THE GREAT MEXICAN RAILROAD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 1628, 9 December 1879, Page 3

THE GREAT MEXICAN RAILROAD.

• Ojpo of the most colossal, modern engineering enterprises-has beon, the . construction of the great railroadfrbm Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. It passes through one Of the moßt 'picturesque countries m the world, and traversing the mountain chain of the great Sierra, offers the finest viows imaginable. The xoad: is 268 miles long, passes through 18 tunnel", and over several magnißcent iron bridges; it has cost 40,000,000 dols.- and is considered to be' the finest and best constructed railway on the whole American continent. ■ ; The first 40 miles from Vora Cruz are straight, with a gradual Blight ascent from the sea level ; then for a distance of 75 mileß it traverses throe distinct; mountain ranges, each of which looks like a colossal wall; This section of the road rims through many canoua, winds along tho sides of mountains, over prcoipicoa, sometimes perpendicular, and of a depth of 3000 feet. The average- grade ia here- 300 feet per mite; and the ordinnry American lopomotivea had the greatest: difficulty: to ascend them, so that the company ijad special locomotives constructed m England' under the Fairlte patent, which are said' to bo able to pu\l fen cars. Theyare doublo engine?, or tiyo steam engines combined^' with .driving whe.oh of 30 inches. At the western ond of thiß division, near Boca del Monte, tho greatest height is attained, being 13,000 feet above the sea level at Vera Cruz. Then therond gradually descends over a- series of hills and valloys, until the City of Mexico is reached,, which is still 8000 feet above tho -sea-level. — Thevalleys through which the road passes are .from, 3 to 30 miles wide, bounded by steep mountains. Every pprt of this region ib now under n high state of cultivation, and ; artificially irrigated m tho boat manner. ■ ■ !