Gilpin observer., 1906-04-26

States and Pan-American railway COM
missioner, and he maintains that his
project, far from being impossible, is
already probable and the direct corol-
larry to the Monroe doctrine. He
quotes the late George M. Pullman,
who, keen student of railway develop
ment as he was, predicted that one
day there would be through sleepers
between Denver and Buenos Ayres.
Mr.. Pepper has seen Pan-American
conditions both as newspaper corre-
spondent and as delegate to the Pan
American congress in 1901, and since
his appointment as railway commits
sioner he has made costly survey
with view of Pan-American rail-
road. Such road as he proposes in
wolves the cooperation of Is of the
South American republican, and the
rail links necessary to complete such
a system would be 5000 miles in
length and would cost 5000, 900 900.
To show that the plans for this gi-
gantic system have passed beyond the
problematic stage. Mr.. Pepper says:
1T may be said that in the begin
ming of 1906 every Central and every
South American country has a dennite
policy of aiding railway construction
as an integral part of the Pan-Ameri-
can system, and some of them, as in
the case of Peru and Bolivia, have
enacted special legislation. All of them
are sympathetic toward an interconti-
mental trunk line, because it comedies
xryifh 70
ment and external trade"
The project as 1t appears on the pro-
file of the map of the survey made by
w. T. Skunk, as engineer-in-chief from
1892 to 1898, shows the general direc-
tiop Of the road to be northwest and
southeast along the giant chains of the
Andes. The governing principle is =
long continental backbone with branch
ribs in every direction, taking into
consideration mineral. agricultural and
timber resources, without omitting cls-
matte conditions.
Mr.. Pepper has prepared a table
showing what parts OF the proposed
system are already in operation and
what parts are under consideration.
The road from New York to Laredo.
Tex, 2,1S7 miles, is in operation, as is
also that from Laredo to Mexico City.
From Mexico City to the Guatemala
border there are 730 miles of road, of
which $50 are being operated. In Gen.
trail America there are 351 miles in op-
Grafton, 100 miles being built and 592
miles projected. In Panama 612 pro-
jected. In Colombia, 20 miles in opera
tion and S45 miles projected. In Ecua-
dor 1875 miles in operation, II miles in
construction and ass miles projected.
In Peru there are 277 miles in op-
Grafton, 223 miles under con-
struction and 1885 projected.
In Bolivia 233 miles in operation, 1913
miles under construction and 1S0 miles
projected. And in the Argentine re-
public there are 1893 miles of road in
operation and 1876 miles under con-
struction.
In an imaginary trip over the future
system, Mr.. Pepper grows enthusiasts
tic over the wonderful display OF ma
tural beauties along the line OF the
road. When the twentieth century
tourist takes the through railway Jour-
ney, "he will see the relation Of sea-
level plains, inter-mountain plateaux,
profound valleys, shallow depressions,
rushing rivers. mighty gulches, tortu-
Gus canyons, sinuous passes, the spark
ling verdure and the brilliant foliages
OF the tropics. the treeless regions o:
the Andes desert. naked cliffs and jut-
ting precipices, fleece-hidden SUBMITS,
and the pinnacled peaks of the eternal
SHOWS, often passing from the rankest
wealth OF nature to its most sterile and
grudging gifts, almost as swiftly rs the
imagination can conceive the change"
Whom She Begins.
Bacon-At j"st what age does q
wona an hagin living about her age?