Evening star., 1917-01-06
CHILE WILL BUILD
TRANSAND|NE LINE
Railway to Connect Argentine
Port of Bahia Blanca With
City of Lebu.

correspondence OF the Associated Pres.
VALPARAISO. Chile. December I5-
The department of public works has
again seriously taken under considera-
ton the proposition Of constructing
the Chilean end OF q new Transandine
railway. The line. which ofiicial re-
ports say, will be built at the earliest
possible moment, will connect the Ar
gentine port of Bahia Blanca with
Lebu and will cross the Andes In the
foreign regions of LonQuimay. The
Argentine end of the new transconti-
mental has been completed to within
thirty kilometers of the Chilean from
tier. where work was halted TO await
like development on the westernI
slope of the Andes.
That Chile has not as yet built herl
section is due to a difference of opin!on|
among government engineers as to the
most available route. Two counter
projects have been urged In the cham
ber 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 oeen SUP
mitted, seems to have settled the mat
ter in favor of the southern pass The
bleak nature of the Andes in the norm
ern and central parts. with the liability
line for months, has apparently deter
mined the government TO commence
work in the south, where the forests
Of the high plateaus will hold the slid
ing SHOWS.
semi-Weekly Trains Burning.
At present semi-weekly trains are
running regularly between Buenos
Aires and Valparaiso over the existing
Transandine road which crosses the
great plateau through the Uspallata
pass, $4,000 feet above the level of the
sea.
The twice-a-week service. which was
maintained before the great war. was
discontinued until a fortnight ago.
when it was resumed because tramc
across the Panama canal has created n
profitable passenger service FOR the
South American transcontinental
Many Americans are now experienc.
ing the thrill of crossing the highest
mountain range in the world, and or
seeing from car windows those maJes-
tic peaks the close view of which has
heretofore been reserved for expert
enced and adventurous mountain climb
ers.
The boundary line between the Ar
gentine and Chile consists Of 1000
miles Of Andean ear peaks, S most OF OF which Which
which rise to $4,000 feet.
Notable Engineering Feat.
This massive barrier can be crossed
in but q few places even by men on
foot. and the building Of the new
transcontinental will be notable en-
cheering feat. 1t Is expected that by
the time 1t has been completed the war
in Europe will have terminated and
sufficient traffic for both lines will be
available.
At present the crossing from ocean to
ocean. Buenos Aires to Valparaiso, con-
sumes only thirty-nine hours less time
than on any other transconttnental line
II the isthmian roads at Tehuantepec
and Panama be excepted. At $3.50 In
the morning the train leaves Buenos
Aires. Reaching the mountains,
change to a narrow gauge cogwheei
road is made. When the summit is
gained the train is putting $4,000 feet
above the level of the sea and the in
ternational 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
plateau, which Is Chile. The descent is
made more rapidly. still by cogwhsel
road.