The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-14

advent Of the military government of the
United States. These franchises and con-
cessions include the right to construct and
operate the Central Railroad line Of the
island. including eleven branches. and also
a network of electric. .tramways for Havana.
The authorities first secured an agreement
with General Wade al Havana by which
Spanish sovereignty over the island was to
cease and formal occupation by the army
of the United States begin on Jan. j. 1899.
Advertisements were subsequently prepared
and inserted in Havana newspaper ask
ing for bids for these concessions and fran
chiscs. the same to be opened and presunl-
ably the award made on Dec. % of the pres
ent year, two days before the government
is formally turned over TO the United States.
The President. however, has seen fit to put
quietus on the enterprise Of the Spaniards
and has issued instructions to General
Wade, the chairman of our evacuation COM
mission at Havana. Immediately to inform
the officials of the Spanish autonomist gov
ernment that the United States strongly dis
approves of the proposed disposition of the
concessions and franchises described, and 10
ask that all negotiations for the same be
discontinued. 1t seems probable that this
hint will be sufficient but in case it is not
General Wade's instructions are sufficient to
meet every contingency. He is ordered to
put stop to these proceedings without any
limitations on his authority in the provinces.
If necessary, there is no doubt that the
principals IN the scheme would be promptly
arrested and imprisoned.
According to the terms of the advertise
ment in the case of the Central Railroad
the concession is to run ninety-nine years,
and under it the government" it is stipu-
lated, will aid, the concessionaire by guar
anteeing an annual interest of per cent.
on tho capital invested in the lines men
toned. besides all advantages granted to
railroad companies under the laws of 1877
and 1850" The roads are also granted ex-
empton from inpost duties on material
necessary for the construction and opera
ton or the lines" and also "free cession
of such lands belonging TO the state or to
towns as may be necessary in the construc-
tion and operation of the lines" The maxi
mum capital upon which the 4 per cent. in
terest is to be paid and, which will serve
as a basis in letting the contract is fixed
at $4,000, 465 pesos. Bidders were required to
deposit before bidding the sum of 100000
pesos in gold in the Spanish Bank in Cuba
and further sum of 100000 pesos in gold
as a guaranty. THE treasury of the Island
of Cuba" it is declared, will pay in geld
to the concessionaire every three months the
amounts due on the sections or lines in
operation at the rate OF interest guaran-
teed.'
The Navy Department has taken steps to-
wards possessing itself of the navy yard at
Havana. and orders just issued assign
Commodore =. J. Cromwell now a member
of the examining board, to duty COM
mandant of the new naval station there,
and Chief Engineer c. p. Howell and Lieut..
J. III. Glennon and Pay Director ]. A.
Smith and Surgeon J. ID. Gatewood to duty
1T the same station The Navy Depart
ment has Just learned with much vexation
that the Spanish government is about to
sell the splendid floating dry dock which
Was brought TO Havana from England just
before the war at cost OF $3.50, 0O0 Admiral
Sampson, the naval representative on the
evacuation commission, made a most deter
mined struggle TO have the dock passed to
the United States with other property of a
pernlanent charae tssissJ9ll he was sop'erruIed
by his colleagUes on the commission, Cen
erals Wade and Butler, who accepted the
Spanish contention that the dock should be
regarded as a ship and not as stable prop
erty The dock is to be sold, therefore, by
the Spanish officials next Friday.