Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-21
HAMPTON PHOEBUS AND OLD POINT-Continued.
Railways HCross the 1sthmus

ia mllIOu uuAldtS Wotth VI euS"' - !"
Hawaii crossing the Tehuantepec line
for the Atlantic front. practically all
went to the re6neries Of Philadel-
phia and New York. chiefly the latter
One Of the nearly 3 IL million dollars
worth OF miscellaneous merchandise
passing over the western coast ports
to those Of the east by way OF the
, Tehuantepec line 3 million dollars
worth originated at San Francisco and
, million dollars worth was destined
for New York.
The comparatively new freight
route between the eastern and west
ern coast Of the United States. In
which the railway lines form but
small share of the distance covered
and steamship lines very large
share. has been in operation, SO far as
relates to the Tehuantepec line. but
a little over two years. Planned be-
fore the construction Of the earliest
trans-contincntal railways in the
United States, the Tehuantepec road
was not completed from ocean to
ocean until 1894 and even then was
found SO unsatisfactory, owing to de-
fective conditions, that partial recon-
struction became necessary. this re-
construction having been accom-
plshed through a partnership between
the Mexican Government and COM
panv of British capitalist. The rail-
road. 100 miles in length, was recon
structed. and steel docks and piers
provided at the eastern and west
ern termini by which transfer from
the hold CT the vessel direct to the
car standing on the dock is accom-
plished by steam and electric power.
Practically all of the sugar from the
Hawaiian Islands destined for the
eastern ports of the United States Is
new sent by this Tehuantepec route.
instead OF going around the Horn. as
formerly. The steamers carrying the
sugar from Hawaii to Salina Cruz at
the Pacific end Of the Tehuantepec
route. pass. after diScharging their
cargoes. to the north along the west
ern coast of the United States, touch
ing at the ports Of Mexico. the United
States. and British Columbia and
thence again to Hawaii.
The traffic between the eastern
terminus of the Tehuantepec road
Coatzacoalcos-and the Atlantic ports
of the United States is carried by
steamship lines established for this
especial service. The traffic between
the eastern end of the Panama Rail-
way and the Atlantic coast, and that
between the terminus and the Pacific
ports of the United States is carried
by steamshiI lines especially operated
for that service; while part of the
Panama traffic destined for foreign
countries is carried by the various
steamship lines entering at its east
ern and western termini.
The distances between New York
and San Francisco BY the two lines
are. via Panama. 5,3O5 miles via Tehl-
antepec, 4.415 miles: direct by short
est trans-continental railway line.
3,191 miles, and by way of Magellan
Straights. 1909 miles. From the
Hawaiian Islands to New York the
distances are, by way of San Fran
cisco. 5,2Ss miles: by way of Tehu-
antepec, 5.SO6 miles: by way OF Pana'
ma, 6.6S6 miles and by way Of Magei
Ian Straights. 1929 miles.
The traffic between the eastern and
western coasts of the United States
carried over these and the Canadian
Railway lines. passing as it does
through foreign territory. is carried in
sealed cars and thus readmitted free
Of duty on reaching other ports of
the United States.