The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-01-18
The Railroad of Tehauntepec.
How Crafty President Daz Of Mexico forestaed the Panama Canal


Mexico. the land OF the MonteZumas.
the sleeper of Two hundred years.
takes a trick in the worlds great
game of commerce that at once makes
her position one worthy o. deep con-
sideration
Millions are being expended by the
United States at Panama. and mill
lions, the number of which no man
knows. are yet TO be spent in an
effort to dig canal across the 18TH
mus 1t is a mighty undertaking and
one that Uncle Sam glories in. Fee
verishly. energetically, does ne WELD
pick and shovel, where France, in
despair, threw up her hands; unde-
cided, even at this late day, whether
or not to construct lock system or
build to a sea-level-an architect,
minus his plans. .....
For years, Porfrio Diaz. MeXico's
president has dreamed of the con-
isthmus Of Tehauntepec. in the
southern portion OF the republic.
twelve hundred miles north OF the
Panama Canal zone, that would link
the Mexican Calf with the Pacific
Ocean; and startled by the activity
the value of his own project he has
rushed the work to completion.
To-day the road is finished. includ-
ing the finest terminals upon the
globe and trains on regular schedule
rush from gulf to ocean. transport
ing an entire ships cargo in less than
half the time consumed by the fastest
passenger trains running between
Buffalo and New York. The whole
scheme of transportation is wonder
fully systematized, splendidly ar
ranged.
While visiting Mexico recently. as
the guest CT the National Lines OF
that country. l spent several weeks
upon the Isthmus OF Tehauntepec,
and there l saw the mighty work
that had been accomplished.
The entire length of the isthmian
railway is 1S9 miles: and its highest
point above sea-leveI, $50 feet. The
roadbed is well graded: rails weigh
ninety pounds (standard) and rest
upon cTOss-ties OF ironwood and ma
hogany. which are ballasted with
eighteen inches of rip-rap stone.
Salina Cruz is the Pacific terminus
and CoatzacOalcos the gulf.
Sir Weetman Pearson, of England.
the worlds greatest contractor built
the road and is partner with cne
Mexican Government in the enter
prise. the government retaining a
controlling interest. The cost of rail-
road and terminals entire is approx
mated at $50 100000 in gold.
Besides the construction OF the
isthmian railway Sir Weetman has
contracted with companies owning
vessels that are now in the Pacific
Salina Cruz. The American-Hawaiian
Steamship Company. which now use
the Straits OF Magellan, will divide
its fleets, and will instead deliver and
discharge cargoes at COatZacOalcos
and Salina Graz. Weekly, vessels will
>
aid from Salina Cruz to San Francis
co and Hawaiian ports.
Other contracts have been made
with companies operating vessels in
both Pacific and Atlantic coastwise
trades and the same are Of such a
tional will have a preponderance of
trans-contine1tal freight carrying.
even taking the successful completion
OF the Panama Canal into cOnsiGera-
ton. for the next fifty years to come.
the city Of Coatzscoalcos is built
Npon the banks Of the CoatZacoalcos
River. three miles from it's mouth,
Vast deposits of silt and sand washed
down from the up-country had shall
lowed the depth at it's entrance and
IN the bar to an average depth Of
twelve feet. Powerful suction
dredges nave dearened this 10 thirty
three feet at mean low water, and
converging jetties of stone and con-
crete blocks have been built. that
narrows the mouth 10 go feet, the
contraction of the waters causing an
outward rush with the cbb tide that
is constantly increasing the depth
Along the river front of the city
extend the terminals Of the Tehaun-
tepec National, consisting Of wha:yes
built Of structural steel. supported by
steel piles, six inches in diameter. en-
csscd in wood. the total length of
the wnarvcs being 500 feet Run
ming along the wharyes are the rail-
road tracks, and between them and
the water are gigantic electric steel
cranes Of enormous capacity. proviG-
ed with swinging arms that convey
a discharging vessels cargo to cars
upon the tracks. or beyond them into
warehouses tcat stand back Of the