The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-15
MINISTER cHAs, pURDEIT HART
Informs tho Government ofa Plan for al
Aerial Railway In Colombia.


Aerial halfway In Colombia.
The December bulletin of the Bureau
of American Republics has the follow
ing:
Hon. Charles Burdett Hart, United
States minister to the Republic of Col
omb!a, lncloses to the department Of
state the terms of contract between
the republic and Nicholas Krohne, q
German subject, for tie construction OF
an aerial railway from the city OF Hon
da, on the Magda!ena river, to Agual-
arga, a town on the savannah OF Bo-
gotta,
BY the terms of the concession, the
railway Is to be built and ready for puo-
lie traffic within three years from the
date of the approval of the contract;
che system of transportation being by
aerial railway (Otto system) The right
to put up posts or supports FOR the line
on public highways is conceded, proVId :
ed they do not interfere with their use
as roads for public traffic, on private
property, the Concessionaire shall OBJ
tain, at his own expense, the land nee
essary for the road and It's anneXes; In
case the owners of the property and the
COnCessiOnaTy can not agree upon the
terms the government shall proceed 10
appropriate It, payment for the same
being made at the expense OF the con-
cessionary. The contracting company Is
authorized to construct branch lines
into the producing centcrs Of the coun-
try, such branch lines enjoying in their
construction all privileges applicable to
the main line. The work on the con-
struction OF the main line shall be be-
begun within eighteen months, countM
from the date of the approval Of the
contract, and the line shall be finished
and open for public service, In cOndl-
ton of proper solidity and security
within three years. The concesslona:y
binds himself to maintain the main
line and branches In good condition, so
that at all times, excepting through Tor
tuitous circumstances, transportation
can he accomplished with reasonable
rlpidity, and security for mails, pas
senucrs, and cargo. The rates of trans
portatlon shall be fixed by the COM
pany, but they shall not exceed one
hundred and fifty marks per ton, or Its
equivalent In Columbian currency on
cargoes from the Magdnlena river to
the savannah OF Bogota, For transpor-
tatlon over other parts of the line, a
proportional tariff shall be charged For
each five Yeas after the line has been
In operation the company binds itself to
reduce the tariff; Mt the end of ten
years 1t shall be reduced one-halt or
seventy-fve marks per ton, on through
traffic. The cargo tariff over branches
shall be adjusted according to the DIS
lance the freight is transported The
government mails shall be transported
free of cost, but government property
shall pay the ordinary tariff rates, pref
ercnce in all cases being given for their
immediate dispatch. The concession
may be transferred, in whole or part
20 a third party, excepting, however,
| foreign nations. At the expiration Of
aftv years after the completion of the
work the property. with all branches
ana appurtenances, in perfectly good
condition. and without remuneration OF
any kind, shall revert to the govern
mcnt OF Colombia