The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-25
"A CANAL is THREATENED BY THE TEiUANTEPEC RAILWAY
Special Correspondence Of The Journal

snecal Correspondence Of The Journal.
Coatza coalcos, Mexico, March 49,
When President Diaz of Mexico in the
early part of 1905 made a visit to the
rsthmus Of Tehuantepeo to inspect the
railway which spans that region OF
southern Mexico from coast to coast, the
attention Of the world was directed to
one of the great engineering works Of the
age
The plans for this railway, which has
cost many millions Of dollars and IN
which the Mexican government Is
partner, were the product Of the brain
of Sir Weetman D. Pearson, head of the
great British engineering and contract
ing firm of S. Pearson & Son. On the
Pacific side the terminal Of this road Is
at Salina Cruz, and on the Gulf Of Next
co its terminal is at Coatzacoalcos.
At Salina Cruz and at this city vast
operations are being conducted in order
TO properly care for the commerce for
which this railway will bid In the mar
kets Of the world. Great piers are be-
ing constructed, alongside Of which the
largest ocean steamers can berth. On
these piers the railway trains will run
the vessels, and will aso load directly
from the vessels. Mammoth storehouses
are also being constructed, and at Rim
con Antonio, which Is considered the
most salubrious place on the isthmus. the
shops and general offices of the railway
are located.
Rival to Panama Canal.
In view Of the vast expenditures to
which the United States is pledged in
the construction of the Panama canal,
this Tehuantepec railway deserves its
serious consideration. 1t Is rival Of
3 the canal project, and is destined to be
a most serious one. It possesses the de-
cided advantage Of being nearer to the
United States by 1000 miles than is the
Panama route, and for commerce be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
this means g saving OF 1000 miles in
space and several days in time.
These are considerations that will ap-
peal forcibly to shippers and merchants,
and the road therefore Is bound to handle
an immense tonnage Of American freight
AS it will be many years before the
Panama canal is opened, the isthmian
route will have ample time to become an
~
lantic and Pacific for the commerce of
the world, and much OF this great trade
will undoubtedly remain with it after the
Panama canal is opened.
Along the route can be seen the ruins
Sic of the great canal that was planned and
partially constructed by Spanish engi-
neers This was intended to drain a
vast section of country, and in places
the excavation is 200 feet deep. It was
E never completed, however, 1t was
found after many millions had been
spent, that an error of about forty feet
had been made in the plans. This set
tied the fate Of the project .t-'
The Tehuantepec passage was favor
site route for the men attracted to Cali
fornia by the gold discoveries of 49,, and
IT is no uncommon thing now to see
beautiful women Of the country wearing
as ornaments gold coins minted in the
ITnited States at that time. The miners
annx their way home to the Eastern states
would cross the Sierra Madre range or
font. the natives carrying their luggage
They would then drop down the Coat;
zacoaIcos river in canoes until they came
10 the gulf port Of the same name. These
gold coins have descended from mother
| to daughter as heirlooms, and are held IL
great veneration.
/ American Enterprise Here.
A large amount Of American and Brit
tsh capital has found investment down