MOTOR PREFERRED

Evening Star, Issue 20255, 16 August 1929, Page 1

MOTOR PREFERRED

VENEZUELA TRANSPORT A new and growing network of automobile roads—perhaps the best in South America—is putting this country’s freight and passenger traffic on rubber tires, and has drawn sharp complaints flora Venezuelan railroads, wVites the Venezuela correspondent of ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’ Of eleven lines three show losses in operation from last year; four show a profit of nob over per cent. The remaining four are making money. Five of the companies have formally complained to the Government that motor trucks are in ruinous competition with them They ask that the automobiles which take the traffic formerly belonging to railroads bo at least taxed enough to keep up the highways, so that the two systems will bo on a more nearly even basis. The Government’s view, as brought out by the Minister of Public Works, rather regards the motor car as an agent for controlling the railway. In answer to the companies, he wrote:— “The automobile is the modern, fast, independent, and democratic vehicle; for all, and in the reach of all; the one which substitutes mechanical progress for' the antiquated and monopolised carriers. The highway presents itself to-day as the only system capable of resolving perfectly all our transport problems.” This attitude may be partly explained by the fact that the important railways of the country are mostly in English or Gorman hands. They have been charged with demanding excessive rates, and many have reduced tariffs since the motor competition began. CROSS THE MOUNTAINS. Venezuela has now 5,000 kilometres of auunuobde highways. Most of this is gravelled, about 300 kilometres are concrete or macadam. Good roads have always been one of tire_ primary interests of General Juan Vicente Gomez, commander-in-chief of the army, who has ruled Venezuela for twenty years. Tho Government spent more than 4,000,000 dollars last year on roads and bridges. As many of the highways have to cross and recross the coastal ranges, the work is often tedious and difficult. For instance, Caracas is only six miles as the crow flies from -La Guaira, its port; but the highway has to wind for twenty-three miles through mountains that reach up 6,000 to 9,000 feet. Automobiles now go from Caracas to the Colombian border. 1,200 kilometres, in four days. The further reaches Of the road aye being graded and gravelled so that within two of three years the Venezuelans hope to be able to drive clear to Bogota, Colombia, 2,000 kilometres, in six days. When they are able to_do that, they will expect to see Colombian travellers disembarking at La Guaira and motoring to Bogota, rather than going from Barranquilla, Colombia, up the Magdalena _ River, which takes twelve clays. This great trunk road, incidentally, will be an important link in the Pan-American Highway, which is projected eventually to link alt tho capitals of the'Kcw .Worm by motor.