The Washington herald., 1907-07-07
Larger Sums Are Being Expended on Railroads,
Canals, Bridges, Buildings, and the Like
Than Ever BefOre-New York Leads.
By DEXTER MARSHALL.

II
Petersburg hnancier. expressed to VIII
liam T. Stead, some years ago, that the
Trans-Siberian Railroad was a huge mis-
take: that Il was being built under the
compulsion of an impulse which could not
be justified on either financial political. or
military grounds" an instinct described
by the inancier as "a kind Of demon
which drives men to bring together the
uttermost ends of continent" at vast
expense and enormous personal sacri-
fees, for which they know very we'll re-
payment will never come to the men who
make them.
The facts have justified Rothsteins Ia
ment. By making the Russian expansion
policy In tee far East possible. the Trans
Siberian Railroad brought on the Russo
Japanese War. Now the Russians have
found, or think they have. that the long
serpentine line of steel rail which con-
meets their ancient capital, Moscow, with
their more easterly territory, must be
doube-tracked at an expenditure which
will drain the Russian treasury for many
years. unless the line proves more re
muneratiye with two tracks than It ever
did with one.
This is one Of the greatest railroad en-
terpUises now in progress or in contem-
plati0n anywhere. but the yet unfinished
African Cape-tO-Cairo Railroad and the
gradually growing Pan-American system
are in the same class. Both the latter
projects are big enough 70 be almost
awe-inspiring. and, ultimately, despite the
great cost. both will Justify Rothsteins
further words about the demon i'm
pulse" 20 unite the worlds remotest re-
regions.
L can only suppose the general impul-
sion is intended" he said. ''to promote
the general good Of mankind"
The Trans-Siberian Line.
The total length Of the Trans-Siberian
line is nearly AGO miles. Of the Cape-to-
Cairo. $500 miles, about 2oC0 Of which
have been completed, leaving $500 stn 70
be laid. The Trans-Sibcrian stretch of
rails is broken az Lake Baizal, because
the country through which the line runs
is extremely had railroad territory. But
the lake completes the line, steamers
carrying the merchandise and passengers
from rail-end 70 rail-end. and making
steam the master Of transportation across
the greatest continent
The completed Cape-to-Cairo line will
have three water links. Lake Tanganyika.
Lake Albert Nyanza, and a long stretch
Of Nile navigation. but by the time it is
completed the ancient methods of trans
portati0n will be almost as old-fashioned
I'm Africa as elsewhere for, meanwhile.
so many miles of branches and other
main lines will be finished that the dark
continent will be fairly covered with a
network Of steel
When completed the much mooted Pan
American system Will be longer than
either Of the others. It's completion does
not rest with one company, however. or
a single government, but with several /
companies and governments. It will take 1
the form OF a gigantic Y. the northwest /
branch Of which will touch Berlng Strait, /
while the northeast branch will reach the |
Atlantic coast cities Of Canada and the
United States. and the main stem will ex-
south. Leaving out the extreme north /
western and southern portions, the Pan
American system, on which will be strung
the capital and metropolitan cities Of hf-
teen or sixteen New World nations. is Is
certain of completion as the long line
from end to end Of Africa or the second
track Of the Trans-Slberian.
The Pan-American Line.
From New York to the Straits Of Ma
gellan the Pan-American line viii be
1890 miles long. With the exception of
about $500 miles, provision already has
been made for all the links between New
York and Argentina. The sections not
provided for are; 100 miles in Peru. $50
miles In Ecuador, $50 miles in Colombia.
and 200 miles in Panama and the Central
American States. But almost every link
already down has been laid to suit ma
tional and local needs. and with little ref
ercnCe to the ultimate result.
The Mexican Central. now government
owned but built with money furnished by
capitalists Of this country. was the first
great link constructed to the south of the
United States. II traverses Mexico prac-
tically its entire length from north 10
south, and undoubtedly soon will be
linked up with roads in Central America
planned 10 connect with the Panama
Canal The southern connections OF the
main Mexican line will be furnished by
several comparatively short lines now
mostly completed, one Of which IS the
ocean 10 - ocean Tehuantepec Railroad.
opened a few months go Another now
In operation was built under the title Of
the Pan-Amerlcan Railway, which, save
for its connections, is only a short local
line. An organization known as the
United States Syndicate, with a capital Of
S9000,ol0 its purpose being 20 build a
railroad TO connect North and South
America was Incorporated at Phoenix,
Ariz.. a short time ago.
The present troubles between Mexico
and Guatemala may delay the progress |
OF the work temporarily. but possibly
their ultimate effect may hasten the
great project.
Pan-American Railroad Progress.
James q. Blaine was an ardent SUD-
porter Of the scheme when he was Sec
retary Of State under Harrison. and so
was the President. A Pan-Amercau
commission was appointed at that time.
with the late A. ]. Cassatt at its head
Corps Of engineers under this comnlis-
sion made surveys through Central
America, along the Isthmus of Panama,
and down the Andes to the northern
boundary Of Argentina. Already sew
eral lines have been built over the
route thus laid out. and nearly every
South American north and south line
now In progress will form a link ulti-
mately in the interconunental system.
II viii be the longest continuous rail
line in the world. since there will be no
breaks Of water tran portation. II will
have another distinc fon; It will be the
only one running through three zones
north fnnDerafe south tar,rarsta o-7