The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-12-31
MEXICO PLANS To
EXTEND RAIL WAYS
Carranza Government COnSid-
erlng Construction of Lines.
GIVING OF WORK ONE IDEA


Inspector of Mexican consulates De-
clares Helping of Laborers One of
Main Purposes-Some Roads Started
Before Trouble Began - One Will
Parallel Rio Grande.
San Antonio, Text is stated by
Rafael e. Musquiz, inspector of Next
can consulates, who has arrived here
direct from the City of Mexico, that
the de facto government of his coun-
try has under consideration plans for
the early construction of several thou
sand miles Of railway. One of the
main purposes of the proposed work is
to give employment to great numbers
of laborers who are in need of help
of this sort At the same time the i'm
portance of opening for development
wide stretches of country that are now
lacking in transportation facilities is
not lost sight Of
Mexico is to be especially favored in
the matter of obtaining new lines OF
railway. One of the most important
of these projects has for its route the
isolated stretch of border territory be-
tween Nuevo Laredo and Piedras Ne
gras. paralleling the Rio Grande. This
proposed picket line" road will be ex-
tended later from Nuevo Laredo to
connection with the Matamoros-Mon-
terey division of the National Railways
of Mexico, thus forming an all rail
route between Matamoros and Piedras
Negras. opposite Eagle Pass, Tex,
about 500 miles.
The plans also provide for the con-
struction of a railroad from Monclova,
Coahuila. to the city of Chihuahua,
distance of about 450 miles, traversing
a region rich in coal deposits and pre-
cious minerals; there are also many
large ranches along the route. The
construction of this road was projected
by a syndicate of American capitalists
at the time the Madero revolution was
started, concession for the enterprise
having been granted by the Diaz adj
miniStration.
The branch line of the National Rail-
ways that runs from Monclova to Qua
tro Cienegas. General Carranza's home
town, in the state of Coahuila, is to be
extended to the mining town and dis
trict of Sierra Mojada, distance of
about seventy miles, Mr.. Musquiz says.
At Sierra Mojada the new line will con-
meet with the Mexican Northern rail-
road, which runs to Escalon, where it
connects with the Chihuahua division
of the National Railways.
The construction of branch line of
the Torreon- Piedras Negras division of
the National railways from Allende to
Las Vacas. opposite Del Rio, Tex,
about seventy-fve miles, is already in
progress, according to Mr.. Musquiz.
The construction of the Tampico-
Mexico City "cut off, line is to be re-
sumed very soon. This project, in con-
nection with the proposed railway that
is to be built between Tampico and
Matamoros, opposite Brownsville, 315
miles, is perhaps one of the most i'm
portant of all the railway enterprises
which the de facto government now
has under consideration. It's fulfllment
will mean the establishment of a new
and direct rail route between the Unit
ed States and the Mexican capital, re-
ducing the distance about 200 miles, as
compared with the shortest of the ex-
isting lines. The "cut off" road was
under construction when the revolu-
tionary troubles began. considerable
grading having been done on the Tam
pico end.
Another important railroad project
that was abandoned on account of the
internal strife is to be revived. 1t is
that of a connecting line from a point
on the National Tehuantepec railroad
and Campeche, where connection will
be made with the United Railways of
Yucatan. This road will be about 450
miles long.