The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-18
WORK on PAN-A8iERICAN ROAD.
Large Subsidies From Mexican and
Central American Governments.

Large Subsidies From Mexican and
Central American Governments
St. Louis. June SD. P. Doak, for
merly Of ST Louis, who is building the
already celebrated Pan-Anlerican rail-
road has departed for the west, after
a short visit with St. Louis capitalists
VINO are associated with him IN reallz-
ing the important project of a line to
connect the United States, Mexico and
Central American countries J. NJ.
Neeland OF Los Angeles, who interested
Mr.. DOak in the plan, continues to be
an active and influential partner Mr..
Doak is president of the road, and
lives at Tonala. Chiapas. Mexico.
These two Americans are credited
with the achievement of extending the
line along the state of Tehuantepec-
AFTER combating almost disastrous
troubles and difficulties. they behold
the prospect of a compare lively early
fulhllment Of their great enterprise.
The Mexican and Central American
governments are giving substantial and
moral enccurag cement to the work, and
now the road begins reaching beyond
the boundary of Tehuantepec into
Guatemala, in the direction of the cap
ital bearing the same name. Ultimate
" this road Will operate between the
National Railroad of Tehuantepec and
the Panama railroad, which cross the
lsthmus Of Tehuantepec and the 18th
mus OF Panama from ocean to ocean.
This International road is completed
for a distance of IFS miles, from San
Geronimo near the city of Tehaunte-
pee and Salina Cruz on the National
Railroad of Tehauntepec. 10 Pip1-
Japan, at the extreme southwestern
boundary of the republic of Mexico.
The road parallels the Pacific coast on
the outside of the Cordillera mountain
range, following the famous old Cam
inc Real, or royal road which the
Spanish conQuerors made, down from
the Isthmus of Tehauntepec, and its
route is direct from San Geronimo, on
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. near the
Pacific coast Of Salina Cruz, to Pipi-
fiapam and the Pacific port of Santa
Benito, at the Tehuantepec-Gu
boundary. Construction in Guatemala
will be started in January. 1907.
Mr.. NeeIand has arranged with the
Guatemalan government for a subsidy
of $4,000 gold per mile through
Guatemala from Tehuantepec to SAL
vador. Subsidies have been offered
also by Salvador and Honduras After
making agreem ents with the govern
ments of Salvador and Honduras, Mr..
Neeland will negotiate with the gov
ernments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
President Diaz has rendered a sub
sidy of $4,000 per mile to extend the
line a distance of 500 miles from
Tonala 100 miles south of Salina Cruz
to Campeche- This new line would
open up territory that has no trans
portation facilities, and would provide
lantic-Pacific route
The Mexican government is mani
Testing deep interest in the enterprise
chiefly because of the apparent STRAIT
egic advantages from military view
point. The government has acquired
title or control in the roads operating
from the United States boundary down
OF the Isthmus of Tehauntepec. The
American would afford communi-
cation from san Geronimo, on the Ma
tional Railroad of Tehuantepec, down
to tn southwestern boundary of the
Republic of Mexico and through Te-
huantepec and Yucatan from Tonala,
adjacent to the Pacific coast, to the
peche on the Atlantic coast
Another reason for the interest dis
played by the Mexican government is
the opening and development of new
territory. For the construction which
is completed the government has con-
tributed a subsidy of 500 gold per
mile or about s1,70O,000 in all.
The road lately issued S1,000,000 Of
per cent bonds to continue the build
ing 1t is said to be a paying invest
meut already. as last year, after meet
ing interest obligations and current ex-
penses, it exhibited a surplus Of 50, 700
Assurances have been received for
heavy traffic.
The project was begun by Theodore
Gestefeld. a Chicago newspaper man,
who was succeeded by Mr.. Neeland.
At a critical time Mr.. Neeland sub
mitted the plans to Mr.. Doak, who saw
the possibilities and invested heavily.
Several St. Louis capitalists are finan-
cially interested in the enterprise.