The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-10-19
U. S., Britain
Strug gle In
Latin America
(Continued.)

Pan-Ametican railway, and a high
way which would connect New York
with Buenos Aires, was adopted.
Each Latin American country will
have to build its part of the line,
financed of course, by the United
States. Almost the whole stretch be-
tween New York and the Panama
Canal can at present be travelled by
railway except short distance in
Southern Mexico and Guatemala.
The building of this railroad con-
nection through Colombia, Peru and
Bolivia is contemplated. This will
be connected with the Argentine
system. 1t is interesting that of all
countries Argentina, alone, which is
still to some extent under British in
fluence, was quite hostile to this
plan, though it would have the least
expense in this project, as it has
considerable railroad system to all
its frontiers with Paraguay, Bolivia
and Brazil.
Americans Build Roads.
Though this plan, the materializa-
ton of which is not expected within
less than ten years, may be delayed
considerably more, American en-
gineers supervise everywhere the
building of good automobile roads.
American trucks n d passenger
omnibus connections are already
functioning in some parts and are
quicker and cheaper than railways.
They are already competing with
local railway systems.
An important move against the
British-owned communication sys-
tenn in Colombia, between the coast
and the capital Bogota, is nearing
its completion. Up to this time the
travel from the sea-coast to Bogota
was made possible only by the
British-owned railways and Naviga-
ton Company, which owns the rail
way line from the port and railway
terminal of Cartagena, to the river
! transfer point in Calamar on the
Magdalena River. From there Brit
ish river boats transport passengers,
mail and goods up the river to Cir
ardot, whence another rail line leads
to Bogota. This river and rail trans
port usually takes about two weeks
and even more in the dry season,
when the river is dried out, and the
passengers and boats have to wait
for rain and the rising of the river.
The only other way of travel to
Bogota was by airplane which is
extremely expensive and not with
out danger. Now, due to American
capital, direct railway connection
between the Pacific coast and b.
gotta is in operation, for 800 out of
AL miles between the port of
Buenaventura on the Pacific Coast
and Bogota. The intervening gap
of so miles is covered by automobile
for 35 miles on a completed road,
and only Is miles of road which is
in course of construction, must be
made on horseback. This whole
trip, safer than by airplane, and
much quicker and safer than by
boat, is also the cheapest of all the
available methods.
U. S. Railway Control.
When the road will be completed,
the British will have a very diff
cult time maintaining its present
position.
The International Railways of
Central America, an American COM
pany, owns and operates the rail
ways of Guatemala, Salvador, and
stretches in other Central American
countries. The railways of Nicara-
qua are also controlled by American
interests.
In the field of electric light and
power supply the American and
Foreign Power Corporation, con-
trolled by the General Electric Co.,
which in turn is controlled by the
Electric Bond and Share Co., is re-
placing British electrical companies.
These companies have built power
stations in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
where they supply light and power
and operate the tramways. They
operate electric power and light sta
tons in many smaller towns of
South America, though the electric
power supply in the principal cities /
of South America is still controlled
by the British. But the American
and Foreign Power Co. is increas-
ing it's holdings and expanding all
over South America rapidly while
the British plants remain more or
less stationary. While formerly
American ira de and influence
flourished only in the coast towns
and capitals of Latin America, the
growth of public utility control has
extended this influence into the in
terror. Just as in mining, oil fields,
telephones and cable systems the
Americans have successfully in
vaded the domains of electric energy
and railways.
than the stone floor. When the COM