Evening star., 1941-01-28
By RANDOLPH LEIGH.

years of decay and virtual abandon
ment. But even if dredged out the
harbor will be of no naval impor-
tance unless it can get oil. Mirac-
ulously enough. there are reports
that within a few weeks work will
begin on a huge pipe line from that
port to the rich oil wells little
over 100 miles away on the opposite
side of the peninsula at Puerto de
Mexico. on the Gulf of Campeche,
or, in other words, on an arm Of the
Gulf of Mexico.
This peninsula has been consid-
cred many times for canal. A
railroad has been built between the
two points, but is now in decay. and
plans have been considered for
transporting small vessels on tracks
across from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. The oil pipe line, however,
is a far simpler matter and en-
gineers agree on its feasibility. Such
a pipe line would give a large fleet
steady supply of oil. But it also
would involve a steady production
of oil at the other end. and that
is where the readjustment with
American oil interests begins to
shape up. In this connection it
might be stated-and it is an under
statement-that the production and
distribution of oil since the Ameri-
can properties were confiscated has
been inadequate.
Port Being Improved.
Canal, beautifully fringed with
palms, has water so feet deep. but
no docks to which large vessels can
come for speedy taking on of sup
plies. A huge concrete mole is being
built by the Mexican government
vessels will be able to come along
side. Furthermore, large oil storage
tanks are being placed. These i'm
provements benefit the port in gen.
eral. of course, and the small
Mexican west coast gunboats in par
ticular. They also might be Of
service to our Navy.
Topolobampo presents an entirely
different situation. 1t is inside the
Gulf of California and Is the
terminus for the Kansas City, Mexico
and Orient Railroad, which almost
links our Midwest oil fields with the
Pacific. I say almost, because, In
accordance with the sad sequence OF
American development projects in
Mexico. there is a gap of 100 miles
in the line. The two terminal points
are ready for business. and SO are
most of the intervening miles. and
then the whole project just melts
away in Chihuahua. amid gold
fields and timber tracts. And
Topolobampo has languished, too, OF
course. In addition. it has been TAX
| ing up its share of the tremendous
| silt load coming down from the
Rocky Mountains via the Colorado
River.
Government Intervenes.
In the more than half a century
since Dewey marveled at its harbor,
it has silted up about 20 feet; that is,
the entrance in 1896 was only 10 or
II feet deep, instead of 30. But here,
without knowing or intending it, the
| United States Government has in
! tervened. 1t built the Boulder Dam,
and virtually stopped the Colorado
River in it's tracks. That not only
stopped the inflow of silt from the
! rivers mouth several hundred miles
above, but started a great unchecked
suction process toward the abysm of
the Gulf of California, 1000 feet
deep, to the Far South. That sue
| tion is dredging the entrance to
Topolobampo at the rate Of about 2
! feet year.
In addition, the mysterious hand
of coincidence is reaching out in an
other direction. Engineers are in
the Chihuahua hills again, and
there are many indications to sup
port the reports that the missing
link in the railway is to be built in.
Topolobampo would be an outlet for
high-test gasoline for airplanes.
Mexico at present makes no such
gasoline-the American oil COM
panies having taken the necessary
technique and technicianS with them
when they were forced out. This
port, with rail connections with our
Midwest, would bring high-power
gasoline several days nearer a fleet
off the Canal one than it is today
through existing facilities in the
United States. In addition, of
course, it would bring big develop
ment around Topolobampo itself,
where quarter of a million acres Of
fertile land are ready for develop
ment if the necessary capital is sup
piled.
Fighting Units Met.
That these links between Mexico
and our naval operations are not
entirely matters of dreams is shown
by the frequency with which have
encountered our fighting units In