RAILWAY TO SOUTH AMERICA.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 62, 9 August 1884, Page 3

RAILWAY TO SOUTH AMERICA.

A big railway scheme has lately received the sanction of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United States Congress. It proposes the appointment of a Commission of three persons for the purpose of ascertaining and reporting upon the feasibility of establishing railway com munication between the United States and Central and South America ; said Commission to serve for two years and to personally visit and inspect the route along which such a railway would run. A report made in connection with the presentation of the Bill to the Committee insists that the proposed enterprise could be very easily carried out, maintaining that a railway from some point in Texas or elsewhere where 1 a connection is formed with the railroad system of the United States, to the city of Mexico, and thence through the Republic of Mexico and Central America and along the Isthmus of Darien, passing east of the Andes, through South America to the Argentine Rupublic, would meet with but few natural obstacles in the way of its construction, while the distance will not exceed 6800 miles. This may be shortened to 6000 miles by commencing its construction at the oity of Mexico, where it will connect with roads already built and in process of construction. At first glance, the proposed scheme certainly seems chimerical, but upon reflection it will be conceded that the conclusions of the Committee are entirely reasonable. Of course, the first thing to ascertain is whether the Gorernments affected would extend their protection to the enterprise if once undertaken,* and in the ©vent of the oreation of the Commission, this will be the primary duty with which it will be oharged, t