Charlevoix county herald., 1911-12-23

sized barkeptine purchased by the Pan Ameri
can Transcontinental Railway company to help
out in carrying railroad ties and lumber. From
New Orleans, on June T. the Wimbledon steamed
away carrying the largest consignment of lumber
which ever went out of that port. Over $4,000
ties and over 10000 feet of yellow pine timber
made up her cargo.
All of these things to help build the first
American railway in the River Plata region In
quiry has developed that the enterprise is one
which is backed by business more than by bank
ing interests in the United States. The work
has been carried quietly and steadily. The
surveys completed and submitted to the
government July Is, 1910. The winter and early
spring were occupied In arranging for purchase
OF material and equipment Grading was begun
at Durazno on March g.
The first section of 30 miles was formally
opened to public service in September, 1911, and
the entire line will be completed within four
years.
1t seems thus to be destined that Uruguay, of
all the South American republics, shall be first
intimately known to United States capital And
as where ones capital is there lies ones inter-
est, 1t seems not unlikely that Uruguay in it's
development may feel strongly the influence or
American ideas and customs and perhaps be
drawn into still closer national sympathy with
the people Of the United States.
In the physical characteristics OF the country
Uruguay bears striking resemblance to parts
Of the United States The rolling prairies and
many streams of Illinois are there as, too. Is the
rich. deep black soil.
The peaches, grapes and pears OF northern Ohio
find natural home in the southerly portions of
the country and the sands of Colonia remind one
of the sands Of Lake Erie.
II the history of the development Of the middle
west be repeated south of the equator one can
see Uruguay we'll peopled and well plowed.
prosperous country to live in and fair one to
look upon.
In the plans of the railway company the de-
velopment Of the port of Colonia plays an i'm
portar part. 1t is understood that here will be
established center Of distribution for imports
to the River Plata region. Storage warehouses
will make it possible for manufacturers to carry
at triling expense large stocks upon which they
can call as needed for distribution in the Argen.
tine or Uruguay or to up-river districts.
The natural depth of the water is such al
Colonia as to make this one OF the nnest or mar
hors The largest ocean steamers will be able to
discharge their cargoes quickly and cheaply
Natural conditions in fact, seem to have destined
this point for one of the great shipping centers
of the River Plata region.
This Pan American railway has large signif'
cance for Uruguay, but 1t may mean even more
for the limited States. If it serves as now seems
quite possible as the introduction of United
states capital to this great South American
region and familiarizes Unied States investors
with the sound and stable character OF railway
enterprise as 1t has been and will be developed
on this mort of the new world IL will have ac-
complished QUITE as much for the republic or the
north as for Uruguay, and more perhaps for the
general advancement of Pan Americanism than
for either.