The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-01-18

modern and up-to-date in every par
ticuiar. every device that will facill-
tate the movement and care OF cars
having been installed, including ex-
tensive shops and repair works. Abb
solutely nothing is lacking that a
first-class railroad requires for sue
cessful operation.
Locomotives used are of the ten
wheel type. Scotch built, from Edin-
burgh shops, and are capable Of
pulling the heaviest trains at mile
a-minute or better schedule. The
passenger coaches are American
built and are similar to those in use
in this country. There is a double
daily service in both directions across
the isthmus and Pullman sleepers are
attached to every passenger train.
Salina Cruz is. from an American
point Of view, the most modern city
in all Mexico. A few ars ago scat
tering cane hu:s dotted the valley
where the city row stands, and the
screech of a parrot or cry of some
sea-bird were the only sounds to
break the stiffness.
To-day all this is changed, for that
has waved his wand and Presto!
broad streets, regularly-laid out. run
down the valley and across it. bOr-
dered by handsome residences and
business houses. churches and
schools. Electric lights CLEAN from
! the windows and upon the streets,
and a telephone and waterworks sys-
tenn add their conveniences to the
general plan.
Two mountains Of pOrphvry rise
abruptly from the east and west sides
Of the city. and the valley between,
extending into the ocean forms the
harbor Originally the water along
the shore was very shoal. but here.
too, suction dredges have been put
to work and an average depth of fifty
feet all owe: the harbor has been OBJ
tanned.
Stone piers take the place Of
wharves and these are of concrete
blocks weighing, in many instances,
more than thirty-siX tons each. The
same terminal plans. as in COatza-
| coalcos, have been carried out, the
trackage system on the piers and the
| warehouses back of them being SINH
| larly arranged The warehouses at
| both ports are built of galvanized
iron: are lighted by electricity and
| equipped with fire hose and ample
| water power. Each is 400 feet long
and there are five at each terminal.
At Salina Cruz it was found neces-
| sary that sea-walls be constructed to
protect shipping in the harbor in time
| Of storm. and for that purpose two
! were built, extending horn-like into
the Pacific. The eastern wall is five
eighths of a mile in length: the west
| ern. 100 feet; though owing to the
| fact that the western peak extends
| farther seward. their ends are OPP
| posite. The entrance is now ESQ feet
in width. and there is room inside for
| mighty feet to lay at anchorage.
Natural stone from the mountains
| was used in the foundation con-
| struction Of the sea-wali. and on top
| of this were placed concrete blocks
| weighing fifty-six metric tons, the
| largest ever moulded. They were
| swung into position by electric
cranes like those described on wharf
and pier.
The country traversed by the Te-
| hauntepec National is rich in min
! era; and the soil wonderfully pro-
drc iva So
cally unexpected, the building Of the
| railroad will cause it to be quickly
settled. Few Americans have visited
! this beautiful country, so ] will de-
| scribe trip that | made across the
isthmus and what saw en- route:
One afternoon. while at Salina
Cruz. l was informed by the super
| intendent OF the Tehauntepec Ma
tional that he had been instructed by
the president to place his car at my
disposal for a trip to the gulf. and
upon my informing him that l was
ready to start at any time he sug-
gested that we leave at once, and
few moments later we were comfort
ably seated in the observation end of
his private car. dashing rapidly and
smoothly across the isthmus. Sweep
ing out from between the mountains
We ran into veritabie tropical
jungle. Giant cocoanut palms. laden
with fruit, rose llajestically above
the surrounding forest and from them
enormous vines wlithed their way in
loop and festOon. Bananas. lemons
and oranses-fruits and flowers that
| were strange to me - grew wild in
every direction. The air, even on
board the train. was perfumed with
| the odor of orange blossoms.
! stepped out on the rear platform
as the train dashed OFT of the wilder