The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-26
TRANS ANDINE
B. 3. TO CHILE

Valparaiso, Chile, Dec. 25.-The de-
partment OF public works has again
seriously taken under consideration the
proposition of constructing the Chilean
and of a new Transatlantic Railway.
The line, which official reports say viii,
be built at the earliest possible mo-
ment. viii connect the Argentine port
of Bahia Blanca with Lebu and will
cross the Andes in the foreign regions
of LonQuimay. The Argentine end of
the new trans continental has been
completed to within 80 kilometers of
the Chilean frontier where work was
halted to await like development on
the western slope Of the Andes.
That Chile has not as yet built her
section is due to difference of opinion
among government engineers as to the
most available route. Two counter pro-
jects have been urged in the chamber
of deputies. These call for lines
across the mountains of Central and
Northern Chile, but the exhaustive re-
port of Senior Domingo Duran, govern
ment expert. which has just been sub
mitted, seems to have settled the mat
ter in favor of the southern pass. The
bleak nature of the Andes in the aorth-
ern and central parts, with the liabil-
ity of avalanches which might block
the line for months, has apparently de-
termined the government to commence
work in the south where the forests
of the high plateaus will hold the
sliding SHOWS.
AT present semi-weekly trains are
running regularly between Buenos
Ayres and Valparaiso over the existing
trans-Andine road which crosses the
great plateau through the Uspallata
Pass, 1900 feet above the level Of
the sea. The twice. a-week service.
which was maintained before the great
war, was discontinued until fort
night ago, when it was resumed be-
cause traffic across the Panama canal
has created a profitable passenger SER
vice for the South American trans
cintinental. Many Americans are now
experiencing the thrill of crossing the
highest mountain range in the world,
and of seeing from car windows those
majestic peaks, the close view of which
has heretofore ben reserved for exper
fenced and adventurous maintain
climbers.
The boundary line between the Ar
gentine and Chile consists of 1000
miles of Andean peaks, most of which
are over $4,000 feet high and some
which rise to $4,000 feet This mas
sive barrier can be crossed in but a
few places even by men on foot, and
the building of the ney trans-conti-
mental will be notable engineering
feat. 1t is expected that by the time
it has been completed the war in Eu-
rope will have terminated and sufti- |
Gent traffic for both lines will be
available.
At present the crossing from ocean |
to ocean, Beunos Ayres to Valparaiso |
consumes only 80 hours less time than |
on any other trans continental line If |
the isthmian roads at Tehauntepec and !
Parma be accepted. At $3.50 in the |
the train leaves Buenos Ayres. |
Reaching the mountains a narrow |
guage cog-wheel road is made. When |
the summit is gained the train is |
putting $4,000 feet above the level of |
the sea and the international tunnel, |
nearly three miles in length, Is entered |
Ten minutes Of darkness ensues and |
the train bursts out into the binding |
light Of the high plateaus which is /
Chile. The descent is made more rap |
idly, still by cogwheel road.