Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-07-11

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ne rival of Panama when both re-
-, we're dependent on railroads as
,rsrfDg links between the Atlantic
:. Aa Pacific. MeXicos Isthmus of
,1o,rtepec is not so important now
1T -fe canal is in operation. But its
CONSTRUCTED, standard-guage rail-
M Is still carrying on its cOncen-
~tsi transcontinental way some of
I, foods of the world when Quickness
\ ,5Dnent is the chief consideration
si steamer trip of a thousand or so
lines is worth eliminating.
Cortez cOnQuerOr of Mexico, was the
.v man to have the idea that the
etnus Of Tehuanrepec might solve
Be problem Of a passage between the
.9ns Even in the midst Of his busy
Il as warrior and governor he at
-aDtei to find a way across, and ex-
bred the CoatzacoalcOs river to it's
aivaters. He did not find a water
.2age across the divide, Of course,
# he realized that some day COM
pass through this relative
lOT narrow region, and he asked
E king Of Spain for a grant Of lands
the isthmus. The request was
llted, and a few years ago his de-
liants still held the lands.
Baron Alexander Won Humboldt. who
yeled in Mexico in the beginning
he last century, saw at once the i'm
lance Of the IstImus Of Tehuante-
and called it "the bridge of the
Ids commerce."
alf a century ago the first attempts
e made to dig a canal, and many
road schemes were proposed from
to time, including a "ship rail-
for the transportation Of vessels.
first work on a railroad was under
n by the Mexican government in
but it was not until 1907 that the
lanteDec railroad was formally
led, after a succession Of failures
after years Of unremitting labor.
.e road as it now exists is a well
Jucted line about 12O miles long.
IN Ialr condition even after years
YolutIon and Instability in Mexico.
"a Cruz, the Pacific terminal, was
] excellent modern port facilities
ne Diaz regime, and became in
the best port on the Mex
west coast. The latest loading
mIoading.machinery was installed.
TO Mexico, at the Atlantic end Of
had in the mouth Of the
,acoalcos river an excellent nat
harbor.
Great Oil Field There.
ING the Coatzacoalcos river is a
can oil field rivaling that of Tam
Derricks pierce the sky on ev-
land and the hustle about wells,
loadlng tankers gives an unex-
u Yankee touch to his once
y tropical region.
lore the days Of the pioneer and
roads, the Coatzacoalcos river
river Of the Winding Snake),
wing into the Gulf of Mexico. was
favored highway, and dug-outs
by duSky natives carried freight
4 lew passengers up and down
YER and its tributaries. Here and
narrow mule path trailing
from the banks of the river
"a the entrance to some lonely
'"On or village, Today, however,
Z" stands side by side with the
Inc steel boats run on the river,
-e native still poles up and down
uus-out canoe. Good roads and
paths have been made from one
.'.oh to another, but the old-time
Is nave not yet been discarded.
Town Of Coatzacoalcos, at the
Oh the great river, has under
ne greatest change. Once a YER
lever hole, it is now rapidly be-
'oe'nlzed and brought into some
'1ee Of sanitation. Long wharves
l' from the water front, and
Wi warehouses and electric
give to the town a business-like
'ance.
d CoaJzacoalcos the road gradu-
Vs'AS 10 climb the Cordillera,
o,'iueS the gulf slope from that
racine. Much of the route lies
" Wild and beautiful country.
"b manaca palms (Attalea CO.
ana forest Tees topping a thick
,eu Jungle, and here and there
nj little Indian village on the
Vi q shaded, shallow river. The
'4ue Aalatengo canyon, with its
is followed by the Chi
ass entered at a height of T35
'oFe sea level, the highest point
iSthmus.
'oe:n Town of Salina Cruz.
ing the pass. the train crawls
Tie Pacific slope of the Sierra
running along for some dis