The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-08
AT THE HOTELS.

please, said John r. Hines. Of Seattle,
who is at the New Willard Half of
its inhabitants may be no better than
serfs; Diaz may be the most despotic
and tyrannical OF dictators, but the fact
remains that Mexico and Dlaz. between
them. have put one over on the United
States that is causing some Of the states
men here more worry than they are at
all willing TO admit
Everybody knows that California is
the Southern Pacifc's own particular
back yard. Everybody knows that TO ship
freight to California means to ship it
over the Southern Pacific. Very we'll :
Now, listen 10 this paradox. More
transcontinental freight-freight which
originated In the Eastern States-came
into California by water last year than
was brought In by the Southern Pacific.
Panama Canal, OF course" continued
Mr. Hines. But the Panama Canal isn't
half dug yet. Then those freight-carry-
ing ships must have sailed all the way
around Cape Horn. They didn't And just
here is shown the wisdom and the fore
sight and the exceeding shrewGness Of
the despOtic Diaz and his advisers.
road story so big that a little study Of
the map OF the western hemisphere is
necessary TO make the point clear Look
down near the southern end OF Mexico,
where the neck Of the continent narrOWs
to a little strip only rs miles in width.
Notice, too, how the Sierra Madre Noun
tains, the rocky continental backbone.
drop just here from a height OF more
| than a mile to 750 feet This is the
/ Isthmus OF Tehuantepec, which was
where a great many engineers and ex-
perts thought the canal should have been
cut. instead of far 10 the south, at
Panama.
The late Admiral shufeldt. for in
stance. after going over the ground with
a committee of prominent engineers, re-
ported that a canal Though this isthmus
Is practically an extension OF the Mis-
sissippi River 10 the Pacific Ocean. II
| converts the Gulf of Mexico into an
American lake and in time Of war it
| would close that Gulf 10 all corners. So
10 speak, il renders our own territory
clrcumnaYigable
"Diaz listened carefully TO all the argu-
ments advanced in the way of proving
that Tehuantepec furnished the best short
cut TO the Pacific. He was especially
impressed by the statement that the
| isthmus is some 1.250 miles closer TO
| Europe and 10 the Atlantic coast OF the
| United States than Panama and he de-
termined TO take quick advantage of the
fact. A second canal was quite impos-
sible. A railroad, then, over which freight
might be trans-shipped from steamers on
the Atlantic side to waiting ships on the
Pacific. Aided by financiers and railroad
builders OF the United States and Europe.
the necessary funds were quickly raised
and the work begun. Before the Panama
project was fairly under way the Tehuan-
tepec Railroad across the isthmus was
completed and opened for business"
William NJ Wilson. OF Obion, Tenn.
who is here attending the Rivers and
HarbOrs Congress. is not only one Of the
best-informed men at the congress. but
also one of the most interesting from
personal viewpoint Although ne is
eighty-two years old, he does not give the
impression of extreme age. lie is up on
all current events, which, OF course, is
to be expected, after a fashion: but few
are so well informed on the details Of
daily happenings. In regard 10 his ply
steal condition, ne is somewhat Of a IA
matte. having made a daily practice for
the past fifty years Of walking at least
ten miles each day, rain or shine Only
by this, he maintains, can his excellent
health be accounted for.
MIR. Wilson first became interested in
transportation by water exactly fifty
seven years ago. His home is on the
Obion River. ninety-two miles north of
Memphis. and he foresaW the benefit
which would result 10 his town. Oblon.
If the river were cleaned out and deep
ened in spots Water transportation
meant lower rates and larger profits: be-
, sides. much lowland could be redeemed
, along the banks of the river. and this
land is exceedingly fertile. His hopes
have been partially fulfilled. and the re
suits have been as he foreSaw many
years before this means Of transportation
I was seriously thought of by the average
? person.
Partially through his utilization Of low
, lands redeemed from the ObiOn River,
Mr. Wilson has become a wealthy man.
In fact. he might be said 10 rank in the
I capitalist" class, for his fortune is
y generally placed at well over seven fig
[ ures. But with all his business he has
r never lost interest in the waterway prob
, lem. He attended the first congress.
which was held at New Orleans nine
years ago. and since then has not missed
: one. with the natural result that ne Is
2 considered one of the leading experts Of
5 the country on this question, now Of
= vital interest to the United States
John II Schumann. Of Brooklyn. who
came here 10 attend the Steuben eere-
monies. is at the Arlington. Mr.. Schu-
y mann is a prominent banker Of Brooklyn.
0 being president of the German Savings
e Bank and other financial institutions.
, Speak king of the effect OF the last
| political upheaval Mr.. Schumann said:
Il THE very people who helped TO defeat
n Roosevelt in New York and elsewhere
> are to-day regretting that they did so
i They did not figure that the catastrophe
y would he so tremendous, and they do not
n know. in consequence, what IS awaiting
s them now at the hands Of Democratic
It Congress. II was their intention TO teach
], Mr. Roosevelt a nice little lesson not 10
# interfere in their business affairs and
e the manner of their transaction. so far
: as honesty was concerned; but they did
: not expect 10 reap the whirlwind. l am
= afraid they bit of more than they can
5 chew. And so far as Roosevelt IS con-
d cerped he is to-day looked upon in the
hearts of the majority OF the people OF
r this country as a stanch, patriotic Amer
l. ican)cftiZen who has rendered tnvaluabaS
IL services TO his country. I firmly believe
Il that Mr.. Roosevelt will return to public
II life and Washington
= Hungarians are great readers, according
r. to Herman Ferenz Tancos, Of Budapest.
Hungary, who is at the Riggs.
le There is scarcely a village in Hungary
&c without a library Of AT least a few vol
is umes. and those towns which have no