English and German
traders will receive the preference
j is largely due to the American infu
ence In the other railroads of tn
country.
government and Pearson & Sons is t.
Continue for ffty-one years. The roa'