Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-17
MEXICO PLANS TO
EXTEND RAILWAYS
Carranza Government Consid-
ering Construction of Lines.
GIVING OF WORK ONE IDEA

Inspector of Mexican Consulates De-
ciares Helping of Laborers One of
Main Purposes-Some Roads Started
Before Trouble Beean-one VIII
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 inn
portance of opening for development
wide stretches of country that are now
lacking in transportation facilities is
not lost sight of.
According to MIR. Musquiz, northern
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 it's 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 a
connection with the INSTRUMENTATION
terey division of the National Railways
Of Mexico, thus forming an all rail
route between Matamoros and Pieuras
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, a
distance of about $50 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 q syndicate of American capitalists
at the time the Madero revolution was
started, a concession for the enterprise
having been granted by the Diaz ad-
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 Coaluila, is to be
extended to the mining town and dis
trict of Sierra Mojada, a distance of
about seventy miles, Mr.. Musquiz say
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 a branch line of
the Torreon-Piedras Negras division of
the National railways from Allende to
Las Vacas, opposite Del Rio. Tex.
about ~seventy-tive miles, is already in
progress, according to Mr.. Musquiz.
The construction of the Tnmpico-
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, 81!
miles. is perhaps one of the most i'm.
portaht of all the railway enterprises
which the de facto government now
has unde consideration. Its fulfillment
will mean the establishment of a new
and direct rail route betweensthe Unit
ed States and the Mexican capital. re
ducing the distance about 200 miles, as
compared with the shortest of the ex
listing 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 projec'
that was abandoned on account of the
internal strife is to be revived. 1t is
that of a connecting line from a poin'
on the National Tehuantepec railroad
and Campeche, where connection vii
be made with the United Railways O
Yucatan. This road will be about 45(
miles long.