Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-02
INTER-AMERICAN HIGHWAY
SYSTEM BEING DISCUSSED
Governments of Southern Continent Are
Sounded Out-Hoover Trip Seen as
Impetus to Project.

| vided by these railways and the small
craft that ply the inland waterways.
| Populous, prosperous cities have grown
up along the coasts and at railroads.
but the greater part of the back country
is lying dormant, awaiting the intro
duction Of more flexible means of
| transportation.
This undeveloped hinterland Is the
storehouSe of incalculable resources in
raw materials the exploitation of which
would bring wealth to the individuals
and nations owning them, labor for the
unemployed and new impetus to foreign
trade. In addition, 1t is the home of
| thousands Of people to whom transpor-
tation facilities mean release from vir-
tual isolation and access to the outer
| world.
From an international point Of view
the development Of Latin American
highways should prove q strong factor
in linking more closely the members of
the Pan-American Union and pro-
noting friendship and unity of interest
among them. The great leaders of
Latin America recognize these facts,
and the will to do is slowly but surely
crystallizing In the minds Of the masses
back Of them.
Geographical Aspect.
I'm any discussion of the develop
ment OF communications the geographic
cal, social and economical conditions
must be considered. Geographically,
South America extends from 10 degrees
north of the Equator to some S. de-
greSS south; its extreme eastern point
is south and some II degrees east
Of Newfoundland. The tropic of Capri
corn passes through Sac Paulo, Brazil.
SO that more than half Of the continent
Is within the tropics. The extreme alti-
temper climate which would other
wise be torrid. The area of the con-
tinent Is best visualized by the state
ment that Brazil alone Is larger than
continental United States, and an i'm
preston of distance may be gained by
the fact that the Chilean coast line is
2,700 miles long.
Practically every variety Of climate
Is found in the 10 republics and three
colonies which comprise the mainland.
The confguration and altitude make at
once for wide range Of products and
from an engineering standpoint for q
great diversity Of highway problems,
none Of which, however, Is insurmount-
able.
When adequate means Of transpor-
tation are provided South America will
be one of the great points of interest
for travellers. In most cases q few hum
dred miles Of highway would open the
doors and the scenic beauties Of that
part Of the world would then vie with
those Of other continents In attracting
tourists. In 1920 the population of the
continent numbered $4,000, 900, inhabit-
ing an area of 1000, 900 square miles, as
compared with the los, 10000 people
living in 100000 square miles in the
United States. The fact that these
people are using motor vehicles in in
creaSing numbers each year in itself as
SureS the future development of high
ways.
Communication Needs vital.
"The need for means Of communi-
cation Is vital, and at the same time
difncult to meet. Revenues are COM
paratively small, distances great, physi-
cal obstacles many, and the rural pop
ulations sparse. An illustration Is pro-
vided by the iiltermountain sections Of
the United States, where low valuations,
small population, and difficult road
work are often encountered. In the
United States, however, Federal aid is
granted, whereas no such action has
been taken in Latin America. where the
participation Of national governments