The sun., 1918-12-30
REVIVE AMERICAS
RAILWAY PROJECT
Line Running Entire Length
of Western Hemisphere
Is Plan.
IDEA DISCUSSED IN 1882
Would Be 1000 Miles Long
and Be Midway Between
Oceans.
IDEA DISCUSSED IN 1882

The phenomenal development OF trade
between Latin America n the United
States during the past four years has
given rise TO a revival OF the idea OF a
great railway running almost the en-
tire length OF the Western Hemisphere
and forming the backbone OF ooinmer-
cial relations Between the northern ana
the southern continent. The Idea OF such
a railway is by no means new. II was
tho subject OF much discussion thirty
seven years ago.
In February. 1882. a resolution was
introduced In Congress calling for the
publication and sratuitous distribution
by the Government OF scientific papers
dealing with building a great interconti-
mental railroad connecting North Amer
ica and South America. one hundred
thousand copies OF the collection were to
be printed in English and 10000 In Span
ish for distribution in Spanish America.
The road was TO be known as The
Three Americas Railway" II was 20
be more than 1000 miles long. extend
ing from Hudson Bay. In a line as
nearly equidistant as possible from the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. southwark
through the United States, Central and
South America. II was the idea of the
protector OF the nlan. Hinton Rowan
HeinAr. n South Carol!nian. who had
travelled extensively In South America,
TO open up new markets for American
manufacturers and merchants through
out Central America and South Amer
lea. to make accessible for the United
States the raw products OF the south
ern continent. to create supremacy In
trade for the United States rather than
for Europe In Latin America, and
finally TO effect a solidarity OF interests
between the two American continents.
Project Allowed 10 Grow Cold.
The originator OF this idea became 60
enthused with his project that he Of
fered $4,000 In prizes for the best trea-
tises dealing with the problems arising
out Of such AZ undertaking. The plan
received the warm Endorsement OF sew
eral Spanish American Governments.
but despite the enthusiasm OF the back
ers OK the plan II became apparent that
the time for Its practical realization had
not arrived.
Under the revived Impetus that IL
sure % be given to business relations be-
tween North America and South America
under postwar conditions, consideration
In being given once more to the prob
lem Of transportation facilities other
thar by water lines, and a Three Ameri-
cas- Railway" Il y could DO created. il
presented as a scheme FOR increasing
communications with Latin America.
The cost OF a trunk line such as Is do
scribed would be. OF course, very great.
but the project az far as the United
States is concerned Is not fraught with
as many difficulties as woui appear at
Hrst glance, Thu great trunk line would
connect with the transcontinental lines
OF this country and with existing rail-
roads IN Central America and South
America.
Line would Have Two Advantages
Such a railroad would bring with
Il not alone an enormous increase In
rad relations, but would increase social
intercommunication between all OF the
American republics. lts political conse-
quencss In shaping the future OF the
Americas would undoubtedly be great.
II would open up for cultivation thou
sands OF qua miles. especially In
South America, now practically uninhab-
tied because OF the lack OF communica-
tons with the outside world.
: France is to have her Paris-Dekar
railroad, turneliing under Gibraltar. The
Cape 10 Cairo Railroad at ona time VA.
looked upon as an ambitious dream,
which would mover &c realized. North
Americans and South Americans might
well give thought 10 such a project as
1.-THE Three Americas Railway" which
would cross the Panama Canal and Gre
ate a vast highway fo- trade n trave
on the two continents.