The Washington herald., 1908-08-16

An interesting letter Just received II
Washington from a well-known -Aueri-
can residing in Guatemala. the p=ogres-
sive republic Of Central America. shows
that great strides are being taken. under
the able and fearless administration OF
!te President Manuel Estrada Cabrera,
10 bring the country into the foremost
ranks Of the LaJin-Americaz republics
To gridircn a country with railroads IS
e IaUdable ambition. and this. according
70 the letter, IS what President Cabrera
and his distinguished cabinet have set
out 10 do. One OF the greatest engineer
ing fears OF modern times has been ,he
completion Of the justly famous Guats-
maIan TTansc0ntineutaI Railway. which
is bound 10 bring 10 that country vast
beledJs IN the near future
Charles n Pepper, special agent or tie
Department Of Commerce and Labor
who. a short time ago. reported on Qua
Jemala- vel calls II the country o. tie
future"
From Ocean TO Ocean.
The Transcontire1taI Railway OF Qua
temala provides the continent with
third ocean-to-ocean route, and there IS
10 doubt Of the immense influence rs
VeloTlleEt. The road links Puerto Bar
rlos. OF the Caribbean Sea, with san
Jose. on the Pacific coast, and runs for
&c miles through a vast area OF rich an6
IerLl.e lands The other railways Mem
tioaeG and now under exploitation axe
The Central. The Western Ocos. Eer1paZ.
end Guatemala lines.
Bananas are cultivated or S.C10 acres cf
land, and the traffic built ID by this cuI-
tUre aud the transportation OF hard
woods. with which rha country a5ouuis,
VIII Doe a valuable source Of revenue T.
the read The road also serves The C5fe-
districts Of the west coast
By The opening Of This road the port o.
s(ew Orleans Is uu- IN close touch with
The commerce OF The west coast Of -(Ica-
-aEue and Salvador. sffecJCg a saviu=
Of e-Elr days .l transport The trade
Tovte hitherto has been from Europe and
the Eastern seararts OF tEe United
States VIA Colon and the Is--uus OF
Panama and by the long sea route
tlrougG the S-tai-s for cheaper a--i-las-
The Trs-sco1--e1ral Railway does To-
day for Guatemala and all Central Aue,-
lea what Inc Panama Canal VIII do when
completed t1r all South Auerica-
Praise for Cabrera.
There are few personalities so dis
oussed and misunderstood. says this
American. as the President Of Gua-e-
nala, Estrada Cabrera BIu-ders- and
ever crUelries. have been ascri5ed 20 him.
bu: he has paid no attention TO these
enemies. and ignoring all cowardly IT
tscks. he IS determined TO Uerssve-e IN
his parr50--c ambition TO foster peace. or
der. and progress Today impartial
Judges are beginning 10 acknowledge lne
true character Of the man and 70 give
him credit for The genuine energy thar he
has aroused in his country and among
his people
This completed railway. mentioned
above. is by no means the only plan Pres
tdenr Cabrera has in uiEd- Recent con-
cessions have been granted and VIII 9e
pushed 20 completion for lines 20 unite
GuacemaIal territory. the frontiers OF
Mexico and Salvador. this being the ida
OF the Pan-AueFicau railway OF So uIen
interest 10 Americans On this line lie
the towns OF san Felipe and QUezal-e-
This. then. viii form q splendid COMMIT
nicati0u all through Guatemala with both
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
GUa1eUala IS not wei enough known
her climate is salEbri0us % a degree.
The natural resources of the country. lC-
Ee-Eer with her proximity 90 The United
States. entities Ee- 70 eEuec- in The near
future an increasing -UI.l grafton 90 take
advantage OF The great opportunities oil
fe-ed by -Els railroad development To
bIIuE this about IS an avuWeJ purpose OF
President Cabrera