Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12
In LATIN AMERICA
By CASTOR NERVAL.

United States they will be able to talk
OF pan-Americanism with real knowl-
edge, and contribute something to the
solution Of existing differences. And
also great many people from the
South coming to the North, to learn
English, to study the opinions and
modes of thought Of the Saxons, to at
tain an understanding of the aspira-
tons Of this people, its ideals, and to
understand that it Is not alone COM
mercial or business interests which
impel them to seek the friendship of
Latin America. To this end, TO achieve
this interchange, of transcendent i'm
portance for the success Of pan-Ameri-
canism, better systems Of communica-
tons are the first necessity.
DOWN THE CONTINENT.
The Pan-American Union, an insti-
tuition founded for the purpose Of pro-
noting inter-American good relations,
has been working for some time on the
plan for a great central highway.
which, running through the continent
from North to South, would join the
Latin capitals with the important
cities of the United States. At recent
Pan-American Conferences the con-
struction of the Continental Highway
was the subject Of much discussion,
and the governing board of the Pam
American Union has been eager In OBJ
tanning the cooperation Of the various
American countries for the realization
of this gigantic plan.
All the governments have responded,
of course, that they will cooperate in
carrying out such o magnificent scheme,
and some of them-among others the
United States-have completed that
part of the highway which crosses
Amtn traR &n
hasten the construction of the sections
that are lacking through some of the
other countries and then unite the
various sections so as to form, at last,
that great highway which will be un-
eQualed In the world. In scenic
grandeur no other highway ever built
can approach 1t. In miles of length it
will be In a class by ITSELF said one
of the promoters of this continental
road, which. In addition to increasing
the economic relations between the
Americas, will also contribute to the
creation OF better feeling" in each of
the countries 1t crosses.
The Interamerican Highway would
unite the frozen regions of the North,
across the Central American tropics,
with the temperate zones of the South,
from the northernmost cities of the
United States to the capital of Chile,
almost at the extreme south OF the
southern continent on the coast Of the
Pacific. From there, crossing the
Andes, 1t would reach Buenos Aires on
the east and then follow along the At
lantic Coast to pass through Brazil and
Venezuela to the Gulf of Mexico. In
this great circuit the highway would
not only unite the capitals Of the
American republics, but would extend
its influence to the lesser cities and
communities of each country which 1t
crosses.
BENEFITS TO ALL.
Hence, aside from contributing to the
common cause of pan-Americanism
and facilitating international trade, 1t
would also be Of incalculable benefit in
the private development of each coun-
try, furnishing means Of transportation
for its natural products and making
accessible regions which now are iso-
lated.
All this, in reference to the Latin
republics. AS to the United States, the
immediate and practical benefits of the
Continental Highway will be enormous.
The vast network Of highways con-
structed and planned require thousands
Of tons of machinery, cement and steel
for bridges-materials produced in the
United States-and the employment of
many American engineers. 1t will also
increase the exports of thousands OF
American automobiles and develop in
Vulnerable commercial opportunities in
the fnodernization of cities. The use
of American products will increase in
definitely and the export field for them
will be widened in proportion.
In addition to the United States,
which has already finished the con-
struction of its part of the Interameri-
can Highway as far as Laredo, Tex,
other nations, such as Mexico, Guate-
mala, Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua,
Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia,
Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and
Brazil, have already worked on parts
Of the road in their territory. The
total mileage constructed, under con-
struction or authorized by the gov
ernments of the countries mentioned
is now 5000 miles. The sections which
have not yet been surveyed, and on
which there is no construction as yet,
total about ATS miles. These form
the sections most difficult to build, on
account of the terrain and the lack of
resources. This total, however, applies
only to the direct line from Laredo to
Puerto Montt, in Chile, and does not
take into consideration the road south
Of that point, nor the section to
Buenos Aires, nor that along the At
lantic between Buenos Aires and Rio
de Janeiro.
HIGHWAYS TO SUCCESS.
In accordance with a congressional
act authorizing the cooperation of the
United States Government in survey
ing the Interamerican Highway and
appropriating $4,000 to that purpose.
the Bureau of pllblfH Roads opened last