Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
ALERT TO, HIGHWAY BENEFITS
Connection of Two Continents by Pro-
posed Pan-American Route Nearing
Steadily Through Work of Nations.

| ism to the humdrum workaday blue
prints of the engineer by the recent ac-
| Invites of the confederation and other
organizations, demonstrating the prac-
ticability of highway transportation as
means for the economic and social
development of nation and of peoples.
Recent Investigations by the con-
| federation disclose the interesting in
formation that many links in the high
way already are in passable condition,
which reference to the map will con-
firm. Many of the roads listed as pro
| jected" are in fact traversible In dry
seasons of the year, while other stretches
are under construction.
With the ultimate completion OF the
/ highway, or even with the building OF
certain sections, the lure of the road to
the American car owner will be more
compelling than ever before. Many of
the regions to be penetrated are rich in
legend and historic lore, verdant with
| tropical vegetation, TEEN with multi
colored birds. and offer the tourist di-
versity of picturesque scenes and eX-
periences which the more thickly pop
ulated regions of the North no longer
afford.
These are the lands of the Spanish
conquerorS, who explored for gold and
silver and stayed to found kingdoms for
ancient Spain. Columbus first saw them
and Cabot explored the inland shores
of the native rivers.
Here centuries ago flourished forgot
ten civilizations, Magyar. Toltec, Aztec
and Inca. Here mods an Aztec idol his
votaries long since fed. while giant
Mayan sun-dials of accurate geometric
design cast the same shadows by which
ancient astronomers reckoned time.
Over there the snow-capped Andes
the marsh lands and the deserts are
challenges rather than obstacles to the
enterprise Of the modern engineer.
Henry Clay Held Backer.
The notion of intercommunication
between the several countries was
preached as far back as the early 4Os,
probably by Henry Clay, and was the
subject OF a conference and an eloquent
address by James G. Blaine, then Sec
rotary Of state in President Harrison S
cabinet in 1883
Generally, the idea has revolved
around an American railroad and
this plan has by no means been aban-
doned. but with the advance Of motor
transportation, the possibility of longi-
tudinal highway also has given rein to
the imagination of the leading states
men and politicians i'll all the nations.
That the project is uppermost in the
minds of officials of the several coun-
tries is apparent from their recent ut
terances. President Coolidge in his
message to the second session Of the
Seventeen Congress said:
I'm my message last year expressed
the view that we should lend our en-
couragement for more good roads to all
the principal points on this hemisphere
south of the Rio Grande. My view has
not changed. The Pan-American Union
has recently Endorsed it. In some of the
countries to the South a great deal Of
progress Is being made in road building.
In others engineering features are often
eXacting and financing difficult. AS
those countries enter upon programs
for road building We should be ready to
contribute from our abundant expert
ence to make their task easier. Of accom-
plishment.
we should provide our Southern
neighbors, II they request It, with such
engineer advisers for the construction
Of roads and bridges. Private interests
should look with favor upon all reason
able loans sought by these countries to
open main lines of travel. Such assist
ance should be given especially to any
project for highway designed to con-
meet all the countries on this heni-
sphere and thus facilitate intercourse
and closer relations among them"
Former President Gales of Mexico,
welcoming the idea, said recently:
II want to see 100 900 American mo-
tor cars crossing the lire into Mexico,
to enable the American people to see
and meet my people, that d better and
friendlief understanding may obtain
between the two nations"
President-elect Hoover had with him
on his goodwill journey to the Latin
American nations q map showing pos
sibie route Of the proposed highway.
Certainly his visits will quicken interest
in these countries in their neighbor to
the North and 1t will familiarize the
President-elect with the peoples and
problems of the nations Of the only
continent which he had not visited in
private life before entering public serv-
ice as Secretary Of Commerce.
Highway Principal Tenet.
Each member of the executive COM
mittee OF the confederation and the
constituent declarations for highway
education are giving much personal
attention, TO the progress Of road de-
velopment In all the countries In which
the organization operates. While the
pam American highway is only one
phase Of the activities of the confedera-
ton, Its ultimate achievement Is one OF
the aims toward which most intensive
effort viii be directed. The highway
as q matter Of fact, was one of the
principal tenets in the tentative articles
OF organization of the confederation
first drafted at the close of the historic
tour OF the Latin American engineers
in the United States of America in
1924, and remains one of the goals