The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-03
ACROSS ISTHMUS
WITH SHIP RAILWAY
An Enterprise Which Will Be
Rival of the Panama Ca
nal When Completed.
BACKED BY MExIcANs.
ROUTE AND ITS GREATEST FEA.
TURE is AN IMMENSE SAVING
OF MILEAGE.

Vt VHtSeNASs
Washington. Feb. >. tSpIl-r
seems altogether appropriate that the
formal opening of the Tehuantepec
ship-railroad across the lsthmus Of the
same name, should have taken place
in the same week that saw the pres
entation of the greatest appropriation
bin ever offered in congress for the
development OF water transportation
in the United States. This ship-railway
while 1t will be a rival of the Panama
Canal when the big ditch becomes n
reality, is backed by the Mexican Gov
eminent. and is expected to work won
aers in the way of developing the
commerce between the Pacific and At
lantic coasts OF this country. Inciden-
tally. the creation of this new trade
route has stimulated the whole
scheme of rivers and harbors devei-
opment-a policy to which the United
States now seems pledged in an Of
fort to care for the rapidly growing
commerce of the country.
The Tehuantepec route will save
5000 miles on the journey from New
Orleans to San Francisco, 10.026 miles
from New York TO San Francisco,
via Cape Horn, and 1.267 miles via the
Panama Canal. The saving in mileage
between European ports and San Fran
cisco is as remarkable: this having
being $500 miles between Liverpool
and the metropolis of the Pacific
Coast, via the Cape of Good Hope. In
the trade from New York to Yoka-
hama it will save 10000 miles via
Cape Horn or 5000 miles via Euez. Be-
tween New York and Manila the saw
ing will be 116S miles over the present
route via Suez. Already a New York
shipping firm has established lines OF
steamers, their feet being equally di-
vided between the Atlantic and Paci-
fic trade, and trans-shipment being
made on the railroad that crosses the
Isthmus. According to advices receiv.
ed here President Diaz and his entire
staff attended the opening of this big
enterprise. one which has been the
dream of Mexico for the last four cen
turtles.
The establishment of this coast-to-
coast service has brought forcibly
home to congress the necessity for a
most vigorous campaign in the devel-
opment of the coast harbors OF this
country and tho interior waterways.
Despite the demands made by the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors congress.
which for the last five years has been
urging the Federal government to ap-
propriate 100000 annually for the
prosecution of development work. con.
gress has believed that this work need
not be pushed any more RAPIDLY than
the work on the Panama Canal. the
theory being that the waterways Of
the country might be In readiness 70
care for the increased shipping when
the big ditch was done. The opening
of the Tehuantepec route has caught
the country mapping and IL is highly
probable that aggressive English,
German. and French export concerns.
with their comprehensive shipping IA.
cilities. will capture the Pan-American
markets that American business men
might have had had the Federal gov.
eminent taken the precaution to pre-
pare the way for American trade.
Congressman Joseph K. Ransdell,
president of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress, is pointing out
that while the present bill carries up
wards of So, 900, 900 for waterways
improvements. nevertheless not more
than $34,000.000. is Immediately avail.
able in cash. The difference Is APP
propriated by the present congress
for the continuation OF contracts be
gun this year or under way. The Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress
insists that not less than $50,000000
should be available for the improve
ment work. TO the end that this coun.
try may be in readiness to seize upon
the trade of South America when the
time is ripe. With the Tehuantepec
ship-railway in operation, II would
seem that the time is already here
and that the United States will have
TO adopt the program suggested b.
the National Rivers and Harbors Con.
gress If American commerce is to take
its rightful position in the business
world OF the Southern hemisphere.
The two-year-old czarovitch OF Rus
STA is a pretty child. unenvied by ev-