Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01

rounding country. But the ascent was OF
such a difficult. nature that only a small
percentage of tourists were ever able 10
get up to the height from which the pros
pect could be enjoyed.
This fact suggested the building OF the
new road. Now it is possible to go
straight up the mountain all the way 10
the top in speed. comfort and safety.
The work involved serious engineering
difficulties. for the grade Is very sharp
one, and 1t was necessary to take extraor-
binary precautions to make sure that
the cars could not leave the track.
Each car carries thirty-six passengers.
and 1t Is a wonderful sight to see them
making their way I'D the face or the
mountain. whose ascent was once SO
hazardous that only the most experienced
guide could safely lead the tourist to the
top. that goal which was the desire OF
every lover Of the picturesque.
The Panama canal will mark another
wonderful triumph in the great internal
tional effort to remove the barriers
which nature has erected against the
worlds free intercourse.
Suggested by the Suez canal, which
has perhaps been the greatest time and
money saver Of any engineering device OF
century, waterway between the AZ
lantic and Pacific has been the dream OF
half a dozen nations. French hnanciers
sank fortunes in their attempt to make a
cut between the two towns or Colon ana
Panama, located on either side OF the
forty-mile strip Of country which has
for centuries compelled the long Trip
either around Cape Horn or through the
Straits of Magellan.
Now for the first time the project is
being pushed, with completion certainty
of the next decade.
Other countries in the Pan-American
district are feeling the new life which
has taken possession Of the country sinco
the beginning of the century.
A most interesting railway connecting
the Gulf of Mexico with the Pacific ocean
has just been completed. 1t is known as
the Tehuantepec National Railway.
The railway terminus on the eastern
side is Coatzocoalcos. and on the west
ern shore Salna Cruz. The former part
Is approached through the Gulf or Cam
peche. and the new harbor at Salina
Cruz will be approached through the Guls
of Tehauntepec. Both these places are
connected with various cable systems.
The railway, which penetrates wild
| and mount ainous district, Is expected 10
take a prominent place as connecting
| link between the Atlantic and Pacific
| oceans.
Building this railroad meant more than
work on land. Salina Cruz had an ideal
| location to be the terminus OF such q
PROJECT. IL nau everything 10 RECOMMENDS
| it but a harbor. Therefore the proprie-
tors of the road. in order to provide a
| port for commerce, set themselves the
| task of builing harbor. They erected
/ two large breakwaters and dredged to q
| depth of thirty feet.
| Tunneling under river beds. to make
a roadway for railroads and trolleys has
| become SO common that it no longer ex-
cites any attention: gravity roads, gain
ing their motion entirely through gravity.
| are common in every mountainous coun-
try, the Mauch Chunk switchback being
| the best known example in the east, but
| railroads that run to sea or Into the
| Clouds are modern developments that
| show nothing can daunt mankind in his
purpose to attain the inaccessible.