Evening star., 1922-05-07
BY BEN MckELwAY.
I o country can read its great
est development lacking the
proper facilities for trans

N o country can read its great
l1N est development lacking the
| proper facilities for trans
| portation. And the republics
Of South America, whose vast re-
sources lie virtually untouched be-
cause Of inadequate and in many
cases primitive means Of transporta-
ticn, furnish good examples Of the
effect OF this handicap. One of the
encouraging signs of their recovery
from the worldwide state of eco
nomic depression resulting from the
war is the activity now being mani
tested on the part Of many of the
South American republics in road
building and railway construction. 1t
has twofold significance. From the
South American standpoint it is a
move which has boundless possibiIi-
ties in the development of natural
resources. From the point of view of
the American business man it is in
teresting, in that a limitless market
is created for Yankee ingenuity and
material. For the opening up of
South America by railroad and high
way is only beginning. .
American Engineers
Are ON the Job.
| Americans are awake to the oppor-
tunity.. Many Of the road building
programs in South and Central Amer
| lea are being. carried out by Ameri-
can engineers, using American mate
rial Provided the Brazilian govern
| ment accepts an invita- tion which has
1 been extended by three well known
construction COMPANIES of the United
States. one of the most interesting
exhibits at the Brazilian centennial
| exposition will be a mile of roadway
built in Rio de Janeiro at the ex-
| pense Of the compa nies as an example
| Of American workmanship and ma
terial.
| One of the most important railroad
construction projects in South Amer
lea is now under way in Bolivia.
where American engineers are build
ing railroad which viii connect the
Bolivian railroads with those of Ar
| gentina. When this is completed,
! Bolivia will be connected by rail with
| Buenos Aires, and rail communica-
1 tion will then be possible between the
Pacific coast with which Bolivia is
\ now connected by three rail routes)
and the great port Of outlet for the
Argentine. The distance between
New York and Buenos Aires will thus
be shortened materially, and Bolivia,
placed in the heart of a transporta
tion route. of immense Importance,
will benefit.
An Indication of the awakening to
| the need Of highways in South Amer
| ica Is shown in the assembly this
month of the First National Good
Roads Congress In Buenos Aires. At
the conclusion Of the congress a plan
! roads throughout Argentina will be
submitted to the Argentina congress
as basis for proposed legislation.
Good Roads to Open
Rich Farming Regions
This plan contemplates the con.
struction during a period of fifteen
years Of approximately 1o7.500 miles
Of macadamized and dirt highways
Such program, IL carried out, would
be step in the opening up of the
vast agricultural regions Of Argen-
tina, parts OF which are virtually in
accessible part of the year because of
impossible roads. In addition. the
demand for construction material and
road-building equipment would be
immense.
The movement for good roads is not
confined. to Argentina. Reports to
the Department of Commerce from
various parts of South America indi-
cate a widespread interest in high.
ways, with the result that road
building programs in South America
during 1921 will be realized to a
large extent In 1922. and that more
roads will be planned this year than
last. One of the most important, re-
suits of the road-building movement
| will be the increased demand for and
use of the motor truck, and the De.
apartment of Commerce emphasizes
the Importance of this market fol
American manufacturers of motor
equipment who already have made