The Washington herald., 1909-03-23
TEHUAETEPEC AND PANAMA.
New Railway VIII BE Formidable
ComPetItOr Of Canal.
From the Portland O7eso1iln.


In view of the possibilities for read
justment OF trade routes. should the Spo-
kane rate decision prove detrimental 10
the interests Of Pacific Coast terminals
the present service over the Tehuanteuec
route becomes Of exceptional interest
This route Is not only a very formidable
competitor for the American railroads.
but it also may remain a most important
highway between the Atlantic and the
Pacific after the Panama Canal SHAH he
completed For all ports in the North
Pacific the TehUantepec route offers a
saving OF I-210 miles IN distance over The
Panama route. This material dIFe-e7-s
IN the length OF the route, BY saving IN
operating expenses OF the steamers and
IN time, Is sufficient 20 onset any disad-
vantage resulting from rehandll7r oe
freight.
II the Panama Canal Is operated On the
basis Of cost. the dues VIII Of Decessf-v-
be much heavier than the cost % moving
freight across the isthmus OF Tehusnte-
pee Conservative estimates now Mac
the cost of the canal at $50. .o1ooo. and fr
viii hardly occasion surprise II this fig
ure shall be increased TO S50COO7.01 before
the great work IS completed II VIII m
course. require very heavy tolls 20 rs-
turn even a moderate rate of Interest nj,
the investment In comparison WITH -b,s
vast sum. the Tehuantepec. Railroad. vvr-b
its unequaled terminal facilities. acres of
steel freight houses. and more than er-v
miles Of sideuacks at terminals. -enre-
sents a total cost Of but little more than
S5ocoQo0o II IS NOT yet two years since
the road began operations. and o. te
only within the past six months that r.
has been IN a position 10 expedite bUs5-
ness
In the first eighteen months OF its on
Grafton, however, II demonstrates IT'S 80
sibilities by handling more rha7 So ~
tons Of American freight Since thai +f7,e
Pacific Coast importers have nor o71,-
largely Increased their business VIII tbs
Atlantic trade centers. but have also he
gun importing direct from Europa re-
celving goods from the Old Wo-I5 nv
this route in much less time than by any
other route now in existence. May NM
Ter, in writing Of the completion OF this
railroad and terminals. notes thar "tbe
object which the government and tha cor
tractors have had before them has baa,
TO handle freight at the lowest possible
cost by preparing to do Il on the largest
scale practicable with modern r1scbiDsrv
and 20 attain this object neither money
nor labor has been spared
II IS. OF course. idle 20 assuuaa +b,, +ba
transeonunentaI railroads viii retire from
Coast business BY submitting 10 the or
der OF the Interstate Commerce CommIs-
sion regarding Spokane, and making no
corresponding change in rates IN C,oout
terminals, The railroads VIII un5oubte5I,-
continue TO protect their Coast business
and handle a 'arge and steadily. fncreas-
ing traffic. Meanwhile there viii be a
large Increase in the volume OF business
handled by the Tehuantepec route. ana
that route IN the future. as in the mast
viii prevent any advance IN the through
rail rates. and wiz gve Coast terminals
advantages frC-C TNl,h nature has sf-
fectually and p'rrnt s1tly barred interior
cities.