Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-05

as far as Tuxpah and from the Pacific port
OF Manzanillo to Colima, but, although the
Intervening distance is short. IT is impossi-
bic to cross 1t even on horseback, because
the line wifi run through Eorees that are
now impossible and tunnels that are now
being pierced. When this road IS finished
there will be two transconttnental lines IN
Mexico and the Pacific trade viii be largely
increased.
Until now all commerce has been carried
on by mule trains over mountain trails. and
1t Is surprising how much freight has been
handled that way. In early days the greater
part of the commerce between the Philip
pine Islands and Spain came across the Pa
ciic to the ports of Acapulco and Manza-
Milo. and was conveyed over the Sierra
Madre mountains on the backs OF mules ana
burros through the City of Mexico to the
gulf ports of Tampico and Vera Cruz. On
the north side of the Bay of Manzanillo may
still he found the ship yard where the Span
iards built the vessels that conquered Inc
Philippines and by which this trade was
conducted
Harbor at Manzanillo.
In anticipation of an active and Increased
business, the government Is spending seven
millions OF dollars for the Improvement OF
the harbor of Manzanilio, building break
waters. docks, warehouses and other ship
ping facilities similar to those at Vera Cruz
and Coatzacoalcos.
travellers Dy l1llS route Will nave Inc paw
lege of seeing the only active volcano In
North America that can be reached by
railroad. Colima Is always doing business,
although its eruptions are irregular, IKE
those OF Vesuvius. The peak rises l4.oSo
feet above sea-level and can be distinctly
seen by passing ships upon the ocean.
Smoke and ashes are always being thrown
from its crater The latest serious erup-
ton occurred In March, 1908.
The Line to Topolobampo.
In recent letter from the City of Mexico
l referred to the Kansas City, Mexico and
Orient railroad. which is being constructed
by Arthur f. Stillwell of Kansas City, un-
der subsidy from the Mexican government
and other financial assistance from the
states of Chihuahua and Sinaloa, through
which 1t runs This road crosses Texas In
a southwesterly direction, reaches the Rio
Grande at the town OF Preside del Norte,
follows an almost straight line to Chihua-
hua, which. by the way. Is nearly finished,
uses the track of the Chihuahua and Pa
cific from the latter city to town of Guer-
zero. and from there runs southwestward to
the port of Topolobampo on the Pacific.
According to the reports received by the de-
partment OF communications In the City or
Mexico between four and five thousand men
are now at work at three or four dtffenent
points on the line, and construction Is be-
ing pushed with unusual energy. Mr.. Still
well promises that through Pullman trains
Will De running between Kansas CITY ana
Chihuahua over route 800 miles shorter
than any present line, before the end of
1907, and that passengers will be able
to go through to the Pacific before the end
or 1908. The Mexican authorities have great
confidence in Stilwell and regard this road
OF prime Importance for the development
of one of the richest mineral sections of the
republic. 1t will go within thirty miles of
Batopilas the mines of Governor Shop
herd
w. c. Greene or Colonel Bill' Greene,
the Arizona copper king, has acquired con-
troll of several million acres of timber land
In the range of mountains between So
nora and Chihuahua, besides a large num-
Der of valuable mining claims. To reach
this property he is now extending the Rio
Grande Sierra Madre and Pacific railroad
which already runs from Ell Paso to the
town of Terrazas, Chihuahua, about 100
miles further across the line into the state
of Sonora and promises to build smelters,
saw mills End other manufacturing estab-
llshments to assist In the development OF
the country.
The National Railroad COMPANY proposes
TO convert its narrow-gauge line to stand
ard guage as rapidly as possible and at
the recent meeting of the stockholders at
salt Lake City action was taken to pro-
VIDE the funds. Now that the Mexican gov
ard gauge as rapidly as possible and at
De expected to take an active interest in
It's Improvement and extension