Evening star., 1934-09-02
HIGHWAY TO LINK
AMERICAS SOON
TO Be COMPLETED
Charles Upham Describes
Road on Return Here After
inspection Tour.
BY FRANCES SHIPPEN.

BY FRANCES SHIPPEN.
The epoch-making Pan-American
Highway through Mexico which will
link the two Americas is rapidly near
ing completion. Representing the
most difficult piece of road construc-
ton in the world as we'll as one of
the most extensive building pro-
grams ever undertaken, the highway
will wind its way from the fiat lands
of Laredo on the borderline of Texas
through the entire length of Mexico
to tropical Guatemala-making pos
sible three-day motor trip through a
country which a few years ago was
almost inaccessible.
Charles M. Upham, executive secre-
tary of the American Road Builders
Association, who in 1924 was selected by
the Mexican government as consult
ing engineer for the ambitious road
building project, and who has just
recently returned to Washington after
a complete inspection of the highway
as a guest of the Mexican government,
described the project in an inter-
view.
With only a little more than IS
miles of difficult construction through
an extremely mountainous section to
finish, Mr.. Upham disclosed that the
highway between Laredo and Mexico,
including TIA miles, will be officially
opened when a .motorcade of Mexican
officials will drive from the capital
city to Washington, D. c., in the Fall
of 1885.
With the completion of the section
of road between Laredo and Mexico
City, the Mexican government will
concentrate its efforts on the con-
tinuation of the Pan American High
way south of Mexico City. The last
lap of the highway will be relatively
easy to construct, so that within
few years the Pan-American Highway
will be complete through Mexico.
Next year will mark the debut of
one of the least known little countries
in the world. Through its highway
system of hundreds of miles of good
roads, Mexico will proudly open its
doors to show its beauties and treas
ures hitherto hidden to the world.
Miracle of Road Building.
The miracle wrought in Mexico by
means of the Pan-American Highway
which has conquered deserts and
levelled mountains, is story that can
be told by no one better than Mr..
Upham, who has been given credit
by the Mexican government for much
of the success of the project. His
was real pioneering Job.
Into country of almost unsur-
mountable difficulties a road was to
go. Through dense jungle land. Over
the sides Of huge mountains. Across
turbulent streams. The location of
the highway was one of the most diff
flcult problems In connection with
the entire project and was selected
after a study of several years. To get
around the high mountains with their
steep sides and peaks sometimes TO-
600 feet high was no little task. Lo-
eating engineers were often obliged
to utilize ropes and other contrivances
in order to hold themselves on the
side of the mountains.
Today the highway stretches across
temperate and tropical lands, winds
through deserts and climbs high into
the Sierras above the clouds, goes
through modern cities and Indian vii
lages of thatched huts. 1t passes
many reminders of ancient and fas-
clnatlng civilizations long since passed
away; ruins of temples, the famous
Aztec pyramids and restored castles.
The materials used conform to the
economics of road building. Local ma
terial is used throughout with the ex-
ception OF asphalt surfacing. Mexico
has an abundance of good material for
highway work-as has every other
country that has been subjected to the
eruption of volcanoes.
Financing the Job.
At the present time every state in
Mexico is following the leadership of
the Mexican national government and
constructing roads that coordinate
with the national system. Recently
there was passed in Mexico a federal
cooperation law which provides that
the federal government shall match
the amount Of money that the state
may appropriate for the purpose of
road building.
The road work carried on under a
director general is supported by
construction division and maintenance
division. Under the director general
are also the traffic regulations of the
highways and rs motor police that
contantly patrol the highways-and
which not only enforce traffic regula-
tions but assist tourists.
The Pan-American Highway marks
a distinct new era in Mexico. Mr..
Upham says. THE country is on the
eve of highway construction boom
which will make Mexico a mecca for
thousands of tourists"
The linking of the Americas by the
Mexican highway will be an outstand-
ing chapter in the history of road
building. Yet this project is only a
part of the even greater highway pro-
Ject which Mr.. Upham believes will be
completed before many years pass.
That is, the complete Pan-American
Highway system of roads that will
make it possible for one to start in
Canada, drive across the breadth OF
the United States. through Mexico.
across the ISthmus Of Panama, by
the Andes and on down through the
colorful South American countries.