Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-21
MEXICAN ROUTE
GROWS POPULAR
LOS ANGELES PATR0NIzlNG 1T
MORE AND MORE
EXCELLENT FACILITIES EXIST
FOR FREIGHT TRANSFER
Track Is Standard Gauge and Dry
dock at saIina Cruz Largest
on the Pacific
Coast

/
The additional commerce ought t.
Los Angeles by means of the Tehuan
tepec route is arousing much local in
terest in that remarkable transconti
i mental service, which is both the short
! est and the longest by which merchan
/ disc comes to Southern Cal .fornia.
/ 1t Is the longest In mileage, counted
| from New York to Los Angeles, bu
| not much greater in point of time. Il
i Is the shortest In the strict sense of 8
Unconstitutional line, for the Tehuan-
tepec National railway is only 100 miles
long, from Puerto Mexico on the At
lantic side to Salina Cruz on the Pa
cific coast
For many years this project OF a rail-
way across the isthmus, which Hum
boldt called "the bridge of the worlds
commerce." has been subject fol
agitation. Concessions were granted
as early as 1857, and for twenty-five
years afterward numerous corporations
and firms mainly financed in the Unit
ed States, attempted to make the Te-
huantepec route a practical one. But
all failed, and their concessions were
declared forfeited from time to time
because they did not fulfill their con-
tracts.
In 1882 the Mexican government took
up the undertaking directly, contract
ing with Delfin Sanchez for the con-
struction of a railway. Sixty-seven
miles were completed, but the arrange
ment worked out so unsatisfactory
that it was Cancelled. The work had
cost considerably more than either side
had anticipated.
The government secured a loan OF
| $40 900. 900 and new contract was made
with Col. McMurdoo, the celebrated en-
gineer, to rebuild the .sixty-seven miles
already constructed and complete the
undertaking. The contract provided
that this should be done in thirty
months, but Col. McMurdoo died not
long after taking up the work.
For a time the project languished
but in 1894 the rails finally ran from
ocean tos ocean. Defects in construc-
ton and the want of proper harbol
facilities at both terminals Immediately
became glaringly apparent and 1t was
found necessary practically to do al
the construction over again, as wei
as to provide sufficient loading and I'M
loading capacity.
Valuable Yet Worthless
The Mexican government found itself
facing the paradox Of tremendously
valuable railroad property that was
practically worthless. 1t had invested
tC much, however, to abandon the JOB
and the plans for carrying 1t forward
were carefully worked out. In consid
| ering these the immense task which 81
Weetman Pearson, a member or th'
great London contracting firm of S
Pearson & Son, Ltd, had accomplished
| in the drainage canal of the valley o
| Mexico and the port works of Ver'
| Cruz attracted the attention Of tn
government officials to his firm.
/ AS a result unique contract wa
entered into, by which the Mexfca
government and the firm OF contrao
tors became, in a way, partners in tn
enterprise. This contract, or NOR
properly speaking, the two lines
/ contracts between the British firm an
Mexico depended largely upon the In
tegrity and ability of Sir Weetma
| Pearson, and the success or the enter
prise shows that the government con
| fidence was not misplaced. Under on
| set Of contracts Pearson & Son agrees
to construct and equip the harbors a
Puerto Mexico and Salina Cruz. I'm
der the other the Englishmen contract
ed to work jointly with the government
in exploiting the enterprise after IL
| completion.
The work of rebuilding the railwa.
and adapting it for heavy trafr1c wa
| undertaken by the firm as agents 10
| fine government at cost price. The ran
1
$40 200, 900 so far.
/ At the outset the undertaking wa
hampered by all the difficulties IN Cd
| tanning labor which have anected IN
Panama canal project. The roadbe'
was overgrown with tropical Vegeta
ton. and even now with a heavily ole
right of way, it is necessary constahll'
| to fight this down in order 10 max
i traffic safe Lack of fuel and an ex
| tended rainy season were minor DIM
oulties. These were successfully over
come and the road is now considered
| a model in construction and equip
ment.
The track is standard gauge and rocl
ballast and steel and cement prog
construction are used tnroughou'
| Enuinment and rolling stock are tn
best procurable and IN many lns.an l e
tbey have been specially constructed Z
facilitate transfer Of freight. Al
lighterage is avoided, as the larges
vessels may discharge at the ra1lWa'
wharVes, and are unloaded by mug
electric cranes direct into covered DO
| cars. These cars have tops which opel
and render rapid loading possible pu
| they are also built with a view TO CIV
ing full protection from tropical Gil
matte influences. At each port twenty
six miles of sidings give ample room
for quick unloading and handing
i The largest dry dock on the PaclIl
coast. and one of the three finest In tn
world, is located at Salina Cruz. II ma
a low water depth on sill of twenty
/ eieht feet. and is $40 by SO feet. IN
work of dredging it's entrance channe
is now under way, but it is otherwis
fully complete. Ample warehouses con
borhors for merchandise which canno
be Immediately reshipped. These ha y
a total capacity of 10000 tons. Tner
are seven at Puerto Mexico and SIX
Salina Cruz.
norts of call, and the American IA a
waiian connections open Los Angele
to all European ports as well r, as
Philadelphia and New YORK. i pmsrt
erected through the calling at Puer.
Mexico of the following lines; Harriso
Iine Royal Mail steam Packet com n
pany, Cuban line, Leyland line, me- Ian IAN
burg American line. Compagnle ne q;
|