The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-01-16


the Nssiuaa government undsgtoss 90
build an ordinary railway between the
Two OCEANS hrruss the naffuret pafi
~ ~ Territory Tits has been a n.
'nrite project ~ President Dias who
Was born IN uasaca. ana al one time
was governor ~ rehuautepcc No one
realizes more than he its importance
60 the commerce ~ the world or 20
the development OF Mexico.
CORTEz SOUGHT A WATERWAY.
When CorteE passed through Tes
huantepec after the conquest OF Mex.
leo Co the conquest OF Honduras, he
endeavored 60 flnd "a natural water
way across the isthmus. and, recog-
mixing It's imperative Importance, con-
fidontly expected within his own time
TO see an artificial route established.
That confidence was so great that he
applied to Emperor Charles V for n
grant OF land I'm 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 IL is still called the
Hacienda Marquesanes because the
emperor knighted him Marquis of the
! Valley" II a small part of the plum
| der OF the conquest had been applied
| to the construction OF canal In those
| days, as Cortez recommended, II 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
N N frh
For three hundred years the policy of
| Spain was opposed to the commercial
| development of it's 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. 1t was believed that 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
conservative, and the progressive ele-
| 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
| renewed in 1916. AT the close of the
war between Mexico and the United
States the concession was purchased
by a syndicate of New York capital
lists. In 1857 another charter was
granted to a new Orleans company and
in 1879 still another was given to Ed
ward Leonard of New York. In 1881
the government of Mexico made a con-
tract with Capt. James B. Eads OF st.
Louis for the construction of ship
railway but he was unable to obtain
the capital. In 1888 a party of English
engineers received the concession, and
In 1892 the government undertook the
work itself 1t turned out to be very
poor Job and three years ago the prof.
ect was turned over to Sir Wheetman
Pearson, a Liverpool engineer under
a fifty-year concession.
THE NEW RAILROAD.
Under the terms of the contract MI
Pearson and his associates have rebuff
the road in first-class condition an'
have nearly completed extensive harpo
works at both ends of the line. Coatza
coalcos is exposed to turbulent storms
on the gulf, and for that reason TN
harbor works have been extensive anc
expensive A heavy wall has been buil
at the mouth of the river, which II
broad and deep for several miles IRON
the sea. and large system of wharve'
has been constructed, capable OF re
ceiving ships of thirty-tive Zee
draught At Salina Cruz there Is M
harbor, but only an open roadstead
with tremendous surf. 1t has beer
impossible for vessels to anchor there
except in very calm weather Du
Pearson's company has inclosed al
area of ninety acres of water b.
breakwaters of solid masonry whicl
furnish perfect anchorage and 1000 fee
of dock room. In connection with tn
harbor a new town has been built OF
modern principles, with sewers, waite
and other modern improvements, in
Guiding comfortable hotel, which j
planned for a winter resort. The eli
mate Is delightful for seven months II
the year, but in the summer season
the rains are very heavy.
The wharves are fitted up with mod
|
, to those on our great lakes, by whici
a cargo can be transferred from tn
vessels to the trains and vice versa II
twenty-four hours, and the warehouse
are capable of storing a million tons o
; freight. 1t is intended, If possible, I
make Coatzacoalcos the chief shipping
port for coffee. which is now beini
grown extensively In southern Mexico
; and is the chief staple of Contra
America, In addition to the Hawaiian
! steamship line contracts have been en-
tered into with European companie
for a regular service between Liver
/ pool and Hamburg and the isthmu'
and the promoters believe that a grea
) deal of traffic with Asia and Ind
, may be diverted that way.
{ TERMINAL AND OTHER CHARGES
Under the contracts between tn
Mexican government and the Pearso
syndicate the entire charge for hand
ling and transporting freight fror
ocean to ocean, including loading an
tIY1n fra 10 NOT IN "A