Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02
Pamara Canal Greater

n strategic measure Nicaragua, backed
by the United States. could construct
the missing sections with little diff
Guilty. and in a manner to serve the
development of the country.
Part OF the railway which is involved
IN the controversy over the treaty, be-
cause of the control of 81 per cent OF
the stock by the American banking
group. follows the Pan-American ioca-
ton. but the general project, for which
financial aid is wanted, is to complete
the line across to the Atlantic SO that
Nicaragua may have its own inter
oceanic line. This also would be OF
Importance to the United States in at
fording access to the Pacific ports OF
Nicaragua by the overland route from
the Atlantic.
Costa Rica has its interoceanic line
from Port Limon to the Pacific. 1t also
has some short sections OF what would
be part of the Pan-American trunk line.
Since the completion Of the tnteroceanic
line not much has been done In the way
Of railway construction along the Pan
American location. yet Costa Rica favors
building railways for the development o.
the country, and its national policy
a liberal one. Notwithstanding the pc
litical situation in Central America. f.
would not be apt to put difficulties In
the way of completing through line L"
the Panama Canal Zone.
The plans OF Mr.. Keith and his asso-
ciates for railway construction. in SO far
as regards Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
would follow the alternative route to the
Canal Zone on the Atlantic side. This
would be for purely commercial reasons.
since their traffic lies on the Atlanti.
slope.
Encouragement to the plan for follow
ing the Pan-American location along the
Pacific slope Is given, however. by the
action Of the government OF Panama IN
providing for the construction Of what is
known as the Chiriqui railway. The sur
vey for this line from David to Panama
is for route approximately 275 miles
in length. There are some serious engi-
neering difficulties, many Of which were
pointed out in the report Of the inter-
continental survey.
The republic of Panama hesitated for
a long time about authorizing the con-
struction of this line. American finan-
ciers. who were asked to look into the
project, did not give a favorable response
but that had little significance since
American financiers rarely respond favor
ably to railway projects outside the
United States. There were also conflict
ing claims regarding concessions.
The territory to be opened up by q
railway line has many agricultural pos
sibilities, especially in the region around
David. The building of the railway also
has a certain strategic value to the re-
public of Panama The opportunity for
obtaining cheap railway material from
the canal commission was something OF
an inducement as well as the certainty
that the contractors would be able TO
utilize their experience in the Canal
Zone. So all things seemed to combine
in favor of the Ch.riqui project. and this
means that whenever the Chiriqui rail-
way is completed link Of the Pan-Amer-
lean trunk line. 275 miles in length. VIII
be closed up, and after that the propo-
sition, SO far as Panama Is concerned.
will be to construct an additional section
fifty miles long which will join up with
Costa Rica.
The distance from the southern border
of Mexico to the Canal Zone along prao-
ticable railway locations is LOO to ], 400
miles. according to the route which may
be followed. There are at present about so
miles of disconnected railway links which
would form part OF the Pan-American
trunk line. SO that 1t may be said that
the actual construction of 800 miles Of
railway will insure through communica-
ton. Possibly by zig-zagging 800 miles
would be necessary, and this IL more
likely to be the ultimate plan, though the
certainty of the construction Of the line
from Panama to David shortens the
doubtful element in the longer location.
Put in another way. 1t is q little over
1000 miles by railways already construct
ed and capable of construction from
Washington to Panama.
The fact has to be recognized that IN
the responsibilities which have come to
the United States in connection with the
Panama canal the railway system of
Central America. both the interoceanic
lines and the Pan-American trunk. have
a much greater Significance than in the
past, when the chief consideration has
been the material development Of the
different countries. That always VIII pc
a leading consideration, but in the fu-
ture there will also be the international
situation. This is why railway construc-
ton in Central America has bearing Oh
Secretary Bryan's Nicaragua treaty and
the proposed protectorate.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.