Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-29
May Showing Proposed Railway Bolivia


was sent to La Paz for repairs 1t is ex-
pected back by every mail bearing the sig
nature of the president of Bolivia, and
when it is signed by Speyer & Co. an
epoch in the history of the BOLIVIAN people
may be recorded.
The proposed railroad will run almost
north and south, from the twentieth to
the twenty-third parallel of south latl-
tude and give the products of BOLIVIA Two
outlets to the Atlantic, one by way of the
Amazon and the other by way of the
Argentine Republic.
They have two outlets to the Paclhc at
present-one via Lake Titicaca and the
Southern railway of Peru to the Peruvian
port of Mollendo, and another from the
mining town of Oruro to Antafogasta
Chile. There will soon be a third outlet to
the Pacific. for the government of Chile
has entered into contract with local
syndicate to extend the short road which
now runs from the port OF africa to the
town of Tacna, in the disputed territory
claimed by Peru, to La Paz, the Bolivian
capital. This road was offered to Speyer
& Co. 1t was also offered to ]. g. White
& Co. another New York firm, but they
declined to bid.
Deposit of 100000.
Bolivia is fortunate in having work
ing capital of $10OoO,0O0 cash deposited in
the banks of London and New York, and
offers from Chile and the Argentine Re
public to guarantee the interest upon the
cost of whatever railways her congress
may decide to construct. For many years
there has been a spirited dispute between
Brazil and Bolivia concerning the owner
ship of the Acre territory. which lies
among the tributaries of the Amazon at
the foot of the Andes. And in 1903 the
two governments came very near having a
war over the question, but hnally BohVla
relinquished her claims for cash in
demnity of G20OO0O0 sterling ESQ, 133oOO in
which for than two
years has been drawing interest at the
rate of 3 per cent while awaiting the con-
struction Of the railroad TO which 1t Is
dedicated.
In settling the long pending dispute be-
tween the two nations Chile, by treaty,
agreed to construct railway from AREA
to La Paz and maintain and operate 1t for
fifteen years. At the end OF that period
that portion of the road which lies within
Bolivian territory is to become the prop
erty of Bolivia, and the remainder Will con-
tinue to be the property of Chile. A guar
antee of 5 per cent for thirty years Is Of
fered by Chile in the same treaty upon
the cost of constructing certain railroads
which are essential to the development or
the resources of the country In order to
draw the export products OF Bolivia to
tidewater through Argentine territory and
to encourage the development of the ma
terial resources of her neighbors, the Ar
gentine government has offered to guaran-
tee per cent interest upon the cost OF
the construction of railroad from Potosi
to Tupiza an important town near the
boundary between the two countries, and
agrees to extend its own railways from
Juiuy. their present terminus, across the
boundary to connect with the Bolivian sys-
tenn.
Lines to Be Built by Speyer & Co.
speyer & Co. have sent engineers over
all these routes, and have agreed to build
the following lines:
From La Paz to Puerto Pando. at the
head Of navigation on the Benz river. POI
miles. at an approximate cost of 1900.
or an average of $47.61s per mile. including
telegraph lines. station buildings, terminals,
rolling stock and equipment
From viacha "a station on the existing
railroad between La Paz and Lake It'll
caca), to oruro. 1873 miles. at an approx
mate cost Of So, 764, 100. or an average OF
SGT ,S3T q mile.
From Oruro to Cochabamba, I'D miles at
a cost Of S5,115,600. or an average OF 49,
$50 mile.
From Oruro TO Potosi, 1876 miles at cost