The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-07-18

(Prspai>d by tho National Geographic So
cisty. Washington, d. c.
The rival Of Panama when both re
gions were dependent on railroads a.
connecting links between the Atlantic
and the Pacific, Mexicos Isthmus o.
Tehuantepec Is not so important now
that the canal Is In operation. But its
well-constructed, standard-guage rail
road Ia still carrying on its concen
trated transcontinental way some OF
the goods Of the world when qulckness
Of shipment Is the chief consideration
and steamer trip of thousand or sc
miles Is worth eliminating.
Cortez, conqueror of Mexico, was the
first man to have the Idea that the
Isthmus Of Tehuantepec might solve
the problem Of passage between the
oceans Even In the midst Of his busy
life as warrior and governor he at
tempted to find way across, and ex-
plored the COatzacoalcos river to it's
headwaters. He did not find water
passage across the divide, of course,
but he realized that some day com
MERGE would pass through this relative
ly low, narrow region, and he asked
the king of Spain for grant Of lands
| in the isthmus. The request was
granted, and few years ago his de-
scendants still held the lands.
Baron Alexander Won Humboldt, who
travelled in Mexico in the beginning
of the last century, saw at once the i'm
pOrtance Of the Isthmus of Tehuante
pee and called it "the bridge Of the
worlds commerce"
Half a century ago the first attempts
we're made to dig a canal, and many
railroad schemes were proposed from
time to time, including ship rail-
way" for the transportation Of vessels.
The first work on q railroad was under
taken by the Mexican government In
1882, but 1t was not until 1907 that the
Tehuantepec railroad was formally
opened, after a succession of failures
and after years Of unremitting labor.
The road as 1t now exists is well
constructed line about 120 miles long.
It is in fair condition even after years
of revolution and instability in Mexico.
Salina Cruz, the Pacific terminal, was
given excellent modern port facilities
by the Diaz regime, and became in
fact probably the best port on the Mex
lean west coast. The latest loading
and unloading machinery was installed.
Puerto Mexico, at the Atlantic end of
the railroad, had In the mouth Of the
CoatzacOalcos river an excellent nat |
ural harbor.
Great Oil Field There.
Along the Coatzacoalcos river Is a
Mexican oil field rivaling that Of Tam
pico Derricks pierce the sky on ev-
cry hand and the hustle about wells,
and loading tankers gives an unex-
pected Yankee touch to his once
sleepy tropical region.
Before the days of the pioneer and
forest roads, the CoatzacOalcos river
(the river of the Winding SDake),
emptying into the Gulf Of Mexico, was
the favored highway, and dug-outs
poled by dusky natives carried freight
and a few passengers up and down
the river and Its tributaries. Here and
there narrow mule path trailing
away from the banks Of the river
marked the entrance to some lonely
plantation or village. To-day, however,
the new stands side by side with the
old. Fine steel boats run on the river,
but the native still poles up and down
m his dug-out canoe. Good roads and
mule paths have been made from one
plantation to another, but the old-time
Ok carts have not yet been discarded.
The town of Coatzacoalcos, at the 1
mouth Of the great river. has under {,
rome the greatest change. Once YER ,
table fever hole, 1t is now rapidly be-
ny modernized and brought into some 8
Iemblance Of sanitation. Long wharves I
ut out from the water front, and |
ireproof warehouses and electric ,
.ranes give to the town a buslness-llke
appearance. {
From Coatzacoalcos the road gradu- c
llly begins to climb the CordiHera, I
which divides the gulf slope from that 7
# the Pacific. Much of the route lies !
through wild and beautiful country, '
With tall manaca palms (Attalea CO '
,une) and forest trees topping thick t
y-matted jungle, and here and there q
quaint little Indian village on the t
anks Of shaded, shallow river. The s
picturesque Malatengo canyon, with Its g
ocky chasms, Is followed by the CHI s
ella pass, entered at 4 height Of 735 \
eet above sea level, the highest point 8
n the isthmus.
Modern Town Of SaIina Cruz. o
Leaving the pass, the train crawls {
own the Pacific slope Of the Sierra r
dadrs, running along for some dis