New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17
rROUADOR

occurred TO the minister that his services might
be useful in preventing other failures or Sc
curing success in drilling on the lines OF ma
tional railways under construction in the north
ern end southern territories. Uncle Sans per
mission was secured, and the geologst Bailey
Willis was loaned to the Argentine govern
ucnt.
The work of the United States Geological
Survey and Reclamation Service was thus fur
Their extended in Argentina. Early IN 1911 the
corps OF topographers and biologists selected
by Nj Willis, picked group Of young men
of proved ability, began work on the line o.
the San Antonio Railway, in Northern Pata-
eonia. primarily to ascertain where and how
water might be obtained in that semi-arid re-
eon for the port Of San Antonio, on the Allan
tic. and the railway line under construction,
which was to extend to the great Lago Manuel
Huapi. in the Andes goo miles away.
SUPPLYING WATER UNDERGROUND
FROM THE VALCHETA.
Although underground waters were wanting,
the problem was solved by the topographic sur
veys. which demonstrated the possibility OF
taking the water OF an inland stream the Val
cheta, 10 San Antonio, by means Of pipe line
sxty-6ve miles long from the required reser-
voir to the city After FIVE months field work
the engineering features of the project were
July worked up and a favorable report, sub
mitted to the minister dspelled doubt which
had existed as TO the practcability Of develop
irG an important port on the wateIless coast.
Up TO that time the construction Of trans
continental line, by extending the San Antonio
Railway beyond Lago Manuel Huapi, westward
across the Andes to Valdivia, on the Pacific,
had been regarded as mpractcsble as the
southern and western shores OF the great lake
were known TO be very precipitous But the
minister. finding his faith in American ability
10 overcome difficulties confirmed in the case
Of the San Antonio water supply now took
new courage You will 90 and find the pass
they say does not exist" he said
The surveys made near San Antonio had
been carried out during the dry, moderately
cold weather of the Patagonian winter, the
men living comfortably in tents. Spring was
coming and the treeless brown plateaus were
turning green the corps broke camp, in
October 1911, 20 ride across 70 the Andes but
the mountains beyond Lago Manuel Husp on
the boundary with Chill, were forbiddingly
white with snow, even into January, and those
which rose 20 5000 feet or more above sea re-
manned white all summer. Somewhere among
them was a deep pass visited twelve years
before by CHILEAN engineer, but not known to
be accessible from the Argentine side. The
task OF reaching it was one OF exploration in
dense forests. oddly enough in this temperate
climate obstructed by bamboo thickets that
would vie with the tropical jungle. But the
way was found and surveys were made which
demonstrated the feasibility Of constructing
broad gauge freight-carrying railway with
maximum grade OF 10 per hundred. The exist
ing line between Mendoza and Santiago IS
narrow gauge road with 8 per cent grades and
rises 10 nearly II 900 feet, whereas the San
Antonio-Valdivia line would cross the Andes
at less than 1000 feet above sea.
Prior 10 the discovery Of the relatively easy
transcontinental route in Northern Patagonia,
where the distance from ocean TO ocean. 600
miles is the shortest practicable for line
across the continent, the minister had been
severely criticised for involving the nation IN
the quixotic scheme Of railway construction.
He was minister Of rare ability and extraor-
binary foresight. far beyond the politicians
who opposed him AS he found his hopes OF
future development confirmed by the work OF
the little corps Of surveyors he extended his
confidence even more fully 10 them and sup
ported them with all OF his great influence
The scope OF their work was enlarged, the
corps was increased by bringing experienced
specialists from the states, and the work went