TRANSFORMATION OF CENTRAL SOUTH AMERICA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 649, 7 March 1914, Page 7

TRANSFORMATION OF CENTRAL SOUTH AMERICA.

Mr John D. Leckie has an article in January number of "Chambers's Journal"—which commences a new volume of this excellent monthly—on the great transformation which has lately been taking place in the central portion of South America.. He points out that the construction of new railways, from several directions, which w'ill soon penetrate into the very heart of South America, is bound to give a great impetus to, settlement and trade. Regions formerly very inaccessible v.ill be placed within sixteen to twenty days' steam communication from London. Every day sees greater facilities and greater comfort offered to the traveller, while distances are shortened. Whereas a few months ago Argentina was completely isolated, so far as railway connection is concerned, from the other countries of South America, railways have lately been completed, or are on the point of completion, which will place her in direct communication with her neighbours oh all sides—Chili, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. RAILWAYS AND POLITICAL STABILITY. A good feature of the railways in South America on which Mr. Leckie lays stress is- that they are powerful aids to the political stability of the countries they traverse. It may be taken as an axiom regarding that part of the world that "the more railways a country has, the fewer revolutions." Railways tend to prevent revolutions, because, in the first place, they bring in their train European immigrants who form the peaceful part of the population,; and, secondly, because by ma'ung the. country more accessible i they make revolutions more difficult, as these outbreaks generally originate in the remoter parts. Every mile of the railways in South America is built through productive covn'ry ; every mile can j be made to yield a revenue.—' 'Westminster Gazette."