PROGRESS IS SOUTH AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 205, 27 February 1912, Page 4

PROGRESS IS SOUTH AMERICA.

Mr. John D. Leckie, writing in Chambers' Journal oil the great transformation which ihas lately been taking place in the central portion of South America, points out that the construction of new railways, from several directions, which will soon penetrate into the very heart of South America, is bound to give a great impetus to settlement arid trade. Regions formerly very inaccessible will be placed, Within 16 to 20 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 siolated, so far as railway connection was 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 neighbors on all sides—Chili, Bolivia, Paraguay, .Uruguay and Brazil. 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 ail axiom regarding that part of the world that "the more railways a country lias, the fewer revolutions," Eailways tend to prevent revolutions, because, in the first "place, they bring in their train the European immigrants who form the peaceful part.of the population; and, secondly, because by making the country more'accessible 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 country; every mile can be made to yield a revenue.