Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
Progress Being Made.

Next year viii see the Mexican section of
the Three Americas railway completed The
Pan-American railway, which is being
built by Los Angeles people with American
capital Is now within few miles of the
boundary Of Guatemala and Mr.. Neeland,
the president, has already obtained con-
cession to extend 1t through the territory
of that republic. Unless the present revo-
iutionary movement there shall postpone
operations he intends to commence work
as soon as he has finished the Mexican sec
ton, and the governments of Salvador and
Nicaragua have both given him encourage
ment to expect similar concessions. Rail
way building IN Central America, however,
Is very slow. Guatemala and Costa RIGA
have been nearly thirty years trying to lay
track across their narrow territory be-
tween the TWO oceans, and Notwithstanding
the Importance of such transportation lines
TO the development of those countries
neither one Is finished. Whoever cares to
Know the reasons can ascertain them easily.
Colombia is even worse. The number of
railway projects that have been planned
and surveyed and for which loans have
been obtained in Europe have been many.
but none of them has ever been fully car
ried out. There are two or three short
lines of road In Colombia, but their expert
ence with the government has not encour-
aged the owners to extend them. The pres
ent administration Is believed to be liberal.
generation has seen nothing but revolutions
one disturbance following after another
until the people have become impoverished.
the public credit has been exhausted, and
the currency Is about worthless as that
of the confederate states of America at the
time Gen. Lee SURRENDERED. There Is no
hope for any railway construction In Colon
bia for many years.
Ecuador has been quite enternrfsino ana
an American syndicate organized by Archer
harmon OF Virginia, has built a railroad
from Guayaqu1. the principal port on the
Pacific. to Ambato. one of the most impor-
tant cities IN the interior. The track is now
being rapidly extended to Quito, the capital.
and steamer bearing the name of that CITY
has recently sailed from New York laden
with rails and other material and supplies
sufficient to finish the line. This win not
be link In the great Intercontinental
Trunk line. but will be very important
feeder. and extensions north and south.
which VIII form part of the system, have
already been planned and are being sur
veyed Mr.. Harmon has demonstrated that
railways can be built In Ecuador and has
inspired a spirit OF progress among the peo-
pia
s1o.0ooo0o from a German bank to extend
her present railway system, and within the
next five years viii make important contrt-
buttons to the Intercontinental line. A
track between 4Cuzco and Lake T1ticaca Is
already being laid and that will be an
important link in the chain Peru already
has two good railways under American
control running from the sea coast over
the great continental divide into the basin
of the Andes and they Will be feeders.
In recent letter gave the details OF a
contract which James Speyer & Co. of New
York are about to close for the construction
OF 7SS miles OF railroad In Bolivia. nearly
all OF which win form part of the Inter-
continental road and complete Bolivta's
obligations toward that enterprises The
Argentine government IL already preparing
to build northward from the present ter