El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-22

" INcoN ANTONIO. Mexico. March
X 22.-Here one, finds as interest
- ing railroad situation as there
is in the world. The Tehauntepec
route is. owned by the Mexican gov
eminent operated by an English firm,
and managed by American railroad Of
ficials. Furthermore, it is a compel
itor. of the transcontinenta1 rail-
roads to the north and bidder for
business against the Panama rail-
road to the south. In addition it pro-
poses to be a rival of the Panama
canal when 1t is completed. Built on
the line of one of the three great
trans-isthmian highway projects, it
has given partial shape to the dream
of the great engineer. James B. Eads.
who would have built here a trans
isthmian ship railway Anyone who
has travelled across the watershed OF
the Isthmus of Tehauntepec, and has
seen the engine of his train going
due east while the rear car is travel
ing due west, so sharp are some Of
the necessary curves, must marvel at
the suggestion that a ship rail-
way might De Ou1lL mere
Is a 2O0-MiIe Route.
The Tehauntepec route is a 200mile
railroad extending from the port of
Coatzacoalcos on the Atlantic, to Sa-
lima Cruz on the Pacific. At these two
ports there are magnificent terminal
facilities The ships of the Pacific
unload their cargo at Salina Cruz,
directly into cars. which are later
whisked across the Isthmus. where
the cargo is again transported 70 the
hold Of a waiting Atlantic steamer
Nearly a million tons of freight are
handled annually by the Tehauntepec
route. A large proportion of it is
sugar from Hawaii. The American
Hawaiian line brings it to Salina
Cruz where it is transferred across
the isthmus and again loaded into the
holds of steamers of the same line for
eastern ports. There are a half dozen
steamship lines from European and
American ports which bring cargo to
Coatzacoalcos enroute to Pacific ports.
On the Pacific side there are many
more lines.
Its History Fascinating.
The history OF the Tehauntepec
route is another fascinating chapter in
the history of Mexican progress.
Years ago a railroad across the 18TH
mus was built. but it was such
poor excuse that 1T soon became the
proverbial streak of rust and right
Of way. 1t was completed in 1894.
but was so inadequate that in 1896
the Mexican congress passed an act
providing for the issuance Of bends for
the building of the new road and the
necessary port facilities. The English
contra citing firm of which Sir Weet-
man Pearson is the head was assigned
the task Of rebuilding the railroad and
Of constructing the necessary harbors
and docks. At the same time there
was an agreement between the Mexi-
can government and the Pearson firm
whereby they were to become equal
partners in the operation of the system
for a term of years expiring in 1858.
Each partner was TO put up $500. COS
as its respective share of the operat-
ing capital and the Pearson firm is
this agreement that the Tehauntepec
route is operated today.
Rincon Antonio Picturesque.
But no one would suspect it by Wis
iting the headquarters of the system
at Rincon Antonio. Here, far down
in the heart Of southern Mexico one
finds a most picturesque little Ameri-
can settlement. Situated on a broad,
prairie-like plateau, a few miles At
tinental divide, the place has a most
substantial structures. and one might
fancy himself in a favored spot on
the Panama canal Nearly all the in
habitantS of the town are Americans.
From vice president and general man
ager Ryan, who has spent half of his
life solving Mexican railroad problems,
down to the mechanics in the machine
shops. everybody, while anxious to see
the Panama canal prove a success, is
loyal to the Tehauntepec route and
believes there still will be business
for it in spite Of the opening Of the
canal
That the Panama canal will get.
the major portion of the through car
go business now being handled by the
Tehauntepec route. is generally con-
coded and were there no other bust
ness in prospect to take its place,
the outlook of the Tehauntepec route
would be gloomy indeed. But one
of the notable things in connection
with the approaching completion OF the
Panama canal is the confidence Of all
Central America that 1t means an era
Of unbounded prosperity for the west
coast. The same feeling prevails in
western Mexico and in the Pacific states
of our own country. and the whole
financial world shares it. This means
that MILLIONS of tons of new freight
will be created Some of this will go
forward in full cargo shipments and
another part of it will be made up of
small consignments.
Expect Much Business Later.
The mana cement of the Tehaunte-
pee route practically concede all full
cargo business to the Panama canal
But. they point out. a ship will come
down the west coast with a cargo
made up of shipments to New York
Liverpool, Hamburg, and other points
This cargo will have to be trans
shipped somewhere, and the Tehaun-
tpec route can perform that service
as cheaply as the Panama canal So
they expect to get enough addition
al business to make up losses.
The Tehauntepec route affords a
saving of about 1900 miles between
Atlantic and Pacific ports in tenn
perate zone territory, as compared
with the Panama canal On ordinary
steamers this means four days. To-
day the rate across the isthmus of
Tehanutepec IS between four and five
dollars a ton. This affords a good
profit on operation. The actual cost
Of handling >the freight at the two ter
minals amounts to approximately S175.
The ~ 10 which can he made wbap the