The sun., 1919-02-16

and Chile to Valparaiso may yet give
US a through rail run from the Panama
Canal to Buenos Ayres.
Heretofore railroading in South
America has been greatly hampered by
lack OF coal, most OF this fuel being
imported and costing from $40 to $l2
a ton delivered. But now both anthrs-
cite and bituminous coal have been
discovered in South America. and some
OF these deposits, which are extensive,
have been somewhat worked. Coal has
been found In Colombia, Ecuador,
Peru and Chile and further utilization
depends principally upon the Develop
ment of railroads to make the fuel
more accessible. Both in Chile and
Peru oil Is burned for steam raising
purposes, and Peru can boast OF four
oil fields which yield petroleum Of ex-
cellent quality; no inconsiderabls
quantity being exported to California.
Unlike general conditions among our
railroads, which have a standard
gauge. the lines in South America vary
materially in this respect. Even in the
Argentine, probably the most progress
sive OF the South American republics.
there are three gauges, broad. medium
and narrow. This means that at every
point where lines Of dissimilsr gauges
are Joined in the Pan-American route
travellers will have to change cars and
freight must be discharged and re-
loaded. Not only that. but II is not
practicable for the narrow gauge en-
gines to make the speeds that are pos
sible on broad gauge roads. In fact
the Government regulations specify
that the speed Of passenger service on
the broad and medium gauge lines shall
not exceed 43.4 miles an hour, and on
the narrow gauge roads the maximum
velocity is 81 miles an hour The Gen.
trail Argentine Railway runs a train
OF all Pullman cars daily between
Buenos Ayres and Rosario. $50 miles
away. in 4 hours SO minutes.
Wide Opportunity in Brazil.
As a field for development Brazil
offers wonderful opportunities. In
fact Brazil's future is very much bound
UP with her railroad expansion. With
an area OF over 100000 square llilo-
metres. or more than As per cent. Of
the total area of South America. Brazil
now has less than 1900 miles Of rail-
ways in operation. With territory
and a population nearly three times as
great as those OF the Argentine, Brazil
has only about three-fourths of the
railroad mileage of the former. The
present populated district of Brazil is
scarcely more than mere fringe ca
tending from one end of the long sea
board to the other, but the distribution
i a,
development of the country penetrates
beyond the mountain barrier further
and further toward the interiors OF the
more productive OF her coastal States.
Extension of her railroads is impera-
tive IL Brazil is to make the most or
her natural riches. Heretofore she has
been a good market for American rail-
way supplies and has been commonly
found kindly disposed toward Ameri-
can goods.
In the field OF electrical supplies
South America offers US splendid
opening, particularly so in those
regions where mountain streams lens
themselves to hydro-electric develop
ments. Indeed, South America will
soon be fully aroused to the desir-
ability OF making the most OF her
abundant water power resources. this
quite apart from her wealth OF fuel
now awaiting exploitation; 2nd what
our great electrical concerns have
done should make it all the easier
for them to obtain profitable recogp
ton there. Already some of De
South American railroads have cleo
trio traction, and it Is only a matter
of a comparatively short time before
this will be largely aInplifie1.
Surely the Pan-AmerlCan Railway
is no longer to be looked upon as a
dream one to be given substance only
in the distant future. 1t is a project
that very much concerns the present.
and it lies with us to make it a reality
within the next few years. The
longer we delay the harder it will he
for 80 to share. in III" undertaking.
French, English. German, and Bel
gian capital have extensively domi-
mated heretofore in South American
railroad holdings. We have our
chance now to alter the balance in our
! favor.