South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-15
RAILWAY FROM
HUDSON BAY To
SOUTH AMERICA
Project First Formulated in
1902 Now Approaching
Realization.


nearer as a result OF the recent Pan |
American financial conference in /
Washington, according 10 Charles NJ. |
Pepper who. In 1903 was appoint |
ed by Pres't Roosevelt under author I
ity % congress 20 visit the several |
countries from Mexico southwark /
and report on the project.
A journey by rail from the Arctic I.
circle 20 the tip Of South America
approximately 10000 miles-cOuld .
be made under good traffic condi- I
tions. Il has been estimated. in Is 20
rs days. At present "a days are re-
quired for the 5.S71-mile sea voy-
age from New York 20 the capital
OF Areentina.
This dream OF a trans-hcmisphere
trunk line, running almost the en-
tire length OF the two American con
tincnts, was born IN the brain OF
Hinton Rowan Helper. a southern
writer and former United States
consul in South America. more than
so years ago. The late United States
Sen Henry Gassaway Davis of West
Virginia. a practical railroad builder.
saw its feasibility. and, with Andrew
Carnegie and other wealthy Ameri
cans. gaze the idea fresh impetus.
James G.. Blaine also once advo-
Gated H.
Project Formed I'm 1902.
The project however. received
first definite form at the information /
al American conference held in Mex
leo city in 1902 when II appointed
permanent Pan-American railway
committee composed OF prominent
cltienzs OF the United States and ]
diplomatic officials Of Latin-Ameri- !
can countries resident in Washing |
ton. Former Sen. Davis and Mr.. Car
negie were members Of IT, Later. |
as the envoy OF the president and !
The representative OF the committee. !
Ir. Pepper went TO Central America
and South America. and. after visit !
ng the various countries for a year.
returned and made a report which
has been the basis OF subsequent
discussion and legislation.
The general idea outlined in the
Pepper report was that the different
South and Central American nations
200 their railway construction should
give special attention 20 the links in
% through inter- continental trunk
.Ilf nofAn anu hOuln WnltHt uIll-
natelv. would be Joined. Attention
was also given 20 the building of
branch lines and feeders" espec-
tally in South America, on the
theory that in time there would be
through lines from the Atlantic 10
the Pacific which would form inter-
>ecting systems
subsequent Pan-American con-
ferences held at Rio Janeiro and
Buenos Aires approved the idea and
continued the Pan-American Rail-
way committee. The International
High commission. now resumed as
the Inter- American High commits
sion. which was the outgrowth of
the first Pan-Americau Financial
conference held in washington in
1915. also approved the project and
urged It's support by the various re-
pubIics-
Join Up Various Sections.
In The IS years since the plan
was endorsed by the Mexican con-
ference" explained bIr. Pepper.
considerable progress has been
made in Joining up various railway
sections. Chile has completed the
longitudinal line from Puerto Montt
in the south 20 the railways in the
north Mich form functions with the
main trunk OF the Pan-American
system.
The Transandine line. from Val
paraiso 20 Buenos Aires. also has
been completed while the lines join
ing the Brazilian systems radiating
from Rio de Janeiro have been I'm
shed so that they form functions
with Uruguayan and Argentine
lines.
The Argentine line was finished
TO the southern border OF Bolivia at
"a Quiaca several years ago while
Bolivia has closed up most of the
links IN her Pan-American trunk
line. There are now less than 125
miles In Bolivia 20 be completed.
some OF which Is also graded, in or
der 20 provide through railway con-
uectlCn from Buenos Aires 20 La
Paz and 20 the Pacific. II would
cost approximately s5,OOO.OoO TO
complete Il.
The group committee on Bolivia
~ the recent Pan-AmeriCan Finan-
eiai conference recommended that
loan be granted Bolivia for the
purpose Of completing this link II
vas explained that the gauge was
The same as that OF the Argentine
ines and an arrangement by which
Bolivia could use Argentine rolling
stock was suggested"
BY a coincidence Mr.. Pepper. who
made the Pan-American railway re-
port under Prest Roosevelt was
member OF the group committee on
Bolivia This committee adopted a
resolution offered by MARITIME Var
gas OF Bolivia. for calling a Pan
American Railway conference fur
Their 20 consider the subject OF rail-
way operation, interchange of traf-
&c Standardization OF rates and r.
nancing. This resolution. as amend
- BY the committee on resolutions
and adopted by the recent confer
ence. provided for referring the cal
ling Of such meeting Of Pan-Amer-
tcan representative to the Inter
American High commission. Just
when the TRIMS her1lfsuherp rafIroaf