Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21

best road systems in the world. AT
the present time there is an eXcep-
tionally fine concrete motor highway
from Lima to Callao. Several other
concrete roads are contemplated.
A novel system Of road development,
if it may be called such. is in force
in certain sections Of Colombia. There
n prize of $3.50 has been bestowed by
the Department of Magdalena to the
citizen of that department who f1rSt
made the trip by automobile between
Padilla and Vale de Upar. Another
prize of $500 was given for the first
motor trip from Vale de Upar to the
village of Fundacion. Motor trucks
now maintain a regular service be-
| tween the village and the town. fol-
| lowing the marking of the trail made
by the first motorist.
During the past year relatively
| large appropriations have been made
| by both the central government as
| well as the departments Of Colombia
| for road building purposes. and a con-
| tract for the construction of the first
section of a macadamiZed highway
| running from Madellin to the Gulf Of
| Uraba was awarded to an American
| firm. This section is about lis miles
| in length. and the road when COM
-
year the state appropriated slightly
more than 81 ,000,0 900, and this year
| the appropriations for road construc-
| ton were increased to almost $1,000.
| 600. In addition to this the depart
ments have appropriated sums aggre
| eating considerably more than $4,000
| 900. Last year the Department of
Antioquia authorized loan of $4,000
| 600 for highway purposes.
Central American Roads.
Central America also has caught
| the spirit Of road construction. and
| this year. for the first time in history,
an annual sum has been made avail
able for highway purposes by Costa
Rica. Guatemala and Honduras, too,
are carrying on road work, although
| in the latter country progress is much
hindered by the dilatory methods of
the Legislature. The Republic of Sal
vador has begun the construction of
a national system of roads extending
500 miles. for which $12,O00.0OO has
been appropriated. Panama has
worked out system whereby all prin-
cipal ports and cities of the republic
| outside the Canal Zone eventually
| will be connected by excellent roads.
| At present there are 200 miles of sur
| faced roads and 400 miles of roads
| which are passable at practically all
times of the year in this republic.
| Nicaragua lately has shown less in
| terest in road construction than any
| of her neighbors.
| Highways in Mexico are being i'm
proved and furthered by both the
national as we'll as the individual state
| governments. Construction work on
a number Of roads radiating from
| Mexico City to various sections of the
| country has been carried on during
! the past few years, and some of these
| highways have been completed. Spe-
cial taxes on tobacco and gasoline are
to be devoted to a highway fund, and
Tor 1927 the federal appropriations
carry an item of almost $5,000,000 for
| road construction.
| The greatest amount of money for
road purposes now is being spent by
| Cuba In the construction of the Cuban
Central Highway, which will be about
| $50 miles long and which will cost
approximately $76,000,00O. Work on
this road Is being forwarded at four
different points. This road will con-
meet with practically all other roads
on the island. and the system eventu-
| ally Will comprise several thousand
miles of first-class motor roads. Other
| 1r'ohoS III TIC 1dIlDDSdH SGd, DOldDIy
Porto Rico and Haiti, along with the
| Dominican Republic, also have road
! systems growing in worthiness, due
chiefly to the efforts which have been
put forth by Americans there.
AutomOtive Industry Grows.
| One Of the principal reasons for the
| great interest which has been dis
played in highway development by
Latin-American peoples is their reali-
| Zation that in order to develop their
| countries adequate means of transpor-
tation are essential. Every one of
these states has vast. untouched nat
ural resources which only can be
utilized IL they are accessible. 1t Is
realized that the construction of rail
roads is too much for their frequently
| slim purses, as well as taking a
greater amount of time. For that
reason they are turning to the auto
| mobile as the most efficient means of
solving the transportation problem.
With this broad development pro.
ceedirg apace, South America is be-
coming market of ever-increasing
| importance for the automotive indus
try of this country. Present imports
of vehicles into South American coun-