McKelvey’s 1911 Railroad for River Plata in Uruguay

In the New York Times of December 8, 1911 a report states that “The United Fruit ship Almirante, in yesterday from Colon, brought John J. McKelvey, President of the first American company to begin construction of an all-American railroad in the River Plata region of South America.”


The NYT report was headed : “All American built railway. President of the Uruguay Line tells of its construction”

The report states:

“The United Fruit ship Almirante, in yesterday from Colon, brought John J. McKelvey, President of the first American company to begin construction of an all-American railroad in the River Plata region of South America. The first American freight and passenger cars and the first American locomotivess ever seen in that region have just been set up. Thirty miles of the road are about to be opened, and the whole length of the 365 minds of line will be completed, according to Mr. McKelvey, in about four years

“This railroad construction work has been done entirely with American materials,” said McKelvey. “The rails, bridges, telegraph poles, and even the wire and cement for the line have been shipped from this country. The capital was furnished by American businessmen, and not by banking houses.

“The line lies entirely in the Republic of Uruguay, starting at Colonia, which lies just across the River Plata from Buenos Aires, and extending north east to the San Luis River. This line is a link in a system called the Pan-American railroad, which has been under construction in many parts of South America  foryears. With the connections planned with the Brazilian railroads, the line will connect Rio de Janiero with the capital of Argentina.

“The railroad is being pushed through one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The climate is like that of South Carolina. About 90% of the soil of Uruguay is ready for the plow without any clearing. The country is probably the most friendly of any in South America or North America. Lying between two countries – Brazil and Argentina – Uruguay feels more than the other Republics the needs of the friendship of the United States.”