Banana Transportation

An American group of bankers and business men has purchased from the British, control of the International Railways of Central America, a $60,000,000 corporation and now the largest American-owned railroad outside the U. S.

The line was started by C. P. Huntington, builder of the Southern Pacific. Today the system includes a trunk line of 597 miles, with 58 miles of sidings in Guatemala and Salvador. It is planned to construct about 100 miles of new roads from Zacapa to Santa Ava, Guatemala, and to extend the lines to connect with properties of American corporations. With the 100-mile gap completed, the road will furnish a direct route from the east coast across Central America to Touseca Bay on the Pacific shore, where the U. S. Government already has concessions for the establishment of a naval base, to protect the Pacific end of the Panama Canal.

A very prominent part in the whole transaction has been played by the United Fruit Co., whose prosperity in recent years has been great. The President of the company will be Minor C. Keith of United Fruit, while two of its directors will be A. W. Preston and B. W. Palmer, President and Secretary respectively of United Fruit.