The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-15

tidewater outlet for the products of
southern Mexico and the great plateau
lying south of the capital of that re-
public, which is famous for it's fertil-
ity as well as for the great men it has
produced
1t is now possible to go all the way
from New York to CoalzacoaIcos by
ran via the City of Mexico and Vera
Cruz, from which point a railroad runs
southwark along the eastern slope to
connect with the Tehuantepec line.
1he Mexican Southern is building
SouthWard through the state of Oaxa-
ca and will soon make a similar con-
nectlon at the town of Tehuantepec,
twelve miles from the Pacific ocean,
ana the Pan-American Railway Com
pany IS pushing slowly southwark from
Galtlpan station toward the bounda-
rles of Guatemala. Galtipan is a small
place noted in history as the birth
place and home of Malinche, or Dona
Marina. the beautiful Aztec mistress
and interpreter of Cortez, the conquest
adore.
Capt Eads argued for years in favor
OF ship railway across the isthmus
OF Tehuantepec. He thought it was
easier to hoist big ships out of the
water, place them on trucks and run
them on wheels over to the Pacific
than to dig canal, but he could not
convince Congress of the practicable
lty OF his plans. Shortly after his death
the Mexican government undertook to
build an ordinary railway between the
two oceans across the narroweSt part
of its territory. This has been a IA
vorlte project of President Diaz who
was born in Oaxaca, and at one time
was governor of Tehuantepec. No one
realizes more than he it's Importance
to the commerce of the world or to
the development of Mexico
CORTEz SOUGHT A WATERWAY.
When Cortez passed through Te-
huantepec after the conquest of Mex
leo to the conquest of Honduras he
endeavored to find a natural water
way across the isthmus, and, recog-
nizing it's imperative Importance, con-
fidently expected within his own time
to see an artificial route established.
That confidence was so great that he
applied to Emperor Charles V for a
grant of land in the locality, which
was given him, and the new railway
now passes through what were once
his estates. The property has since
been divided but it is still called the
Hacienda Marquesanes because the
emperor knighted him Marquis of the
Valley" If small part of the plum
der of the conquest had been applied
to the construction of canal in those
days, as CorteZ recommended, it might
have changed the commercial history
of the continent, but the loot was put
to baser uses and the canal was not
approved, although surveys were made
by Philip II in the sixteenth and
Charles III in the eighteenth centuries.
For three hundred years the policy of
Spain was opposed to the commercial
development of its American colonies, |
and forbade communications between
them and the rest of the world.
STORY OF MEXICOS EFFORTS.
One of the first acts of the republic |
of Mexico after its independence was |
to provide for a water route across |
the isthmus, and the first congress, |
which met in 1924, authorized the Pres |
ident to invite proposals for its con-
struction. It was believed that a canal |
across Tehuantepec would make Mex
leo the center of the commerce and
navigation of the world. The protract-
ed struggle between the clerical, or
and the progressive eIe-
ments of the population prevented the
realization of this hope, although the
plan was revived during every inter-
val of peace between revolutions. In
1912 a charter was granted, and 1t was
in 1916. At the close of the
war between Mexico and the United
States the concession was purchased
oy a syndicate of New York capital
sts. In 1857 another charter was
granted to a new Orleans company and
n 1879 still another was given to Ed
ward Leonard of New York. In 1891
he government of Mexico made con-
ract with Capt. James B. Eads OF ST
louis for the construction of snip
but he was unable to obtain
he capital. In 1888 party of English
engineers received the concession, ana
n 1892 the government undertook the
work itself. It turned out TO be very
'oor job and three years ago the prof.
ct was turned over to Sir Wheetman
'earson, a Liverpool engineer under !
ffty-year concession.
THE NEW RAILROAD.
Under the terms of he contract Mr.. :
'earson and his associates have rebuilt
he road in first class condition and
ave nearly completed extensive harbor 7
-orks at both ends of the line. Coatza-
calcos is exposed 10 turbulent storms
n the gulf. and for that reason the I
? rbor works have been extensive and
xpensive. a heavy wall has been built i
CONTINUED on Page 81