The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-05-13

onitor in recent issue reveals that work on lthern end of the International Highway, wh timately will enable the motorist to drive fl aska to the Argentine in South America, is go rward Illustrated with Alaska and South Amer' enes, the article says
 Motorists day-dreaming of an all-year h. ternatonal Pacific Highway from Alaska to Argentina expect major fruition from plan to forge a 1000-mile link in four MeXcan states between Guadalajara and Nogales. Ariz., thus opening the road to Mexico City from California to match the recent comple- tion of MeXicos gateway to the northeast through Laredo Texas.
 Just white sails once were wands of civ- ilization wherever pioneering barks touched strange shores, rubber tires ready to roll permanent tread-marks of progress for Mexi- cos beautiful interior.
 Already the Central Government has con- structed highway from Guadalajara to Mexi- co City. To surmount the obstacles of the barrancas and other wilderness hazards is the chief problem, solution of which it is hoped will pave the way for one continuous road 22l7 miles from Los Angeles to the capital of the neighbor republic.
 Two major motor-caravan expeditions by the Automobile Club of Southern California have mapped the entire IP.H. segment through the length of Mexico. These comple- mentary transvcrsals in 1930 and 1881 were the first occasions that any automobiles have crossed the nation Since that time isolated instances of pioneering motorists have been reported to show that the journey from Mexico City to Los Angeles is possible in favorable weather, and the automobile club charting showed only 80-odd miles in the barranca area insurpassable to amateur voyagers.
 It was back in 1919 that the auto club first conceived of the 13000-mile bond between Fairbanks in Alaska and Buenos Aires in Argentina A preliminary conference was held at that time with Mexican officials. It was not until 1929 that the club formulated its plans for mapping tour which materialized in the following two years. It is estimated that more than $100,000 has been spent by the organization in fostering the project.
 At the conclusion of the second tour the club estimated 25 100000 pesos would be need- ed to construct a suitable right of way over the 1889 miles from Nogaes to the Mexican capital
 Secondary to the major problem of bridg- ing the barrancas, which are only few miles in extent are the points of upkeep and gradual improvement location of the road on its ulti mate route. to avoid any reroutng
 According to the auto club of southern California the United States is committed to
  000-mile project, through S10O0O00 appro- pration already authorized by Congress to aid Latin American countries in the purchase of construction machinery and equipment and through an additional S75,000 already provided to carry on surveys by American Bureau of Public Roads engineers.
 So far along to actuality is the two-contin- ent route that club engineers pronounce 83 per cent, or almost l1000 miles, are spassable for pioneering motor behicles in favorable seasons and they estimate half this distance is graded or paved.
 To make the longest road in the world, at least IA nations would be placed under the wheels of motorists, who can begin their vaca- ton on the Arctic Circle, cross Canada, take the scenic Pacific slope route through the United States to San Diego. then inland to Guaymas on the Gulf of California, to Mag atan at the mouth of the gulf Inland to Guadalajara and Mexico City skirt the Pa cific shores once again after leaving Oaxaca, and leave Mexico for Guatemala.
 Then into the republic of Fl Salvador with a stop at San Salvador next into Nicaragua by way of Managua through San Jose into the republic of Costa Rica, and thence to Pan- anna City
 Once in South America the route leads through Colombia i Bogota and then follows the Andes Mountains down through Quito, Lima and Valparaiso, to Santiago where the mountains are crossed to Buenos Aires the Southern terminus.
 Linking of Alaska with the Argentine is no lon flight of fancy Great strides have been made last IT years since the idea was conceived. Ter IT years may well see is driving up and do ? greatest highway in the world.