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320 The distance by this route from New York to the Mexican capital will be no less than 600 miles shorter than by the Mexican Central, and 300 miles shorter than by the Mexican National Railway.

Leaving Matamoros, the line will trend southwesterly across a flat country via San Fernando and Santander as far as the twenty-fourth parallel. At this point the track will be extended eastward to the port of Soto la Marina, which lies about midway between Tampico and Matamoros. The harbor of Soto la Marina is said to be navigable for large vessels up to a distance of half a mile from the shore. In this respect it is different from nearly all other Mexican ports, which have sand-bars at their entrance.

Count Telfener is reported to have stated recently that he intends to concentrate his working force and materials at Soto la Marina, and construct the railway northward and southward from this point. Soto la Marina was, during the reign of the viceroys, a flourishing town, but it has since dwindled into an unimportant village. It is situated on the bank of the Corona River, about 35 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

A few American merchants have established themselves here. Soto la Marina is celebrated in history as the spot where the unfortunate Emperor Iturbide landed in 1824.

The main line will run almost due south from this port to Tampico, via Cruces, Realito, Bejarano, Sanapa, and Aldama; while a branch will be extended via Padilla to Victoria, the capital of the State of Tamaulipas, where it will connect with the Mexican Southern Railroad. (Vide Section VII. ) The New York, Texas and Mexican Railroad will also cross the eastern branch of the Mexican