Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-31

A great variety of points came up
for consideration. One of the most in
teresting was
Railroad to Traverse the renewal
the Two Continents. for trunk
lime railway connecting North and
South America The terminals of such
a line would be located in New York
and Buenos Aires. When the line is
completed It will be possible to buy a
ticket in any part of the United States
for almost anv of the capitals of South
America The commission regards the
intercontinental railway idea as both
practical and highly desirable.
The total distance from New York to
Buenos Aires is more thar 10000 miles,
but. of course. the greater part Of the
routing would be over lines already in
have already been built and are being
operated. There are still gaps. how
ever, totaling almost 1000 miles. and
these gaps. unfortunately. some in
lombia and Ecuador in South America
In calculating the sections already
built, the railways of Mexico are in
cluded. although at the moment they
whole undertaking would undoubtedly
be one of great magnitude and dim
Guilty, but there Is something in the
nature of II that appeals to the Ameri-
can desire to do big things indus
trially, and that fires the Latin Ameri-
can imagination. The present genera
ton may well live long enough to buy
ticket in New York for Buenos Aires.
Another important thing that the
commission agreed to recommend to its
various gov
Standard Gold Unit ents
| for All the Americas. abortion of
standard gold unit of currency for
all the American republics. This unit
will be known as the American franc.
| Its adoption marks something of a vic
tory for the United States section, and
one that should prove a boon to our
/ business men. Many of the South
American delegates originally desired
| the French franc a gold currency
| unit. This would be awkward one
to translate into terms Of dollars and
cents. The American franc will be a
| gold coin of the exact fneness of the
United States gold dollar. and worth
| exactly ~ cents L nlIeO states cur
rency.
When definitely adopted by the South
| American republics this coin will re-
| main for time purely Theoretical
| unit, Ike the English guinea, which is
no longer coined; but certain fees and
| subscriptions in the United Kingdom
| are still paid in terms of guneas The
American franc will be convenient
! money of account for international
| dealings: and as all of the South Amer
lean countries get their currency more
| thoroughly on a gold basis. gold coins
| based on the American franc will be
| actually struck and issued. In that
| case such coins will probably work into
| circulation in the United States, a five
| franc piece being the exact equivalent
| Of our dollar. Such a coinage will give
| a currency that can be used without
the slightest confusion all over the
| western hemisphere. 1t will enable the
traveller and the merchant from the
United States to deal with Latin Amer
lea without learning a dozen strange
| currency systems.
| The humble comm ercial traveller
| came In for a large share of attention
| at the meeting;
The Opportunity for his case and sig
| nifcance wer e
VIC - "AnoA' considered at
length. and important recommendations
will be made to the pan american gov
/ Arm m ANITA a. \ nAaulf Thu drum m . r''