Evening star., 1923-03-04
BY BEN MckELWAY.

TIME lack Of facilities for trans
portation is one OF the main
factors retarding the prog
ress Of Latin American re-
publics, and the Santiago conference
plans to tackle this subject from
three angles in the hope of reaching
agreements which will improve con-
ditfons generally. One of the most
important subjects for discussion at
this conference Is the Pan-American
agreement on the laws and regula-
tions concerning and cooperating in
the improvement Of facilities OF COM
munication on the ocean, the land
and in the air.
Before 1914 steamship passenger
service between the American repub-
lies was far from adequate and the
cargo traffic was seasonal and moved
by tramp vessels OF all nationalities.
coast Of South America and Europe
was SO far superior to that between
the United States and tho east coast
that travellers usually preferred cross
ing the Atlantic twice from South
America to reach New York. AS a
result of the tremendous increase in
trade between the United States and
the South American countries during
the war, however, the need for i'm
proved transportation facilities re-
suited in improved passenger service,
maintained by speedier and more
commodious vessels, and the estab-
lishment Of regular freight lines.
With some exceptions, the service to-
day between ports of the American
republics is considered adequate to
meet the existing need.
Need Better Port Facilities.
Closely allied to the question Of
improved water transportation is
provision in the various ports and
harbors for the quick handling of
cargo, as the time spent in ports is
an important item in the cost of
operating vessels and is directly re-
fiected in the development of ocean
transportation. Up to the beginning
of the present century. with the inter-
in their internal affairs, very little
thought was given to the upbuilding
of their merchant marine or to port
improvement. Affairs Of the ports Of
the different countries were handled
separately, with little thought given
to the proper coordination between
ports. Passengers, bag and baggage
were transferred from boats TO
launches and taken ashore to land
as best they could.
In the last twenty years, however,
most of the republics of the western
hemisphere have improved their prin-
cipal ports by constructing perma-
nent piers and wharveS with deep
water alongside. Harbors have been
dredged and provided with break
waters. and warehouses. grain eleva-
tors and cold storage plants have
been constructed or planned for. The
result has been seen In the expendi-
ture OF hundreds of millions of dol
lars and the corresponding better
, ment of shipping conditions. On the
east coast of South America. Brazil
Argentina and Uruguay are making
| cipal ports, and on the west coas
| Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador
| are taking similar steps. Chile a
| this time Is about to undertake
program for the improvement of ter
of her principal ports.
/ Building OF Railways.
4
America Is provided with the neces.
sary facilities for adequate raj
Transportation, but it is encouraging
to note that today, thirty-three years
| since the project for a Pan-American
! system Of railways was launched al
the first international American con-
ference in Washington, between g.
and 70 per cent Of the total mileage
of 1o.11S miles between New York and
Buenos Aires has been completed.
! The route mapped out by the pan
american railway committee appoint.
ed by the Washington conference OF
i1Se0 to study the problem called 1ol
| to the Mexican border. through Mex
leo, Guatemala, Honduras. Nicaragua
Costa Rica, Panama Colombia, Ecu
Buenos Aires, with extensions IRON