Evening star., 1936-07-05
NEW MEXICAN HIGHWAY
PROMOTES TRADE, AMITY
First Completed Section of Great Pan
American Link Is Symbol of
New Relationships.

intensive work, the report submitted
to Congress established that the re-
connaissance just completed had
demonstrated that from an engineer
ing standpoint the construction of
the inter-Americsn highway Is en-
tirely feasible"
The report emphasized, moreover,
that the expenditure OF funds nee
essary to carry out the undertaking
would give employment TO many thou
sands of laborers. then idle, in the
countries traversed, put money in
circulation, increase purchasing power
and raise the standard Of living. The
most important cities of Mexico, Qua
temala, Fl Salvador, Honduras, Mic
aragua, Costa Rica and Panama
would be in the route of the central
section Of the pan-American high.
way and more than half the popula-
ton OF the Central American re-
publics lived in the provinces to be
affected. From an economic angle,
the report stressed the advantages to
be derived by the countries included
in the central section of the highway
one-crop countries, most of them-be-
cause Of the diversification of agricul-
tural production which would ensue.
Soon after the completion OF that
first report, the Congress Of the United
States appropriated S1,000000 ito en-
able the executive branch of the Gov
eminent to continue to cooperate
with the Latin American countries
in connection with the survey and
construction of the proposed inter-
American highway"
The Pan-American Highway, in its
entire length, would unite the frozen
regions Of the North, across the Gen.
tral American tropics, with the tenn
perate zones Of the South. from the
northernmost cities of the United
States to the capital of Chile, almost
at the extreme south of the continent
on the Pacific Coast. From there,
crossing the Andes, it would reach
BuenoS Aires on the east and then
go up, along the Atlantic Coast, pass
ing through Brazil and Venezuela. to
the Gulf of Mexico.
Influence Extended.
In this great circuit the highway
would not only bring together the cap
itas OF the American republics, but
would extend its influence to the les
ser cities and communities in each
country traversed by it, Hence, aside
from contributing to a better knowl-
edge. and, therefore, a better under
standing OF one people by another. it
would promote international trade and
tourist traffic, and generally strengthen
the economic ties instrumental in the
preservation Of that understanding. In
the internal development of each one
OF the Latin American countries 1t
would be of incalculable benefit, fur
nlshing means of transportation for
their natural products and making
accessible regions which are now ex-
listing in isolation The advantages
for the United States are even more
apparent. Apart from the tremendous
trade opportunities involved, the con-
struction itself of the highway would
require thousands of tons Of ma
chlnery, cement and steel for bridges
and other materials produced in the
United States and the employment Of
many engineers and experts from this
country. Not to mention the profits
for the automobile industry.
Some years ago, in the days Of
armed intervention and the big stick"
there were people in Latin America
who had one valid objection to the
building of Pan-American Highway:
the fear that it might foster Yankee
imperialism" and facilitate the south
ward march Of dollar diplomacy"
Today, however, the changed Latin
American policies Of the United States
have removed that fear, and the Mex
leans, last week, we're more than
pleased to welcome at Nuevo Laredo.
not the big brother" but the good
neighbor."
(Copyright 1881