Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-30
CANAL Bill NOW Inv
President Signs the Isthmian
Canal Measure and 1t Is
Now Law.
The Problems OF Construction
and Defense Are Difficult
Ones to Solve.
Aid OF Colombia Will Be Neces
sary in Securing Cession
OF Lands.

washington. June 3O-The isthmian
canal bill is now a law. President
Roosevelt signed the measure last
night
Now that the legislative battle over
the canal is ended the United States
faces the real problems of construc-
ton and defense, and before those
questions can be solved the diplomatic
skrmishes with isthmian governments
must be brought to a successful end
| ing.
| Defense of the Panama canal Is 10 Ne
effected by United States maven
souadrons operating from naVal s.a-
lions within close proximity VI 'i'S
terminal OF the projected watef"as
Secretary of the Navy Moody mas pc
o,n an Investigation of the entire coal
| ing station subject and the coilciu-
| CLOVIS he will reach will determine the
noints on the isthmus at whlch lhe
| United States should establish hdNai
stations for the protection OIL lhe
canal. ,+o
BEFORE this government can locate
coal piles and naval supplying sta'iois
on the isthmus. it must nrst op''ii'
The cession or lease of the necessa' ,
hand. Rear Admiral Bradfofo' eiiiS'
of the bureau of equipment, mas az
| reody recommended to the navy ue-
nartment that the United States op-
tain control of several islands III tuc
b.y of Panama, which would enapie
defense of the western entrance, an"
| of Almirante bay, in Chirque lagoon
=, tho department of Panama. Just tc
the north Of Colon, the eastern Ter
minus of the canal. Ihere Is ah '''s'i1o
off the coast of Colombia known as
San Andreas, which has peeh en-
sidered by Rear Admiral Braa1oro pu'
/ it is not known whether any ae.eiip'
will be made to get possession OIL IT,
The question of where coaling sta
tions shall be located for the use OF
the canal must be Immediately settiee
in view of the fact that in the treaty
to he negotiated with Colombia pro-
vision will be inserted, if the admin
istration can accomplish 1t, by when
This government will obtain ownership.
or a lease of the necessary sites. Ihat
there might be no doubt OF the Value
of the sites selected Rear Admiral
Bradford has had American men OF
war inspect various harbors, ana their
reports have enabled him to formulate
his recommendations to the depart
ment.
There is reason to believe that Col
ombia will be much averse to cedin2
even the smallest fraction of territory
of the United States. For years thia
government has made efforts to obtain
possession of Almirante bay, but the
Rogota government has consistently
declined to part with it. In the nego-
tiation of the Panama canal protoeo'
recently signed my Secretary Hay AND
Minister Conchas, the Colombian SOW
ereignty should not only be maintaineo
over the department of Panama but
over the territory which VIII be used
in the construction of the canal. Had
this provision not been inserted IL is
said at the Colombian legation THAI
the protocol would meyer receive the
approval of the Colombian congress.
lie Colombia proves abdurate the
president may have to authorize nego-
tiations with Costa RIGA and Ecuador
Costa RIGA has sovereignty over the
magnificent gulf of Dulce, to the north
of the western entrance of the pro-
posed canal, and Ecuador owns the
Galapagos island, some miles off her
coast.
Costa RIGA is so friendly to the
United States that it is believed ii
would willingly grant the concession
A year ago when Secretary Hay sug-
gested to Ecuador that this govern.
ment would like to obtain possession
OF one of the Galapagos islands the
Quito government declined to part with
it. 1t may be, however, that with the
construction of the Panama canal, from
which. Ecuador will derive benefit,
treaty can be successfully negotiated